John McCutcheon may be a folk music phenom now, but in his Virginia youth he played with a low-key Appalachian old-time string band Wry Straw. The trio, which consists of the Grammy-nominated John McCutcheon, Tom Bledsoe and Rich Kirby, will … Continue reading →
We’ve received the incredibly sad news that legendary folk musician and Pentangle founder Bert Jansch has passed away this morning in London after a battle with lung cancer. An adroit songwriter and guitarist, Jansch’s career began with his co-founding the … Continue reading →
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Benefit Concert excitedly announces the addition of Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Barone to their concert line-up. The benefit concert is slated for October 21st at Symphony Space in NYC and is set to feature … Continue reading →
Congratulations to all of 2011’s International Bluegrass Music Award (IBMA) winners. This years recipients include Del McCoury and George Shuffler, who were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers won Entertainers of the … Continue reading →
In early 2012, the award-winning dobroist, Andy Hall, will begin offering lessons as part of ArtistWorks’ Academy of Bluegrass. The lessons will be offered at the beginner, intermediate and advanced level, in order to encourage people of all skill sets … Continue reading →
Having spent three years in Copenhagen, Denmark, WOMEX has announced it will be traveling south to Thessaloniki, Greece for its 2012 conference. The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise, as WOMEX has never before taken place in Southeastern … Continue reading →
We’ve received the unfortunate news that influential banjo player Wade Mainer has passed. Mainer, who was 104 years old, had invented his own two-finger banjo picking style and had a career which spanned nearly six decades. Mainer is often credited … Continue reading →
The blogosphere is abuzz about Lonesome River Band leader Sammy Shelor, who has won the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music. The prize — which carries a $50,000 cash grant — is chosen by a group … Continue reading →
David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Delta Blues legend, known as the “Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen,” passed away Monday, August 29th. Edwards was actively performing well into his ’90s, and will be sorely missed in the blues community and beyond. … Continue reading →
For the third time this season, Folk Alley is teaming up with with other broadcasting partners (WPLN, Nashville Public Radio this time) to broadcast a full schedule of festival performances … this time from the 73rd National Folk Festival in … Continue reading →