The Artists

Fifty Years and Beyond This is the story of Mark Newton, a veteran bluegrasser, promoter, and ambassador whose journey in music and life clearly reminds us of how precious life is. If not for unwavering faith, a support system of family and friends, and a team of top-notch medical staff, this story would have appeared…

On the Road with The Travelin’ McCourys It’s 3:45 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and banjoist Rob McCoury of the Travelin’ McCourys is chilling behind the historic Park Theatre in McMinnville, Tennessee. Almost four hours remain before the band takes the stage, but much work needs to be done before the first note of the…

Songs That Made Charlene Cry Bluegrass Hall of Famer Rodney Dillard uses two criteria when choosing what he’ll do next in music—Is it too much hassle, and is it fun? His decision to write and record The Dillards’ latest album, Songs That Made Charlene Cry, fit just right. He had mulled over the idea for…

There’s more to harmony than simply playing the right notes. Some musicians have that special something, hard to name but impossible to overlook. Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland’s latest project Carter and Cleveland—their first collaboration of its kind—is Exhibit A.The friendship between the two fiddlers began back in their teens. When Cleveland was about thirteen,…

In a bluegrass world where bands see regular turnovers, Mark Stoffel is an anomaly.  For the past 16 years, the mandolin ace for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers has been laying down a solid chop on tours across the country and with his creative innovations on sevenof the group’s CDs. After growing up in…

Alison Krauss and Union Station Photos by Randee St. Nicholas When the members of Alison Krauss and Union Station (AKUS) took the stage March 19 at the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration televised live on NBC, there was joy in the bluegrass nation and in the hearts of all music fans with ears around the world….