The Bluegrass Situation

02/03/2025

Can you imagine hiking up a mountain with all of this gear?!

Artist: Greensky Bluegrass Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI Song: “Wish I Didn’t Know” Album: All for Money Release Date: January 18th, 2019 Label: Big Blue Zoo Records In Their Words: “I think the panoramic views inspired our playing and put us in a good mood for a relatively cold video shoot. It wa...

02/02/2025

Your playlist just got an upgrade!

Here's what The Travelin' McCourys, Penny and Sparrow, Lilly Hiatt, and more are serving up this week.

Listen now: https://spoti.fi/4jaLnGU

02/02/2025

Where did the first month of 2025 go!?

Wherever it went, we’ve got an excellent batch of premieres to close out your January.

Check out releases from Lonesome River Band, Lily Talmers, Pitney Meyer, and more! 🎶

Where did the first month of 2025 go!? Wherever it went, we’ve got an excellent batch of premieres for your final New Music Friday of January. Below, check out brand new music and performance videos like Amanda Bjorn’s “Until We Become Earth,” a song about searching for yourself set to a gor...

02/02/2025

What exactly makes a song?

Humbird explores this on her transcendent new record, Astrovan: The Love Song Vignettes, which spans just 16 minutes - but is expansive in its vision and emotional depth.

In a new feature, BGS caught up with Undlin to chat about making Astrovan, finding beauty in mundane moments and how creative restrictions can often lead to happy artistic accidents.

What makes a song? It’s a simple sounding question, one that invites discussion about structure, melody, production techniques and more (and certainly has no real answer). It’s also something Humbird explores on her transcendent new record, Astrovan: The Love Song Vignettes, which follows last y...

02/02/2025

BGS had the pleasure of sitting down with Swedish performer Sarah Klang before her first-ever Nashville show at the The Blue Room at Third Man Records.

Before the show, we dove into her brand new album, Beautiful Woman, speaking about the death of genre, choosing your own joy, always wanting more banjos, and so much more.

I meet Swedish performer and singer-songwriter Sarah Klang in the glorious maximalist backstage area at Nashville’s the Blue Room before her first-ever Music City show in mid-January. She’s cozy on the couch, a tin of pouched ni****ne by her side, a hippo skull on the coffee table in front of us...

02/02/2025

Carolyn Kendrick's latest project explores complex themes of moral panic, tradition, and the figure of the devil.

In a brand new Basic Folk episode, she discusses her unexpected journey into researching the devil, her exploration of traditional songs through a devilish lens, and much more.

Listen now on BGS:

Carolyn Kendrick’s latest project explores complex themes of moral panic, tradition, and the figure of the devil (AKA Satan, AKA Lucifer). The LA-based songwriter opens up about the inspiration behind her album, Each Machine, which is accompanied by a thought-provoking zine. In our Basic Folk conv...

02/02/2025

You’ve probably heard John Mailander’s music—even if you didn’t realize it.

He's worked with so many different artists, from Bruce Hornsby to Billy Strings, Noah Kahan, Joy Williams, Lucy Dacus, Molly Tuttle, and many more.

Now, with his latest project, he weaves those influences together into an adventure of orchestral bliss.

In a brand new cover story, we talk collaboration, songwriting, and the lessons that shaped his latest release. ✨

Whether or not you know it, you’ve likely heard John Mailander music. Chances are he’s even worked with one (or some) of your favorite artists, from Bruce Hornsby to Billy Strings, Noah Kahan, Joy Williams, Lucy Dacus, Molly Tuttle, and many more. No disrespect to his work with the Noisemakers (...

02/02/2025

Austin-based alt-country rockers Reckless Kelly released their music video for “What’s Left of My Heart” – from their 2024 album, The Last Frontier – a handful of months ago.

Now, they’ve returned with a special “Pop-Up Music Video” that takes viewers behind the scenes of the making of the video.

Watch now on BGS:

 Austin, Texas-based alt-country rockers Reckless Kelly released their music video for “What’s Left of My Heart” – from their 2024 album, The Last Frontier – a handful of months ago. Now, they’ve returned with a special “Pop-Up Music Video” that takes viewers behind the scenes of ...

02/02/2025

Alison Krauss & Union Station, the 14-time GRAMMY-winning bluegrass band, just announced Arcadia, their first album in 14 years—out March 28! 🎶

PLUS - the first single is out now!

Listen & learn more on BGS:

 A few short weeks ago, Alison Krauss & Union Station made roots music waves announcing their first headlining tour since 2015, featuring dozens of dates stretching from April ’til September of this year. Now, the 14-time GRAMMY-winning bluegrass band is announcing their first album in 14 years...

02/02/2025

Olivia Wolf's music is a beautiful mix of storytelling and cosmic soundscapes, shaped by influences like Gillian Welch and even Daft Punk!

From her favorite memory on stage to finding inspiration through photography and design, get to know Wolf in the latest BGS 5+5 interview.

(Welcome to another 5+5! Hit play, scroll, and get to know artists, creators, and roots musicians of all sorts with five questions and five songs.) Artist: Olivia Wolf Hometown: Leipers Fork, Tennessee Latest Album: Silver Rounds Which artist has influenced you the most – and how? Gillian Welch. S...

02/02/2025

New episode of Only Vans is up!

Our host, Bri Bagwell, is joined by Chris Brundrett of the award-winning William Chris Vineyards, where they dive into Texas wines, the journey behind his label, and living authentically. 🍷✨

Spoiler: they might’ve had a little wine before noon! 😂

Today on Only Vans we’re joined by Chris Brundrett from the award-winning William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Texas. We dig into wine-making, Texas wines, the creation of his label, and being your best self. LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • AMAZON • MP3 I’m so excited to share this episode, even thou...

02/02/2025

A bluegrass cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" is even better than you're imagining right now. ✨

Watch Mile Twelve perform one of their crowd favorites.

Artist: Mile Twelve Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts Song: “Rocket Man” Release Date: September 26, 2018 In Their Words: “We wanted to explore covering material outside of the bluegrass genre, and our bassist Nate suggested Elton John’s classic ‘Rocket Man.’ When we listened to the origin...