To be right up front this is not a bluegrass review, but I’m a firm believer that good music is good music, and great music is better! Those of us old enough, or retro enough, to journey into bluegrass accompanied … Read More
The band I Draw Slow hails from Ireland, and is fronted by brother and sister Dave (guitar+vocals) and Louise Holden (vocals), backed on fiddle by Adrian Hart, clawhammer banjo by Colin Derham, and bassist Konrad Liddy, with the Holdens picking … 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
Remember Josh Graves? How about Tut Taylor? Or Paul Franklin? For anyone other than the geeks (i.e., us) and the editors of the Fretboard Journal the names conjure something like memories, if not quite formed enough to warrant the term. … Read More
Northern Flyer is the self-titled debut release by a foursome of Vermont musicians, and while the band may be new the members have been around the music scene plenty long enough to establish solid credentials – band members are: Andy … Read More
Bluegrass generations seem to fly by as rapidly as grandchildren grow up. Bill Monroe was still anchoring the stage with some future of his own to go when Futureman was firing up his percussive space machine behind Bela Fleck. Gillian … Read More
Sam Bush once said that Bill Monroe was the ultimate feel player. It’s a backhanded compliment in a way, despite Bush’s clear reverence, because what he was saying was that Monroe lacked melodic precision, playing more to rhythm. He was … Read More
For those of you familiar with Rhonda’s background of bluegrass fireworks, this album will be an eye (ear?) opening revelation, straight up classic country duets with Daryle Singletary. Now, I might not be the best reviewer for “American Grandstand” as … Read More
Gayle Yeomans and I attended the wonderful house concert by Boston’s Mile Twelve at Lynn Rosen’s lovely, comfortable home in Rhinebeck Friday Sept. 8. The room was nearly full; a good, and appreciative crowd. It was Mile Twelve’s final northeastern … Read More
Listening to this CD, Colors, I envisioned myself at a country fair, being drawn to the stage where The Farm Hands was playing. If you like songs about nationalism, religion and the nostalgia for by-gone days, this is the CD for … Read More