Preserving The Tradition of Bluegrass Into The Future

They began gathering under a water tower in Portland, Oregon, high school kids who were into punk. Twenty years later, after busking bluegrass at freeway off-ramps, overcoming addiction, and navigating Los Angeles' vibrant music scene, the band Water Tower is connecting with audiences of all ages through electrifying performances.   Last summer, the band played the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. It became the first bluegrass band to play the Vans Warped Tour, one of the larges

High River has always been comprised of a group of friends who get together to play bluegrass music. The band got its beginning in 2022 when the Campbellton Bluegrass Festival in New Brunswick, southeastern Canada, needed a band to fill a last-minute spot. “I made a few calls to some jamming buddies, and just like that — High River was born,” says Jason Guimond, who plays banjo and vocals for the band. The ad hoc band sounded great, and they were well received by the audience

There's something deeply satisfying about a life that turns craft into a calling. For songwriter Rick Lang, that's precisely how faith found its shape—through wood, words, and work. Fulfilling a 52-year career in the hardwood lumber business, Lang has spent decades refining two trades that require equal measures of patience and reverence. Whether he's carefully planning Curly Hard Maple or shaping melody, the goal is the same: make something solid, true, and lasting.   Lang d

The monumental Hillberry Bluegrass festival recently reached a milestone decade year, offering a five-day bluegrass festival at The Farm, just a few miles outside of historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Each year's atmosphere creates a unique persona of welcome, relaxation, and the indulgent appreciation of a grassroots movement that has been entertaining audiences for years. 'Happy Hillberry' was uttered on multiple occasions. It was almost as if this five-day bluegrass festiv

It’s late in Oak City, Utah, and Jake Workman’s house is quiet. His kids are asleep. The room hums faintly from the last ring of an open-G chord. Guitars lean against the wall, their finish dulled by fingerprints and years of work. Workman is still at it — six, sometimes eight hours a day — chasing sound, chasing feel, chasing that invisible thing that makes one note matter more than another.   “Oh, thank you,” he says when told his playing “Rawhide” with Ricky Skaggs in a Yo

Appalachia isn’t just a landscape of rolling mountains and deep traditions — it’s also home to a small but vibrant network of creameries and dairies producing high-quality, locally made cheeses. While large-scale dairying dominates much of the country, these artisan operations keep alive a tradition of farmstead cheesemaking tied to their land, animals, and communities. From goat milk yogurt to aged cow’s milk cheeses, the region’s creameries demonstrate a commitment to craft

When Steve and Kay Ellis built a barn on their land outside Columbus, Mississippi, they had no idea how to produce and promote concerts. Yet today, The Barn is one of the most popular music venues in the area. “We’ve learned a lot over the past few years,” says Steve. “It’s not just about the music. We are committed to creating a great experience and making lasting memories.” Steve and Kay bought their home 25 years ago. Next to the house was a pole barn that they turned into

For many new artists, making music is the easy part. They have grown up mastering their instrum ent, perhaps honing their craft at a well-regarded bluegrass or roots music program at a college or university. The hard part is getting noticed and navigating the complicated and ever-changing entertainment landscape. How does one turn musical talent and ability into a successful career?   Salt Lick Incubator may be the answer. It's a non-profit artist development organization tha

A shed in the shadow of Black Mountain near Brevard, N.C., is not only the studio where an acclaimed banjoist creates albums, does session work, and scores shows such as the television series Poker Face . It’s also where an entrepreneurial educator devises innovative new online music instruction methods.   It’s not that two individuals are sharing this space. It’s just that Bennett Sullivan wears many hats.   “I've never looked at performing as my sole way of making an income

After a six-year hiatus, The Unfaithful Servants has released Fallen Angels , the sophomore album from the Americana band. Their new record is lovingly crafted by a quartet consisting of Jesse Cobb (mandolin), Singer-songwriter Dylan Stone, Quin Etheridge-Pedden (fiddle) and bassist Mark Johnson. Hailing from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the band was described as “Canada’s most exciting Newgrass band”   after their performance at California’s Seaside Music Festival a

Having one musician in a family is always a good thing. Having two is even better. And when they are twin brothers, it can cause a lot of double-takes. For Kevin and Keith McKinnon, it’s normal to see a mirror image of themselves in their twin. The brothers grew up in Marion, in the southwest part of Virginia. “It’s where the Song of the Mountains  television series was filmed,” says Keith. They grew up exposed to bluegrass music. “Our dad played guitar in the Mountain Ramble