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Bobby Moore

Sierra Hull Takes Bold Musical Journey on ‘25 Trips’

Sierra Hull Takes Bold Musical Journey on ‘25 Trips’

Over the years, numerous publications have credited Sierra Hull as one of roots music’s best young talents or as one of the first ladies of bluegrass. Such well-meaning praise suits Hull, but let’s face it — no age or gender qualifiers are necessary if you want to flat-out call

The Lil Smokies Keep Progressive Bluegrass Going on 'Tornillo'

The Lil Smokies Keep Progressive Bluegrass Going on 'Tornillo'

Missoula, Montana five-piece The Lil’ Smokies cross folk songwriting and bluegrass instrumentation with a sense of rock and roll rebellion throughout its third album, Tornillo. Members Matt Cornette (banjo), Andy Dunnigan (vocals, dobro), Scott Parker (bass), Matt “Rev” Rieger (guitar, vocals) and Jake Simpson (fiddle, vocals) went to Tornillo, Texas,

Hawktail’s ‘Formations’ Soars Past Genre Expectations

Hawktail’s ‘Formations’ Soars Past Genre Expectations

When old-time fiddler Brittany Haas, guitarist Jordan Tice, mandolinist Dominick Leslie, and Punch Brothers bassist Paul Kowert join forces as instrumental quartet Hawktail, they become more than a supergroup for any specific genre. As new album Formations proves, the band members defy expectations based on other projects or instruments of

Debut Album from AJ Lee and Blue Summit Backs Up the Buzz

Debut Album from AJ Lee and Blue Summit Backs Up the Buzz

EDITOR’S NOTE: In December, we like to take a look back at albums we didn’t get around to reviewing earlier in the year. Like I Used To was released in May. One of the most awarded young bands in bluegrass, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, backed up its

Keller & The Keels Up to ‘Speed’ with Fun Covers and Skillful Originals

Keller & The Keels Up to ‘Speed’ with Fun Covers and Skillful Originals

Keller & The Keels, a trio teaming Keller Williams with progressive flatpicker Larry Keel and bassist Jenny Keel, pull off a top-notch bluegrass cover of Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn.” The hyperactive revision highlights Williams and his collaborators’ covers-heavy new album, Speed. “Slow Burn” deserves top billing because it’s a

Sing Us Back Together: Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’ and What it Says about America

Sing Us Back Together: Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’ and What it Says about America

Ken Burns documentaries typically rely on scholars as narrators. Obviously, Burns’ crew couldn’t talk to a member of the 1908 Chicago Cubs, making the game’s historians the best sources for the 1994 series Baseball. Likewise, for a modern topic like Vietnam, experts offered some of the best insight

In Atlanta, An Effort to Prevent a Piece of Country Music History from Wasting Away

In Atlanta, An Effort to Prevent a Piece of Country Music History from Wasting Away

When Ken Burns’ eight-episode docuseries Country Music debuts on Sept. 15, the first story told will not take place in Texas or Tennessee. Instead, the series’ in-depth look at the genre’s roots begins in downtown Atlanta, where Okeh Records’ Ralph Peer recorded the first country music superstar, Fiddlin’ John