Reviews

If you don’t know the tale of Roland White and brothers Clarence and Eric White,  who were born in Maine, moved as kids to California, and influenced every subsequent generation of bluegrassers, then you don’t know the full story of bluegrass. Fortunately, Bob Black’s superb new biography of the oldest of the White brothers demonstrates,…

Sometimes, when faced with an album the reviewer likes and appreciate the artistry involved, it is challenging to describe the work when it doesn’t really fit anywhere.  That’s the case with Indoor Vistas, the latest effort from Ethan Sherman.  From the stunning cover art to the first-class picking, it’s all enjoyable — but it doesn’t…

On her first release as a bandleader, Molly Tuttle displays all the talents and traits that have helped her rise to the summit of the modern bluegrass pyramid. On Crooked Tree, she’s also invited most of her peer group including Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Ketch Secor, and Dominick Leslie, as well as grizzled…

Joshua Rilko’s debut album, Lost Soul/Rock & Roll, is modern is all aspects of the word. It began as a Kickstarter project that exceeded the goal and has two distinctly different “sides” — one is bluegrassy and the other, while labeled “rock & roll,” really is more Americana-ish. A mandolin player, Rilko was formerly with…

Marcel Ardans is right up front about his new album, Traitor, which he refers to as “alternative bluegrass.”  Information with the album’s release states, “Marcel has no trouble abandoning bluegrass convention for the good of a song.” Ardans is best known for his YouTube channel “Lessons with Marcel” where he offers lessons in flatpicking guitar….

“Bluegrass makes the world better.” This is how Brian Wicklund, creator of the American Fiddle Method, welcomes you to his newly developed online courses, Bluegrass I and Bluegrass II.  Brian’s number one goal is to provide students with the tools to start jamming, now. He reminds us that jamming is a warm community of opportunity…