Author: Sandy Hatley

Veteran North Carolina bluegrasser, Lester Deaton, has formed a new group, The Dusty River Band. Deaton says of his new band, "Our music genre is primarily bluegrass with a little country and gospel sprinkled in. We have five seasoned musicians with

John Holder at a Balsam Range show - photo © Mike Duncan After 10 years, John Holder is stepping down as full time sound man for Balsam Range.  "After much deliberation and prayer, I made a decision to turn in my notice

Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers on Danny Stewart's Bluegrass Cruise - photo by Gary Hatley Bluegrass promoters Danny and Christa Stewart have been conducting bluegrass cruises since 2012. They have mixed up the perfect combination: great bluegrass entertainment, cruise line

Mandolinist Harold Killian, 95, of Catawba, NC, passed away on January 12, 2024. Along with his brother, Tommy Killian, they formed the group The Catawba River Boys and performed together for many years. Harold always greatly enjoyed playing and singing

The Earls of Leicester at The Ryman Auditorium (1/6/24) - photo © Bryce LaFoon Earl Scruggs, surely the most influential and imitated banjo picker to date, was celebrated and remembered at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Saturday night on what

Christmas is all about gift giving and spreading cheer. Lincoln Hensley and Aynsley Porchak, banjoist and fiddler, respectively, with the Tennessee Bluegrass Band, have done just that. The talented young duo became a conduit and provided musical instrument donations to

Wayne Winkle, Joe Hannabach, Clint Coker, Mike Hartgrove, Alan Bibey, Kevin Baucom, Jamie Dailey, and Darin Vincent, pallbearers and speakers at Terry Baucom's graveside service (12/13/23) - photo by Sandy Hatley Wednesday afternoon, the Duke of Drive, Terry Baucom, was laid

Country Gentlemen Tribute Band at Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies - photo © Bill Warren "What a wonderful weekend. It's the social event of the year," promoter Lorraine Jordan said at the close of her 2023 edition of Bluegrass Christmas in

Wyatt Ellis on the Grand Ole Opry (11/10/23) - photo by Nathan Leslie Wyatt Ellis, 14-year-old mandolin prodigy, made his artist debut on the Grand Ole Opry on Friday night last week. Only a small number of performers such as Dolly

Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road at the 2023 Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies - photo © Bill Warren The first day of the Lorraine Jordan's three-day Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies festival at the Convention Center in Gatlinburg, TN, was well