Dale Ann Bradley- The Hard Way review

Dale Ann Bradley The Hard Way Pinecastle Records The Hard Way is stronger than Dale Ann Bradley’s previous self-titled release, which was itself a stout collection of bluegrass. Bradley’s style has evolved over these last twenty-plus years. Over the course of ten solo albums, most edges have been smoothed from Bradley’s presentation. In their place…

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Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers- For the Record review

Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers For the Record Billy Blue Records Banjoist Joe Mullins has long been a Fervor Coulee favourite. From his Traditional Grass recordings through seven albums with his Radio Ramblers, and side projects including with Longview and Junior Sisk, Mullins has built a formable and appreciated bluegrass legacy. For the Record…

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Chatham County Line- Sharing the Covers review

Chatham Country Line Sharing the Covers Yep Roc/ ChathamCountyLine.com Chatham County Line plays bluegrass for people who don’t like bluegrass. Well, not just them. Some folks who like bluegrass also enjoy the music of the long-serving Raleigh group, but their interpretation of the music isn’t for everyone. I’m pretty sure that somewhere in the Fervor…

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Lonely Heartstring Band- Smoke & Ashes review

I had anticipated Lonely Heartstring Band would make an Alberta festival appearance this summer, and perhaps they will. However they won’t be at the Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, and that is too bad–they are one of the truly intriguing, leading edge bands in the new acoustic Americana universe. My review of their second album has been…

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Balsam Range- Aeonic review

Balsam Range Aeonic Mountain Home Music Company Now seven albums (plus a Christmas album, a retrospective recording with a pops orchestra, and a terrific collaboration with John Driskell Hopkins) deep into a twelve-year run, there are no signs that these Haywood County, North Carolina veterans are nearing the end of their road. The playing and…

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Roland White & Appleseed Recordings reviews

Over at Country Standard Time, two of my reviews have been published. Roland White (& Friends) latest is a star-studded tribute to his legendary bluegrass group The Kentucky Colonels. Meanwhile, Appleseed Recordings celebrates their 21st anniversary with a three-disc set featuring several previously unreleased cuts by Fervor Coulee faves John Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom…

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Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard- Sing Me Back Home: The DC Tapes, 1965-1969 review

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard Sing Me Back Home: The DC Tapes, 1965-1969 Free Dirt Records Rare, archival material from the most important female duo in bluegrass history will always be welcomed. The contributions made by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard have long been acknowledged by people who have chosen to delve into their music…

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