Articles

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine November 1990, Volume 25, Number 5 When I first saw Jody he was sixteen, riveting everyone at a folk concert with his singing. I remember thinking at the time, “He sounds good enough to be a PROFESSIONAL.” In the years to come I got to know him and share his…

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the band members of Pert Near Sandstone are Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar) and Nate Sipe (mandolin, steel guitar, fiddle). They are all known as good songwriters and instrumentalists and they support the traditions of American folk and string band music but with a desire for more…

This four-piece group from Northern Ireland consists of three siblings and a husband. The siblings are Tabitha Benedict (née Agnew) who plays banjo, Benjamin Agnew on bass and Reuben Agnew on guitar. They are joined by Tabitha’s husband David Benedict who plays mandolin. The group has traveled throughout their native Ireland, the UK and mainland…

My Friend, Carter It all happened by accident. These things have a way of starting out like that. I hadn’t planned it, and I wasn’t looking for it . . . but “it” changed my life forever. Now “it” is kinda hard to describe. The easy part, it was a piece of vinyl shoved in…

In the five years since this multi-IBMA Award-winning band’s last album, three new members have come on board. Founders Deanie Richardson (fiddle) and vocalist-banjo player Gena Britt remain. Jaelee Roberts (guitar), Dani Flowers (guitar) and Maddie Dalton (bass) now round out the group. This lineup delivers something that’s close to magic on No Fear. For…

Famed fiddler and king of the double stops, Bobby Hicks, celebrated his 90th birthday in July. Due to problems with his balance and a torn rotator cuff, the fiddle icon can no longer drag the bow, but he has quite the story to tell of his lifetime in the music industry.  Growing up in central…