Articles

And then there are the albums that make a listener just think, “wow.” Sometimes one comes along that’s hard to pick a handful of songs to focus on because—to borrow an old phrase—it’s all killer, no filler. That’s the case with Carson Peters & Iron Mountain’s latest album, Gotta Lotta Lonesome. Eight of the 12…

Nervous Energy seems like the perfect name for a solo project from a banjo player who is staying busy.  Andy Lowe, most recently known for his work with the Deer Creek Boys, looks like he has a winner. The first single off the album is “Mountain,” with the lead singing duties taken by Josh Shilling…

Songwriters are the eyes of the world and Baltimore songwriter Caleb Stine’s eyes are better than most.  Armed with a storyteller’s inquisitiveness and a restless independent spirit, Stine is songwriter of uncompromising heft, he can spin tales that are joyful expressions, songs that are serious meditations on life, and write tunes that are all of…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1972—Volume 7, Number 2 I. Why The Louvin Brothers? Not only because they played with a full bluegrass band for a year, and not only because of their deep roots in old-time duet singing, but because of the firm impression their songs and style have had on bluegrass music….

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine October 2005, Volume 40, Number 4 It has taken two decades, but bass player maestro Missy Raines is finally ready. “It’s terrifying,” the five-time IBMA Bass Player Of The Year confesses of her bold move to transition from bandmember to bandleader. “I have always wanted to do this, for twenty…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1980, Volume 15, Number 2 Don Reno, whose middle name could easily be “Banjo” spoken with a bluegrass accent, recently marked his 40th anniversary in the entertaining business. Fans of his distinctive style (“I just pick it,” he says.) will be happy to know that thoughts of any kind…