Cross Canadian Ragweed was a pioneering force in the Red Dirt and Texas country music scenes, blending rock, country, and Southern influences into a unique sound that resonated with fans across the country. Formed in 1994 in Yukon, Oklahoma, the band consisted of Cody Canada (lead vocals and guitar), Grady Cross (guitar), Randy Ragsdale (drums), and Jeremy Plato (bass). The ...

Don Cusic is about to release the first comprehensive biography of country icon Chet Atkins in June 2025. The book itself is twelve years in the making, an effort to fill a major gap in country music history by this professor and music historian from Belmont University in Nashville. Along with his academic qualifications, Don brings a life-long love of ...

In October 2021, officials inducted David Anthony (Tony) Rice as the 2021 member of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Tragically, this 2021 induction was a last recognition of Rice’s achievements and came in the form of a posthumous award as Mr. Rice had passed away at the age of 69 the previous December. Of course this last recognition ...

Years ago when Americana Rhythm was just getting its footing, the publisher came in contact with a North Carolina writer and teacher of all things music. Not long after, this writer agreed to supplying a column for publication each issue. This started a relationship with AR that has lasted for years. That respected writer and teacher is Mr. Wayne Erbsen. ...

Pam Linton grew up in rural central Minnesota (St. Stephen, specifically) and she says, “In that little-bitty town, music was what entertained us.” Pam knew very early on that she wanted to be directly involved with the making of that music. As a matter of fact, she says, “I told my second grade teacher I was going to be a ...

Corey Hunt and Todd Allmon, primary songwriters for Corey Hunt and the Wise, were high school buddies; but the story of their being in a band together doesn’t follow the typical template for this kind thing. Corey didn’t pick up guitar and start writing until college, and Todd only decided to take up playing music after much time spent supporting ...

These days, Kyle Davis is enjoying an extended second act as a singer-songwriter. In his previous musical life, he achieved a level of success many artists strive for but never grasp. He has also experienced the vicissitudes of the music industry firsthand. As for the origin of his creativity, Kyle says, “I was bitten by the bug early on,” and ...

Florida native, Amanda Cook has become one of the top female band leaders on the bluegrass scene today. The Amanda Cook Band has reached the 10 year mark under her leadership, and just recently released their fifth album, Restless Soul. Sparked by her dad’s influence, and the desire to lead a band of her own, Amanda now has an appearance ...

Rock Hearts is a bluegrass group based in the south—the southern part of New England, that is. Despite their physical distance from the southern Appalachian center of bluegrass, their dedication to the musical traditions of the genre places them squarely in its musical territory. According to the band’s lead singer and guitarist Alex MacLeod, “We are a New England-based bluegrass ...

Singer-songwriter, horse breeder/trainer and occasional chef Mike Schikora says “I always keep plates spinning; life’s much too short to have one focus.” His latest album, Outlaw from the South (his third solo effort, released July 2024) reflects this diversity of interests, in that, according to Mike, it has no single overall theme. “This is the first time I went without ...