Here’s another post from our semi-regular correspondent, Richard Thompson. He writes from England, where he is also a longstanding contributor to British Bluegrass News, a quarterly print publication where he also briefly served as editor.
Typically, the April edition of the British monthly print publication Country Music People covers a broad spectrum of country music with aspects of classic country and the contemporary, western swing and the western movie singer, the aural and the visual, and old time and bluegrass.
Walt Trott talks to Sam Bush and reviews the many stages in Bush’s busy musical life in an eight page feature.
The new Alison Krauss CD is reviewed at length by the erudite Al Moir and named CD of the month, naturally given the maximum five star rating. Other CDs reviewed are The Prairie Ramblers’, Back To My Mountain Home [BACM 149] (3 stars), Fork In The Road, the debut album from The Infamous String dusters (reviewer John Atkins gives this 4 stars), the first gospel set, Tell Someone, by Kenny and Amanda Smith (Tom Travis gives this a 5 star rating), the bluegrass-influenced group The Greencards’ Viridian gets 3 stars, the Reeltime Travelers’ Martha Scanlan’s solo set, The West Was Burning, is given the same rating, and prolific songwriter Jerry Salley is given 4 stars for his bluegrass debut CD, New Songs, Old Friends.
Editor, Craig Baguley, comments on the well-researched book, The Grand Ole Opry – The Making Of An American Icon, by Colin Escott, in which he collects a wide range of recollections provided by member of the cast of this august institution. The radio broadcasting of the show is in its 82nd year and counting.
There’s an article about Texas singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith and a review of her recent show broadcast live by BB Radio 2 and staged at the Mermaid Theatre in London.
On the cover is Ray Benson, leader of the western swing group, Asleep At The Wheel. Benson talks about the band, his influences and the drive and commitment that has kept the band on the road for 37 years.
Get more information on Country Music People on their web site.
