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The Industrial Strength Bluegrass Project
Traveling the Hillbilly Highway On January 29, 2021, Smithsonian Folkways, the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution released “Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23.” The song is performed by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, but was penned and made popular by Betsy Layne, Kentucky native Dwight Yoakum. “Readin’, Rightin’, Route 23” is the first single from Industrial Strength Bluegrass…
Passages of Time with Sierra Hull
Photo by Shelly Swanger “There’s something intimate about knowing people in the audience and nerve wracking a little bit,” instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Sierra Hull said, chuckling. The night before her interview with Bluegrass Unlimited, she had performed in front of musician friends and industry professionals at the Nashville, TN venue 3rd and Lindsley. The three-time IBMA Mandolin Player of…
Justin Moses
The Quiet Assassin Photo by Shelly Swanger Multi-instrumentalist Justin Moses excels at picking anything with strings. As an in-demand sideman, the modest musician lets his unassuming talents do the talking. “I call him the Quiet Assassin,” says Eric Gibson of The Gibson Brothers. “He’s over there on his side of the stage just killing it, but…
Jack Tuttle
Influencing Generations of Bluegrass Pickers Jack Tuttle is a multi-instrumentalist, author, and teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area who has the distinction of being one of, if not the first to ever teach a bluegrass jam class. For more than four decades, Jack has taught bluegrass mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, vocal, and jam…
Homespun Heroes
For Over 50 Years, Great Homespun Artists Have Taught Us How to Play Music For many bluegrass musicians who have tried to improve their skills over the last 50 years or so, whether it is professional artists or campground pickers, the Homespun Music Instruction Company has played a part in their journey. There is most…
Monroe Mandolin Camp
Building Bluegrass Community Music camps and workshops provide students with an opportunity to interact with, and learn directly from, professional musicians and music heroes. While at camp, students also have the opportunity to make new friends who share common interests and, of course, there is the jamming. It is learning via the total immersion method….