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Amanda Cook Does It All

Photo By Wes Hobbs – Better Focus Photography Singer/songwriter Amanda Cook doesn’t simply shine on the creative side as a full-time touring and recording artist. She also has a solid business acumen and knowledge, accompanied by a strong work ethic, that has propelled her to the Chief Operations Officer position at Mountain Fever Records, the…

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Tom Sauber // Photo by William Purcell

Through the Years with Tom Sauber

There aren’t many bluegrass or old-time fiddlers who can claim to have performed in a bear suit. More than once. As cool as that is, it represents but a second in the long and eventful career of the highly esteemed Southern California multi-instrumentalist Tom Sauber. Now in his seventh decade as a professional musician, has…

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Shelby Means // Photo by Hunter McRae 

Shelby Means’ New Solo Album

Shelby Means had nothing to prove to anyone but herself when she set out to record her first solo self-titled album. Her bluegrass credentials are solid. In fact, bluegrass brought her to Nashville in the first place. A native of Wyoming, she grew up going to festivals and played in the Alaska bluegrass band Bearfoot…

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Mutt Poston during his heyday as a Rural Rhythm Recording Artist, ca. 1967.

Notes & Queries – August 2025

Q: Could you provide me with some info on Fiddlin’ Mutt Poston? I will be playing one of his fiddle tunes on our radio program in the coming weeks and have been unable to locate any info about this gentleman. Thanks.  – Wilson Moore, Amherst, Nova Scotia A: Mercer Adron “Mutt” Poston was a fiddler from…

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The Ballad Of Charlie Avalon

The Stillhouse Junkies have gone all out on their latest venture. It’s a sweeping and ambitious 20-plus-track concept album that’s been years in the making. Some of the material even predates the Junkies’ previous release, 2022’s Small Towns. The band’s founder, guitarist, principal songwriter, and singer Fred Kosak describes The Ballad of Charlie Avalon as…

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Brandon Lee Adams // Photo by Patrick Gibson

Brandon Lee Adams

The Life  of a Musician on  PBS Appalachia When Brandon Adams called me several years ago and told me that he was getting ready to produce a new television show for PBS Appalachia, I’ll have to admit that I was hesitant to jump in with a story about it because many times these kinds of…

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