Reviews

Lathemtown is the name of the north Georgia rural community where artist Kurt Lee Wheeler was born and raised. It is where Wheeler taught himself the guitar and began making his own music as he grew. In the 80s, he joined the Air Force and expanded his musical influences. He took some time off from…

For the past 20 years, this band has become true bluegrass ambassadors. They have traveled to 30 countries on 5 continents, bringing their love of bluegrass to many other cultures through concerts, workshops, seminars, and showcases. The current band consists of Ben Wright (banjo, vocals), Jon Goldfine (bass, vocals), Chris Dollar (guitar, vocals), and Jake…

One could say that Sourwood is truly an international band. While based in Ontario, Canada, other members are from Chicago and Los Angeles in the US. From Ontario are Lucas Last (vocals, guitar), Larry Johnson (banjo), and Last’s wife, Aubrey (guest vocals). Liam Lewis (mandolin) and Olivia Briedenthal (fiddle) come up from Los Angeles, and…

John Reischman and the Jaybirds somehow make old-time music sound fresh and new again and again. On this latest album, the band blends old-time, bluegrass, folk, and gospel sounds in a comforting tapestry. They evoke a melancholic nostalgia in a song like “The Old Churchyard” while never becoming overly sentimental. The title track is an…

Amy Gallatin (vocals, banjo, guitar) and Roger Williams (vocals, resonator guitar, guitars, bass) are two New England-based musicians who have been performing together for a number of years. “From The Heart” is the second incarnation of their Homespun recordings that continue to feature the pair in their duet presentations of the material, many of which…

At the end of the title track that opens her debut solo album Travel On, Vickie Vaughn calls, “My turn!” She may simply be taking the last break, but she effectively announces her time has come for bigger adventures too. Vaughn, named IBMA Bass Player of the Year for three consecutive years, still holds down…