Michael Cleveland is generally associated with fiery, traditional-leaning fiddle playing - often the faster and more attention-grabbing, the better. While his latest album from Compass Records, Lovin’ of the Game, goes a long way to continue showcasing his expertise at
Author: John Curtis Goad
Railroad Town – Jr Williams
One of my hands-down favorite songs from the past year was Jr Williams’s Railroad Town Without a Train, the poignant story of the closing of the Clinchfield railyards in Erwin, TN. Written by Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz, the song
Changes – Amanda Cook
One of the brightest voices in bluegrass music in recent years has been Amanda Cook, who has continually offered fans a selection of well-written, thoughtful numbers that keep the radio waves hot. Now on her fourth full length project for
New Chapter – Cedar Hill
With so many bluegrass roots in states like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, many folks often forget that the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas have their own long-standing bluegrass traditions. One of the region's most well-known and respected artists is
From the Ground Up – Jim Hurst
With two IBMA Guitar Player of the Year trophies to his name, a passel of solo recordings, and a career spanning several decades, it would be hard for anyone to deny Jim Hurst's expertise on the guitar. His latest solo
One More Time Before You Go – Dan Tyminski
It's been a minute since bluegrass fans have heard any true-blue recordings from Dan Tyminski. Though he's been touring with his own Dan Tyminski Band (an excellent, traditional-leaning group that you should definitely catch at a festival near you), and
Heyday – Lonesome River Band
The Lonesome River Band is truly a unique group in the world of bluegrass music. Having operated under the same name for over three decades, and with a trail of hits leading back to the early 1990s, they are arguably
ProPik Heritage Fingerpicks and Super-Tone Thumbpick
For many banjo players, the gold standard of picks are vintage National fingerpicks, particularly ones like those from the 1940s and '50s that Earl Scruggs and others used to make bluegrass music history. While old Nationals can be found for
Heartache and Trouble – Fast Track
It's a mark of a great album when you can listen to it straight through without wanting to skip any songs. But what about when you find yourself keeping it in the CD player for hours on end, pressing rewind
The Dark Side of Lonesome – Edgar Loudermilk
Edgar Loudermilk first made his name in bluegrass as a reliable, rock-solid bass player in a series of well-known groups – Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. More recently, however,










