Mandolin Cafe Front Page Archive

If you missed something from the Mandolin Cafe front page you'll find it here. Since some of the information we link to is external please understand that as these links go bad they will be removed.

Previous years: 2012 | 2011 | 2010

2010 Front Page Highlights

December 31

• A lot of instruction: looking ahead to 2011, over 50 of the best mandolin clinics, workshops, camps and classes mapped out (literally).
• What was that under the tree for Christmas? One lucky young musician in Oklahoma received this delightful surprise, a Jim Triggs mandocello.
• Praise for Chris Acquavella's work with Duo LaRé and his new recording. We concur.
• We don't often make an addition to our Harp Mandolin Eye Candy page, but the newest addition to our builder database built one.
• Gary Palsmeier remembered: Music infused life of mandolin player, builder. Member comments.
• An interesting discussion developing around Gibson's continued absence in the mandolin and banjo retail market due to the 2010 flooding.
• A worthy tip from JazzMando.com: the musical talents of Jason Anick.

December 26

• An End of Year Clearance Sale going on at stringsandbeyond, up to 50% off select items.
• Seen this amazing talent on YouTube? So have we, and now he has a recording: Ben Bosco - Bach on Mandolin.
• Good news for 2011, a new book about Bill Monroe and Bean Blossom by Thomas A. Adler.
• New music from Scotland's mandolin and guitar orchestra Da Capo Alba: About Time.
• Jesse McReynolds has just agreed to participate in an interview where our forum members ask the questions.
• It all happened just ten short years ago, the release of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• Good information: D'Addario's representative informs our forum readers on the status of counterfeit strings.
• New music from Jason Hagen - Devil's Mandolin Band. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Our forum members have the questions and Adam Steffey has the answers for The Adam Steffey Interview.

December 21

• For Christmas shopping procrastinators: free priority shipping on orders over $35 at stringsandbeyond.com.
• A great price on the Elixir Nanoweb Coated Mandolin String, medium gauge for just $11.50, regularly $26.00.
• For our fellow Apple geeks that can't get enough mandolin action: An iPhone, iPad, iTouch mini-tutorial.
• Back in stock again: Dave Peters' Masters of the Mandolin. A note from the head of the Dave Peters Foundation.

December 17

• Nicely done: Tubular Bells (used in the movie The Exorcist) done on mandolin by Jason Hagen. Hear it on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Mandolin Cafe's 2010 Year in Review. Sure, it's early, but December is typically a pretty slow month.
• What we're currently working on: version 2 of the Mandolin Cafe iPhone App.
• The International Bluegrass Music Museum is ramping up big time for next year's Bill Monroe centennial celebration.
• freemandolinvideos.com is running a holiday special on mandolin books and videos for beginning players.
• If we featured the mandolin version of the Vargas pin-up this spectacular Ellis A5 would be a candidate.

December 10

• Elderly is advertising a special sale through Christmas on clip-on tuners.
• Rich DelGrosso has a new disc with Johnn Del Toro Richardson slated for release January 18.
• A reminder that if you have an iPhone, you should grab our free Mandolin Cafe iPhone App!

December 6

• The publication Stage Performance Guide which you read about here just launched their own web site.
• The Mandolin Cafe Restoration Project Mandolin has been sold with proceeds to be donated. » The full story » See more images.
• We're in the spirit of the holidays listening to some favorite mandolin Christmas recordings. We highly recommended David Grisman's Acoustic Christmas. Prefer an MP3 download? Try here.
• O Brother, Where Art Thou Profits... and lasting impact on the music business? 10 years after its release, did the movie really change anything?
• Could be under the tree by Dec. 25, this satiny used Collings MT just added to Elderly's inventory.
• Need a new challenge? Get Mike Marshall's Sonatas and Partitas For Unaccompanied Violin.
• Another nice acoustic Christmas recording with guitar and mando, from Sergio Lara and Joe Reyes: Navidad.
• Weekend window shopping: a nice Phoenix Bluegrass Model Mandolin, pre-owned, excellent condition.
• Bill Monroe's mandolin headplate sold for $37,500 a year ago. Revisit our interview with the owner and hear Monroe's mandolin story in his own words.
• Another classic Christmas recording from Butch Baldassari and the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble: Gifts.
• A beautiful and rare 1935 Gibson A-C Century just added to Elderly's inventory.

