Edmonton Folk Music Festival- Bluegrass, Old-time, ‘Grassicana, 2023

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival lineup always delivers, and while their definition of folk music is a bit more liberal than mine, I’ve never come away from this meticulously organized festival disappointed. Yes, sometimes the crowd ‘gets’ to me, but almost always the diverse music presented more than makes up for my failures as a…

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Robbie Fulks- Bluegrass Vacation review

Robbie Fulks Bluegrass Vacation Compass Records Bluegrass Vacation was one of the most highly anticipated roots albums of the year ever since word started leaking that Robbie Fulks was going full-bluegrass on his next album. Okay, maybe only in my house. The Americana Outcast has been delivering spellbinding albums since the late 90s, but has…

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Larry Sparks- It’s Just Me review

Larry Sparks It’s Just Me Rebel Records Imagine, if you will: Larry Sparks stops in at your home one evening, and following a friendly chat over a cup of fresh coffee, he pulls out his aged flattop and starts playing songs. Dream no more, my bluegrass and Americana friends. Larry Sparks does just that—minus the…

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Western Canada’s Bluegrass Summer, 2023

Western Canada’s Summer Bluegrass Festivals are releasing their artist lineups and I’ve summarized things over at Fervor Coulee Bluegrass. Give it a read if you are interested in exploring the offerings. Link here.

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Greg Blake- People, Places, and Songs review

Greg Blake People, Places, and Songs Turnberry Records GregBlakeMusic.com Greg Blake Makes The Final Ballot The 2022 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Nominees were a surprise. Not that Danny Paisley (three previous wins), Del McCoury (six-time recipient, including ultimately in 2022), and Larry Sparks (two previously, but not since 2005—what’s up with that?!) were…

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Favourite Roots Albums of Quarter 1, 2023

I’ve encountered some really great roots music these first three months of 2023, and thought I would feature some of the finest as my Favourites of the First Quarter. They are not necessarily in position order from 1 to 12, but they could be… Iris DeMent- Workin’ On A World It has been too many…

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Chris and Sally Jones, Dead Ends Live, Edmonton March 18, 2023

A rare opportunity to see and hear members of the bluegrass family playing an intimate duo gig this evening. DeadEnds Live, a two-day fest of Grateful Dead-related music in downtown Edmonton, made its second appearance this weekend, and all reports from those in attendance were that it was incredible. I managed to convince myself to…

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Tim Stafford & Thomm Jutz- Lost Voices review

A few weeks ago I was asked by Country Standard Time to review the latest from Tim Stafford and the prolific Thomm Jutz. The review was published in a fairly timely manner, but I neglected to cross-post it here: so the review can be found at the CST site. My unedited version is posted below;…

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John Reischman & the Jaybirds and River City Playboys- Bluegrass @ SilverSkateFestival, 2023.02.19

It was late on Sunday afternoon, as I watched the local team blow another three-goal lead, that a tweet caught my eye- John Reischman & the Jaybirds were playing two sets a half-hour away from my trusty recliner. And the River City Playboys were also appearing! It takes a lot for me to change plans…

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Starlett & Big John- Living in the South review

Starlett & Big John Living in the South Rebel Records Rebel Records, going back a generation and continuing with Mark Freeman, has always found a way to identify groups ready to ascend to ‘the next level.’ Starlett & Big John is the latest. In 2021 Turnberry Records put out the duo’s debut, Till the End…

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