Reviews
Ramble in Music City
In 1998, throat-worn and road weary, the divine Miss Emm needed a musical break from touring with her thrilling, yet vocally taxing, fully electric Hot Band. Looking for not just relief for her physical voice, but also for her muse, Harris turned to longtime friend John Starling, and the good doctor penned the perfect prescription….
Day by Day
Norman Blake, who has recorded and collaborated with everyone from Bob Dylan and Joan Baez to Johnny Cash and Tony Rice, is a devoted keeper of the keys to the heritage and history of American popular music. Blake’s latest record—which he recorded in a single afternoon in a Fort Payne, Alabama studio—contains of couple of…
Playin’ in this Town
Maddie Denton may be one of the best fiddle players you’ve heard, but not heard of. That might change with the release of her debut album, Playin’ in this Town. A veteran of the fiddle competition circuit, Denton has won 14 state titles in five states since 2008. She also handles fiddle duties for the…
This Life We’re Livin’
When Darin and Brooke Aldridge first broke onto the bluegrass scene they quickly picked up the tag “bluegrass sweethearts.” Now nearly a decade into a career based on warm harmonies, great song selection and the dynamic vocal range of Brooke, the group has become one of the top acts in bluegrass and a force among…
Gear Review
If you have ever played an acoustic instrument into an amp or PA using a direct input (DI) box to control your EQ, volume and tone, you are likely to be familiar with LR Baggs. Known for stellar acoustic pickups like the Lyric bridgeplate microphone, the company earned a spot in countless acoustic musicians’ gear…
Fiddlin’ A Lilbit Whyspy
Whysper Stephenson is the ten-year old daughter of Larry and Dreama Stephenson. Larry is a well-known music artist and Dreama runs their record label. This is Whysper’s debut release of mixed gospel and bluegrass tunes. On this project she plays fiddle and sings, and she is joined by her father Larry on mandolin and vocals,…