From the Dirt, a bluegrass band from Central Maryland, blends genres with rich vocal harmonies and introspective songwriting. Fronted by Daniel Kenny, their album “Colored Edge of Memory” explores themes of heartache and resilience through varied instrumentation. Notable tracks range from haunting ballads to upbeat tunes, showcasing their musical versatility.
Red Camel Collective’s debut album showcases the seasoned skills of its quartet, previously backing Junior Sisk. Fusing bluegrass and classic country, the album features ten tracks, half originals, half covers. Highlighting themes of joy and self-acceptance, standout songs include “Daughter of the Stars” and a vibrant take on Charley Pride’s “Roll on Mississippi.”
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway City of Gold Nonesuch Play the last song of this dazzling bluegrass adventure first. Throughout “The First Time I Fell in Love,” a lilting “Mr. Bojangles”-like melody carries Molly Tuttle’s soul baring recollections of being a teenager. Tuttle was diagnosed with Alopecia as a three-year-old, and it quickly advanced to […]
The Infamous Stringdusters A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs Americana Vibez Records Here they go again, those Infamous (and incredible) Stringdusters, demonstrating that to rock as creatively and successfully as they do in the progressive bluegrass realm, frequent trips back to the music’s Appalachian sources to really know the stuff, are an obligation. Besides enormous […]
Peach & Quiet Beautiful Thing Peach & Quiet Music The play on words duo Peach & Quiet are Canadians Heather Reed and Jonny Miller, both of whom sing, write songs, and play acoustic guitars. Their dozen originals draw on folk, blues, Americana, and throwback Laurel Canyon rock. This is their sophomore release and they have […]
The Gibson Brothers Darkest Hour Bull Run / Rainmaker Music The Gibson Brothers began recording their 15th album just as everything hit the fan. But from that Darkest Hour came the purest expression of what makes The Gibson Brothers the multiple award-winning bluegrass vocal duo and band leaders that they are. As produced by the […]
Old Crow Medicine Show Paint This Town ATO While they started as a bluegrass band, Old Crow Medicine Show (OCMS) in recent years have won two Grammys and are considered one of our best roots bands, meshing Americana, old-timey music, folk, and rock & roll into an appealing sound that consistently sells out venues wherever […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Daryl Mosley Calling Daryl Mosley a singer/songwriter is only correct in the most basic sense. Daryl is a gifted songwriter and storyteller who paints vivid pictures of life as it could be, used to be, or might have been. He’s not flashy; just a man with […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Chris Murphy For 25 years, and with no sign of slowing, violinist Chris Murphy has made a living by writing, performing and recording original music. For Murphy, the path forward is charted by looking backward, to the troubadours and minstrels of ages past. Forget the exaggerated […]
Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter Anticipation American Dreams Records Cameron Knowler and Eli Winter are young guitarists barely out of college that bear watching. You may recognize the latter’s name as we did cover his solo album, Unbecoming, last August. The winter holidays of 2018 found Cameron Knowler and Eli Winter touring through an interesting […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Daryl Mosley Calling Daryl Mosley a singer/songwriter is only correct in the most basic sense. Daryl is a gifted songwriter and storyteller who paints vivid pictures of life as it could be, used to be, or might have been. He’s not flashy; just a man with […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Matt Eckstine Continually inspired by the shifting waves of his life, the Lowcountry and the coast he calls home, Matt Eckstine’s evolution as a songwriter has reached a new peak on his second solo album “Lil’ Blue.” Eckstine moved to Lowcountry from his native Ohio nearly […]
HOME PAGE Making A Scene Presents an Interview with Alecia Nugent Alecia Nugent is embracing her roots in classic country on The Old Side of Town, her first collection of new music in 11 years. Already familiar to bluegrass fans through three albums on Rounder Records, Nugent turned to producer Keith Stegall and a number […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Thomm Jutz He is a guitar player, producer, songwriter – in no particular order. He has played guitar for Nanci Griffith, Kim Richey, Mary Gauthier, David Olney and a bunch of other folks. As a Producer he has produced records for Nanci Griffith, Otis Gibbs, Jason […]
Ben Winship Toolshed + Acorns (two complete and separate albums) Snake River Most musicians have their own kind of tool shed we suppose. Roots musician, recording engineer and in-demand sideman Ben Winship is perhaps titling one of these two albums about his backyard studio in Idaho that he calls The Henhouse. Like most studios, contrary […]
HOME PAGE Making A Scene presents an Interview with Andy Statman! Andy Statman was born in New York City and grew up in the borough of Queens. Beginning at age 12, he learned to play banjo and guitar, following the example of his older brother Jimmy, and then switched to mandolin, which he studied briefly […]
Rising Appalachia Ley Lines Blends cultures and harmonies into pure bliss Patrick O’Heffernan The word “ley lines” was coined in 1921 by the amateur English archaeologist Alfred Watkins, describing the apparent alignments among historical and geological spaces, hypothesizing that they had persisted over millennia to facilitate travel, trade and community. Later, others theorized that global ley lines […]
Andy Statman Monroe Bus Shefa This kind of review opportunity does not often happen. Mandolinist Andy Statman played at this writer’s wedding (Yes, that was ages ago) and at the time Statman was already a well-established musician who accompanied David Bromberg, Doug Sahm, Vassar Clements, David Amram, Tony Trischka, Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead, […]
Earls of Leicester Rounder Records My love for bluegrass began with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys. Flatt’s voice, so laidback and clear, was the greatest American voice. He gave me an appreciation for a Bluegrass tenor and led me to discover other bluegrass and country music singers. As a youngster Scruggs’ […]
Hot Rize When I’m Free Ten in Hand Records Hot Rize, originally from Colorado, released their first self titled album in 1979 on the Flying Fish Record label. The band released six studio albums and disbanded in 1990 but not before being named the first “Entertainers of The Year” by the then newly formed International […]
The Roland White Band Straight Ahead Bluegrass Roland White Music In April 1964 World Pacific Records released The Kentucky Colonels Applachian Swing! The Kentucky Colonels were Clarence White, guitar; Roland White, mandolin; Billy Ray Latham, banjo; Bobby Slone, fiddle; Leroy McNees, dobro; and Roger Bush, bass. Clarence White had basically invented Bluegrass guitar picking. Alongside […]
Rob McCoury The 5 String Flame Thrower McCoury Music Rob McCoury is the son of Del McCoury and the banjo player in The Del McCoury Band. “Kansas City Railroad Blues” is the hard driving vehicle that sets the stage for this album of mostly banjo instrumentals. The song credits include Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, J.D. […]
Del McCoury Band The Streets of Baltimore McCoury Music In 1963 Del McCoury was the rhythm guitarist and featured vocalist with Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys. His replacement was Peter Rowan. He recorded as Del McCoury and The Dixie Pals and in 1972 released his fifth album “High on a Mountain” on Rounder Records. […]
The Folk/Bluegrass Charts is compiled monthly by Richard Gillmann [email protected] FOLKDJ-L is an electronic discussion group for DJs and other people interested in all folk-based music (bluegrass, old-time, traditional balladry, traditional international music, singer-songwriters, etc.) on the radio. With over nine hundred subscribers from all corners of the earth, they are a lively bunch with a […]