Evie Ladin continues her ongoing mission to meld old-time banjo with modern folk sounds with her newest EP titled Playing Our Hand, released last month. Calling this an album of cover songs is perhaps redundant (what old-time music isn’t a cover?) but still accurate, since these are covers of contemporary pieces that range from Paul… Continue reading Evie Ladin Band: Playing Our Hand
The new album from Ireland-based oldtime outfit Grits & Gravy, their first release, is jam-packed with a passel of high-octane traditional American fiddle tunes and songs. The music on this record shines like a mirror, reflecting our American music back to us across the Atlantic with an authentic patina that belies the Old World roots… Continue reading Grits & Gravy Stringband: Ain’t Nothin’ but a Thing
Marla Fibish just released a brilliant solo album titled The Bright Hollow Fog. What a thrill this record is to me. To sit back and soak in the glory as Marla Fibish makes her mandolin sing the good old jigs and reels… it’s just magical. The arrangements feature her 1922 Gibson A mandolin and 1914… Continue reading Marla Fibish: The Bright Hollow Fog
American old-time music has undergone quite a revival in these past few years. As in other genres of “trad” music (such as Irish or bluegrass), old-time music has its repertory of standards that everyone knows and everyone plays when the devotees gather to jam and share tunes. But the Holy Grail of old-time music must… Continue reading Spencer & Rains: The Old Texas Fiddle Vol III