December 2

• Lots of familiar names on the Grammy nomination list: Avi Avital, Sam Bush, Del McCoury Band, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, The SteelDrivers, Punch Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, Cherryholmes, Dailey & Vincent, The Infamous Stringdusters, Darrell Scott, The John Hartford Stringband.
• A great choice for the holidays: Evergreen, Butch Baldassari's classic Mandolin Music for Christmas.
• Great news: Loar #70281 stolen in early November said to be in the possession of local police.
• Don Julin's first column on JazzMando.com. Good stuff.
• Just released, the kind of cool music you can find only at Acoustic Oasis: Stephane Grappelli's Piano Explorations.
• A sound jazz mandolin listening suggestion from the source that knows its bizness!
• Catch up with a legend: The Andy Statman Interview.
• Ricky Skaggs will be featured in the December 5 issue of Parade Magazine.
• One gig repays the cost many times over: Stage Performance Guide For Your Bluegrass Band. This is one we really like.
• Interested in more Andy Statman after our feature interview? See what This Day in History has to say about him.

November 27

• Just hit the inventory at Elderly yesterday, this 2007 Gibson Sam Bush F-5 nicely priced at $5,250.
• Another stellar holiday recording worthy of consideration, Rhonda Vincent's Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection.
• Miss Wednesday's NPR Fresh Air performance by The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band? So did we, but here it is.
• StringsAndBeyond.com is expressing their thanks with 15% off the entire store through Monday 11/29. Just enter coupon code gobble15 during order checkout to receive your discount.
• A banjo film seeks your financial support.
• Oh sure, but what about lime and purple, or do we just settle for pink electric mandolin (OK, guitar) strings?
• Possibly the all-time best seller for Christmas mandolin music is Butch Baldassari's Evergreen. Highly recommended. Music available in standard and notation. Also available from Elderly.
• CMSA's official announcement for the 2011 Convention to be held in Baltimore, October 12-16.
• CMSA's official announcement for the 2011 Convention to be held in Baltimore, October 12-16.
• Now officially available (just released), Bobby Osborne's new project, Memories.
• Coming soon, we'll be putting up a very special mandolin for sale, the proceeds to go towards some worthy causes. It's the Mandolin Cafe Restoration Project mandolin.

November 22

• Looking for a new musical project for the winter? Tired of the same ol'? This just might be your ticket. New in print on Mel Bay, John Goodin's Telemann for Mandolin, for solo mandolin.
• About his newest recording project: Mandolinist Jesse McReynolds pays tribute to late fan Jerry Garcia.
• New from Acoustic Oasis, an important historical recording that should a part of every bluegrass fan's collection: Hot Rize with Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers - Live in Kansas 1986.
• World Progress Report with Joan Lunden reports on the International Bluegrass Museum. Nicely done.

November 19

• From Marilynn Mair and Paulo Sá: Brazilian Choro: A Method for Mandolin and Bandolim.
• New experimental music from Chris Henry and Thomas B. Oliverio on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Now in stock at Elderly: the Holy Grail jazz mandolin recordings of Homer & Jethro.
• Christmas music? Hard to beat David Grisman's Acoustic Christmas. Get it directly from the Dawg or amazon.com as MP3 download.
• We think you'll enjoying learning more about this talented mandolinist: 10 Questions for Don Julin.
• Jesse McReynolds' Songs Of The Grateful Dead has been reviewed by JamBands.com.

November 15

• For our money, the best thing out of Gibson in recent years has been the Varnished Fern F5, this one from 2003.
• Meet the Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble. Cooler instruments than your typical "band of the week."
• For those that haven't heard of or read this remarkable story: helping Sophie McCreary.
• With winter upon us you can't go wrong owning an instrument humidifier.

November 10

• New music from the French-based group 3ème Hémisphère on the Cafe MP3 page.
• The Country Music Hall of Fame celebrating Curly Seckler's birthday early with a special program.
• Country Gentlemen and Del McCoury: we love seeing great old classic recordings being offered in digital format.
• A show we'd like to see: Mike Marshall Presents Bach Solo Night, Freight & Salvage, Berkely, California, Dec. 1.
• For the money, hard to beat D'Addario's new FWJ74 strings (new best price we've seen) from JustStrings.com.
• Spectacular new MP3 from the Estonian-based ensemble Gjansta on the Cafe MP3 page. Great stuff.
• New music from bluegrass legend Jimmy Gaudreau: Pieces and Bits. Free audio samples available.
• "I said, turn over all of my Halloween candy and the mandolin doesn't get hurt.

