Articles

Joins Alison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas for their 2026 Tour Photo by Thomas Crabtree One of the most memorable things to come from my many interviews with friend and IBMA Hall of Fame musician J.D. Crowe centered on what he learned from Earl Scruggs. With Crowe and Scruggs both playing the banjo,…

Q: Today on Bluegrass Jamboree, I heard the Stanley Brothers’ OLD version “put your head on my shoulder.” It sounded like Ralph was doing some “Stringbean 2-finger” picking, and it was “crude” in a way, but still great. Was this 1946 or ‘47? Nothing much on the “net” on this. I still get goose bumps…

The Briar Finch name comes from the last names of two songwriters from the Olympia, Washington area. Cory Briar sings and plays mandolin and octave mandolin. Erin Finch sings and plays guitar. On this project of original compositions, the pair is joined by Tom Roalkvam on electric bass and Josh Grice on 5-string fiddle. Together,…

Old Music Gets A New Life Discovering music that you have never heard before can be exciting if it is music that lifts your spirit, resonates with your heart and sinks deep into your bones.  For fans of traditional bluegrass and early country music, finding this kind of music today can sometimes be difficult.  Sure, there…

“One of the Best Tenor Singers in the Business” Paul Brewster grew up around music and has been a part of several influential bands in bluegrass. He was a founding member of the highly regarded band, Knoxville Grass, during the 1970s and has since become known as a unique and influential tenor singer in bluegrass…

‘I know him, but he don’t know me’ Bill Monroe was properly regarded as the very model of a traditional American musician. However, he could also be full of surprises, whether poking fun or providing unexpected revelations about life and music.  Part One of this coverage included my experiences seeing, hearing and talking to Monroe…