Author: John Lawless

Banjo fanatics have long been recognized as one part tinkerer and one part alchemist. They obsess over minor variations in the exact mix of metals in banjo components, and fret about differences of a few thousandths of an inch in

When the complete list of nominees for the 2009 Academy Of Country Music Awards were announced yesterday (2/11), a number of bluegrass pickers showed up on the list. No... not that list (the one with all the Nashville glitterati in their

Missy Raines has been a fixture on the bluegrass and acoustic music scene for most of her life. I first met her (and husband, Ben Surratt) in the early 1980s when she was performing as a member of Cloud Valley,

Starting next week (2/14), the live bluegrass radio series Bluegrass Underground will move to a weekly, Saturday evening slot on WSM AM 650 from Nashville. The new time is 6:00-7:00 p.m. (ET), just ahead of the Saturday Grand Ole Opry broadcast. Live

We told you a few weeks ago about the Marathon Jam scheduled for January 31 to benefit Fisher House, an organization that provides housing for families of wounded American servicemen and women receiving treatment at military hospitals. The jam was scheduled

Runaway Freight, from College Grove, TN, are set to release their new CD on March 6. Hillbilly Bailout - The Recession Tapes, uses the theme of hard times for the art and liners, the song choices, and the production/marketing approach. To

We just learned of the passing of Phil Mann, a great friend to the banjo community and an early pioneer of online bluegrass resources. He died on January 23, 2009 after being ill for some time. Phil's web site, www.bluegrassbanjo.org, was

Steal The Blue, the seventh recording from Canadian fiddler/vocalist April Verch, was released independently on January 20. Verch has been known for some time for her fiery fiddle playing - winning her multiple championships - and her energetic live performances, which

Alan Bibey tells us that Grasstowne is hoping to have copies of their second Pinecastle project, The Other Side Of Towne, available at shows by the end of March, even though the official release date isn't until June. A first single,

We heard recently from Steve Fishell, director of the Music Producers Institute, with word about their next studio clinic. The session will feature Sam Bush, who will spend three days with the class to record and mix new songs -