Articles
IssueM Articles
Red Allen and the Kentuckians
Red Allen and the Kentuckians is a classic piece of bluegrass memorabilia. It was recorded at the station WKCR in New York with host Pete Wernick in early March, 1966. It features the talents of Red’s guitar and vocals along with a young David Grisman on mandolin, Porter Church on five-string banjo and Bobby Diamond…
The Stars, If You Look Closely
This Melbourne, Australia-based outfit has an interesting history. Three of the original members were in a synth-pop band called Schizo Scherzo back in the yesteryear. That band eventually broke up, but about a decade and a half ago they had a chance reunion and instantly re-bonded over their shared passion for the music on the…
Discovering Tony Rice
Like Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, Tony Rice left such an indelible imprint on bluegrass music and his chosen instrument that scholars and bluegrass fans will be seeking out biographic information and anecdotes about the man and the music he created for decades to come. Leveraging his longtime personal and professional association with Rice here,…
So Much For Forever
East Tennessee’s Authentic Unlimited was formed by three former members of Doyle Lawson’s Quicksilver upon Lawson’s retirement. They are Eli Johnston (banjo), Stephen Burwell (fiddle) and Jerry Cole (bass). Joining the trio are Jesse Brock (mandolin) and John Meader (guitar). Besides working with Lawson’s Quicksilver, members have gained previous experience with such groups as Pine…
Soft Soothing Fiddle
This meditative 15-song album and accompanying 20-song video by Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum educational director Randy Lanham is a true labor of love with a fascinating story behind it. A while back, Lanham’s father was in the hospital and Lanham noticed how hard it was for him to relax or sleep amidst all…
20 Years of Celebrating the Music and Culture of Southwest Virginia
I have spent many hours driving through the Southwest Virginia region. In recent years, that has meant traveling to the Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention on the east side of this unique section of the commonwealth, or while on another journey, spending three days at the newly-created Blue Highway Fest in Big Stone Gap, which is…