No one would argue that Darrell Webb hasn’t earned his stripes in traditional bluegrass. He has moved from being a much sought-after sideman in traditional bluegrass settings to establishing himself, in his early 40s, as a solid band leader who has […]
Bluegrass emerged out of a bubbling world of country music that was changing from a simply regional music in the 1920s into what became known as Country & Western and was sold to the world as appealing to a strong, but […]
Rhonda Vincent has had a long and successful career in bluegrass music. From her origins in northeastern Missouri to her emergence as the Queen of Bluegrass, a crown conferred on her by The Wall Street Journal, she has represented bluegrass […]
This afternoon we started our trek north from Florida, heading into the blooming outdoor bluegrass season, which runs from April through October in most of the country. I’ve been writing this column for a year now, writing about all the festivals I’ve […]
Last weekend, we attended a well-established festival near Palatka, Florida, where we’ve been coming since 2006. It’s promoted by Norman Adams, who books and operates nine prominent and mostly traditional bluegrass festivals up and down the East Coast. He’s careful […]
December is a great time for reflection, as another year closes up shop. In the music world, we like to look back so we can talk about what we loved and discover great music we might have missed (like Jon […]
Deep down we know the holidays aren’t, and shouldn’t be, about buying stuff. We do it anyway, of course, but in the end it doesn’t contribute much to the experience other than a lingering sense of buyer’s remorse and, on […]
The ongoing dichotomy in bluegrass — one side traditional, the other exploring bluegrass-favored acoustic pop — is pretty much a given. Rhonda Vincent, by contrast, has always favored the middle ground, blending the contemporary with traditional roots dating back decades […]
It may not be possible to review this record without noting that Rhonda Vincent, who bares more skin with each new release, continues that trend on the album’s cover. The racy photo seems at odds with an “All American Bluegrass […]
“O Death” might not be on your Top 40 station, but has there ever been so much good bluegrass within easy earshot? With Alison Krauss accumulating Grammys and country crossover stars from Patty Loveless to Dolly Parton to the Dixie […]
