Articles

John Cowan, formerly of the Newgrass Revival, is one of the most distinctive and versatile singers to emerge from modern bluegrass. In recent years, he’s kept a high-profile touring with the rock band, the Doobie Brothers. Andrea Zonn, with whom Cowan partners on this album, is an equally impressive and versatile vocalist and fiddle player….

Workshop Weekend Over the weekend of February 7-8-9, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky held its first Bluegrass Unlimited Workshop Weekend.  Eight instructors traveled to Owensboro to teach a group of 50 eager students how to improve their picking and singing skills.  The instructors included Alan Munde (banjo), Maddie Denton…

The Pursuit of a Passion A decade ago Taylor Mullins decided to replace the pickguard on his treasured Takamine dreadnought.  Solving that seemingly simple problem subsequently immersed Taylor in a world of celluloid manufacturers, swirl patterning, adhesives, CNCs, and pickguard design – as well as marketing – that has coalesced into Holter Pickguards (www.holterpickguards.com).  “I…

Talk About Their New Album Wall Dogs, and Give Us A Master’s Class in Songwriting For 30 years now, Tim Stafford has been a member of the world-class bluegrass band Blue Highway.  Tim has also become one of the best songwriters in the business, winning three International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Songwriter Of The Year…

The Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Kentucky is, of course, devoted to the heritage, history, and future of bluegrass music.   In terms of the future, it’s also proven to be an incubator that provides showcases for promising local talent.  “Everybody talks about the beginnings and Bill Monroe and Rosine,” says Steven Stewart, founding…

Has Bluegrass In Their Blood Photos by Kelle Daggett Perry Fast Track is a band with a musical lineage. Each of its five members evolved from a musical heritage. No strangers to the bluegrass community, they are all veterans of the stage and road. Dale Perry, Steve Day, Duane Sparks, Shayne Bartley, and Randy Barnes…