The longer I cruise the edges of this genre of Americana string music that folks now call bluegrass, the more I hear folks make reference to Jimmy Martin. I freely admit he is a personality of which I know less about than I should. Even though I remember the golden radio days when there was plenty of Appalachian string music ...

Last fall, our publisher spent several days at the Americana Music Association convention in Nashville, TN. While there, he made some great new friends in this growing Americana music business. One of the folks he met was a tour director—yes that’s what we said. Now, I expect that many of us have enjoyed taking bus tours. In fact, just this ...

Although Jason Springs has been performing music for years, he’s excited to be able to release his debut solo project this year titled Blue Collar Bones and Busted Knuckles. It’s a full on band project from this folk/roots, rock artist who hails from Danville, VA. Jason said he grew up in a musical family. “There was always some sort of ...

NYC based band, Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches are proud to be touting their new CD, Very Next Thing. Their music is an eclectic assemblage of country, bluegrass, western swing, rockabilly, blues, traditional jazz, dixieland, old-time music, folk, roots music and Americana. The band is led by multi-instrumentalist Nick Russo who comes from a very musical family. His dad, Rich ...

Joseph Henry says his sound sits comfortably between alternative-country and country-western blues. The Americana country/folk singer/songwriter makes his home in New Jersey but at the time we spoke, he was enjoying a stint in Nashville, TN, “taking in the sights and sounds, and playing around as much as I can,” he said. “Its always been a place in the back ...

Former record store owner, Mike Felten, has parlayed the end of 30 plus years of hawking vinyl into a singer/songwriter career full time, and celebrates his most recent CD release, Diamonds and Televisions. Beginning in 1979, Mike began dabbling in selling records. He eventually opened several Record Emporium stores and developed a pretty strong internet sales following. He also worked ...

Bluegrass music has a new family. That’s right. It’s the Mafia. Blue Mafia, that is. Led by husband and wife Tony and Dara Wray, Blue Mafia was formed in 2011. Tony says, “Basically because my wife wanted to be in a band, too.” The result for this Indiana band was a highly acclaimed 2013 release, My Cold Heart. That led ...

Songwriters living in or near the Nashville, TN area – you might want to consider attending this new offering from Vanderbilt University, in person. For others, this will be available on-line as well. It’s the Blair Hit Songwriter Series hosted by Deanna Walker. Join legendary songwriters, industry professionals and rising stars for 14 weeks of incredible, up-close and personal discussions ...

By Ed Tutwiler – I had the good fortune recently to sit in on the making of the annual Christmas album that National Media Services releases every year as its Christmas card. The featured performers for this year are the Circa Blue Bluegrass Band. During a break in the recording session, I sat down for a short chat with Mr. ...

The 14th annual ROMP Festival, promoted by the International Bluegrass Museum, will take place on June 21 – 24, 2017 at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro, KY, home of the museum. Scheduled acts this year include legendary American roots pioneers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, progressive bluegrass virtuosos, Punch Brothers, Grammy Award-winning folk rockers, Los Lobos, and multi-instrumentalist and founding member ...