Bill Evans and Alan Munde touring together
Great news for banjo players and lovers on the east coast! Two fine practitioners of the five string banjo, Bill Evans and Alan Munde, will be embarking on a two-week tour throughout the central and southeastern US. Hitting ten cities, the two will offer live stage performances together, demonstrating the versatility of the instrument in […]
Rhapsody in Blue(grass) from Béla Fleck
We shared the news last month that five string banjo maestro Béla Fleck was set to release a new album that explored the music of 20th century American composer George Gershwin, most prominently his masterwork, Rhapsody in Blue. Béla tackles the piece three ways, quite like the 1920s original with a jazz orchestra, again in […]
Jim Rae passes
Jim Rae, a former research scientist and faculty member at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, who contributed mightily to the groundwork and experimentation that led to the Truetone line offered by Huber Banjos, died on Christmas day. He was 83 years of age. Dr. Rae, a lifelong Minnesotan, developed his interest in the banjo during […]
Brad Powers to Hammertowne
Well… that didn’t take long. Just a week ago we shared that Dale Thomas was stepping away from his banjo role with Hammertowne, and the band already has news about a new member. Brad Powers from Staffordsville, KY, will be the new banjo picker. Hammertowne guitarist and vocalist David Carroll describes him a “banjo picker’s […]
Linus and Lucy, triple banjo style
In the Christmas, didn’t-know-you-needed-this-until-you-saw-it department… Foggy Mountain Spaceship, a banjo trio from Colorado, has recored a version of Vince Guaraldi’s Linus and Lucy from the soundtrack for the 1965 Peanuts animated special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. I’m not sure if youngsters these days are as exposed to this charming cartoon classic as we were when […]
Nervous Energy – Andy Lowe
Since the release of his first solo effort, Motley, North Carolina banjoist Andy Lowe has performed as a member of the Deer Creek Boys and was crowned the bluegrass banjo champion at the 2022 Galax Old Time Fiddler’s Convention. On his latest Mountain Fever Records release, Nervous Energy, Lowe gives us another look at his creativity on material both […]
Dale Thomas says goodbye to Hammertowne
Dale Thomas, banjo player with Kentucky’s Hammertowne this past five years, has announced that he will be leaving the band at the end of this year. He came in to the band in 2019 when original banjoist Brent Pack took his leave. Guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter for the group, David Carroll, says that Dale […]
Taylor’s Ride video from Todd Taylor
Todd Taylor, everyone’s favorite rock ‘n roll banjo picker, has a new single and video out this week. It’s one he wrote called Taylor’s Ride, which is essentially his life story in song. And what a life it’s been! Starting out at six years old, he toured with his brother as The Taylor Twins while […]
IBMA Trust Fund auction for 45th anniversary Prucha banjo
The IBMA Trust Fund is currently hosting an auction for a unique and exquisite banjo made by Jarda Prucha, and given to the Trust Fund in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Prucha Banjos building professional grade banjos and mandolins in the Czech Republic. If you attended this year’s World of Bluegrass convention, you will […]
Finnland from Daniel Grindstaff, with Andy Leftwich
Bonfire Music Group has released a new single for east Tennessee banjo man Daniel Grindstaff, another track from his upcoming Heroes & Friends album, due to drop next year. Daniel earned his bones playing banjo with Jim & Jesse, starting when he was 18 years old, and has gone on to play with Bobby Osborne, […]
