Reviews

Bill Emerson's impact on the five string banjo cannot be overstated. A member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Emerson's playing has been an integral part of many legendary recordings, and in turn has inspired countless banjoists. Three of

Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys at the Osborne Brothers Festival - photo © Roger Black The 31st annual Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival got off to a great start on Wednesday July 31  with an all-gospel night in Hyden, KY,

One of the hidden gems in the bluegrass world is Kenny Thacker. Kenny may not be known to you yet, but let me introduce him to y’all. He is a gifted storyteller, songwriter, guitar player, and a soulful singer who was raised in a holler in Slone Fork, Kentucky. Kenny

Simply stated, Steep Canyon Rangers rank among the upper echelon of today's most prominent bluegrass bands. They've extended their musical template far beyond any confined parameters and into the realms of the wider culture, courtesy of songs that resonate with

52nd annual Takarazuka Bluegrass Festival (2024) - photo © Jeromie Stephens ...or, how I learned to navigate among friends in Japan. After years of anticipation and planning, I finally arrived at the 52nd annual Takarazuka Bluegrass Festival in Japan. My journey started at

Dave Adkins has made a name for himself in bluegrass music with his commanding voice and robust original material. Adkins' latest effort, What I'm For, his first for Billy Blue Records, differs slightly from his other releases, in that he didn't have

Jim Lauderdale and The Po' Ramblin' Boys at the Dancing Bear Lodge (8/1/24) - photo © Alisa B. Cherry To the extent that Jim Lauderdale shared stage time with The Po' Ramblin' Boys, the group that served as both his opening

Mountain Highway at the 2024 Manton Bluegrass Festival - photo © Bill Warren Manton, Michigan is a small, tight-knit community in northern Michigan's lower peninsula. It also happens to be my old stomping grounds.  This small community will celebrate the 100th Manton Harvest

Sister Sadie at the 2024 Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest - photo © David Parrish July 19th and 20th rang in the 22nd Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest in Sugar Grove, North Carolina. Sugar Grove originally began as a

Steve Erickson began his career, not by making music, but as a public relations specialist operating out of Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, DC. However, given a trajectory that  includes three previous albums — It's About Time (2012), Music Tonight