Reviews

The Matchsellers are a mid-Western group based on the duo of Andrew Morris (guitar, vocals), and Julie Bates (fiddle, vocals). They are joined on this new project by Brian McCarty (mandolin, vocals), and Brandon Day (bass, vocals). The “Wishful Thinkers’ Hall Of Fame” is an imaginary collection of characters which the project purports to be…

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades have crafted a modern take on bluegrass featuring all the elements of traditional bluegrass you would expect to find, tight vocal harmonies, inventive soloing, and strong instrumental interplay, but delivered with a youthful energy, an engaging honesty, and a loose sense of fun, allowing them to exist as something new, a…

The Fiction Twins is a fictitious duo formed by Japanese musician Toshio Watanabe who overdubs himself on the songs. He learned the skill of overdubbing using two tape recorders early in his career. Over the years he honed his skills using newer and newer recording techniques, backing himself up on guitar and mandolin.  On this…

In the fall of 2020, Hawktail did a livestream concert at the Amqui Station, a historical site in Madison, Tennessee, famously beloved by Johnny Cash. Lit by the copper sunset coming through the trees, they played through their set. They sat in a half circle, with a minimal set up, framed by the backdrop of…

Jason Carter is the longtime fiddle player and support vocalist with the Del McCoury Band, founding member of the Travelin’ McCourys and five-time IBMA “Fiddle Player of the Year” award-winner.  And as a bandleader in his own right, he’s hit another grand slam. Informed by Carter’s rich and deeply expressive baritone and his nonpareil fiddle…

It’s always nice when a familiar bluegrass face that’s been lying low for a while returns to the scene.  Well-regarded Darren Beachley, who pulled service with Bill Harrell and The Virginians, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and fronted his own Legends of the Potomac (as well as some other groups) is back with a new album….