We went up to Nashville Monday night to see a concert at the Grand Ole Opry House.  The concert was a celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Rounder Records.  We were drawn to the concert by the headliners -- Bela Fleck, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas.  Turns out, though, that ( Read more... )

Bluegrass mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile, formerly of Nickel Creek, came to our little university town last night with his new band, the Punch Brothers.  In addition to Thile, the band consists of  Chris Eldridge on guitar, Paul Kowert on upright bass, Noam Pikelny on banjo, and Gabe Witcher on fiddle.  All of them assisted on harmonies at one point ( Read more... )

Today is the birthday of one of my musical heroes.  Jerry Douglas turns 52 today, and though he has no idea who I am, I'd like to give him a big old birthday shout out ( Read more... )