Let me say right up front that Marc Rennard is my kind of fiddler. Marc’s fiddling is a proper extension of himself: powerful, engaging and steeped in the tradition. Earthenware is a welcome and long overdue introduction to Marc’s fiddling, … Read More
Mike Barnett grew up in Connecticut, and he was spotted as a gifted young fiddler from at least his high school days. That’s certainly when I first saw him. He wasn’t messing around then, and it was no surprise that … Read More
Bobby Hicks is a living legend in bluegrass music. He’s going in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Honor this year. His prodigious fiddling was responsible for some of the classic Bill Monroe instrumentals like “Cheyenne” and “Roanoke,” and … Read More
On a particularly frigid evening a few years ago, Robert and Lillian Fraker came here to my house in Amherst for our usual festive dinner and a few hours of music making. Robert came through the door, eyes beaming. As … Read More
Noam Pikelny is an exceptional and explorative musician known for his work with the Punch Brothers and, recently, with Stuart Duncan. That means he’s already sitting on top of the world, at least in the realm of musicians who were … Read More
The Gibson Brothers need no introduction to folks around the state of New York. Eric and Leigh Gibson are New York natives raised in rural, farming country in the upstate region. Despite their wanderings as professional musicians, stints in Nashville … Read More
The Infamous Stringdusters are, by now, well known to folks following contemporary bluegrass, newgrass, jamgrass or the sweep-up-everything category of Americana music. They are touring all over the country, and you can bet they hit the stage and power it … Read More
I remember that vinyl record so well. The white cover with the Civil War figure in the middle, the studio photos of Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Mother Maybelle Carter, Vassar Clements and the Dirt Band members, and all the rest. … Read More
Longevity is a rare thing with any musical group, and Blue Highway is one of the bluegrass bands that manages to keep on keepin’ on. Over twenty years on the road is an impressive track record of commitment in the … Read More
Mark O’Connor, by the time he was 12 years old, was already superhuman. As a contest player, he was unparalleled, carving up people left and right on fiddle, mandolin and guitar. The instrument really didn’t matter. He studied at the … Read More