Reviews

While many new bluegrass bands try to stretch the genre’s lines as far as they can, there are also quite a few which stick just as hard to the classic sounds which first-generation groups such as Flatt and Scruggs made

Not many people can claim to be multi-IBMA award winners; even fewer have nine Mandolin Player of the Year trophies sitting at home. Adam Steffey, currently of the Boxcars and formerly of Alison Krauss and Union Station, as well as

There are certain instruments you can always expect to see listed in the credits of a bluegrass album. Banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and bass are all usuals, along with the occasional dobro, and even drums in more progressive groups. However,

It's always difficult to know what to expect when you hear that a bluegrass band is made up of people who have no background in bluegrass music. Will the album simply be covers of old classics? Pop music with banjo? Or,

If you've caught a Junior Sisk show this past few years, or heard his last two records, you know what a blistering banjo picker he has in Jason Davis. This month, at the age of 23, Davis is seeing his second

Most artists who make the leap from another genre to bluegrass come from country, old time, or perhaps Christian/Gospel music. It’s not often you hear of a bluegrass band that started out in hip-hop, but for Australian group Mustered Courage,

It seems like there’s quite a bit of old-time, folk, and bluegrass music coming from the western United States lately, much of it with a heavy emphasis on peaceful sounds and gentle melodies. With their new release, Our Lady of

Jack Lawrence will always be known for his 25 years as accompanist and flatpicking partner to the legendary Doc Watson. Not a bad item to have on your resumé. But Jack was already a noted guitarist when Doc took him on

Some of today’s most enjoyable folk music comes from British Columbia husband-and-wife duo Pharis and Jason Romero. Their 2011 debut, A Passing Glimpse, was a beautifully understated album of old-time tunes, and their new release, Long Gone Out West Blues,

Some readers may remember the Kentucky-based group Summertown Road, which released a self-titled album back in 2010. The group’s lead vocalist, Bo Isaac, has reassembled several members of the band to release a new project under the name Bo Isaac