Author: Jerry Oland

As many of you know, my wife and I have been wintering in Florida for the past five years. Last week I was asked to play banjo at a festival in N. Miami with friends I jam with every week … Read More

Buddy Merriam’s latest CD, The Farm is a delight. All the songs and instrumentals are original, except for 2 Bill Monroe songs, “Stay Away From Me” and “Bluest Man In Town,” ably sung by guitarist Matt Riley. Riley also sings … Read More

Wayne Taylor has been singing and playing bass with the band Blue Highway since its inception more than 17 years ago. Now he has released a wonderful solo CD, It’s About Time, backed by an all-star cast of musicians and … Read More

I love this CD. Everything about this album is top notch; arrangements, production, singing and playing by the band. Did I leave anything out? Each song has been crafted to unique perfection and the album contains a wide diversity of … Read More

My first encounter with the Yankee Rebels was back in the early 1970’s at a jamboree at O’Lunney’s bar and restaurant on 2nd Avenue. The Arm Bros., from Poughkeepsie, had ventured into NYC and were slotted to follow the Yankee … Read More

Fred Robbins, Videographer Saturday night the HVBA hosted a great concert by Audie Blaylock and Redline at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie. Audie spent 9 years on the road with Jimmy Martin as a Sunny Mountain Boy and one could … Read More

Alan Bibey and Steve Gulley are among the very best musicians playing bluegrass today, and they’ve teamed up with three young and equally impressive young players: Justin Jenkins, banjo, Kameron Keller, bass, and Adam Haynes, fiddle, in Grasstowne’s latest CD, … Read More

This is a fine collection of songs from the Virginia based band Lost & Found, which last year marked its 30th year. Allen Mills, bass player and founding member, plays on all 14 cuts, and the CD contains songs from … Read More

Last October while attending the IBMA’s annual convention in Nashville, TN, I heard a group of musicians picking and singing in a lounge area of the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel. I moved closer and found myself captivated by … Read More

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has re-issued the recordings of the New Lost City Ramblers (1958 – 1973) in a new 3 CD set.   This set features two previously released CDs of the Ramblers classic Folkways recordings: The Early Years, 1958-1962 … Read More