The Artists
Amanda Cook Does It All
Photo By Wes Hobbs – Better Focus Photography Singer/songwriter Amanda Cook doesn’t simply shine on the creative side as a full-time touring and recording artist. She also has a solid business acumen and knowledge, accompanied by a strong work ethic, that has propelled her to the Chief Operations Officer position at Mountain Fever Records, the…
Brandon Lee Adams
The Life of a Musician on PBS Appalachia When Brandon Adams called me several years ago and told me that he was getting ready to produce a new television show for PBS Appalachia, I’ll have to admit that I was hesitant to jump in with a story about it because many times these kinds of…
Through the Years with Tom Sauber
There aren’t many bluegrass or old-time fiddlers who can claim to have performed in a bear suit. More than once. As cool as that is, it represents but a second in the long and eventful career of the highly esteemed Southern California multi-instrumentalist Tom Sauber. Now in his seventh decade as a professional musician, has…
Annie Staninec
Fiery Bluegrass Fiddler Annie Staninec has a lot going for her. First, she has what might be the biggest smile by several inches of anybody except possibly Doug Dillard. Second, she is a fiery bluegrass fiddler, perhaps the “grassiest” fiddler of them all. I was honored to interview her for this article. I chose to…
Cole Quest and the City Pickers
Woody Guthrie’s Grandson and his NYC-based Bluegrass Band Woody Guthrie has a strong legacy in American music. Part of the reason is obvious—the music and the lyrics speak for themselves. Additionally, musicians such as Bob Dylan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Pete Seeger, Woody’s son Arlo, and others, have praised Guthrie as an influence and mentor and…
The Seldom Scene
There’s More to be Scene The Seldom Scene is changing…again, and this is to be expected. Longtime guitarist and vocalist Dudley Connell has stepped aside and Clay Hess has joined the band. If one looks back at their fifty-plus years you’ll note that about every seven or eight years there’s a change in the band….