Peter Rowan- Calling You From My Mountain review

Peter Rowan Calling You From My Mountain Rebel Records In various configurations and eliminating live sets, Peter Rowan has recorded well over 40 albums of new music. That’s a lot, but considering his career going back to the 60s and the quality of his experimentation, both within and outside bluegrass, not an unwelcome amount. A…

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Tony Rice- California Autumn vinyl reissue review

Tony Rice California Autumn Rebel Records Several months ago, Rebel Records re-released Tony Rice’s early masterpiece California Autumn on CD. That welcome venture has now been followed by a vinyl reissue, and a welcome addition to our bluegrass shelves (and turntables) it is. Originally released in 1975, this influential recording has been carefully remastered from…

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The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys- Never Slow Down review

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys Never Slow Down Smithsonian Folkways East Tennessee’s The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, despite their on-stage lightness and good humour, take their bluegrass seriously. This is their career, and they are focused and single-minded in the sensible pursuit of not only financial stability but musical ideals. Several albums into their career including a…

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Chris Castino & Chicken Wire Empire- Fresh Pickles review

Chris Castino & Chicken Wire Empire Fresh Pickles ChrisCastino.com ChickenWireEmpire.com For several reasons that will eventually be revealed, this is one of the stranger albums I’ve encountered this year, one that quickly became a favourite. I’ve learned that Chris Castino is a mainstay of the Minnesota and national jamband scenes (with The Big Wu) and…

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Del McCoury Band- Almost Proud review

My review of The Del McCoury Band’s latest, …almost proud has been published at Country Standard Time. I hope you’ll consider heading over that direction and giving it a read.

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Chris Jones & the Night Drivers- Make Each Second Last review

Chris Jones & the Night Drivers Make Each Second Last Mountain Home ChrisJonesGrass.com In a recording and performing career now stretching forty years, Chris Jones has become one of bluegrass music’s most recognizable voices, bandleaders, and personalities. His rich, melodic baritone is pleasingly distinctive, and via his leadership of the Night Drivers approaching thirty years…

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Béla Fleck & Tony Rice Tribute reviews

Over at Country Standard Time two reviews of 2021 releases have been published. The Béla Fleck release was one of the years most welcome bluegrass albums while the Barry Waldrep-led tribute features some of Fervor Coulee’s favourites including Rodney Crowell with Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Vince Gill, Darrell Scott, Tammy Rogers, Kim Richey, John Cowan,…

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James Reams- Like a Flowing River & Soundtrack Album review

James Reams Like a Flowing River & Soundtrack AlbumRedbird Music JamesReams.com Concise review published at Country Standard Time, here. Long-winded feature follows… James Reams is absolutely unique. As such, there is no one in bluegrass quite like him. Born in Kentucky, he came of age in Wisconsin and matured in Brooklyn as a teacher and…

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Swamp Tooth- B-Flat Earth review

Every year I find that I’ve missed a few very strong albums that were sent to me for review but for whatever reason (excuse) I didn’t get to write about. So I try to rectify the situation buy writing a few capsule reviews before the previous year is too far in the rear view. 2021…

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Fervor Coulee’s Favourite Roots Albums of 2021

Years from now, when we consider the best roots albums of 2021, we will have great memories. The second year of COVID allowed artists to release music recorded either prior to the pandemic or that which was created in trying circumstances. It was a year of breakthroughs for many wonderful artists, and even a breakthrough…

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