Reviews

The Briar Finch name comes from the last names of two songwriters from the Olympia, Washington area. Cory Briar sings and plays mandolin and octave mandolin. Erin Finch sings and plays guitar. On this project of original compositions, the pair is joined by Tom Roalkvam on electric bass and Josh Grice on 5-string fiddle. Together,…

Mandolinist and vocalist Jesse Appelman brings a wide world of musical inspirations and skills to his playing. He is joined by some of the West Coast’s finest musicians: Sami Braman on fiddle, Emily Mann playing bass, and Eli West on guitar. This core group is given some extra verve with guests like Alison de Groot,…

Australian native Kristy Cox has been named that country’s “Queen of Bluegrass” and has been bringing her singing and songwriting talents to the U.S. for a number of years. She has been nominated for, or has won, a number of awards in both countries, including Australia’s Golden Guitar Awards for Bluegrass Recordings and our own…

Dr. Ted Olson, professor of Appalachian studies at East Tennessee State University, has compiled an album of previously unreleased tracks from banjo master Carroll Best, who played an essential role in the evolution of the melodic banjo style in the 1950s.  Best referred to his technique as “fiddle style,” which certainly fits, as it was…

Will Clark grew up in the mountain foothills of South Carolina, where he was introduced to bluegrass by attending local jams. He soon became fond of the sound of the mandolin and took it to be his favorite instrument. His professional career began in 2012 when he joined the James King Band, and in 2019…

We can make this easy.  If you’re a fan of the music of Lonesome River Band, Lou Reid & Carolina, Grasstowne, Lost & Found, and the Larry Stephenson Band, you’re going to like Shannon Slaughter’s latest album, Plowin’ It to the Fence. Slaughter has spent time in all of those groups, so it’s no shock…