Author: Sandy Hatley

Clyde Maness at the Music Barn - photo by G Nicholas Hancock Clyde Maness, bass player and proprietor of Maness Pottery & Music Barn in Carthage, NC, passed away on Sunday, July 31. The most recent recipient of Alan Perdue Memorial

The long running North Carolina female band sensation, Sweet Potato Pie, welcomes new band mate, Jaime Carter, and featured artist, Kevin Richardson (banjo player Crystal Richardson's husband), to their fold. Best known for their distinct harmonies and diverse musical repertoire,

Rising bluegrass starlet, Caroline Owens of Denton, NC, has a new banjo picker in her band, Caroline & Company. "We are proud to announce Bailey Moore as the newest member of Caroline & Company!" she stated. The banjoist joins Owens' other band

Coyote Ugly, First Place Bluegrass Band at Sparta 2022 - photo by G Nicholas Hancock After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, the Sparta-Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department hosted their annual fiddlers convention this past weekend in Sparta, North Carolina for

Jerry Salley, Billy Blue Records’ Creative/A&R Director, is a thankful man. "Billy Blue Records just celebrated its four year anniversary, and I am extremely grateful that, in my opinion, we have built one of the best rosters in bluegrass music. Not

Olivia Jo & The MVPs kicked off opening day of the 52nd Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion at the Denton FarmPark in Denton, NC on Thursday, June 30. The rising young bluegrass vocalist from Stuart, VA debuted her new powerhouse band.

Gary Saunders, a beloved western North Carolina musician who passed away in 2020, was remembered last Saturday at Whippoorwill Academy and Village in Ferguson, NC. The multi-instrumentalist was celebrated with picking, grinning, and storytelling, "We had the most wonderful day for

Sunset at the 2022 Willow Oak Bluegrass Festival - photo by Doug Whitley Always held Father's Day weekend, the Willow Oak Bluegrass Festival in Roxboro, NC continues to grow, and celebrated its largest turnout this year despite the absence of promoter,

The Kody Norris Show at the Willow Oak Bluegrass Festival (6/16/22) - photo by Gary Hatley Willow Oak Bluegrass Festival in Roxboro, NC, is successfully in full swing despite overcoming numerous hurdles. Promoter, Mike Wilson, suffered a heart attack and underwent

Dave Osborne, 75, of Greensboro, NC, passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. He served in the U.S. Army and performed in a traveling show that entertained the troops during the Vietnam War.  As a young professional musician, Osborne played with