Articles
IssueM Articles
Winfield’s Walnut Valley Festival
I attended my first Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas in September of 1996. I had just started publishing Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and since the Walnut Valley Festival hosts the National Flatpicking Guitar Championship, Winfield seemed to be a good place for me to be. At the time, I had only printed one issue and…
Solitary Diamond
Apparently, being in one of the hottest bluegrass bands going wasn’t enough for Laura Orshaw, so she has put out a smoking solo album. Solitary Diamond is loaded with well-known guests, but make no mistake—it is the jumping fiddle and strong vocals of Orshaw that get showcased in this must-have CD. There are a handful…
It’s The Music
North Carolina native Frank Poindexter is uncle to the Rice Brothers, Tony, Larry, Wyatt, and Ron. Through Mountain Fever records and Dex Records, this unique and special project is the last studio session that Poindexter was to play with all four brothers. Sadly, Larry passed away in 2006 and Tony in 2020. This session has…
Heyday
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….
All The Way
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…
Love Away The Hate
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…