Instrumental music has always had a prominent place in the bluegrass genre. But it’s not all fast-paced, driving fiddle and banjo melodies—instrumental bluegrass is often its best when it’s at its most plaintive. This list of some of today’s and … Read More
JULY 30 TRIVIA QUESTION Today’s question is about two large bluegrass associations. The International Bluegrass Music Association – IBMA; and The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America – SPBGMA. Both hold an annual festival and awards ceremony … Read More
This post discusses two very worthwhile books about regional bluegrass. One of them, “Industrial Strength Bluegrass” (Illinois 2021), was published this year. The other, “Bluegrass In Baltimore” (McFarland & Co. 2015), is six years old. These books are histories of … Read More
I just stumbled on this book while looking over new selections on my Kindle reader subscription. A recent bio of Doc Watson (very near the end of his life). The most surprising part is with my Kindle subscription this book … Read More
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I absolutely love when bluegrass artists cover songs that are outside of the bluegrass pantheon. There’s such an incredible sense of fun when you hear a banjo playing the Beatles, a fiddle … Read More
This Contest is Closed The winner is ANDY BING JULY 16 TRIVIA QUESTION How many women are in the IBMA Hall of Fame (including back when it used to known as the “Hall of Honor” because Bill and James Monroe … Read More
Connecticut has a lot to offer the bluegrass community- from hosting an IBMA award winning festival, to maintaining a thriving concert series that has brought the biggest bluegrass names around, any bluegrass lover would be missing out if CT wasn’t … Read More
At a time like this, there are no words to adequately describe Byron Berline. In addition to his sublime musicianship, he was also an individual who was gentle, graceful, humble and so very kind. While the world mourns the loss … Read More
click photo to enlarge – photos by Tobey Sandford In a March column about the “big tent” of bluegrass I discussed some of the reasons that I don’t care for a lot of contemporary bluegrass. My main complaint was that, … Read More
This Contest is Closed The winner is Andy Bing JULY 2 TRIVIA CONTEST Who said onstage at the Newport Folk Festival when discussing musical timing (it’s on a CD for all to hear): “Really, I play the best time of … Read More