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Chris Griffy

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Bold New Projects from Gangstagrass, Nate Sabat, and Broken Compass Bluegrass

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Bold New Projects from Gangstagrass, Nate Sabat, and Broken Compass Bluegrass

Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, and, assuming you put your weather forecasting faith in rodents, spring is on the way. With spring, or, more accurately, the end of the brief lull that follows the holidays, comes new crowdfunding projects. This month's group is a diverse one. We've

ALBUM REVIEW: Dashes of Bluegrass, Celtic, and More Spice Up Charm City Junction’s ‘Salt Box’

ALBUM REVIEW: Dashes of Bluegrass, Celtic, and More Spice Up Charm City Junction’s ‘Salt Box’

There are certain states that are immediately associated with old-time music: North Carolina. Tennessee. West Virginia. Maryland? Well, maybe not yet. But on their new album, Salt Box, Charm City Junction aims to put Baltimore on the old-time map. A quartet consisting of 2017 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Acoustic Projects From Peter Mulvey, Morgan Harris, and Ordinary Elephant

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Acoustic Projects From Peter Mulvey, Morgan Harris, and Ordinary Elephant

Over the last decade or so, roots music has embraced more Southern and blues rock elements, with artists like Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and American Aquarium making electric instruments fit right into the roots mainstream. But sometimes it's nice to step back and revisit the “roots”

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: The Gift of Supporting Independent Music

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: The Gift of Supporting Independent Music

It's the holiday season and, if you're anything like me, you've left your gift buying to the last minute. Never fear. You won't have to mine the gas station on Christmas Day this year. Crowdfunding makes a great gift. In many ways,

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Support an Artist’s Work and Get a Custom-Written Song

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Support an Artist’s Work and Get a Custom-Written Song

Crowdfunding campaigns tend to be pretty similar. In addition to the album, common backer perks tend to be things like T-shirts, stickers, hats, and handwritten lyric sheets. But a perk I'm seeing more often recently is a custom written song. The backer is usually able to give an

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Little Pieces’ Walks in Cidny Bullens’ Shoes

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Little Pieces’ Walks in Cidny Bullens’ Shoes

Cidny Bullens has had a storied career, from songs on the famed Grease soundtrack to two Grammy awards to his tenure in the bands of Elton John and Rod Stewart. He's also blazed trails as a transgender man in roots music. While much of this history is detailed

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: House of Hamill, Amelia White, and Crow and Gazelle

CROWDFUNDING RADAR: House of Hamill, Amelia White, and Crow and Gazelle

One of the things I love about doing this column is introducing new artists releasing their debut albums. But I also enjoy revisiting artists who I've featured before. Some crowdfund their first album out of sheer necessity. Those who come back to the well a second or third