Reviews
Dan Levenson’s Master Collection of Old-Time Tunes
Dan Levenson’s name will be well known to anyone who is familiar with old-time music, especially banjo and fiddle players. He is a performer, recording artist and educator. He has published instructional books, produced videos, written magazine articles and taught many workshops. If you are familiar with any of this previous work, you will know…
Waiting Days
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the band members of Pert Near Sandstone are Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar) and Nate Sipe (mandolin, steel guitar, fiddle). They are all known as good songwriters and instrumentalists and they support the traditions of American folk and string band music but with a desire for more…
Why Live Without
This four-piece group from Northern Ireland consists of three siblings and a husband. The siblings are Tabitha Benedict (née Agnew) who plays banjo, Benjamin Agnew on bass and Reuben Agnew on guitar. They are joined by Tabitha’s husband David Benedict who plays mandolin. The group has traveled throughout their native Ireland, the UK and mainland…
No Fear
In the five years since this multi-IBMA Award-winning band’s last album, three new members have come on board. Founders Deanie Richardson (fiddle) and vocalist-banjo player Gena Britt remain. Jaelee Roberts (guitar), Dani Flowers (guitar) and Maddie Dalton (bass) now round out the group. This lineup delivers something that’s close to magic on No Fear. For…
Promised Land
Danny Burns is originally from Donegal, Ireland, where he grew to enjoy playing Celtic and folk music. He now lives in Charleston, North Carolina, and has fully embraced the deep connections that Irish and Appalachian music has given him, including the melding of bluegrass and Americana. On this new release, Burns is accompanied by his…
Kinetic Tone
This collection marks this multi-IBMA Award-winning, western North Carolina-based ensemble’s tenth album for Mountain Home Music, and it’s safe to say they sound better than ever. The addition of mandolin master Alan Bibey seems to have provided a fresh injection of energy and inspiration. These tracks sizzle with drama and pathos in the form of…