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SPRINGFIELD EXIT THAT WAS THEN Patuxent Music Patuxent CD-268 Having three former members of the ultra-traditional Johnson Mountain Boys would seem to indicate that Springfield Exit might follow suit. While David McLaughlin, Tom Adams, and Marshall Wilborn do tilt it in the traditional direction at times, particularly McLaughlin’s Monroe-style mandolin, the ultimate product has more…

DOUG FLOWERS AND FRIENDS Melody Roundup No Number Doug Flowers is a bluegrass veteran who has played with and befriended many in our industry over the years. He’s performed with Little Roy Lewis and Lizzy Long and has been providing some excellent mandolin playing and harmony vocals with Clinton Gregory’s recent bluegrass resurrection. On this…

ERYNN MARSHALL & CARL JONES SWEET MEMORIES NEVER LEAVE Dittyville 006 Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones both have deep roots in traditional music. Erynn is Canadian, but spent many years learning from West Virginia and Kentucky fiddlers. Carl has played with Norman Blake, James Bryan, Beverly Smith, and many others. Both also compose new tunes…

GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE 180 PROOF No Label No Number Grandpa’s Cough Medicine’s new album 180 Proof is rip-roaring, rowdy, and fun. But, let me be clear right off the bat. There is such a thing as “outlaw bluegrass,” the Earl Brothers being another good example, and the music of Grandpa’s Cough Medicine is truly on…

THE FOGHORN STRINGBAND DEVIL IN THE SEAT No Label No Number    Caleb, Sammy, Reeb, and Nadine are back with 16 selections on the eighth Foghorn Stringband recording. They open with a sprightly version of “Stillhouse” from Virginia banjo player Matokie Slaughter and then go into a powerful Reeb/Nadine duet of Hazel and Alice’s “Mining Camp…

ADKINS AND LOUDERMILK Mountain Fever Records MFR150317    On Dave Adkins’ solo recording last year were bassist Edgar Loudermilk, guitarist Jeff Autry, banjoist Jason Davis, mandolinist Wayne Benson, and fiddler Justen Haynes. Adkins and Loudermilk wrote one song together, and three each separately. They co-produced and Aaron Ramsey and Mark Hodges engineered. The results were good…