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If you’re a bluegrass purist looking for an album that sounds like it just wandered from the Appalachian foothills, look no further. Ancient Songs et al is heavily fortified with evangelical hymns, Woody Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt, AP Carter, and of course, Bill Monroe. Dry Branch Fire Squad seeks to preserve the essence of these…

A Gracious and Glorious Time Del Yeah! It is the popular refrain yelled by the crowd, seen on t-shirts, shouted from the stage, and shared by fans throughout the weekend at DelFest, the four-day bluegrass inspired festival.  The refrain is a playful take on DelFest founder, namesake, and bluegrass legend, Del McCoury’s name. The festival…

As this impressive album attests, the Grascals, with 20 years of history, and members coming and going (and in the case of founding member Jamie Johnson, coming back again), are still going as strong as ever. They come blazing out of the chute with a salute to the Osborne Brothers, who’ve had an indelible influence…

Photos by Emma McCoury If you have been to a Del McCoury Band show in the past several years, you may have noticed a young man standing in the back playing the guitar and wondered about him and his relationship to the band.  This young guitar picker happens to be Ronnie McCoury’s oldest son, Heaven….

By Sarah Pirkle “The Piney Rose,” written by Sarah Pirkle, was first released in 2001 on Dog Years (Jeff Barbra and Sarah Pirkle, Barb Hollow Music). Already a favorite at Pirkle’s shows, the song then found an even broader audience when Dale Ann Bradley released it that same year on her Cumberland River Dreams (Doobie…

This dazzling live album doesn’t just capture an immensely accomplished musical ensemble in full court press. It also serves as a sort of ad hoc “best of” from Tyminski’s storied career as both a solo artist and as long-time singer-guitarist-mandolinist with Alison Krauss and Union Station.  Additionally, with originals such as “God Fearing Heathen,” “Goat,”…