Like Steep Canyon Rangers, Town Mountain makes an upward climb from bluegrass basics to yet another pinnacle. The two bands share a propensity for bending boundaries whenever it suits their purposes, a tack taken by means of their superior songwriting
Mark & Maggie O’Connor on Watson Stage at Merlefest on April 28, 2019 - Photo by Alisa B. Cherry Mark O’Connor is a phenomenon. That’s not a label to be taken lightly. With 45 albums of his own recorded over the
The common thread found with all the bands that create Bluegrass Beyond Borders lies not only in the fact that they pluck their influences from the American heartland, but also in the way they tie those traditions to their homeland
Carolina Road’s devotion to carrying on bluegrass tradition in the purest and most authentic way has been a hallmark of band’s ongoing efforts since the beginning. With True Grass Again, the band maintains that mantra, and does so in a
MerleFest Veterans set on Watson Stage at MerleFest on April 27, 2019 - photo by Alisa B. Cherry Some festivals are known for their music. Others for the legacy they’ve left behind. And a few can be counted on for both. Put
Dale Ann Bradley has become a staple of several musical trends over the course of her career — bluegrass, Americana, grassicana, and most of the rootsier sounds that lie in-between. Indeed, if she’s yet to receive the full recognition that
There’s likely no better example of the international reach of bluegrass and grassicana than the inspiration it gives to those that live abroad, and initially developed any interest from afar. Once such individual is Owen Schinkel, a student and bluegrass
The Farm Hands may have assigned themselves a humble handle, but the fact is, they have accrued an impressive history along the way. Having amassed more than 80 award nominations — and garnered 30 of them in the process —
There may be no more celebrated band in modern bluegrass than Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. The group — Solivan (vocals, mandolin, guitar, fiddle) Mike Munford (banjo), Chris Luquette (guitar), and Jeremy Middleton (bass) — are the recipients of any
Mandolin player Darren Nicholson subtitles his new album, Fret A Spell, as Instrumental Bluegrass. Of course, the description isn’t really necessary. Given the fact that most of the offerings in this 13 song set are well known standards, the music itself offers
