Although they originated in China, willows have become an important part of BluegrassLand’s landscape and lore. In some places, the tree is considered to be sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travelers. Willow branches are placed above doors to keep evil spirits and witches away. It’s bad luck to burn willow wood. Striking children […]

They’re iconic tall deciduous trees with a spread of graceful arching branches that sway in the wind. They have mystical, magical and mythic powers that mesmerize all of BluegrassLand where they often symbolize grief, sorrow and mourning. With those attributes, it’s no wonder they’re probably the genre’s most sung about tree. Together with Mac Wiseman, […]

It’s a phrase that’s larger than life—a state of being that encapsulates all that’s good, righteous and real in BluegrassLand. It’s about enjoying an unsophisticated, simple, wholesome and usually rural existence. With the salt-of-the-earth help of Gary Brewer, Norman Blake, Robin & LInda Williams and Buck White, we’ll be celebrating down home girls, down home […]

We’ll jaunting back to 1980 when, in August of that year: Hurricane Allen hits Brownsville, TX; George Brett raises his batting average to .401; Jimmy Carter & Walter Mondale receive the Democratic nomination; a two month old Australian girl named Azaria Chamberlain disappears giving rise to the biggest murder trial in Australian history; and the […]

It’s that nasty reddish to yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that appears on iron or steel by oxidation caused by moisture. It’s a condition that runs rampant in BluegrassLand, conjuring up images of faded glory, neglect, decay and utter ruin. It oozes lonesomeness and despair which makes it tailor-made for bluegrassical applications. With the […]

It’s that nasty reddish to yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that appears on iron or steel by oxidation caused by moisture. It’s a condition that runs rampant in BluegrassLand, conjuring up images of faded glory, neglect, decay and utter ruin. It oozes lonesomeness and despair which makes it tailor-made for bluegrassical applications. With the […]

It’s a trip with some oomph to it; a journey on steroids where getting from point A to point B becomes an epic battle in adrenalin management. They’re called “rides” in Bluegrass-eze. With the guidance of Michael Cleveland, Blue Mule, Gary Brewer and Tim Stafford, we’ll riding showboats, steamboats, sleighs, sleds, trains, wagons and see-saws.

It’s the lack of desire to expend effort, which many in BluegrassLand have elevated to a pseudo-religion. Practitioners of the faith are known by various names such as slackers, bludgers, goldbrickers, couch potatoes, slocum-pocums, bottom chairs and bone loafers. We know them as some of the most colorful characters in the land time forgot, where […]

There are few if any nor sure-fire cures to the coronavirus stuck-at-home blues than the appearance of a spate of new bluegrass cds. We may not have hand sanitizer, alcohol or TP, but we will have the latest from Laurie Lewis; Crary, Evans & Barnick; Jim Lauderdale; Daryl Mosley and more.

We’ll once again be riding the trusty bluegrass time machine back to 1980 — when in July of that year, O Canada becomes the official Canadian national anthem; the movie comedy Airplane premieres; the Astros’ Nolan Ryan notches his 3,000th strikeout; Ronal Reagan receives the Republican nomination for president; Billy Joel’s Glass Houses LP sits […]