Author: John Lawless

September 13 is the official street date for this new Rebel release from Steep Canyon Rangers, but it has already shipped to radio and copies are available from the band at shows. One Dime At A Time represents something of a

This coming weekend's Grand Ole Opry broadcasts promise a heaping helping of bluegrass music, with Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys and Mountain Heart all slated to perform. The shows are Friday, September 9 and Saturday,

This past weekend, I had the enormous honor and good fortune to perform at the 40th Anniversary Reunion of what has come to be described as the very first multi-day bluegrass festival, which had been promoted by Carlton Haney, and

Appalachian Mandolin and Dulcimer is the title of an upcoming CD from Sound Art Recordings, due for a September 27 release. The CD features 14 traditional mountain tunes performed in duet by mandolinist Butch Baldassari and dulcimer legend David Schnaufer.

Rattle The Chains is the title of the newest Pinecastle release for Wildfire, with a release date set for September 20, 2005. At this point, there isn't much info available on either the Widfire or Pinecastle web sites, though we

Pete Wernick informs us that he has been invited to be a part of a unique banjo event in New York later this month, including a performance at the New Yorker Magazine's New Yorker Festival 2005 on September 24, and

Coffee At Midnight is the title of Nothin' Fancy fiddler Chris Sexton's upcoming solo project on Pinecastle, due for release on October 11. The Nothin' Fancy web site assures us that despite the mid-October release date, copies of the CD

The International Bluegrass Music Assocaiation has announced the nominees for the 16th Annual International Bluegrass Muisc Awards. Perennial favorote Alison Krauss & Union Station leads the pack with 14 nominations, followed by Rhonda Vincent & The Rage with 8, and

This award is for a performing act who displayed the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voters should give consideration to recorded and in-person performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and over-all contributions to the bluegrass music image.

The award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of instrumental performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform instrumentals. The award goes to each group member.