Music Reviews

Let’s get the disclaimers out of the way right up front. Yes, there are drums on many of the tracks on Claire Lynch’s Compass Records debut, Dear Sister. There’s also a Hammond B3 in a few places, though it’s hidden in

What happens when a group of musicians get together?  They form a band, right? Well, quite often. In the case of Scott Tackett (guitar), Brent Pack (banjo), Chaston Carroll (mandolin), Doug Burchett (bass) and Dave Carroll (guitar), they got together late

Every now and then, two artists come together and form a collaboration that fans are sure to remember for years to come. With their debut release, Reborn, Mark Newton and Steve Thomas have likely earned themselves a spot in that

Many bluegrass musicians first developed their love of this genre from listening carefully to their grandparents and other relatives making music. Kenny Thacker is no different. On his latest release, On the Front Porch, this Kentucky-born pastor pays tribute to

With a title like Grandma's Rules for Drinking, the most recent release from Canadian folk group Annie Lou, offers intriguing possibilities for potential listeners. What they will find upon pressing play is an enjoyable collection of original music in the

The title of roots musician Chris Brashear’s latest album certainly reflects the songs he has included on it. Heart of the Country is a collection of thirteen tunes celebrating the rural parts of America and the people who make their

It's been over four years since bluegrass superstars, Dailey & Vincent have released a "regular" album. That doesn't, however, mean they've been dormant. Since 2009's Brothers From Different Mothers, their last bluegrass album for Rounder Records, they have released three

It's difficult to name a band that is more all-around talented than The Boxcars. Band members have numerous IBMA and Grammy Awards, and have shared the stage with most of the top names in bluegrass. Their first two releases as

For fans of traditional music, 2012 was a sad year, with bluegrass, folk, and other acoustic genres all losing notable figures. Several of these artists, such as Earl Scruggs, have recently been remembered with tribute albums and collections of their

For a couple of years now, Frank Solivan has been like a Triple AAA baseball phenom, extremely talented and just one lucky break away from getting to the major leagues and staying there. Each CD he put out was better than