Articles

Photo by Joe Zauner Maggie’s Journal, based on “true life” stories (as Bill Monroe would say) from Valerie Smith’s great-grandmother, was released January 5, 2026. The 30-track double album is a testament to the survival and incredible resilience of an ordinary American woman from Missouri in the post-Civil War era. It’s also one of the…

Over the past two decades, Pert Near Sandstone has established themselves as one of the most vital, yet often overlooked, bands in modern bluegrass.  Hailing from Minnesota, they are part of an Upper Midwest roots movement that includes bands like Trampled By Turtles, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, and Chicken Wire Empire. Together, these groups have…

Colorado-based Big Richard blasted their way into the bluegrass-Americana-roots Music scene four years ago and in that time have built an enthusiastic and dedicated fan base. If you’ve seen them in person, you know why. This is not polite and pretty music; it’s deeper than that, filled with passion, sometimes angry and righteous, sometimes touching…

[Editor’s Note: Two of our reviewers sent in reviews for this album. I decided to run them both.] Review #1 byMichael K. Brantley Readers of a certain age might remember an episode or two of The Beverly Hillbillies when the characters would pour Granny’s moonshine into the family truck, and it would take off like…

A Fiddler You Should Know Mason Wright is a fiddler who can play many different styles, including classical, country, and bluegrass.  He’s been a member of several bands, from traditional to contemporary, and has a teaching workload as well.  He’s serious about his music but has a humorous side, as reported by several former bandmates. …

The term “cover song” is a fairly recent addition to our musical lexicon, not used before the 1950s. Its usage coincided with the emergence of recordings being considered the definitive or original version of the song, as opposed to the sheet music being the reference point. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that anyone had…