Articles

Bandmates John Showman and Chris Coole have been digging deep into the old-time sound of fiddle and banjo for more than twenty years, and their traditional credentials have only increased over time. Anyone who has followed the band in recent years knows that they have never been content to stay in their lane, as it…

Way Back When  Pure as summer sunshine, Larry Sparks makes bluegrass like Mother Nature provides warmth. Sparks, in rarefied air among living bluegrass masters, offers blankets of comfort whenever he sings a song. So, make room for Way Back When Sparks’ latest album, released by Rebel Records on October 24, embraces nostalgia and bluegrass purity….

Reprinted from the Special Program Festival Schedule Edition, 1975 of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine Which was reprinted from Western Pennsylvania Bluegrass Committee Newsletters. Used by permission Part I — Roots. Bluegrass and modern country-western music are different styles of music with the same basic roots: the traditional music of the Southern Mountains. This music came originally…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine October 1987, Volume 22, Number 4 Over the years hundreds—maybe thousands—of people have told me they went to work in the fields early and then worked late, just so they could come in at noon and hear the program,” recalls Mac Wiseman. He is referring to the widespread and intense…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine December 1985, Volume 20, Number 6 By J. Wesley Clark & J. Michael Hosford [Editor’s note: In March of this year, after the interview for this article was done, Paul Adkins joined the Virginians playing mandolin, Paul was out of the music business for a year and a half prior…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 1986, Volume 20, Number 12 To the younger generation of bluegrass fans, the number of brother duets whose stylings influenced the music’s development must seem like an endless list —from Anglin, Bailes, Cope, Delmore and ever onward. One can then shift to Andrews, Bolick, Callahan, Dixon, and perhaps move…