Al Murphy passes
This remembrance of Iowa fiddler Alan Murphy is a contribution from Marc Janssen and Aleta Porcella. Alan Murphy (80) died on July 26, 2025. While his family and close friends called him Alan, he will be remembered by most as master fiddler Al Murphy. Al was the centerpiece of a very rich Iowa City traditional […]
2025 Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship results
Daniel Carwile fiddles his way to first place at the 2025 Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship Many thanks to Ed Carnes, Co-Chairman of the Twin Lakes Nation Fiddler Championship, for sharing this year’s results, and some photos from their big day. The 2025 Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship contest was held on Saturday, July 19, […]
11 year old Stuart Duncan interviewed by Wayne Rice
Many thanks to our friend Wayne Rice for sharing this interview he did in 1976 with a pre-teen Stuart Duncan. A number of southern California bluegrass legends turn up on this recording Wayne made of one of his first editions of The Bluegrass Special, which went on to be among the longest-running bluegrass radio programs […]
Back to the Cabin in Caroline – A Tribute to Bluegrass Pioneer, John ‘Ralph’ Pennington
Back to the Cabin in Caroline – A Tribute to Bluegrass Pioneer, John ‘Ralph’ Pennington is a new release of mostly older material, which is precisely what the title suggests. The project was a huge undertaking and devoted to the memory of the groundbreaking North Carolina bluegrass musician by his daughter, Vivian Pennington-Hopkins. It is […]
Seeing The Best of You from Laura Orshaw
Laura Orshaw – photo © Scott Simontacchi Dark Shadow Recording has a new single for bluegrass fiddler and vocalist Laura Orshaw, one titled Seeing The Best of You, the second from her upcoming sophomore album with the label. It’s a honky-tonk bluegrass song Laura wrote with her husband, Josh Rinkel, who plays guitar and adds […]
Eck Robertson at the Crossroads of American Fiddling
A new book from the University of Mississippi Press, Eck Robertson at the Crossroads of American Fiddling, offers a detailed biography of the early 20th century musician who helped popularize fiddling via commercial recordings. He is credited as being the first artist featured in a country, or “hillbilly,” recording session when the Victor Talking Machine […]
Lee Stoneking Memorial Fiddle Contest debuts in Missouri
The first annual Lee Stoneking Memorial Fiddle Contest, inspired by the passion and dedication of renowned Missouri fiddler, the late Lee Stoneking, marked a significant milestone in the world of traditional music. Held over Memorial Day weekend in a vibrant community setting in Clinton, Missouri, this event brought together talented musicians from various backgrounds to […]
Winter Comin’ On from Bryan McDowell
Bluegrass fiddler and vocalist Bryan McDowell, Mountain Fever Records’ most recent signee, has released a second single from what will be his label debut project. Winter Comin’ On is one Bryan wrote and sings, also adding his fiddle to this track of a song the portrays the dreary, barren feeling of a frosty day. It […]
Congratulations to Madeline Dierauf!
Madeline Dierauf, fiddler and vocalist with The Wilder Flower, was celebrated this week with the Key to the City in her hometown of Brevard, NC, along with a proclamation announcing this as Madeline Dierauf Week in Brevard. The distinction came her way not only for her many years excelling both musically and academically, but for […]
Go Back and Fetch It for fiddle and banjo
The University of North Carolina Press has set a September 16 release date for a new book by noted banjo performer Rhiannon Giddens and music writer Kristina R. Gaddy, Go Back and Fetch It: Recovering Early Black Music in the Americas for Fiddle and Banjo. It’s representative of a very encouraging trend, primarily within academia at this […]
