Reviews
Where You’ve Been
Based in Siler City, North Carolina, Nu-Blu is the brain-child of Daniel and Carolyn Routh, both very talented musicians. They formed Nu-Blu in 2003 and since then have put out a number of award-winning projects. Besides playing the usual round of venues, they have appeared on Fox News and their music has been featured on…
Appalachian Smoke
The members of Appalachian Smoke all hail from the area of Southern Appalachia and their music invokes both the traditional and contemporary feelings and styles of the region. The band is BJ Taylor (mandolin, octave mandolin, vocals), Mikel Laws (banjo, guitar, vocals), Jamie Mason (guitar, banjo, vocals), Kenneth Rymer (resophonic guitar, vocals), and Tim Williams…
Around The Clock
Daniel Patrick, host of a popular podcast called Mandolins and Beer, traveled far and wide, to five different recording studios in nearly as many states, to put this project together. The outcome is a series of vocal and mandolin duets with 11 of his favorite players on distinctly non-bluegrass songs—“because,” Patrick explains in the media…
Something He Can Handle
Kentuckian Michael Prewitt (mandolin, guitar) is a former member of Special Consensus and has toured with them both nationally and internationally. He also has been nominated a couple of times for IBMA’s Momentum Instrumentalist Of The Year. On this, his second album, Prewitt features not only his instrumental prowess, and his clean baritone vocals, but…
Unfinished Bridges
This top-notch quintet out of southern New England has been around since 2013, and on their third album (produced by Scott Vestal) they are in top form with stalwart lead vocals and harmonies, fine picking and provocative songwriting. The band, which was the official IBMA Showcase Band in 2021, consists of: Billy Thibodeau on mandolin,…
Twisted Sage
Most folks don’t think of traditional, old time, or bluegrass fiddlers hailing from New York City. Longtime musician, session player, actor, and TV and movie soundtrack contributor Kenny Kosek is out to prove you can’t judge a book by where it was printed. Kosek’s new album, Twisted Sage, a collaboration with banjo maestro Tony Trischka…