Articles

Bands Blurring the Lines of Bluegrass “Roots music incorporates so many different cultures that it is bound for a glorious future,” says Julie Gussaroff, vocalist and bassist of the Sweet Lillies.  “Our place is right in the middle of it, alongside everyone else.” Gussaroff’s statement, while a recognition of the Sweet Lillies’ place in the…

Dave Goldman is an interesting and diligent musician who has worked hard at his craft and become a respected and talented fiddle player. The story of how he attained this status is inspirational. He grew up in Chicago with almost no family influence of country or bluegrass music. Dave took music lessons during his school…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimted Magazine August 1994, Volume 29, Number 2 Perhaps it was just ordinary human courtesy, but then again…My wife had accidentally locked our keys in our car while we were at the Jim and Jesse Bluegrass Festival near Elizabethton, Tenn., in June 1993. Our 16-month-old son, Daniel, had a slight fever and…

At the end of May, Jacob Jolliff released his latest album, Instrumentals, Vol. 2: Mandolin Mysteries on Adhyaropa Records. If you are familiar with Jolliff, you have probably listened to Instrumentals, Vol. 1, released in 2018 when Jolliff was a youthful 27 years old. Now in his mid-thirties, this new album of originals reflects Jolliff’s…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine July 1982, Volume 17, Number 1 Fiddler Bobby Hicks has a gleam of contentment in his eye these days. He’s right where he wants to be, doing what he wants to be doing, among the best of company—but he’s certainly traveled a long, winding, and sometimes treacherous road to get…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine March 1996, Volume 30, Number 9 The arrival of a significant new band in bluegrass is always a momentous event. When one does appear with the clear potential to become a major player, it is absolutely fascinating—as well as great fun—to watch. Few bands indeed have the combination of utterly…