Preserving The Tradition of Bluegrass Into The Future

A blend of chamber folk and progressive bluegrass underpins the genre-bending style of Nashville-based alt-folk/bluegrass trio, The Arcadian Wild. From small private house shows to an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, the band continues to evolve without straying too far from its roots. The 50-million Spotify song streams the band claims are a clear testament to how listeners connect to the band’s eclectic approach. Now, a new record pushes the boundaries of their capabilitie

When Kenny Feinstein first started playing music, he probably had no idea he’d some day end up being a vital part of the Los Angeles, California, bluegrass community. Traditional music wasn’t a part of his life. Yet. “I picked up the guitar after hearing Offspring, Nirvana, and Blink-182,” Feinstein said, of his beginnings as a musician. One day he set up shop to busk outside a Target store in Santa Cruz. He played Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and received his first ev

The guys in High Cotton are rooted in the past, preserving the traditions of bluegrass, while looking forward to the next generation. It’s been that way since Dan Defend, Rick Rhodes, and Bill Blickhan played in the house band for Cotton Patch Gospel. It was there that they connected with the late Milt Craig. “Milt was a large part of why we became High Cotton,” says Dan. “He helped found the band, and he came up with the name High Cotton, which represents prosperity and good

Continuing a family tradition dating back to the 1930s, The Hawkins Kids band is inspired by family, faith, and the love of music. The Hawkins family lives on their farm in Woodstock, Virginia, where the three Hawkins children are homeschooled. Siblings Olivia (16), Tanner (12), and George (14) have musical gifts that are gaining notice around the region and beyond. “They are humble about their talents,” says Wade Hawkins, the father of the talented trio. “People will thank

With five Grammy Award wins, eight gold albums, hundreds of television appearances, and a Lifetime Achievement Award, Noel Paul Stookey is still as creative as ever. Designing a new instrument might not have been his lifelong ambition, but design one, he did. The still-vibrant Stookey, 88, can add inventor to his list. “I realized that what I had created was kind of a United Nations of instruments of sorts,” Stookey says. Stookey is not the first person who comes to mind when

In a culture where most music is focused on examining the hardships and challenges of life, it’s refreshing to come across messaging that truly lifts spirits. In bluegrass, country, folk and other roots genres – where “hard times” and grief are essentially coded into the DNA of the music – unbridled feel-good vibes are more rare. For Maitland, Florida-based indie folk group The 502s, however, a mood boost would be a certain, expected outcome. For this group, Banjo and guitar

It’s common for actor, funnyman and banjo player Steve Martin to take to the stage or studio with the guys of the Steep Canyon Rangers. Not-at-all unexpectedly, the newest record by this Grammy-winning roots outfit continues this longstanding collaborative tradition. The album also features contributions from singer-songwriter Edie Brickell and from Della Mae lead vocalist, Celia Woodsmith. The 14-track release – titled Next Act – features a butterfly on its cover. According

The West Liberty Mountain Boys got their start with a group of friends who had an interest in music. “We went to the same high school; we all played music, but we didn’t know each other well.” Music has a way of bringing people together, and that’s what happened with Johnathan Keeton, Byron Holbrook, and Matt Bailey. “We named the band for the place we lived – West Liberty in Morgan County, Kentucky.” The band’s first show was in 2015. “We played locally, around West Liberty

For more than three decades, CMH Records’ Pickin’ On series has taken songs that seem to belong somewhere else and asked what remains when familiar production is removed. Pickin’ On Post Malone, released July 31, may be one of the series’ more revealing tests, moving through a catalog shaped by trap, pop, hip-hop and country to find out what survives when banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro and guitar take over. The album brought together Water Tower, Big Richard, JD Casper, The B

Well, I bet that title has you wondering, too! It sounds like a song title to me, and one I will most likely whittle on at some point because it’s a real place. I know this because lots of my songs come from there, right out of nowhere. The inspirations, the lines I use, the melodies I use come from that platform…from the place I picture looking like a pearly blank slate filling up and orchestrated by orbs floating around and glitter falling and stars shining and a golden lig

There’s a special relationship between people who grew up together. They went through rites of passage at the same time, and they have the same frame of reference from a similar upbringing. In the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, Damon Seal, Daniel Oxendine, and Randall Woods grew up together. David Combs is from the same area. “We all grew up together, and we played music together,” says Damon, “but when we grew up, we all joined different bands.” In 2002, Damon and

If ever there was a proud Southwest Virginia musician, Colby T. Helms is that young man. The versatile songsmith and leader of The Virginia Creepers says he wants to represent his region. Franklin County has a history of doing things in a big way, whether it’s moonshining or a deep connection to NASCAR racing. “Despite a colorful history, it’s often overlooked,” says Helms. “I feel like our side of Appalachia doesn't get represented as much.” Helms, 24, compares himself to T

Haunting Melodies . . . Spooky Songs for Halloween “It may seem a little spooky but it’s all right. Don’t you worry now, it’s just the night.” That song by the Del McCoury Band never mentions Halloween, but it sure sets the scene. There’s dread in every line, from “trees that look like creatures in shadows on the wall” to “you could wind up a victim in some kind of evil spell.” For the evening of October 31, “It’s Just the Night” to put together a “BooGrass” playlist of haunt