A firefighter who first took up the banjo to decompress and pass the time between emergency calls, Randy Steele has clearly gone beyond and exceeded even his own expectations. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he released his debut disc, Songs From
Music Reviews
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Hometown Holiday – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
No matter what genre of music it is, holiday albums tend to fall into one of two categories. They're either a collection of holiday standards, or all original material specifically focused on the celebratory and biblical significance of the season. Hometown
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If You Hadn’t Noticed – The Goodwin Brothers
There’s no mistaking the emphatic emotions and outright exuberance that typifies the music made by the Goodwin Brothers. Granted, their timing may have been a bit troublesome, especially considering they relaunched themselves in 2020 while the pandemic was in full
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Whispers in the Wind – Lindley Creek
Lindley Creek gained a lot of momentum after the release of their debut project, Freedom, Love and the Open Road, in 2020. The family band's sophomore effort, Whispers In The Wind, once again shows us their strong vocals and keen ability for selecting
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Promised Land – Danny Burns
Irish-born singer/songwriter Danny Burns has done well for himself, especially of late. His cover of the Pogues' Dirty Old Town, culled from his new Bonfire Music Group album, Promised Land, finds Sam Bush in tow, while making it to the
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Why Live Without – Cup O’Joe
Unique is a word that often gets thrown around loosely when discussing music. It's generally used as part of a hyperbolic description rarely fitting the artist in question. Cup O'Joe, on the other hand, is an ensemble that fully embodies
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Waiting Days – Pert Near Sandstone
Pert Near Sandstone is well on their way to becoming one of the more influential ensembles setting the course for progressive bluegrass today. Their allegiance to its timeless template is undeniable, but it's equally clear that they can also create
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Gotta Lotta Lonesome – Carson Peters & Iron Mountain
When fiddler Carson Peters appeared as a contestant on NBC's The Voice in 2021, there were feelings of excitement combined with worry that Peters would be leaving his bluegrass roots for the mainstream country sound. Fortunately that was not the
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Sun To Sun – Alice Gerrard
International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member and Grammy nominee Alice Gerrard's new Sleepy Cat Records album, Sun To Sun, is clearly meant to appeal to both purists and newbies alike. Having spent nearly sixty years as a staunch champion
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All I Need – Kenny & Amanda Smith
Kenny and Amanda Smith have been one of bluegrass music's most beloved duos since their debut release, Slowly But Surely, in 2001. It's very easy to see why. Not only does the couple have undeniable personal and musical chemistry, but they've always