Articles

WOOD & WIRE THE COAST No Label No Number You’ve got to love the free spirit of younger singer-songwriters especially when they sound a bit like Tim O’Brien and pull their influences from Celtic and folk sources more so than bluegrass. They do have a grassy feel. It’s just tempered with these other flavors and…

RALPH STANLEY & FRIENDS MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW Cracker Barrel 492749 Bluegrass Hall of Honor member Ralph Stanley has a host of devoted fans who are singing stars in their own genres of expertise. Many of them quickly jumped on the bandwagon when this latest opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Stanley took place in the…

THE JAKOB’S FERRY STRAGGLERS THE LANE CHANGE No Label No Number There seems to be an influx of new young bands that blur the lines between bluegrass and old-time music. The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers, a southwestern Pennsylvania quartet that emerged from the remnants of a self-described “Appalachian power trio” called The Weedrags, manages to carve…

BARNSTAR! SIT DOWN! GET UP! GET OUT! Signature Sounds No Number There are times when it makes perfect sense to categorize a singer or band in a particular genre. In some cases, as with Barnstar!, the artistry can’t be pigeonholed. Zachariah Hickman (bassist for Josh Ritter and musical director for Ray Lamontagne) started the quintet…

DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE SNAPSHOTS Mountain Home MH15762 This fine release shows the ever-growing depth of this fine duo and their very talented band. Their reach for new material has taken them far and wide. From Gillian Welch to Uncle Dave Macon to the old pop standard “Let It Be Me.” Their band is in…

THE CHUCK WAGON GANG COMPLETE RECORDINGS, 1936-1955 Bear Family BCD 17348    Today’s Chuck Wagon Gang offers some of the best down-home, soul-stretching gospel singing there is, at least in the country/bluegrass universe. This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the original quartet’s 1935 debut on KFYO in Lubbock, Texas. In 1936, they moved to WBAP…