Music

ASAP Bluegrass Mandolin is the title of a newly-released instructional method from Hal Leonard. The book, by Eddie Collins, consists of 112 pages of "quick-start" mandolin lessons (presented in both tab and standard notation), plus 2 audio CDs. The first CD

Tommy Webb, a recent recruit to the Rural Rhythm Records' roster, will have his first release, called Heartland (RHY-1043), on that label on April 21, 2009. The album, produced by Ron Stewart, includes 12 songs, several of which were written by

The new CD from banjoist Alison Brown, The Company You Keep, will be released April 7 on Compass Records. The album features her quartet: John Burr on piano, Garry West on bass, Joe Craven on mandolin and fiddle and Larry Atamanuik

The 4th Annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp will take place at the International Bluegrass Music Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky, on September 11 - 13, 2009. Set up to preserve the unique, historic performance art of Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass," the museum

Michael Martin Murphey has created a music video for Close To The Land, the first from his Rural Rhythm release, Buckaroo Bluegrass. The album was produced by Michael's son Ryan, and features bluegrass-inflected acoustic versions of several of his most popular

Nothin' Fancy guitar player Gary Farris has moved into the exciting world of food service - not an unfamiliar side career for bluegrass musicians. But Gary won't be mopping floors or chopping onions. He and partner Jerry Ingram have teamed up

Missy Raines is in DC with her young touring band, the New Hip. They have a show this evening (3/9) in nearby Rockville, MD for the Institute of Musical Traditions, but will stop off this morning at the WAMU studios

Cliff Wagner & The Old #7 had quite a run as contestants on the Next Great American Band program, which aired on Fox TV in 2007. They made it a good ways into the finals, as voted by the television

Dennis Jones with WNCW in Spindale, NC sent along an advance copy of Goin' Across The Mountain Live - Volume 3, which will be offered as a premium for station supporters in 2009. The 15 tracks were all recorded and broadcast

Rejoice all you Del-heads! McCoury Music is preparing to release a 5 disc, definitive collection of the music of Del McCoury on May 12. Celebrating 50 Years Of Del McCoury will include 50 tracks marking Del's five decades in bluegrass, plus