We just received the sad news that sandal maker / fiddler Allan Block passed away on Wednesday, October 23rd, at 90 years of age. Allan was a seminal figure in the Folk Revival and Greenwich Village folk scene of the … Continue reading →
ROBBIE FULKS Gone Away Backward Bloodshot 211 www.bloodshotrecords.com Years ago, a promoter fondly described Fulks as a big Dennis the Menace of country music – something country music often deserves. At 50, he’s mellowed … Continue reading →
DEEP DARK WOODS Jubilee Black Hen 976 www.blackhenmusic.com Advance press for Canadian roots-rockers The Deep Dark Woods’ fourth album played up the fact that they were working with producer Jonathan Wilson, noted for his … Continue reading →
CHRIS JONES & THE NIGHT DRIVERS Lonely Comes Easy Rebel 1847 www.rebelrecords.com There is a healthy and longstanding tradition of country and bluegrass musicians doubling as radio DJs and becoming as widely known for their … Continue reading →
RON BLOCK Walking Song Rounder 9167 www.rounder.com Ron Block is familiar to bluegrass and mainstream country music fans by virtue of his long tenure as banjo player and guitarist in Alison Krauss’ band Union … Continue reading →
WHALEBONE Runes Two Wild Women www.whalebone-music.com This is the fourth album for the instrumental trio from Shropshire, England. Two guitars and fiddle, and a few other instruments they play (mandolin, etc.) tossed in for … Continue reading →
The Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) announced the nominees for this year’s awards. Overall, 70 artists and groups were announced as nominees in 19 categories who hailed from eight provinces and two territories in Canada. The CFMA weekend begins on … Continue reading →
The unique sound of the banjo has been making an astonishing comeback with a new generation of those listening to alternative country, folk, bluegrass, and roots music in both the UK and USA. English folk rock bands like the youth-favorite … Continue reading →
Legendary bluegrass fiddler Jim Shumate has passed away at 91 years of age after battling kidney failure and Alzheimer’s disease. On October 8, 2013. Shumate was hospitalized after taking a serious fall, and was later transferred to Catawba Regional Hospice … Continue reading →
Album cover for Red Headed Stranger (1975) Introduction Taking up Willie Nelson’s iconic 1975 album Red Headed Stranger is a prospect both daunting and straightforward. It is the landmark murder ballad concept album, and launched Nelson into superstardom. Despite thematic and stylistic … Continue reading →