November 5

• New from Aonzo, Ponzoni and Borsani: Northern Italian & Ticino Region Folk Songs. » Purchase
• New: you requested them so here they are, Property of Mandolin Cafe t-shirts in dark colors. Available only from our CafePress online store.
• Musiquip Inc. of Canada has announced the availability of the Pro II Mandolin Case, coming soon to select North America retailers.
• Don Julin's video lesson YouTube page, adding content weekly.
• AcuTab's incredible video lessons from the likes of Adam Steffey, Herschel Sizemore, Alan Bibey, Sierra Hull and Wayne Benson are now available on Homespun Instant Access Downloads as well as those from other instrumental greats on guitar, banjo, fiddle and Dobro. Get a private lesson from a bluegrass legend this very moment. No waiting, no postage, no hassle.

November 1

• Buck White recently received the Dr. Perry F. Harris Award from the The Grand Master Fiddler Championship, Inc.
• New music from Don Julin and Glenn Wolff on the Cafe MP3 page.
• A lecture we'd like to attend: Orville Gibson and the Gibson Guitar Company in Kalamazoo. Where: Dowagiac, Michigan, Nov. 3.
• Mandolin Cafe requests your help: will someone please purchase this 1923 Gibson snakehead so we stop looking at it?
• Owensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched the Bill Monroe Centennial web site. We've always had a few things to say about Monroe.
• The title explains it adequately: Autumn mandolin pictures.
• A new six song EP just out from the Travelin' McCourys and the Lee Boys. Get it for $2.50 or stream it. Not yer daddy's bluegrass.
• Today is brought to you by the letter "B" ... OK, so we finally turned on direct linking to individual chords into our Chord Database. Includes chords for lefties and mandola.
• We were there when this one was recorded. Coming soon from Acoustic Oasis, Hot Rize Live In Kansas, 1986.
• With our profound thanks, we hereby declare the Mandolin Cafe Restoration Project completed. Witness the rebirth of a mandolin.
• New music from Walking Rain on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Owensboro, Ky., Convention and Visitors Bureau Launches Bill Monroe Centennial Site.

October 28

• New music from Robin Bullock on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Rob Haines has posted one of his Mel Bay artist interview videos with Ronnie McCoury.
• Guardian officially announces their fiberglass mandolin case. Mixed feedback from the community on our forum.
• Get the new recording from The Boxcars, with Adam Steffey.
• IBMA to offer webinar educational opportunities in an effort to expand beyond the Nashville convention.
• We'll be posting new images of the restoration project mandolin throughout the day.
• Registration is now open for the 11th annual Carlo Aonzo Mandolin Workshop, held March 24-27, 2011, in NYC.
• New original music from Don Julin on the Cafe MP3 page. We're pleased to announce Don will be the subject of one of our upcoming feature interviews.
• Probably the most popular Christmas mandolin recording ever produced, Butch Baldassari's Evergreen.

October 24

• And all the pickers are above average: catch Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder on A Prairie Home Companion.
• Homespun Instant Access: now expanded lessons that include AcuTab's product line giving you access to Adam Steffey, Herschel Sizemore, Sierra Hull, Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson.
• We just report the news, we don't actually select the names for these products: The Complete Idiot's Guide To Bluegrass Mandolin Favorites. »Order
• It's true. Only 8 weeks and change until Christmas. New in print: Christmas Duets for Mandolin & Guitar.
• Preview The Boxcars new project on the Cafe MP3 page.
• 20% of John Pearse mandolin strings at Elderly. Use coupon code 46414 at check-out.
• Download an entire library of great David Grisman MP3s, one day and one cut at a time at Acoustic Oasis. Look for the "Free" bone link.

