John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2004 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.
OK... I've been promising to try and catch up on a backlog of new CDs we've received (or picked up at IBMA) - and this time, I really mean it! Since major news is slow this time of year, I'll make a point to try and cover one each day until we get caught up. [...]
Last week we posted about the new Randy Kohrs video being included in the Pure 12-Pack Countdown on CMT's new digital music channel, CMT Pure. Randy was pitted against top country entertainers for viewer votes, and he came in number 3 overall in the poll. Only Dwight Yoakam and Blake Shelton's videos received more votes [...]
Don't forget to register to win a free, autographed copy of the new Mountain Heart CD, Road That Never Ends: the live album. Other Mountain Heart merchandise, such as t-shirts and ball caps, will also be given away. If you downloaded the free audio track from this CD last week, you are already registered for [...]
Bluegrass singer/songwriter Gary Ferguson took a different approach for his most recent CD. Instead of hunkering down in the studio for days of intense recording, he enlisted the support of some friends - top bluegrass performers all - and cut the tracks live at a festival show. The result is Gary Ferguson and Friends - [...]
We've posted many times over the past two years about the Pickin' On series from CMH Records. This impressive series (234 titles and counting) involves bluegrass instrumental tributes to successful pop, rock and country artists. Many have featured some of bluegrass music's most celebrated players, and introduced fiery bluegrass picking to new listeners based on [...]
We got this note a short while ago from Penni McDaniel at Hope River Entertainment regarding teen-aged bluegrass multi-instrumentalist Ryan Holladay. I just received a call from Mark and Lisa Holladay. Unfortunately their home caught fire yesterday, but the good news is Ryan and Hannah were at school and Lisa and Mark were at work [...]
And yet even more great music on the radio today... Tonight (10/26) at 8:00 p.m., Canadian banjoist Jayme Stone will be featured on CBC Radio 2's Canada Live program. CBC will be broadcasting a pair of concerts featuring Stone's eclectic tastes and inventive banjo style. The first pairs Jayme with Mansa Sissoko, a singer/songwriter from [...]
The Grascals will pay a visit this afternoon (10/26) to the studios of WNCW in Spindale, NC. They will join Dennis Jones, WNCW Technical Director and a host on the station's popular Saturday bluegrass show, Goin' Across The Mountain, at 1:00 p.m. for about 45 minutes on the air. Dennis tells us that he expects [...]
WFDU FM 89.1 will celebrate the grand opening of their new live performance studio today (10/26) with a special live broadcast and a bluegrass concert. The station is located on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ and serves the wider New York City area. Today's live show will be hosted by Carol [...]
Word comes from Crooked Still that cellist, and founding member Rushad Eggleston will be leaving the band in November. Perhaps serving as a testament to his unique abilities as both a musician and a performer, the band will be bringing in two players to fill his spot. Tristan Clarridge on cello and Brittany Haas on [...]
