The Venue

As an “overseas brat” growing up in Japan during the 1950s and 60s, it was always a treat for our family to tune into the Far East Network (810 on the radio dial). Broadcasting from Tokyo, the Armed Forces network affiliate station would bring us America’s Top 40 with Casey Kasem, Paul Harvey’s commentary, football…

With Denton FarmPark, you have a winning formula for the perfect music venue: an expansive covered inclined seating area, a large attractive stage, great sound, lots of good food vendors, clean permanent restrooms, and plenty of shady campsites, all set in a spacious rural agricultural setting. Over the past four decades, such bluegrass notables as…

Garner, North Carolina The late Dixie Hall characterized Lorraine Jordan as “the hardest working woman in bluegrass.” And that was before Jordan opened Lorraine’s Coffee House and Music in her hometown of Garner, North Carolina. Since founding Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road in 1999, Jordan has maintained a hectic schedule, taking her traditional bluegrass music…

Indy’s Bluegrass Heart Walk into Arthur’s Music in southeast Indianapolis’ artsy Fountain Square neighborhood, and you’re immediately struck by how seriously this music store takes serving the area’s bluegrass customers. On an average day, a customer will find 30-50 banjos ranging from less expensive Deering Goodtime models to a vintage 1999 Gibson Earl Scruggs Signature…

Photos by Arlin Geyer The mountains of Western North Carolina have long been a hotbed for old-time and bluegrass music. Names like Doc Watson or Earl Scruggs come to mind for many, while there have been many more beloved players to emerge in the generations since. Particularly in Asheville, the place where Bill Monroe named…

Website Opens Up Doors to Heart of Bluegrass Bluegrass music was basically created in Nashville in 1945 when Kentucky native Bill Monroe asked North Carolina fiddler Jim Shumate if he knew of any powerful banjo players who could keep up with his up-tempo music. That is when Shumate introduced Monroe to the innovative three-finger banjo…