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Are you looking to attend a music camp or workshop this year?  Camps and workshops are a great way to study with top professional players and talented instructors. Camps and workshops also provide you the opportunity to meet new friends and jamming partners. Below is a list of camps and workshops organized by state.  This…

Dr. Ted Olson, professor of Appalachian studies at East Tennessee State University, has compiled an album of previously unreleased tracks from banjo master Carroll Best, who played an essential role in the evolution of the melodic banjo style in the 1950s.  Best referred to his technique as “fiddle style,” which certainly fits, as it was…

Building Bridges Through Bluegrass Photos by Elliot Siff My journey began with a text from mandolin legend Christopher Henry: “Do you want to teach mandolin in Nepal?” I said yes. Less than a week later, I was on a plane headed for Kathmandu with my mandolin case in hand. It happened very fast for me…

Will Clark grew up in the mountain foothills of South Carolina, where he was introduced to bluegrass by attending local jams. He soon became fond of the sound of the mandolin and took it to be his favorite instrument. His professional career began in 2012 when he joined the James King Band, and in 2019…

Q: Today on Bluegrass Jamboree, I heard the Stanley Brothers’ OLD version “put your head on my shoulder.” It sounded like Ralph was doing some “Stringbean 2-finger” picking, and it was “crude” in a way, but still great. Was this 1946 or ‘47? Nothing much on the “net” on this. I still get goose bumps…

The Briar Finch name comes from the last names of two songwriters from the Olympia, Washington area. Cory Briar sings and plays mandolin and octave mandolin. Erin Finch sings and plays guitar. On this project of original compositions, the pair is joined by Tom Roalkvam on electric bass and Josh Grice on 5-string fiddle. Together,…