Mac’s Tune of the Week

This version is most unique to the Blue Ridge area of Patrick County as far as I can tell. This beautiful tune is from the Shelor Family’s recordings.  Does anyone know who recorded them and […]

Last week was special as I was able to spend a chunk of Thursday afternoon doing in-person lessons in a socially distanced way with two sets of kids. These young folks hold the most promise

With all the awful videos of senseless things happening to young black men resulting in their death lately, I thought of this banjo tune from Hobart Smith of Smyth County.  He likely learned from a

I know June is past, but this week I want to feature the tune June Apple. Thanks to Andy Buckman for inspiring me to study this tune in the past few days. It is one

Here’s a tune for this week played by Stuart Lundy, one of the sons of fiddler Emmet Lundy of the Galax area. In a recent Floyd Country Store Sunday old time jam someone requested the

Here’s one of my favorite C tunes played by Rafe Brady: Pallet on the Floor The tune is from his Heritage Album recorded in the late 70’s I think it was. I got asked to

I thought a banjo tune would be a good lift for this week. A while back I traveled to a picnic shelter near Boone’s Mill in neighboring Franklin County to meet up for a face

The pandemic has gotten me exploring more ‘hardcore’ banjo based old-time music. Maybe its a yearn to show how alike our mountain music heritage is with that of the oldest black traditions when it comes

I was saddened by the news that my friend Greg Lam had passed away. He was in his mid 60’s. His health had not been so good when I spoke to him last at the

Today was sad as I lost yet another friend to a non-COVID death. This time kidney failure.  Janet Turner was a local singer who had a unique youthful sounding voice and an immense personality. Born

Well, things sure have gotten worse in our cities and it’s so sad. Jenny and I moved to the rural area way back feeling like we shouldn’t live in such close proximity to so many

Here’s a tune that I consider to be one of the standard dance tunes today.  It was found in the repertoire of many old-timers from the Blue Ridge area whose music I have heard who