Articles

In the same vein that “Man Bites Dog” is bigger news than “Dog Bites Man,” a soundtrack that eclipses its own blockbuster movie makes for better headlines. On February 28, a packed house at the Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 25th anniversary of O Brother, Where Art Thou? The impact of the movie’s music, however,…

In 1976, the Japanese division of Sony Music released two monumental 10-album collections that proved to be bonanzas for collectors of classic bluegrass and country music. These collections, titled Bluegrass Jamboree and New Greatest Hits, were groundbreaking in their scope, quality, and cultural significance. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their release, it’s…

Teaching How to Play Bluegrass Banjo on YouTube If you are a banjo player and explore YouTube as a source for learning how to play the 5-string, you have no doubt run across Eli Gilbert’s videos.  If you search YouTube for “bluegrass banjo lessons,” Eli’s videos will pop up on the first page.  One of the series…

Modern Made Guitars With A Vintage Sound Preston Thompson had a love for guitars and a desire to replicate the tone of vintage pre-war instruments from the 1930s. That passion led him to study the art of lutherie, becoming an individual luthier in the late 1980s.  Years later, in 2013, Preston started his own custom shop…

This sure is one high-octane, peak-performance musical experience. Carson Peters and Iron Mountain are firing on all cylinders, and what a joy it is to listen to all the gears turning together.  They manage to convey a friendly front porch pickin’ session feel while absolutely ripping along at top speed. Bonus points for picking out…

40 Years of Bluegrass Music Advocacy Written By Pat J Ahrens and Larry Klein Photos by Staci Jones It’s been over 40 years since the late Bill Wells placed an advertisement in the South Carolina State Newspaper inviting local musicians to bring their instruments for a “Friday night bluegrass jam session.” Despite moving into “bluegrass country” in…