When bluegrass icon Doyle Lawson retired from the road at the end of 2021, his band Quicksilver regrouped as Authentic Unlimited. So when the band won New Artist of the Year at the 2023 IBMA Awards, it was a little bit ironic because these fellows are well known and appreciated on the scene. Other honors followed though, including an AU debut on the Grand Ole Opry and some very recent SPBGMA Awards for Gospel Group and Vocal Group Of The Year. This week, I spun their new fast-rolling single Big Wheels, a tale of a fellow trying to outrun his heartbreak by hitching a ride on an 18-wheeler, written by bass player Jerry Cole. Their album So Much For Forever is set for release on March 29. Also new, the swift and fluid “Will You Ever Be Mine” by Bronwyn Keith-Hynes and “Weary Town” from NC’s Unspoken Tradition. Inspired by recently writing a feature about Jerry Garcia for Bluegrass Unlimited, which comes out in advance of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame’s special exhibit, I have a block of Jerry-grass, including Old And In The Way and classics from his collaborations with David Grisman.
Frank Evans and Ben Plotnick - Piker's Breakdown
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes - Will You Ever Be Mine
AJ Lee and Blue Summit - Magdeline
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley - Way Downtown
Thomm Jutz and Tim Stafford - The Queen and Crescent
Authentic Unlimited - Big Wheels
Bluegrass Album Band - Preaching, Praying Singing
Gabe Epstein - Washington Express
Dave Davis and the Warrior River Boys - The Girl I Left In Sunny Tennessee
Joe Troop - Django's Palace
Old and in the Way - I'm On My Way Back To the Old Home
Grisman/Garcia w Tony Rice - Shady Grove
Grisman/Garcia - Grateful Dawg
Unspoken Tradition - Weary Town
Bill Monroe and Doc Watson - What Does The Deep Sea Say
Seth Mulder and Midnight Run - Back To Carolina
The Grascals - Just Let Me Know
