Reviews

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…

It’s not often that bands go on a 10-year hiatus and decide to give things another go.  Traditional bluegrass fans should be glad an old gravestone inspired Maine-based Breakin’ Strings to make the trek to Nashville to produce Hangovers & Heartaches. Cliff Gelena, a third generation bluegrass performer, heads up the group with lead vocals,…

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….