October 19

• A Sarah Jarosz Austin City Limits Preview.
• Bobby Osborne and his band Rocky Top X-Press celebrate his 60 years in bluegrass with his latest recording, Memories, available November 9. Pre-order from Elderly.
• A spiffy new web site for Hilburn Mandolins.
• In addition to a new recording, Bobby Osborne is now accepting questions for a future Cafe interview.
• Mandolin goodies galore at the Mandolin Cafe online store.
• Now just available as an MP3 download: new disc from The Boxcars. Thatsalottagreatmusic for only $5.99 :)
• In the news: Foundation For Bluegrass Music Announces Funds For Grants.
• New music from Robin Bullock on the Cafe MP3 page.
• A review: The allure of the no-binding look of the Weber Gallatin F Style Mandola, from JazzMando.com.
• Jesse McReynolds - Songs Of The Grateful Dead.
• Proof there's no such thing as too many mandolins: CMSA En Masse Orchestra in Seattle this past week.
• Cut to the chase: a brief MP3 clip from the upcoming Bobby Osborne release, Memories.
• New music from one of our forum members, and it's a project we really like. Chris Acquavella's Duo LaRé.
• A great audio segment that appeared on NPR on this date in 2007: The Del McCoury Band in Studio 4A.
• Cafe MP3 page: new music from the Neptune Quartet.
• Good sounds: Hot Rize to go on tour soon. Hear cuts from their new recording on their web site.
• New in print: Busking Fiddle Tunes For Two Mandolins, compiled and arranged by Deborah Greenblatt.
• Happy birthday to the Mandolin Archive, launched October 15, 2003.

October 15

• Always worth a listen: NPR's October 15, 2001 audio feature Grateful Dawg. Get the movie.
• Our special two-part David Grisman Interview.
• An interview with Gabe Witcher of Punch Brothers, includes videos and an MP3 of the band.

October 11

• Don Julin's lessons via Skype. See his free YouTube lessons.
• New music from Robin Bullock on the Cafe MP3 page.
• For sale, a very interesting twist in design, the Lawrence Smart Comma mandolin.
• Happy 14th birthday to Shannon Skye Tichenor, sole heir to the Mandolin Cafe fortune.
• Nicely discounted Collings, this MF Mandolin Standard Sunburst, Gloss Top Ivoroid binding.
• Every once in awhile we see a great old Bill Monroe photo on our forum that must be shared.
• The story of how D'Addario's new Flatwound strings came to be, from JazzMando.com.

October 6

• The story of how D'Addario's new Flatwound strings came to be, from JazzMando.com.
• New Christmas music from Spencer Capier. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• D'Addario's new: Flatwound Mandolin Strings, available only at Elderly.
• We're listening to Rhonda Vincent's latest project, Taken. Terrific recording!
• Adam Steffey will now take your questions for a future Cafe interview.
• New music from The Offshore Accounts on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Stupid web programming tricks: just finished a remodel of our mandolin chords page.
• Always one of the best festival posters of the year: France's Mandolins de Lunel.
• New compilation: Mike Marshall - An Adventure, 1999-2009. Highly recommended.
• A short but enjoyable article about the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration in Rosine, Kentucky.
• Smoking hot new tunes from Acoustic Oasis: Emory Lester's Reminiscing Today.
• Loar buzz: played it at IBMA. Incredible box: the Ms. Griffith A5 Loar.
• New from AtlanticoBooks: Brazili's choro legend Pixinguinha with Benedito Lacerda.
• Connect to the Mandolin Cafe thanks to our pal Steve Smith, creator of the Mandolin Cafe iPhone App, free from the Apple Store.

October 1

• IBMA Award nominees from the Infamous Stringdusters to Dailey & Vincent embody the many different relationships to tradition in a complex bluegrass landscape.
• Congratulations to the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, celebrating 110 years of making music.
• From CMT.com: Tim O'Brien Talks About Latest Album, Touring With Mark Knopfler.
• Sometimes a photo just scares us. Dude, what are you doing?

September 27

• With about 90 days until Christmas, it's time to get ready.
• Some things in life, you simply can't buy. Meet a 4th generation Gibson F-4 mandolin owner. See his web site.
• Added: keyword searching to This Day in Mandolin History.
• An interesting read published 10 years ago today (Sept. 26): Tom Ewing's The Bill Monroe Reader.
• Got iTunes? Like to grab 187 pieces of free mandolin music for your listening pleasure? You can pick up most of the selections from our MP3 page on our iTunes MP3 Podcast.
• Doesn't involve mandolins, but may in the future: D'Addario's fight against counterfeit strings.
• We welcome the good folks at V-Picks who have joined us as a supporting business partner on our forum.

