Author: Chris Jones

I guess I should have known this would happen. I was very clear last week that I was retiring from interpreting bluegrass dreams. I didn’t even want to be in that role in the first place. Allow me to quote

Last week I published a list of topics for bluegrass music camp elective classes that, based on trial and unmistakable error, were deemed colossal failures. I didn’t, however, say that the topics couldn’t be discussed in this column. One of them

In last week’s discussion of bluegrass music camps, I focused primarily on the students, and what they can expect at events like this. This week, I’d like to offer a word or two for and about music camp instructors, especially

Now that March is upon us, it’s only natural to think ahead to the end of winter (if you got any where you live) and the coming festival season. The festival season also means the season of the bluegrass music

I have always loved a good conspiracy theory. I believe almost all of them, too, whether they become discredited in the media or not. When I hear that something has been “disproved,” I believe that’s just what “they” want us

I’ve had time to analyze the reaction to my disclaimer published here last week, the one that attempted to warn that these columns are not intended to be taken seriously or literally, and I’d have to rate it as a

Recently it has come to my attention that some readers of this column are actually taking it seriously. This concerns me, especially since in the last several columns I’ve been giving out “advice” for new bands. It troubles me to

Quite some time ago (I think it was just after the breakup of Flatt & Scruggs and the Beatles) I made a list of the important things that any new bluegrass band needs to accomplish to get off to a

I’ve devoted the previous several columns to the subject of band self-management. There won’t be many more, I promise, because let’s face it: all this management gets tiring after a while. Sometimes you just want to go play the show. Let’s

This has turned into a lengthy series on bluegrass band self-management, which is fitting because we live in a do-it-yourself era, from self-service gas pumps to self-checkout at grocery stores. I’ve even recently learned to eat meals without professional assistance.