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Photos by Will Price When it comes to the rich history of American roots music that collectively pre-dated and led to the creation of bluegrass in 1945, local culture and geography were key to different styles arising.  That phenomenon often happens with music that organically evolves, no matter the genre. In the 1700s and 1800s,…

Based in California, Suzy Thompson has had a solid career as both a singer, guitarist, and fiddle player. She was influenced by blues singers and players such as Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith, and got her fiddle chops from such Cajun players like Dewey Balfa, Dennis McGee, and Wade Fruge. She has played with artists…

Fiddle player Glen Harrell founded Volume Five in 2008 after hearing other musicians in some local jams. Based in Mississippi, Harrell asked local players Jason Burleson (guitar, vocals) and Chris Wade (banjo) to join the group, and back then, he also brought in Nick Keen (mandolin) and Wyatt Harman (bass). There have been the usual…

Happily, you may have noticed that an increasing number of young people are playing in top bluegrass bands or leading their own bands. Names like Wyatt Ellis, Gibson Davis, Liam Purcell, Noah Goebel, Sammy Mougin, Ashlyn Smith, and the Sullivan Sisters are but a few. Add to that list The Brothers Young.   The Brothers…

Missy Raines grew up in West Virginia and spent much of the 60’s and 70’s, along with her family, going to music festivals in the Baltimore, Washington, D.C. area. She got her first bass at the age of 10, and it soon became her only and best instrument. Over the years, she cut her musical…

Keep On Keepin’ On is the best album you will listen to in 2025, which came extremely close to never seeing the light of day.  C.J. Lewandowski and bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne had started an album just months before Osborne’s passing. The mandolin player from the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys was so distraught at losing his…