In 90 years of life, some 75 years in music, and around a hundred original albums of one version or another, Willie Nelson has just about done it all. But he hadn’t done a bluegrass record until now.
Bluegrass is one of the hottest commodities in country music at the moment. All the more reason for Willie Nelson to jump on the bandwagon.
I know what some will say: Bluegrass has always been here. And that’s most certainly true. But for these subgenres of country music to sustain, they need fresh blood every few years, both in the form of exciting new performers, and new fans. And in 2021, bluegrass is enjoying both.
Anchored by blazing instrumentals that are solidly grounded in bluegrass traditions, yet bolstered with enough improvisation to be original, and ample “hooks” to make them accessible, it’s bluegrass that both aficionados will get a kick out of, and amateur listeners will find enjoyable.
The 2020 IBMA Awards will go forward as scheduled, sans audience of course, but with an exceptional list of nominees for 2020. Leading all nominees is fiddle player Michael Cleveland with seven nominations total, and entirely worthy after releasing the weal-received album Tall Fiddler. He’s followed by the wondrous Billy Strings.
Maybe you know the name Curly Seckler, or maybe you don’t. Maybe you’re a fan of his contributions, or maybe this is the very first time you’re hearing the name. But it is the name of the man who held the distinction of being the oldest living legend in country music—a direct link to the very founding of the genre.
The International Bluegrass Music Association held their annual awards gala on Thursday evening (9-28) as part of their week-long conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the Earls of Leicester were once again a big winner for Entertainer of the Year, while a couple of young instrumentalists also made big news.
While some try to sell you on the idea that adhering to certain genres or traditional instrumentation is a severe limitation on creativity, some of the most brilliant musicians are the ones who are able to work within the confines of severe limitations and still tap into originality and undiscovered musical vistas that dazzle the spirit in unique ways.
The Earls of Leicester and Flatt Lonesome were the big winners at the 2016 installment of the International Bluegrass Music Association or IBMA Awards held during the World of Bluegrass conference in Raleigh, North Carolina Thursday (9-29) evening.
Dwight Yoakam’s secret is out. Though he may be most associated with West Coast country, early cowpunk, and the Bakersfield Sound, and he may have spent much of his career rubbing elbows with actors in Hollywood, but he’s originally from Pikeville, Kentucky, and those who listen intently to his sound understand that the bluegrass influences […]
The nominees for the 2015 International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced Wednesday morning (8-12) with the supergroup The Earls of Leicester (Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp, Barry Bales, Tim O’Brien, Charlie Cushman and Johnny Warren) grabbing the most nominations, Billy Keith and Larry Sparks receiving Hall of Fame inductions, and comedian turned banjo ambassador Steve Martin receiving an award.
Hailing from the Florida region, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine is not exactly your grandpa’s bluegrass band, but they’re not solely a speed freak punk-gone-bluegrass outfit either. Combining the meticulous and highly-skilled artistry of authentic bluegrass traditions and modes with a punk-ish attitude and tempo, and adding a little bit of ribald and offbeat humor in their lyricism….
Robert Earl Keen may be best known for his storytelling songs and laid back Texas country style, but for Keen’s next project his grass is going blue. The Houston, TX native has been working on a bluegrass album over the last couple of years, and Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions is scheduled to come out in February 2015 through Dualtone Records.
In the mid 2000’s, Tommy Ramone formed an old-time band with Claudia Tienan of the band The Simplistics called Uncle Monk. They released a self-titled album in March of 2006, and did numerous shows and tours around the country. Tommy played mandolin and some banjo, and in the old-school style, would lean into the microphone for solos instead of playing through a pickup.
Ahead of his performance at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Baltimore, Alan Jackson had some discouraging words about the current state of country music in an interview with the Baltimore Sun. Jackson’s last album, 2012’s Thirty Miles West sold moderately well, but did not produce the type of radio hits Jackson enjoyed earlier in his career.
“People first, then music” is the mantra on this site, and it is such a blessing when you discover people who are just as inspiring as the music they make. Such is the case with the Anderson Family Bluegrass Band from Grass Valley, CA. The music is excellent, but this is just the excuse to get you to pay attention to the profound warmth and by-gone family strength the Anderson Family conveys.
Jeremy Hickman, a ridiculously-talented flat-picking acoustic guitar player that can burn through bluegrass with the best of them. His speed is sick, and accompanied by soulful singing and unique takes on traditionals while mixing in a few originals here and there. Backed by Dave Hampton on bass and Aaron “The Kid” Alkire on mandolin, The Jeremy Hickman Band brings the traditional bluegrass hard and heavy.
In one respect, we live in a blessed time in country music. If it was 1986, the superpickers of our generation would be stuffing a sock down the front of their spandex tights as hair designers kink their bangs and perm their mullet, getting them ready to go on stage and pull some ungodly bad […]
Yeah, I know. I’ve been hassling you a lot here lately to ink your John Hancock on all kinds of things, whether it be the Reinstate Hank petition, or the petitions to get Gram Parsons and Johnny Paycheck into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But petitions and movements are one way the Underground and […]
Yesterday, the .357 String Band announced that founding member and mandolin player Jayke Orvis would be leaving the band. Here is an excerpt from their MySpace blog announcing the decision: “Due to differences in opinion on both the creative as well as business aspects of the band, Jayke Orvis is no longer a member of […]
Allright, so this is my list of my top album releases of 2008. I’m only one human, so I can only purchase and listen to so much music. So if there’s something I’m missing or if you want to put your own list together, pony up in the comments section. No. 1 Fire & Hail […]
I’m happy to announce that the GREAT .357 String Band has a new MySpace profile. PLEASE everyone gets your ass over there and add them. Their other profile was irrevocably infected with spambot crap, and has to be 86’d. I’ve been trying to help them with this because I think this is one of the […]
“The .357 String Band keeps it raw, real, & dirty on and off stage, and have only begun to show us how much they have to offer.” Hank III Today is a good day for America, because the new .357 String Band album Fire & Hail is finally available on CD Baby. For those of […]