Most of us first heard Nick Dumas as a member of Special Consensus, but long before he joined them in 2015, Nick was a fixture on the bluegrass scene in the northwest. As a pre-teen, he played with his grandfather's
mandolin
Medical fund established for luthier Gary Vessel
Celebrated California luthier Gary Vessel, builder of fine violins and mandolins, suffered a severe stroke on May 7, and is currently hospitalized in critical condition. Stroke care has come a long way in recent years, and there is a realistic
Lauren Price Napier and her Gilchrist mandolin
Many thanks to Lauren Price Napier of The Price Sisters for allowing us to publish this remembrance of hers. Most of us know the fascination with some ideal that seems impossible to obtain. It could be a vintage Mustang, or some
Nothing Like Trouble from Liam Purcell
Liam Purcell is one busy young man. A recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, he leads his own bluegrass group, Cane Mill Road, and in addition, has a solo recording career outside of the band. Living now in Nashville,
A Hutto mandolin story
This story of the recovery of a long lost friend, Hutto #132, comes from prominent bluegrass mandolinist and instructor Scott Napier. It's a heartwarming report with which any instrument owner can empathize. It's often said that a singer is born with
Billy Thibodeau recovering from bypass surgery
Billy Thibodeau, prominent northeastern bluegrass artist and mandolinist with Rock Hearts, is recuperating in the hospital following quadruple bypass surgery, and a biopsy of a mass in his right lung. He tells us that he is healing nicely from the bypass
Randy Jones passes
Randy Jones with Lonesome River Band at MerleFest (5/4/14) - photo © Judith Burnette Randy Jones, noted bluegrass mandolinist and singer, died on April 9 at his home in Stearns, KY. He was 58 years of age, and passed after a
Wayne Lanham to The Country Gentlemen Show
The Country Gentlemen Show, formerly known as The Country Gentlemen Tribute Band, has announced the addition of Wayne Lanham to the group on mandolin. He steps in to the spot recently vacated by founding member Dave Propst, who is retiring
New faces with The Gospel Plowboys
Jacob Little, joining The Gospel Plowboys on mandolin North Carolina's Gospel Plowboys are making a few changes in their band personnel. The bluegrass gospel group, recognized for their stage attire of bib overalls, white shirts, and red neckties, is continuing the
Duffey Stories film from Akira Otsuka
Mandolinist and photographer Akira Otsuka and Gary Kopp have spent a great deal of time putting together this tribute to the great John Duffey, co-founder of both The Country Gentlemen and The Seldom Scene. It includes audio from a get-together