Author: Lee Zimmerman

If the name of the band seems to indicate an inclination towards spiritual suggestion, it's probably no accident. My Brother's Keeper share songs that seem to aim for a higher meaning while also keeping bound to humble circumstance. A five

Anyone who's delved into the history of popular music knows that there's always been a free exchange of ideas and influences going back and forth between the US and the UK. One link began early on, when the English adopted

The Vancouver combo known as The Lonesome Town Painters — Angelo Eidse (guitar, vocals), Patrick Bartel (banjo, vocals), Jeremy Freeman (mandolin, vocals) and Fred Beach (bass, vocals) — share an enthusiasm for essential bluegrass that's evident in every note and

It goes without saying that bluegrass is part of a timeless tradition that’s been carried forward from one generation to the next. Even those artists and ensembles that publicly profess the need to add their own individual elements to the

When is a supergroup not a supergroup? Answer: when they eschew any serious suggestion that they are. Consequently, when a gathering of seasoned Canadian old time and bluegrass players sequestered themselves for three productive days in a cabin set in

Anders Beck and Greensky Bluegrass at Shagbark Farm in Michigan (7/16/21) - photo © Bryan Bolea Greensky Bluegrass straddles two worlds, one that nods towards bluegrass and the other that uses it as a springboard for seeking other plateaus. While their

Sometimes titles can be misleading, or even a misnomer. That's clearly the case with Bill & The Belles' deceptively titled sophomore set, Happy Again. At first, the discrepancy isn't very obvious other than the fact that it's in parenthesis; the group's giddy

Some artists are recognized for their prowess and proficiency. That's natural of course. However, there are also the rarified few who are known for their absolute passion and purpose, a commitment to the cause that assures the fact that every

It's hardly surprising that those who are most fervent about the basics of bluegrass should be those who reside in the closest proximity of the US, specifically our neighbors to the north in Canada. And there's no better example of

Curtailed from touring by the pandemic, multi-instrumentalists Mark Schatz and Bryan McDowell, both former members of the Claire Lynch Band, opted instead to retreat Schatz’s basement recording studio and cut thirteen tracks that provide a fine representation of combined dexterity