The Artists

Autumn Watson, Carley Arrowood and Paul Watson. // Photo by Katie Duncan Photography

Carley Arrowood

Fiddling and Singing New Colors of Bluegrass With the March 2024 release of Colors, her second album for the Mountain Home Music label, Newton, North Carolina-based band leader Carley Arrowood is singing and fiddling her way into the hearts of a growing fan base. After graduating from high school, Arrowood toured the world as a…

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Bethany Kelley, Daniel Kelley, Victoria Kelley and Jed Clark. Photo by donna kelley

A Young Band On The Rise

It is not unusual for older folks to look at the younger generations coming up behind them and feel as though those youngsters don’t know anything about working hard or honoring tradition. It is an old story but, like all stereotypes, not always true. If you have ever found yourself having negative thoughts about young…

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Photo by Alexander R. MacLeod

Austin Scelzo

One of Bluegrass’s New Generation Written by Dale and Darcy Cahill It is difficult to write about Austin Scelzo without listing the many ways he has contributed to the bluegrass community. He plays the fiddle and sings for bands On The Trail and the Rock Hearts. He teaches on his own bluegrass, country and roots…

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Bluegrass & Bourbon

Dierks Bentley Embraces Two Western Kentucky Traditions Photos by Zach Belcher Owensboro (Kentucky’s fourth largest city) is known as the culinary and cultural hub of western Kentucky due in large part to its extraordinary three B’s—Bluegrass, Bourbon and Barbecue.  As the birthplace of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and the home of the Bluegrass…

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Never Come Down—(left to right): Ben Ticknor, Kaden Hurst, Joe Suskind, Crystal Lariza and Brian Alley. Photo by Sol Gutierrez

On the Way Up with Never Come Down 

Never Come Down isn’t just riding high, they’re moving fast. One listen to their new album, Greener Pastures, out in June, or glance at their packed tour schedule and it’s clear this innovative five-member Portland, Oregon, band is going places. Yet it was only six years ago that band members Joe Suskind (guitar, vocals), Crystal…

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Nothin’ Fancy—(left to right): Chris Sexton, Curt Gausman, Mike Andes, Jenkins, and Jacob Flick. // Photo by Susie Neal

Nothin’ Fancy

Celebrates 30 Years In the Bluegrass World Hailing from the fertile musical grounds of Virginia, the bluegrass band Nothin’ Fancy has kept a steady roll in a hard and volatile business by putting the music and the fans first. Now, in 2024, the band is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a group, which is an…

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