The Artists

Black and white photo of Stephen Mougin performing on stage with his guitar

Stephen Mougin is No Ordinary Soul

Photo By Elliot Lopes Stephen Mougin doesn’t live up to the title of his debut album, Ordinary Soul. The multi-talented label head is anything but ordinary. Not only does he run Dark Shadow Recordings, which he founded, but balances his time between his longtime sideman job with the Sam Bush Band, teaching, producing, engineering, singing,…

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Black and white close up photo of Larry's face

Open Up Your Mind & Free the Music

“For the first little while you have to find something to keep yourself busy,” explains guitar-wizard Larry Keel on how he approached the time at home forced upon us when the world shut-down due to the Covid-19 outbreak. “Even going to take the trash out was a big day in the neighborhood.  It was something…

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(left to right) Richard Kleese, Jimmy Drummond, Norman Racey, Richard "Buggs" Frank, Jamie Thomas pose for a photo with their instruments

The Five of a Kind

40 Years of Picking Traditional Bluegrass For 40 years, the Five of a Kind bluegrass band has been entertaining audiences up and down the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Based in Strasburg, Virginia, the group’s personable and involve-the-audience approach to a traditional blend of bluegrass and classic country gathered a large following throughout the area….

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Daryl rests his arm on a swinging bench while posing for a photo

Daryl Mosely Flies Solo

Photos by Shelley Swanger Despite his lengthy career in music, veteran bluegrass artist Daryl Mosley had his doubts that people would recognize his individual talents.  “Even though I’ve been in bluegrass music professionally for 30 years, you never really know who knows who you are,” Mosley said. “I’ve always been part of a band. I…

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Sturgill Butcher Shoppe Semi Song

Back to Cuttin’ Grass

Although it’s taken him five albums to put out a project with the bluegrass arrangements to match, this is exactly what Sturgill Simpson has done on Cuttin’ Grass – Vol.1 and 2 (The Butcher Shoppe Sessions).  Bluegrass music has long been a part of Simpson’s upbringing—something he credits to his paternal grandfather. However, it took…

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Close up image of instrument strings

Wings of a Jetliner

Master mandolin player Nate Lee of the Becky Buller Band (B^3) is flying sky high with the debut of his full-length album, Wings of a Jetliner. But before we board the plane to find out more about his new release, let’s soar back in Lee’s history. Pre-Flight Check List Growing up in Texas, Lee was…

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