In the fifth decade of her career, and with a quiet regularity unusual for her species of kitsch megastar, Dolly Parton continues to make new records (Better Day is her sixth since the turn of the century). While she clearly believes that she got where she is through...

Tony Furtado established himself as a prodigious picker early in his careerâ€"he won two National Bluegrass Banjo Championships, in 1987 and in ‘91. However, during the course of a 20-year career, he’s deftly navigated through several musical styles, in addition to being a fiery slide guitarist and itinerant folkie. Golden...

Along with Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley helped define the bluegrass banjo style. And like Scruggs, the 84-year-old Stanleyâ€"who first made his name in the 1940s with his late brother Carter and their group the Clinch Mountain Boysâ€"is one of the last surviving links to the roots of that genre. On...

Ending an eight-year recording break that set in soon after Gillian Welch’s profile-boosting appearance in O Brother, Where Art thou?, The Harrow and the Harvest marks a lovely return.

Simplicity is often the hardest thing to achieve, and it’s a challenge this wistful singer-songwriter has always embraced. In fact, her...

Steve Earle’s latest â€"his first set of new tunes in four yearsâ€"shares its title with the singer/songwriter’s forthcoming first novel, and with one of Hank Williams’ classic tunes. While, sonically, there are few similarities between themâ€"other than both slotting as countryâ€"there are truths and miseries at the core of this...

Steve Martin is not the only Hollywood star to have attempted a serious country album in recent years â€" this furrow has also been ploughed by Billy Bob Thornton (actually not bad) and Tim Robbins (heart-stoppingly dreadful). Martin, to judge by his expansive and somewhat overly...

For the first new Hot Tuna album in 20 years, band co-founders Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady hunkered down at Levon Helm’s Woodstock, NY studio to work with veteran musician/producer Larry Campbell. The result, Steady as She Goes, showcases the bluesy rock sounds its two legendary leaders are known for...

What an enjoyable listen!  Punch Brothers' 2010 release, Antifogmatic, is a shiny diamond in the rough.  Found within a genre one wouldn't typically think to look through as well, bluegrass!  The band is a collection of stringed instruments headed by Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), with Gabe Witcher (fiddle/violin), and Paul...

Tuneful and inventive folk from O'Death, sweet melodies Will Oldham-esque vocals, banjo and violins, all the requisite elements are there but does this make for an enjoyable album. The answer, luckily is yes; though it's often melancholic in tone, "Outside" delivers well crafted tunes with heart.

From the outset "Outside" shows...

Sarah Jarosz, the Texan born singer-songwriter's sophomore effort 'Follow Me Down' is a disc brimming with ambition, diversity and passion. The singer has only just turned 20 years old but the strength and depth of the record hints at a maturity and talent beyond her years. Jarosz sings and writes...