by Seamus Fitzpatrick Shelby Means has spent the better part of the last decade building her reputation as a rock-solid bassist and harmony singer in other people’s bands. From her early tenure with Della Mae to her more recent years with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, she’s always been the anchor, the heartbeat beneath the … Read more
by Steph Cosme When Bobby Osborne passed in 2023, bluegrass lost one of its towering voices, and C.J. Lewandowski lost a mentor who shaped his musical identity. Keep On Keepin’ On is a project that reflects a legendary past and a vibrant future. Produced and shepherded by Lewandowski, this project preserves Osborne’s final mandolin recordings … Read more
by Steph Cosme In the flickering warmth of American Legion Post 82, Nashville’s old hall became a time machine on April 7, 2024. No stage dressing, no trick of light, just two pickers, twenty traditional tunes, and a reverence for tradition so deep it resonates the floorboards. Live At The Legion brings these traditional songs … Read more
Lonesome Ace Stringband, Try To Make It Fly Review Struggle, Hope, and Harmony: A Deep Dive into Try To Make It Fly Bringing a vibrant sound of contemporary folk, Americana, and bluegrass, Lonesome Ace Stringband presents their latest project, Try To Make It Fly. The Lonesome Ace Stringband is Chris Coole on banjo and vocals, … Read more
Steep Canyon Rangers, Morning Shift Review In the ever-widening sonic landscape of country music, certain bands dare to push past the comfortable boundaries of genre, venturing into uncharted territories. A prime example of such audacity is the seasoned band Steep Canyon Rangers. With three Grammy nominations, 14 studio albums, three collaborations with Steve Martin, and … Read more
The Kody Norris Show, Rhinestone Revival Review Bluegrass music, with its foundation built on tradition and authenticity, has been undergoing a renaissance in recent years, and Kody Norris and his band, The Kody Norris Show, are leading the charge. Their latest release, Rhinestone Revival, is a love letter to the past and a beacon for … Read more
Damien O’Kane and Ron Block, Banjophonics Review Damien O’Kane and Ron Block is a duet of banjo players, Coleraine’s Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block; together, they are bringing us a new album of unique sounds of bluegrass and Irish music titled Banjophonics. The album has thirteen tracks that wed two different banjo traditions and the … Read more
Lindley Creek, The Mockingbird’s Voice Review Lindley Creek is a family quartet based on the musical sounds of the Ozark Hills’ bluegrass and gospel tradition. The singing and playing are strong as the family creates a unique and personal resonance of acoustic music based on tradition and moving the genre forward. The Greer family is … Read more
Grain Thief, Pedal Down Review Grain Thief is a 5-piece string band from Boston, MA. The group members are Patrick Mulroy (guitar, vocals), Zach Meyer (mandolin, vocals), Michael Harmon (bass, vocals), Tom Farrell (lead guitar), and Alex Barstow (fiddle). Grounded in the tradition of traditional music and bluegrass, Grain Thief’s music is original and fluid. … Read more
Hawktail, Formations Review Bringing us the hip and vibrant sounds of modern bluegrass is a band with the name of Hawktail. The group is fiddler Brittany Haas, bassist Paul Kowert, guitarist Jordan Tice, and mandolinist Dominick Leslie. Building on their 2018 debut Unless, Hawktail aligned with Eldridge, veteran engineer Dave Sinko (Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck, Sam … Read more