Since Neil V. Rosenberg’s book Bluegrass: A History, we have seen relatively few attempts to bring a fresh and up-to-date reading about the musical genre. The approach with Craig Harris’ new book, based on a wide range of personal interviews, is also to link the bluegrass genre to our contemporary setting. Let’s be clear: most so-called “bluegrass” festivals these days don’t look like Bean Blossom, circa 1971. This book effectively reflects and documents many changes in the larger realm … Read More

Charming. Deeply charming. That is the essence of this full-length debut by Bill and the Belles, Dream Songs, Etc. Here is a disarming sweetness, a wistful recollection of a by-gone era, a sound that goes back to the earliest days of the 20th century (and even before). Bill and the Belles—a quartet consisting of Kris Truelsen on guitar, Kalia Yeagle on fiddle, Grace Van’t Hof on banjo, and Karl Zerfas on bass—evoke and create a unique form of American acoustic … Read More

5 Speed I always hope to return from the summer bluegrass fests with one great new find; and this year I hit upon Cane Mill Road at the GreyFox Bluegrass Festival in the Catskills. Apparently I’m not the first to find them, as their debut CD 5 Speed hit #9 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album chart and they’ve been gaining lots of airplay. As if that’s not enough of attracting good attention, the IBMA chose them as one of 30 … Read More