Canyon Mountain- Northbound review

Reviewing regional bluegrass bands can be a tricky business. Folks who play bluegrass out of a pure love for the music should be encouraged, have to be encouraged, to continue to develop their skills as musicians and vocalists. A dropped note here, a missed verse there—let’s not be overly critical. We’re all in it for…

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Polaris Music Prize 2015- My Ballot and the Long List

This year, as I have been for the past many, I am proud to be a member of the Polaris Music Prize jury. “The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours, celebrates and rewards creativity and diversity in Canadian recorded music by recognizing, then marketing the albums of the highest artistic integrity,…

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Kelsey Waldon- The Goldmine review

Still a few reviews in the pipeline, but this one was published this week over at the Lonesome Road Review. I very much enjoyed this album- one of the best I’ve heard this year- and am pleased with the way the review turned out. Thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. Donald Kelsey Waldon The Goldmine Self-released By…

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Bluegrass Albums of the Year, 2014

Last week I posted the list of my favourite roots albums of 2014, while also including a few other lists including favourite reissues and such. Today I am pleased to present my favourite bluegrass albums of the past year. A great many strong bluegrass albums were released in 2014, but I found that I spent…

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Annie Lou, Tried and True, and some bluegrass gifts for you…

My review of Annie Lou’s excellent new album Tried and True, has been posted to the Lonesome Road Review. A little old-time, a bit of bluegrass, some folk, and a whole lot of energy- a darned good album, I do believe. Also posted, this time at Fervor Coulee Bluegrass, is my ‘gift’ of five song…

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Recent roots reviews

I’I haven’t posted here at Fervor Coulee for a month, which is bad. I have been writing, which may also be bad depending on your opinion. Thought I would catch up by posting some of the links I’ve neglected. Lee Ann Womack is a singer I didn’t have any familiarity with prior to reviewing her…

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Nick Hornbuckle- 12X2(+/-1) review

Nick Hornbuckle recently released his debut solo recording, a collection of mostly traditional old-time fiddle tunes given new arrangements for banjo in a variety of (mostly) duo settings. As a long-time proponent of the special music created by John Reischman & the Jaybirds, with whom Hornbuckle has played for some 15+ years, it should be no…

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Roots Song of the Week: Red Molly- Clinch River Blues

The band Red Molly has received a great deal of positive attention the last few years, but I can’t say I’ve paid too much attention. I did buy their album James a few years back, and have quite enjoyed it the two or three times I’ve listened to it. Covers of “Gulf Coast Highway” and…

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The Earls of Leicester review

The Earl of Leicester had nothing to do with bluegrass music. But, The Earls of Leicester are most certainly bluegrass through and through. The ‘Earl’ refers to Scruggs and ‘Leicester’ is pronounced Lester, as in Flatt, and this six-piece band, whose performance at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival of a couple weekends ago I am…

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Lonesome River Band- Turn On A Dime review

Through some miscommunication, I had thought that Country Standard Time had assigned me the new album from Lonesome River Band to review. Coincidentally, the same evening I submitted my review, Jeff over at CST was posting the review for the album he had actually assigned to a different writer. Jeff decided to post the two…

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