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…

Singer/songwriter Rick Lang follows up his IBMA award-winning CD, Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout with another all-star ensemble of musicians on Blue Collar Gospel (Billy Blue Records). The magical vocal pairings for the 11-cut project including Becky Buller and Nathan Woodard (“Rise Above It All”), Dave Adkins with Alecia Nugent and Jerry Salley (“Old Rugged Me”), Barry Abernathy featuring John…

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…

The world of bluegrass music can certainly expect great things from Amanda Cook, who brings us her earthy and wildly artistic album Restless Soul. This is her fifth record from Mountain Fever where she’s worn many hats; recording artist, engineer, and now CFO.  Her fourth studio album Changes debuted #1 on the Bluegrass Billboard Charts…

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….