The Forward Roll
PREMIERE: George Jackson — Turtle Rock feat. Uma Peters
Inspiration can come to musicians in many different forms. Some of the more classic sources might be things like going through a bad breakup or falling in love with someone new. But it can also come through more nuanced sources, like seeing a particularly good sunrise or trying to write a song in your friend's style.
IBMA 2021 Lookback: Come pick a tune!
I feel like those 4 words really capture the spirit of IBMA. There’s a sense of excitement, openness, and humbleness that every musician I met at World Of Bluegrass shares, which can make even a first-timer like me feel like they’ve been going for years. I'm a 14-year old banjo player, and I got to go to IBMA this year to play in the kids award show band. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I hoped that I could find someone to welcome me in, show me around, and maybe even sneak me into a jam…
PREMIERE: Della Mae — You Don't Have to Do That
BLUEGRASS PRIDE EXCLUSIVE: After the year we've had, there is an undeniable drive to reunite. Bluegrass, by its nature, is so driven by community and togetherness. It's all about learning from each other, bonding over late night jam sessions in a festival parking lot, and laughing as the sun cracks over the horizon just as instrument cases are latching shut for the night. In the end, we're all just one big family band.
Mini-Grant Diaries: Joe Troop & Bringing Music to Asylum Seekers in Nogales, Mexico
As distribute our inaugural set of mini-grants, we want to share with you, our broader community and membership, about what we're funding and how you can also help support these projects!
Up first, we're thrilled to have offered our very first mini-grant to Joe Troop! Best known as the founder of international supergroup, Che Apalache, Joe has spent this past year and change focusing on his activism and launching his solo career. In June, in addition to making a guest appearance at our in-person SF Porch Pride watch party, Joe traveled across the border to Nogales, Mexico to volunteer as an ESL instructor and music teacher to the asylum seekers living at La Casa de la Misericordia.
Announcing Porch Pride 2021
Bluegrass Pride, a Bay Area-based non-profit whose mission is to uplift LGBTQ+ musicians and creators in roots music, is proud to announce the second year of their immensely popular virtual festival and fundraising event, Porch Pride, which will take place all month long during June 2021. Over the course of Pride month, Porch Pride will feature performances by folks like Lavender Country, Rainbow Girls, Gangstagrass, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Jake Blount, Sunny War, and many more, plus a virtual Bluegrass Pride Brunch and open house, a beginner-friendly jam-along, and so much more.