Reviews

Though western North Carolina has long been known as a hotbed of traditional music, much of the attention has focused on the old-time, mountain styles – ballad singers, string bands, and the like – found throughout the region’s hills and

One of the most universal themes in bluegrass music is home – particularly, missing it once it’s no longer what it once was. With their latest project, Spokane, Washington-based group Kevin Pace & the Early Edition has built an entire

Hank Smith, a banjo player from Raleigh, is a busy man. If playing gigs, keeping a steady stream of banjo students, forming a Béla Fleck tribute show, traveling to Wilkes County to study with Jens Kruger, and recently forming a

Miles Between is the second release from Unspoken Tradition, who describe themselves as a working class bluegrass band from North Carolina's western Piedmont. Like their first album, Simple Little Town, this one offers a blend of original material written within

I'm not sure I've ever encountered a record I enjoyed this well, where I've had so much trouble quantifying the sound. It's all joyfully conceived and brilliantly played, but running counter to so many stylistic norms... and yet it works

I have to admit, I don’t keep up with the international bluegrass scene as much as I should. However, thanks to Bluegrass Today, I’ve had the opportunity to review quite a few strong albums from groups based outside of the

The group known as Finnders & Youngberg not only has a new album out, but also a new name. On Eat the Moon, their recent release from Swing Fingers Records, the group labels themselves as FY5, a name that perhaps

Minnesota's High 48s have joined the ranks of bluegrass groups releasing Christmas music during the 2015 season. Their 10-track offering is entitled Holidays With The High 48s, and represents a lighter look at Christmas classics from this popular Upper Midwest

National Media Services has released its annual Christmas album for 2015. Each Fall, the company chooses one of their loyal customers to record a special holiday record, which NMS uses in its own Christmas gift packages for clients, and also

Need one last Christmas present or stocking stuffer for the mandolin player in your life? Consider Scott Napier’s recently released instructional DVD, Mandolin Originals with Scott Napier. Napier, the longtime mandolin player for the Lost and Found and one of the