Articles
IssueM Articles
Dupree School House
How One Girl Ended up Down at the Bluegrass Crossroads (and got her soul back….) On the morning of Saturday, May 25 I had a rude awakening. My weather obsessed daughter made a 6 a.m. appearance at my bedroom door. I knew as soon as I saw her face that we would be having tornados for breakfast…
OK to Wonder
Arkansauce had no genre borders in mind when they set out to record their fifth album OK to Wonder. As a rule, says bassist Tom Anderson, the band members write what they like and “it just comes out as it comes out; any sort of genre or descriptor comes afterwards,” he said, adding, “A lot…
Bluegrass Harmonica
White Oak Records WO 106 Wisconsin’s Art Stevenson is not only an excellent harmonica player, but is also a good singer and guitarist. He is also the founding member of his band Art Stevenson and High Water, and he is the promoter of the Bluegrass in the Pines bluegrass festival and is busy as host…
Remembering The Past
The Kentucky Colonels were as progressive and innovative as Billy Strings is today and Osborne Brothers were before them. The guitar magic—there’s no other word—conjured by Clarence White, melding with his older brother Roland’s dry, almost plaintive vocals and spot-on Monroe style mandolin, created a thrilling new sound. The highlight, to many fans was their…
Morning Shift
The Steep Canyon Rangers have championed what has become known as the Carolina sound for well over 20 years. On Morning Shift, the group’s 14th studio album, they continue doing what they do best…crafting songs around stories. This is the first album since founding member guitarist/vocalist Woody Platt decided to step away to spend more…
Listening For Your Call
Colorado-based Orchard Creek—Dave Richardson, vocals, banjo; Keith Murdock, vocals, Dobro; Jan Springer, vocals, guitar, Kevin Slick, vocals, mandolin and Todd Ball on base—emerges fully formed on their first full-length album, with fine musicianship, including some stirring harmonies, as well as intriguing, artfully crafted original songs. The band’s accomplished harmonies don’t just hint at bluegrass oldies…