Articles

Fiery Bluegrass Fiddler Annie Staninec has a lot going for her. First, she has what might be the biggest smile by several inches of anybody except possibly Doug Dillard. Second, she is a fiery bluegrass fiddler, perhaps the “grassiest” fiddler of them all.  I was honored to interview her for this article. I chose to…

Woody Guthrie’s Grandson and his NYC-based Bluegrass Band  Woody Guthrie has a strong legacy in American music.  Part of the reason is obvious—the music and the lyrics speak for themselves.  Additionally, musicians such as Bob Dylan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Pete Seeger, Woody’s son Arlo, and others, have praised Guthrie as an influence and mentor and…

Since his 2019 debut with the album North Country, Irish-born Danny Burns has received his share of accolades. He possesses a robust baritone and a deft songwriter’s eye and ear for emotional detail that lends itself well to his unique blend of Celtic, folk, country and bluegrass music. Burns’s new album features a pair of…

Graham Sharp is no stranger to bluegrass fans. For nearly a quarter century, he shared vocal duties with co-founder Woody Platt in one of the most successful groups of this century, the Steep Canyon Rangers. When Platt announced his departure, the band regrouped, added another distinctive voice in Aaron Burdett, and kept going. Sharp’s distinctive…

Photos by Chelsea LaFond It’s an excellent time for bluegrass LP seekers and collectors. And the folks at Heady Wax Fiends, with help from Real Gone Music, have certainly sweetened the pot by bringing classic bluegrass LPs back on premium vinyl.       Their rerelease of Manzanita by the Tony Rice Unit sparked our initial…

The members of Carolina Bluegrass Style are based in the Columbia, South Carolina area, but spend most of their performing time in the venues around the area of Ashville, making them true to their Carolina name. The band consists of founding member Tommy Thomas (bass), along with Don Ashley (fiddle, vocals), Tyler Chasteen (guitar, vocals),…