They're back... The much heralded annual instrumental projects helmed by Scott Vestal for Pinecastle Records have returned after a 19 year hiatus. Launched 25 years ago as Bluegrass '95, these virtuosic recordings featured Vestal on banjo with a revolving cast of
On Tuesday night, Sturgill Simpson played the Grand Ole Opry. No big news there, as the Americana/country singer and songwriter has become something of a celebrity in town this past few years while his records have garnered more and more
Over this past weekend, the 2017 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music was awarded to Scott Vestal. This makes him the 8th recipient of this prestigious prize, which recognizes a player who has demonstrated "a fresh
Can any song be turned into a bluegrass number? And furthermore, should it? Those are the questions I found myself asking as I listened to Dwight Yoakam’s new album, with the tongue-in-cheek title, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars.... Yoakam lined up a
Seth Taylor, lead guitarist with Dailey & Vincent, is in the studio completing his first solo project in Nashville, with Jim VanCleve producing. The 20 year old wunderkind first hit the scene playing with Pine Mountain Railroad while he was still in high
Once again, Stephen Mougin at Dark Shadow Recording has prevailed on one of his artists to retail their recording experience for us in blog form. This time, it’s Becky Buller who is working on her first solo project with the label. Here
Bluegrass singer, songwriter, and guitarist Brandon Lee Adams has released his first full-length album, Hardest Kind Of Memories. 10 of the 11 tracks are Brandon's, and he is assisted in the studio by top grassers like Scott Vestal on banjo, Randy
Don't bring up religion or politics in polite company. That's what they always say. But Tennessee bluegrass singer/songwriter Mickey Boles is breaking both those rules in his new song, Music Politics. It examines the eternal question of who makes it in the
While most bluegrass albums contain at least a few updated versions of old standards, there’s also some great new original music coming out these days. Milan Miller, the writer behind recent fan favorites Caney Fork River (Balsam Range) and Pretty
Several country artists have made the leap to bluegrass in recent years, with most of them simply returning to the music they grew up loving and performing. Clinton Gregory is among the latest artists to make the change from country
