Fundraiser for Gabe Hirshfeld and his kidney transplant
Highly-regarded Boston banjo player Gabe Hirshfeld has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe, asking for assistance as he navigates the costs and difficulties of an aggressive kidney disease, leading up to a transplant. Gabe came to prominence nationally as a member of Boston’s Lonely Heartstring Band, now defunct, a very popular modern bluegrass group during the […]
Ghost Riders in the Sky video from Todd Taylor, plus another health scare
South Carolina banjo man Todd Taylor has a new video, his rock ‘n’ roll five string version of the classic song, Ghost Riders in the Sky. Todd has made a career for himself in this distinct stylistic niche, taking three-finger, roll-style banjo to rock music lovers with his arrangements of hit songs, and appearing with […]
Turtle Hill Banjo introduces pre war replica tone ring
Turtle Hill Banjo Company in Maryland has announced the upcoming launch of a new branded product, a Turtle Hill banjo tone ring, shipping soon. For most of its life, the company focused on the buying and selling of vintage instruments, primarily banjos, but also mandolins and occasionally guitars and resophonic guitars. But under new owner […]
Lonesome Blues, I’m Coming Home from Max Wareham
Boston banjo player, singer, and writer Max Wareham has a new single, taken from his upcoming debut album, DAGGOMIT. If Max looks familiar, he’s been playing banjo for the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band of late, and we featured him in 2022 when he released his musical biography of Rudy Lyle, Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero […]
50 years of Deering Banjos
As we start a new year, we recognize a special anniversary for a family business that has served the bluegrass industry for five decades. The Deering Banjo Company is celebrating 50 years in 2025! The company was launched in 1975 by Greg and Janet Deering, just a year after the two were married. Greg was […]
2024 Steve Martin Prize winners announced
Today comes the announcement of the winners of the 2024 Steve Martin Banjo Prize, given to recognize excellence across the spectrum of banjo styles. This year’s Prize highlights a pair of young banjoists, one each from the three finger and clawhammer style communities, Tray Wellington and Alison de Groot. Both have been noted for pushing […]
Cabin on the Hill – new music from the Vestal Brothers
The Vestal Brothers ride again! Scott Vestal, surely at or near the top of anyone’s list of banjo players, and his bass playing brother, Curtis, likewise an experienced pro, are working on new music together for True Lonesome Records. The two grew up in Texas playing bluegrass and old time music with their grandfather, Famon […]
Riding from The Gina Furtado Project
Mountain Home Music has another single for The Gina Furtado Project, one the banjo player and band leader wrote about an uncomfortable interaction she experienced in her personal life. Riding is an introspective look at her own interior sentiments when something unexpected came her way. Gina has become known for her deeply intimate lyrics, and […]
Dotze Temps – Lluís Gómez
Referred to as “the Spanish King Of The Five String Banjo” by Alison Brown, Lluís Gómez has combined elements of bluegrass and flamenco music in his versatile style of picking. His third solo effort, Dotze Temps, is a continued exploration of his instrumental capabilities, and includes vocal selections sung in various languages. The opening tune, T’ho Vaig Dir, is […]
Little Roy makes a young banjo picker’s day
No one reading this is likely to need reminding of the kindness of bluegrass artists towards their audience. No other musical format experiences the sort of closeness and availability that bluegrass fans come to expect, with most of our top performers spending as much time greeting people and signing autographs as they do on stage […]
