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Silver Bullet Bluegrass

Bob Seger cut a wide swath across the rock ’n’ roll landscape for decades, giving us classic hits like “Night Moves,” “Turn the Page,” “Main Street,” “Like a Rock” and “Old Time Rock ’n’ Roll,” among others. These songs have endured because they often captured the uneasy spirit of their times. This fine collection reminds…

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Bethany Kelley, Daniel Kelley, Victoria Kelley and Jed Clark. Photo by donna kelley

A Young Band On The Rise

It is not unusual for older folks to look at the younger generations coming up behind them and feel as though those youngsters don’t know anything about working hard or honoring tradition. It is an old story but, like all stereotypes, not always true. If you have ever found yourself having negative thoughts about young…

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Scott Napier. // Photo by Hailey Ballard

Bluegrass Music at Owensboro Community and Technical College

Just a stone’s throw from Rosine, Kentucky — the birthplace of Bill Monroe — Owensboro has long been known as an important landmark on the road map of bluegrass music. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) was born in Owensboro and the spectacular Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum and ROMP music festival both…

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photo by chris morris Courtesy of Joe’s Pub NYC

Obsessed With Earl

That may be the understatement of the year, when assessing the ways which Tony Trischka has been spreading the Gospel of Scruggs in the 100th year of Earl’s birth. Not only was Tony an integral part behind-the-scenes of the new exhibit Born of the Broad River: The Life and Career of Earl Scruggs in His…

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Smilin’ Jim Mills

A Banjo Master Gone Too Soon James Robert “Jim” Mills (December 18, 1966 – May 3, 2024) was one of the most celebrated bluegrass banjo pickers from the last forty years. His early resume included stints with several regional bands such as Summer Wages and the Bass Mountain Boys while later entries observed high-profile jobs…

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If There’s a Will There’s A Way

Harry Carpenter “Junior” Sisk, who has been penning, playing and singing songs modeled in the truest fashion of traditional bluegrass music for many years, has brought us another great record. Known for his tremendous vocals and locomotive sound, Sisk is sure to please the diehard purist. His 2020 album Load the Wagon, won the IBMA…

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