Ralph’s Banjo Special from Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, and Alison Brown
Compass Records is preparing an 80th Anniversary Stanley Brothers Tribute project for 2025, and are releasing a debut single this week to tempt the palate. It’s a new cut of the classic tune, Ralph’s Banjo Special, coming during Ralph Stanley’s birthday week, featuring producer Alison Brown alongside Kristin Scott Benson and Gena Britt on a […]
Bosco – Bosco
Takaki Kosuke — better known as Bosco — developed an affection for old time music’s traditional trappings as a result of some singular devotion. Although born and raised in Japan, he became fascinated with old time early on, and subsequently developed seminal skills on fiddle, banjo, and dulcimer while bringing his musical mantra to fruition. As […]
Don’t Love Me drops for Ettore Buzzini
Here’s another new release for Valentine’s Day, this time from Swiss-American banjo heartthrob, Ettore Buzzini, on Patuxent Music. Also know as Eddie Ray, young Buzzini has been playing the banjo since he was nine years old. He has musical grandparents on both sides of his family; one introduced him to Flatt & Scruggs, the other […]
Gena Britt signs with Mountain Home Music
Mountain Home Music Company has announced today the signing of noted banjo player and vocalist Gena Britt to the label. Gena, of course is an original member of Sister Sadie, and an important part of their stage show and studio sound. She says that it just makes sense to release her upcoming solo project, which […]
Arthur Hatfield benefit in March
Kentucky Just Us will be hosting a family-style benefit show on March 15 for Kentucky banjo builder and instrument repairman Arthur Hatfield, whose shop burned down last month after a propane heater ignited the building on January 10. Arthur lost everything in the fire. All his tooling and equipment is gone, along with everything he […]
Washington Express – Gabe Epstein
Banjoist Gabe Epstein, a 2019 graduate of ETSU’s esteemed Bluegrass, Old Time & Roots Music program, felt a need to stay connected to the community he surrounded himself with during his time at school. Epstein’s debut solo album, Washington Express, was the end result. Not only was the project itself tracked at the recording lab located on […]
Bennett Sullivan announces banjo LickFest 2025
Popular banjo player and educator Bennett Sullivan has come up with a unique instructional music festival which he is calling LickFest. It’s set to run online February 22-23, and attendees will be able to spend 30 minute Demio sessions with a dozen or more top professional banjo pickers, showing how they create melodies, and then […]
Jim Fraley’s Celebration of Life
Jimmy “Jim” Fraley, North Carolina banjoist and former member of Deeper Shade of Blue who passed away on January 30 at the age of 68, was laid to rest on Saturday. The service, held at Lee Park Church in Monroe, NC, served as a wonderful tribute to a man who truly valued his faith, his […]
Jim Fraley passes
Jim Fraley – photo (on right) © John Atwater Jimmy “Jim” Fraley, 68, North Carolina banjoist and former member of Deeper Shade of Blue, passed away on January 30 following a period of declining health. Fraley, who did everything left-handed except play the banjo, began picking as a teenager. He shared in a 2020 interview, […]
Cherry Street – Benny Sidelinger
Benny Sidelinger seems like an unassuming sort of guy. His bio consists of an anecdote about an introduction he was once given at a local watering hole where he was rather anonymous at the time. Nevertheless, it’s a clever means of introduction, citing credits that include, performances with Allison Russell, a banjo jam with Michael […]
