bringing bluegrass music news from all over downunder
Blue Highway performed its first gig on New Year’s Eve in 1994 with its original lineup that includes the same consummate musicians that comprise the band today: Tim Stafford (guitar), Wayne Taylor (bass), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, guitar), Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin), and Rob Ickes (Dobro, lap steel). Tim, Wayne and Shawn provide the [...]
Cumberland River released their new album in July this year. This is another group that I was not familiar with but glad to make their acquaintance. This is one fine band and a great bluegrass album from a band that can drive and deliver in true bluegrass style. The bands website suggests that Cumberland River’s [...]
I was not aware of this group’s history until I did some research and discovered that this is a relatively new band on the bluegrass scene. Nu-Blu was founded by husband and wife team, Carolyn and Daniel Routh in 2003. Some ongoing health issues prohibited their development but in overcoming the odds, the band made [...]
On Innes Campbell’s first album he took limited license with the genre of bluegrass music, moving tastefully through a range of musical styles. With this album, Innes has cut loose and taken the liberty to display what he does best. He plays guitar and writes in an eclectic mix of of music styles while maintaining [...]
I first came across the Texas cowboy, Michael Martin Murphey as one of the many artists on the Circle Vol II album. I loved the sound of his voice and his song selection (Lost River) was perfect. That was back in 1989 and some 20 years later Murphy is now in his 60′s and he still sounds great.
This new album Tall Grass & Cool Water follows earlier releases under the Buckeroo Blue Grass 1 and 2 titles and is more country focused than bluegrass. Murphy, who also produced the album, has featured bluegrass instrumentation in the arrangements while the album celebrates and delivers all of the trappings of a great cowboy collection.
Murphey is a consumate storyteller and spins a great yarn with his music. He has created some romantic visions of famed outlaws Frank and Jesse James and Cole Younger in a trilogy titled The James Gang Trilogy. He also paints the most vivid picture in his The Santa Fe Trail which tells the story of a cowboys lust for life and love and the gal with a smile like an acre of sunflowers whose eyes near set fire to the praire.
Reviewed by Greg McGrath The Original Snakeskins latest album follows their very successful first album, We Got Trouble which received no less that five nominations in the 2007 Victorian and National COuntry Music awards. This new album Along For The Ride, opens with the simple sounds of beautiful and melodic guitar played by Drew Gallus [...]
Reviewed by Greg McGrath This new and emerging band, The Roys, have co-produced this project with the highly accomplished Andy Leftwich. Lee and Elaine Roy have also featured a host of greats on the album including Mark Fain on bass, Justin Moses on banjo, Randy Kohrs on Dobro, Cody Kilby on guitar, Steve Brewster on [...]
Audie Blaylock and Redline’s new album Cryin’ Heart Blues is among other things easy listening. Blaylock’s voice is smooth and all embracing, giving us a contemporary bluegrass album with some of the best pickers you’ll hear in a bluegrass band. Redline features Evan Ward on banjo, Patrick McAvinue on fiddle and mandolin, Matt Wallace on [...]
The second Gold Coast Acoustic Music Festival was held at Glennon Park Nerang on the 18th and 19th September this year. Numbers were almost double that of last year. The line up featured artists from as far away as Victoria, Tasmania, Far North Queensland and Canada. Melbourne based Coolgrass made musical mischief as usual, keeping [...]
Audie Blaylock and Redline’s new album Cryin’ Heart Blues is, among other things, very easy listening. This contemporary bluegrass album has Blaylock’s guitar and voice supported by some of the best pickers you will hear in a bluegrass band. Evan Ward on banjo, Patrick McAvinue on fiddle and mandolin, Matt Wallace on bass. This is [...]
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