The 1980s were a big decade for bluegrass. It was the decade when a good portion of today’s bluegrass juggernauts—Alison Krauss and Bela Fleck for example—cut their teeth. Some of the genre’s best-ever performers, like the Nashville Bluegrass Band and … Read More
It has been argued by many (read: me) that Alison Krauss is—and will remain—the best female vocalist and fiddler that bluegrass has ever seen. She started her career in her teens in the 1980s, created possibly the most recognizable and … Read More
By now, you’ve probably gotten a sense of what I like in terms of bluegrass. High-level instrumental prowess, creative and outside-the-box songwriting, and an excellent ensemble sound are what I look for in my bluegrass favorites. Those things all apply … Read More
Whether you call it ”waltz time,” three-quarter time,” or simply “three,” bluegrass songs *not* in 4/4 time are where some of today’s artists shine the brightest. Although “Kentucky Waltz,” Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and Bill Monroe’s other timeless waltzes still … Read More
Although five is the usual number of members in a bluegrass ensemble, there’s something wonderful about hearing two musicians pick together. The musical conversations between a pair of instruments—and sometimes a pair of voices too—are laid bare on this special … Read More
For the first time in over 20 years, living legend Bela Fleck has a new bluegrass album on the way, called My Bluegrass Heart, arriving September 10th (today!). Before digging into this new entry, let’s relive some of Bela’s greatest … Read More
What’s better than one fiddle? Two fiddles of course! What’s better than one banjo? A pair of banjos! What’s better than one mando- okay, you get the point. There’s nothing better in bluegrass than the sound of a pair of … Read More
Bluegrass instrumental music isn’t always easy-going like last week’s playlist… sometimes, it’s downright hard-drivin’. On this week’s playlist, we hear tough-as-nails instrumental melodies from banjo heavyweights Bela Fleck and Alison Brown, guitar virtuosos Bryan Sutton and Clay Jones, and mandolin … Read More
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
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