Donald Dowdy, whose powerful vocals helped fuel the The Bluegrass Brothers and The Dowdy Brothers, passed away Thursday. He was 34 years old. His death was caused by a heart attack, his brother Steven said, and he had been ill for a few months. Dowdy, who lived in Vinton, VA, was a left-handed mandolin player [...]
From the deep, rolling hills of southwestern Virginia come The Bluegrass Brothers, an arch traditional band with an affinity for the Stanley sound. The group was formed in 1989 by siblings, Victor and Robert Dowdy, hence the name. Robert has since left the band, and for a time Victor's sons, Steven and Donald, toured with [...]
For more than a quarter century, The Bluegrass Brothers have been traveling the country, performing hard core, mountain style bluegrass wherever they go. Heavily influenced by the Stanley sound from their native southwestern Virginia, this band is among the most entertaining acts in our music, for their rough and ragged sound, and the energy they [...]
Congratulations to Jamie and Erin Sparks on the birth of their first child. Jamie is the banjo player with The Bluegrass Brothers. Kenzie Marie Sparks was born at 11:48 p.m. on February 11 in Farmville, VA at the Centra Southside Community Hospital. She came into the world at 6 lbs, 10 oz, and stretched out [...]
The Bluegrass Brothers, super hard-driving traditionalists from Catawba, VA, will have a new look for 2017. Well, actually... it's more a return to an older look for the group. John Simmons, who had been playing guitar and singing with the Brothers, had to give up his spot due to conflicting demands at his day job. [...]
Nothin’ Fancy has what can only be described as “hardcore” fans, as evidenced by a fan's fingernails we saw yesterday at the Nothin' Fancy Festival in Buena Vista, VA. Mike Andes posed with the band’s new CD. He said something about “shameless self-promotion.” Jeff Scroggins and Colorado made their first appearance at the festival. They [...]
Jamie Sparks, the young banjo picker with The Bluegrass Brothers, was hospitalized on Monday near his home in Richmond, VA. Bluegrass fans will quickly recognize Jamie, as he is one of the very few left-handed banjoists working in our music. According to Bluegrass Brothers bassist and band leader Victor Dowdy, Jamie was experiencing complications from his [...]
The Bluegrass Brothers of southwest Virginia have announced John Simmons as their new guitarist. John is a familiar face in bluegrass circles from his work with Country Fried Grass, a successful regional group he headed for 2006-2013. He will also sing lead and harmony vocals with the Brothers, and share his songwriting skills with the band. He [...]
Saturday at the Palatka Bluegrass Festival opened with a Gospel sing in front of the stage. Around 20 musicians joined in. At the same time Norman and Judy Adams were hard at work taking reservations for next year’s show. The Marksmen opened the stage show. Earl Wheeler has fronted this group for well over 40 [...]
Day 2 of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival dawned bright and sunny. The schedule was jumbled a bit because Doyle Lawson had a bus breakdown and was unable to make the show. So Harbourtown stepped in and opened the show. Virgil Bowlin brought Peerless Mountain to the Charlotte stage for the first time and The Bluegrass [...]
Donald Dowdy, whose powerful vocals helped fuel the The Bluegrass Brothers and The Dowdy Brothers, passed away Thursday. He was 34 years old. His death was caused by a heart attack, his brother Steven said, and he had been ill for a few months. Dowdy, who lived in Vinton, VA, was a left-handed mandolin player [...] 
From the deep, rolling hills of southwestern Virginia come The Bluegrass Brothers, an arch traditional band with an affinity for the Stanley sound. The group was formed in 1989 by siblings, Victor and Robert Dowdy, hence the name. Robert has since left the band, and for a time Victor's sons, Steven and Donald, toured with [...] 
For more than a quarter century, The Bluegrass Brothers have been traveling the country, performing hard core, mountain style bluegrass wherever they go. Heavily influenced by the Stanley sound from their native southwestern Virginia, this band is among the most entertaining acts in our music, for their rough and ragged sound, and the energy they [...] 
Congratulations to Jamie and Erin Sparks on the birth of their first child. Jamie is the banjo player with The Bluegrass Brothers. Kenzie Marie Sparks was born at 11:48 p.m. on February 11 in Farmville, VA at the Centra Southside Community Hospital. She came into the world at 6 lbs, 10 oz, and stretched out [...] 
The Bluegrass Brothers, super hard-driving traditionalists from Catawba, VA, will have a new look for 2017. Well, actually... it's more a return to an older look for the group. John Simmons, who had been playing guitar and singing with the Brothers, had to give up his spot due to conflicting demands at his day job. [...] 
Nothin’ Fancy has what can only be described as “hardcore” fans, as evidenced by a fan's fingernails we saw yesterday at the Nothin' Fancy Festival in Buena Vista, VA. Mike Andes posed with the band’s new CD. He said something about “shameless self-promotion.” Jeff Scroggins and Colorado made their first appearance at the festival. They [...] 
Jamie Sparks, the young banjo picker with The Bluegrass Brothers, was hospitalized on Monday near his home in Richmond, VA. Bluegrass fans will quickly recognize Jamie, as he is one of the very few left-handed banjoists working in our music. According to Bluegrass Brothers bassist and band leader Victor Dowdy, Jamie was experiencing complications from his [...] 
The Bluegrass Brothers of southwest Virginia have announced John Simmons as their new guitarist. John is a familiar face in bluegrass circles from his work with Country Fried Grass, a successful regional group he headed for 2006-2013. He will also sing lead and harmony vocals with the Brothers, and share his songwriting skills with the band. He [...] 
Saturday at the Palatka Bluegrass Festival opened with a Gospel sing in front of the stage. Around 20 musicians joined in. At the same time Norman and Judy Adams were hard at work taking reservations for next year’s show. The Marksmen opened the stage show. Earl Wheeler has fronted this group for well over 40 [...] 
Day 2 of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival dawned bright and sunny. The schedule was jumbled a bit because Doyle Lawson had a bus breakdown and was unable to make the show. So Harbourtown stepped in and opened the show. Virgil Bowlin brought Peerless Mountain to the Charlotte stage for the first time and The Bluegrass [...] 