Articles

After four decades and nearly countless personnel changes, the Lonesome River Band remains as vital and energetic as ever on this robust 13-song outing, which features two new band members, Adam Miller (lead vocals and mandolin) and Kameron Keller (bass).    LRB’s impressive longevity owes in great part to bandleader and banjo master Sammy Shelor….

East Tennessee-based Alex Leach, former long-time guitar/banjo player and vocalist behind Ralph Stanley II, only just formed his own band, along with his wife Miranda, in late 2019. But he’s already carved out an impressive niche as a front man.  Both husband and wife are powerful singers. Alex has an appealing and intense high-lonesome vocal…

Andrew Collins, the talented Canadian mandolinist, composer and mando-family master, has a lot on his mind these days. “Throughout my years of playing music, community, collaboration and compassion have always been the cornerstone of it all,” Collins says explaining his decision to record the first solo album of his distinguished career following the lingering pandemic…

Johnny and Jeanette Williams bring a long and strong bluegrass resume to this collaboration with Jay Shelton, who after decades in rock music has returned to his bluegrass roots.  The result is So Much Time, So Much Love, a fun debut from the trio that calls itself Shelton & Williams.   The album offers covers…

There are more than a few instances on this ambitious and vibrant song collection that seem to harken back to the forever-young heyday of late `60s and early `70s country rock and the formative sounds of bands like The Byrds, The Burrito Brothers and Poco. The key ingredient is a youthful sense of bravado leavened…

Mountain Home Music There are lots of things that can be said about Imaginary Lines, the latest release from Unspoken Tradition. Several of the songs received early airplay and there’s been no shortage of ink run through presses about the album.  But this review can summarize things in two words: simply outstanding. First, there are…