Bill Monroe—depending on who you ask—started this whole bluegrass business, and led an illustrious touring career that extended into the 1990s. But Big Mon’s legacy obviously didn’t stop there. Go to any bluegrass jam and you’re liable to hear some … Read More
In my opinion, bluegrass will never be better than it was in the 1990s. Some of the best bands in the genre’s history produced their standout works during this decade: Tony Rice made Tony Rice Plays and Sings Bluegrass, the … Read More
Although he doesn’t get nearly as much love as singers like Del McCoury or Russell Moore, Larry Sparks is one of the most talented troubadours in bluegrass history. With a history spanning five decades, Larry Sparks is an underrated master … Read More
Bill Monroe played the mandolin, Flatt and Scruggs played the guitar and banjo respectively… but bluegrass would not be what it was if those legends hadn’t had top-notch fiddlers in their band. From first generation fiddle masters like Kenny Baker, … Read More
It’s time for another bluegrass Christmas! From “Frosty the Snowman” to “Sleigh Ride” to “Silent Night,” bluegrass’s best pickers—including Dan Tyminski, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent, and more—have you covered in the holiday cheer department. Enjoy this playlist of bluegrass Christmas … Read More
Live bluegrass bounced back in 2021, with festivals and jams returning with the blessing of vaccination against COVID-19. This year also proved to be a renaissance for bluegrass in the studio too: Bela Fleck’s long-anticipated return to the bluegrass genre … Read More
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