Americana Music Magazine – Bluegrass, Roots, Folk, Blues, and Old-Time

Zack Walther was a child of the 80s. When given the choice of band, choir, or art in elementary school, on the advice of his best friend at the time, they chose choir. “I was in it from then on,” he said. Zack grew up singing in the school choir and learning to play piano by ear on his brother’s ...

LaTresa Smith was born into a musical family. Her father, a Christian minister, and his minister brothers, all from Alabama, toured and performed southern Gospel music in their band, The Hester Brothers. LaTresa recalled as a young girl listening to bluegrass music on Saturday nights in an old store front in Mississippi and dreaming of having a bluegrass band of ...

Guitarist Jay Elle is a singer and a songwriter. And while he writes a lot of pop style songs, and is often billed as pop singer/songwriter, he says his songs are a bit on the mellow side these days. Jay suggests that you could classify him as more of an urban-folk musician. “I play a nylon string Ovation guitar which ...

Doyle Lawson is 74, but age sure hasn’t stopped him from continuing his legacy of recording and promoting traditional bluegrass music. Not only does he keep a rigorous tour schedule, he records his own music, as well as produces other top acoustic artists. He has numerous industry awards as well as two Grammy nominations to his credit, and they are ...

Irene Kelley started playing music at 15, and joined her first full time bluegrass band, Redwing, in 1981. By 1984, she was headed to Nashville with her guitar, a handful of original material, and a love for traditional and bluegrass music. Although it was MCA Nashville’s country division that signed her to a record deal, she was adamant about having Carl ...

Singer/Mandolinist Amanda Cook started singing music with her dad when she was in her mid-20s through her mid 30s. Her dad, a well known banjo player in their hometown and regionally in Florida, bought her a mandolin to play when they formed the band. “I was literally learning to play an instrument while I was in the band,” she admitted. ...

Province Of Thieves is an acoustic ensemble hailing from Charlotte, NC. They feature guitar, mandolin, ukulele, Irish bouzouki, banjo, upright bass, and percussion. Their blend of unique instrumentation with powerful vocals is impressive; so much so that it earned them a 2018 Carolina Music Award. The “Thieves” have been together since 2012 performing predominately all original music, which is influenced ...

The Americana Music Association will be celebrating it’s 18th year of artist achievements at their annual conference and awards ceremony, September 10th through the 14th, 2019 in Nashville, TN. Emmylou Harris said the event was “the shining star of Nashville and music everywhere.” The Americana Honors & Awards has been broadcast in years past on CMT, Austin City Limits via ...

The International Bluegrass Music Association will celebrate the 30th anniversary of it’s annual awards this September (24th – 28th) in Raleigh, NC, at it’s annual conference and music festival. Del McCoury, who is celebrating his 80th birthday will co-host the event with famed music songwriter, Jim Lauderdale. “What could be better than Del co-hosting the Awards Show with the legendary ...

It is mid-summer and I am on the road from Norfolk, Virginia to Annapolis, Maryland thinking of the upcoming festivals I will be playing later this summer and fall. They are all quite different. The best ones create a fest-family of artists that then grows to include the audience. As a veteran of performing at festivals, and producing a music ...