by Christine | Oct 5, 2013 | Welcome Column
Dear Friends, Firstly, rest in peace, beautiful soul that is Ingrid Horgan. Most of you know Rob from his banjo playing for Sidesaddle and Bean Creek. He lost his wonderful life partner last night. Two better people cannot be found on this Earth. There will be...
by Christine | Sep 11, 2017 | Welcome Column
With the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards arriving in a few weeks, I thought that a comprehensive summary of the Albums of the Year nominees would be a nice change from my usual one project reviews. I will start with my least favorite and conclude with...
by Christine | Oct 24, 2008 | Welcome Column
Irene and I spent the first week of the end of September and the beginning of October in Nashville attending the annual business meeting and Fan Fest of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Gas prices and shortages as well as the weakening economy had...
by Christine | Oct 16, 2016 | Welcome Column
There is nothing wrong with your bluegrass music. Do not attempt to adjust the melody. We are controlling your picking. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the tempo. We...
by Christine | Oct 12, 2015 | Welcome Column
Howdy Readers! I have had quite a month! Last week I schemed and squirmed my way to the International Bluegrass Music Association’s week long World of/ Wide Open Bluegrass Extravaganza! The last time I went was back in Nashville, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. An...
by Christine | Sep 29, 2014 | Welcome Column
After four years of missing this crazy, whacked-out, more or less unbelievable event, I’m headed back to Raleigh this evening. Prior to that I hadn’t missed in ten years. The past several evenings my wife, Lynn, and I have been watching the new Ken Burns documentary...
by Christine | Jul 24, 2019 | Welcome Column
How many times has this happened? You nestle into your seat at a concert or festival, to see one of your favorite bands, and they announce from the stage their regular fiddler couldn’t make it, but they have so-and-so filling in at this show? It’s pretty common,...
by Christine | Nov 24, 2013 | Welcome Column
Perhaps some of you have been to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Though I have not visited this hallowed building, it is near the top of my “bucket list.” I didn’t know that it was originally called the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Thomas G. Ryman had it designed and...
by Christine | Apr 17, 2014 | Welcome Column
There’s a raging debate going on in the world of bluegrass between traditionalists and futurists. But bluegrass isn’t going to make a sound if nobody’s listening a generation from now. In 2009, a study by Simmons Research for IBMA revealed that 79% of the bluegrass...
by Christine | Mar 1, 2019 | Welcome Column
“If people did not love one another,I really don’t see what use there would be in having spring.” Victor Hugo“I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now.One does, I think , as one gets older.” Virginia WoolfMarch 1st… Spring.. Mornings...
