In a surprising twist, the 2016 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music has been awarded to Rhiannon Giddens, founding member of The Carolina Chocolate Drops. Along with banjo scholar and musicologist Dom Flemons, Giddens has been at the
Josh Grigsby and County Line, based in Virginia's Northern Neck, has added two new members to the group. Mark Mills has come aboard to play lead guitar and share in the vocal duties, and Whitney Perkins is now with the group
Roe Entertainment in Maryville, TN has announced the signing of Terry Baucom & The Dukes of Drive to an exclusive representation contract. The band is fronted by the iconic banjo man, with Will Jones on guitar, Joey lemons on mandolin, and
Darrell Webb has announced that Jacob Shelton has joined his group playing bass, and singing lead and harmony vocals. Jacob is only 18 years old, but has been playing bluegrass around his native Erwin, TN since he was 10. As a
Tim Surret, Chairman of the IBMA Board of Directors, has resigned his position on the organization's Executive Committee. Surrett, who also works as bass player with Balsam Range and as a studio musician and producer with Crossroads Music, is recovering
The O'Connor Band has released a new music video for the song Coming Home, the title track from their new Rounder album. It's a fun, summery video featuring fiddle virtuoso Mark O'Connor with his family back on the streets of Seattle
Alabama's Canaan’s Crossing has announced their reunion with a former bandmate, Drew Long, who has returned to the banjo position following the recent departure of Collins Miller. Miller, who had played with the group the past two years, is the son of Tina Miller who plays fiddle
The winners from this past weekend's Grand Master Fiddler Championship at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, have been posted online. Held annually, the competition is an open format where fiddlers (and their accompanists) are eligible
Steve Simmons, the former owner of Colorado Case Company and a longtime friend and supporter of bluegrass music, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Seattle on August 4. He was 57 years of age. According to his wife, Linda, he had
Matt Wright, bass player with The Larry Stephenson Band, was married this past Saturday to Lauren Pilat in a lovely outdoor ceremony in Maggie Valley, NC. The service included a song written by Kevin Richardson, Matt's close friend and fellow Stephenson bandmate, which
