Reviews

Howdy Skies Records One of the many thoughts that came into my head as I isolated myself in the western North Carolina Mountains during the pandemic was a hope that musicians would step up and document these crazy times of half a million Covid-19 deaths, social unrest and the higher priority put on technology during…

Very Jerry Records — VJR-005 Since 1982, Jerry Salley has become one of the most accomplished and sought-after songwriters in country, bluegrass, and gospel circles. His songs have been recorded by many, many artists from such as Travis Tritt, Reba McIntire, and Brad Paisley to Chris Stapleton, Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson, Patty Loveless, The Talleys,…

Patuxent Music If you were to listen to this album from Five Mile Mountain Road, you’d find yourself moving, thinking it was different, knowing you like it, but also thinking “Someone should name this style.” They did—it’s called “swingbilly,” a term Charlie Poole’s son James used in the 1930s. Hailing from Franklin County, Virginia—the self-proclaimed…

Published by Alfred Music Self-directed learning can be a challenge, even in a resource-richenvironment. When there’s so much good stuff to study and so many ableteachers willing to provide guidance, questions abound. Where do Istart? What direction should I take? What’s important to learn at whatpoint in the process? How do I recognize landmarks and…

The Bing Brothers are West Virginia legends, a rare band that plays with true drive and power. That is proven yet again by their latest album Just In Time, a rollicking mix of upbeat string band music done in their particular, impressive style.  In the Mountain State the division between old-time music and bluegrass is…

Some years ago, these five talented musicians embarked on a long-term mission: to capture for posterity a particular strain of old-timey string band music that was often played at fiddler’s conventions back in the 1960s and 1970s. It’s a style that the Ramblers themselves have been immersed in for nearly a decade. In the liner…