September 22

• New music from the group Aurora Celtic on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Musical equivalent of a peacock, this 1941 banjo mandolin.
• Good advice from Fretboard Journal: Five Marketing Tips for Guitar Builders (or Anyone Else).
• Beauty and the beast: this 2006 Arches octave mandolin #3 just acquired by Elderly.
• Catch him at next month's CMSA convention: 10 Questions For Christopher Acquavella.
• New music from the band Nettie Jane Slumpf on the Mandolin Cafe MP3 page.
• Now with images: our This Day in History (searches, too).
• Industry chatter: Sam Gifford of Pegasus Cases will be at IBMA and would like to talk to interested parties about moving production of the US sales for cases here.
• Special introductory offer, 80% off premium mandolin instruction videos at FreeMandolinVideos.com.

September 18

• Out of 13 contestants, congrats to Winfield Mandolin Contest winners: 1st - Bryan McDowell, Canton, NC, 2nd, Isaac Eicher, Sand Springs, OK, 3rd - Bruce Graybill, Pleasant Hill, MO.
• Industry chatter: Eastman has notified us they are transitioning A style mandolins to a snakehead headstock design.
• International Bluegrass Music Awards to Feature Stellar Cast.
• Pre-Hot Rize Tim O'Brien now available as MP3s: Swing Tunes of the 30s & 40s and Swing It. Preview on our MP3 page.
• The Peter Wernick Bluegrass Learning Network, a program to certify instructors in the teaching bluegrass jamming.
• For bluegrass aficionados: Baltimore Bluegrass, The First Twenty Years: From the Hills to New Grass, 1955-1975.
• CMSA adds one artist and loses another in the process. Such it is running a large event, but it's still a great one: Evan Marshall Added to 2010 CMSA Convention.
• September 13, we observe what would have been the 99th birthday of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass Music.

September 14

• One very fine Bobby Osborne article filled with interesting material: Rocky Top has different meaning in Leslie Co.
• A relatively new old beat up beauty spotted at Mandolin World Headquarters we'd like to test drive: 1925 Gibson A Junior Snakehead.
• A few minor changes to our forum we encourage you to review.
• Back by request, we've recreated a new version of our old "Property of Mandolin Cafe" t-shirts that have been unavailable for several years. Get one at our CafePress store.
• More good stuff from National Public Radio's Folk Alley, Sam Bush: New Grass Revivalist.
• What you read (and hear) may surprise you: Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys Converge In Kentucky.
• It sort of looks like a Cafe case sticker, but... with no accompanying instrument and case, guess we'd best get to shopping.
• Congratulations to Cybergrass, one of the world's first web sites, celebrating 18 yrs. in business.

September 8

• World Progress Report with Joan Lunden to visit Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro for special.
• Build your own: a list of seven Siminoff Luthierie Camps to be held.
• Photos of the Beardsell mandolin featured in Fretboard Journal, now at the Acoustic Music Co. (scroll down about 2/3 down page).
• Weekend window shopping: Collings MF Mandolin, All Blonde w/Gold Hardware, Adirondack top.
• Impossibly tight budget? The damaged/blems section at FolkMusician.com might have a bargain for you.
• A new publication from Watch & Learn: Bradley Laird's Mandolin Song Book.
• In cooperation with IBMA: FestivaLink.net Music Collection to Benefit Musicians in Need.
• 10 Questions For Jody Stecher. Includes an advance cut from Legacy, the new PRBB recording.
• Reviewed by JazzMando.com, the new Stonewood mandolin case from Protec Music.
• A realy cool vintage photo and an interesting discussion, but they're still trying to find out where the photo was taken: Welcome, Bill Monroe!
• New music from Red June on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Timeless: New music from Andy Irvine, his first solo project since 1999: Abocurragh.

September 1

• 20% off all Planet Waves Accessories through Sept. 7 at Elderly. Enter coupon code 37313.
• Historic, now on DVD and saved from extinction, Terry Zwigoff's first film, Louie Bluie.
• Coming in September from Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, At Edwards Barn.
• A recent export to the UK, this Dudenbostel A-1.
• One of the best articles we've read in awhile, Sam Bush: Still Rockin' That Bluegrass Train.
• Musician about town: mandolinist Jason Bailey performs here, there, everywhere in Birmingham.
• Bringing more information to our visitors: our forum software now pulls in IBMM's news blog and Elderly's just added used inventory.
• The International Bluegrass Music Museum updates us on all three of their upcoming Monroe exhibits.
• New Gilchrist models are now available by contacting Christie at Gruhn Guitars.
• Elderly has listed a new Gruhn Vintage Guitar bundle pack. (not just for guitarists, includes mandolin and a general comprehensive reference for identifying American vintage acoustic instruments.
• Sandy Bar Ranch has announced a special Fall MandoJam, November 11-14 with Radim Zenkl.
• New frorm Hal Leonard: Celtic Cittern by Doc Rossi.

