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Acoustic Guitar
reviews, events, lessons for beginners to experts

Dirty Linen: the journal of folk, folklore and traditional music
covers a variety of music.

Sing Out
Venerable magazine includes songs, reviews, concert schedules, etc.

Music Online
streaming audio and video covering a wide range of music types

Overdrive
streaming audio and video

Bluegrass: a history
By Neil V. Rosenberg
This book is considered by many to be the definitive history of bluegrass music and was originally published in 1985. The author is a Seattle native and Professor Emeritus, Department of Folklore, Memorial University of Newfoundland. This is one of numerous titles in the excellent Music in American Life series published by the University of Illinois Press.

Man of constant sorrow: my life and times
by Dr. Ralph Stanley and Eddie Dean
This recently published title is a moving account of Ralph Stanley's life and as he wrote in the Prologue, "I talk natural the same way I sing, so I'm gonna give you my story like I was talking to you across the table."

Can't you hear me callin': the life of Bill Monroe, father of bluegrass
by Richard D. Smith
The author conducted interviews with many of those who knew and had played with Mr. Monroe to produce this authoritative biography published in 2000.

Working girl blues: the life and music of Hazel Dickens
by Hazel Dickens and Bill C. Malone
This autobiography is written by of one of the pioneering women performers in bluegrass. Hazel Dickens grew up in a family of coal miners and has composed and performed many songs concerning their plight. Bill C. Malone is the author of several outstanding books covering country music.

Worlds of sound: the story of Smithsonian Folkways
by Richard Carlin
A history of the nearly all-encompassing music label, Smithsonian Folkways.

Will the circle be unbroken: country music in America
by Alexis Martin Neely
Charts the history of country music from its folk beginnings to the billion-dollar business it is today including a big chapter on “bluegrass music’s up & down journey in popularity.”

The NPR curious listener’s guide to American folk music
by Kip Lornell
This official guide chronicles the story of the birthplace of country music as told by the people who were there. Includes an amusing chapter on ‘the bluegrass revival’ (“All My Hippie Fans”).

The Grand Ole Opry: the making of an American icon
by Colin Escott
This official guide chronicles the story of the birthplace of country music as told by the people who were there.

Fiddler’s dream: a novel
by Gregory Spatz
Spatz’ novel tells the story of Jesse Alison, a prodigiously talented young bluegrass musician, who moves to Nashville from Vermont following his dream of becoming a Blue Grass Boy in Bill Monroe’s band.This guide to personal finance for young professionals emphasizes living well on a budget.

Banjo Granny
by Sarah Martin Busse & Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Baby Owen's grandmother learns that he is wiggly, jiggly, and all-around giggly for bluegrass music, so with her banjo, she travels by curious means to visit and play for him.

Dry Branch Fire Squad-Ron Thomason, founder of the band, is noted for combining humorous stories with his heartfelt vocals.:
Live! at last
Hand hewn

Lonesome River Band –Award-winning band known for their harmony vocals
Finding the way

Crooked Still –Specialized in a progressive style sometimes referred to as neo-bluegrass
Still crooked
Hop high

Tim O’Brien – Whether performing solo, with his sister Mollie, or years ago with Hot Rize, he always sounds great.
Chameleon
Rock in my shoe

Seldom Scene –Influential band from the Washington D.C. area has been on the bluegrass scene since 1971
Scene 20: 20th anniversary concert

Bill Monroe – “The Father of Bluegrass music,” says it all.
The music of Bill Monroe [from 1936 to 1994]

Earl Scruggs
The essential Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs enjoyed great success with Lester Flatt and on his own after leaving Monroe's band where he had helped to develop Monroe’s driving sound.

Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys - 1949-1952
One of the premier brother duets, Ralph Stanley was left to carry on alone after the untimely death of Carter Stanley in 1966.

Ralph Stanley

Man of constant sorrow
Mountain preacher’s child
A living legend, Dr. Ralph Stanley refers to his music as old-time mountain music

Del McCoury Band
The promised land CD PC DEL P03
It’s just the night CD PC DEL I01
Del McCoury’s been performing for 50 years and is still touring and recording along with his sons Rob & Ronnie.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
You gotta dig a little deeper
This band features one of the great bluegrass gospel quartets.

Alison Krauss
Lonely runs both ways
Live: Alison Krauss + Union Station
One of the most popular performers around, Krauss helped introduce bluegrass to a much wider audience.

Cox Family
Everybody’s reaching out for someone
This recording features incredible harmony vocals and a guest appearance by Alison Krauss.

Peter Rowan
Dust bowl children
The First whippoorwill
Rowan’s one of the many musicians who once was a Blue Grass Boy with Bill Monroe.

Old & In the Way – Breakdown
Peter Rowan, Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements, David Grisman and John Kahn blended together to create a unique band.

Mama’s hand: bluegrass and mountain songs about mother
Songs about mother are a frequent theme in bluegrass and acoustic music.

Can’t You Hear Me Callin: Bluegrass: 80 Years of American Music
This is a 4 CD set which includes a tremendous variety of recording artists.

Bluegrass
A CD from the Music Rough Guide series.

Hand-Picked: 25 Years of Bluegrass on Rounder Records
This is a wonderful collection from one of the major labels in acoustic and bluegrass music.

Will the circle be unbroken
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was joined by Maybelle Carter, Jimmy Martin, Doc Watson and many others in creating this ground-breaking recording.

O sister!: the women’s bluegrass collection
Another terrific release from Rounder Records