August 24

• Smoking hot new bluegrass cut by Tim Davis and Matt Hiser on the Cafe MP3 page.
• From Wine Spectator Magazine - Wine, Whiskey and Songwriting: Q&A with Chris Thile.
• New music from Jacob Reuven: Hebrew Mandolin.
• Full details about the upcoming CMSA Convention in Seattle, Washington.
• Wonderful answers to our forum members' questions in our Ronnie McCoury Interview.
• Some interesting new developments for jazz mandolinists looking for jazz chart resources.
• With 150+ votes tallied, Sam Bush leads our own voting for IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year.
• Congrats to IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year nominees: Jesse Brock, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Ronnie McCoury, Adam Steffey.
• How to get your gig, workshop or festival listed on the Cafe home page.

August 18

• StringsandBeyond.com celebrates their move to a new storefront by offering 10% off on all inventory.
• Meet Wayne Helfrich, a 76-year old Bluegrass fan who makes his home just outside of Detroit, Michigan. His remarkable vintage bluegrass festivals photos from the early 1970s deserve a wider audience. 10 Questions For Wayne Helfrich.
• Jerry Douglas and Cheryl & Sharon White co-host the 21th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards.
• Get the new Sam Bush Instant Access Mandolin Lessons right here. No waiting time!
• The new Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen project has officially been released and you can preview cuts from the recording on the Cafe MP3 page.
• IBMA announced their 2010 awards nominees on Wednesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and the results are now in (see above).
• Coming Monday, our interview with the Jody Stecher, mandolinist for the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band.
• We listened to the IBMA announcements on radio and you can read those updates on our Twitter page.
• New music from Spain's mandolin and guitar duo Los Hermanos Cubero on the Cafe MP3 page.
• This hilarious marketing video posted on JazzMando.com may push us to finally write our true feelings on marketing silliness in mandolins.
• Time slips away. Four years ago today (Aug. 15) Rigel Instruments announced their closing, although Peter Langdell continues to build under the name.

August 14

• Cool vintage Jim & Jesse photo from Wayne Helfrich added since our interview was published.
• Worth looking at for the eye candy even if you aren't a builder: Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5 mandolin plans, v3.
• Confessions of a mandoholic. The personal blog of musician and writer (and motivational speaker) Joey Hancock.
• New music from the band Hickory Strings on the Cafe MP3 page.
• New on DVD from AcuTab featuring Bill Evans & Megan Lynch (w/Adam Steffey): Bluegrass Jamming Essentials. Get a copy from Elderly.
• We are sad to share the news that long-time Missouri mandolin builder John Wynn has passed away.
• Details on the 2010 CMSA Convention in Seattle, hosted by the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra.
• Two groovy new recordings just released on Acoustic Oasis: Hot Club Sandwich and Richard Greene & The Brothers Barton.
• Bill Monroe's iconic headplate of his mandolin goes on display for two years. We interview the owner in 10 Questions for Laura Weber Cash.
• Replacement tuners in the vintage style for A model mandolins now available from Stewart MacDonald.

August 9

• We're proud to announce David Grisman will be one of the next interviews where our forum members ask the questions.
• A supporter of the Bill Monroe Mandolin Camp since its inception, we'd like to pass on they are looking for a few folks to fill out the week and for the first time are offering a track on Monroe-style vocals. Interesting!
• Build your own. In case you haven't seen these, Siminoff Banjo & Mandolin now offer H4 mandolin kits.
• A little more digging around photo sharing site Flickr and we found an amazing collection of 70s bluegrass photos.
• Interesting Monroe photos we found on Flickr: Monroe #1 and Monroe #2. Whitley & Skaggs too.
• The folks at Lakota Leathers have launched a much improved new web site. Great product. We bought our own.
• Get well soon to Grant Gordy, guitarist for the David Grisman Quintet who was seriously injured recently in an auto accident in Canada and will be unable to tour for an extended period of time.
• New options for mandolin owners: Colorado Case Company announces a new line of instrument flight cases.
• We're soliciting opinions about a modest change to the Classifieds to further identify history of those selling.

August 5

• 10 Things You Probably Don't Know About The Mandolin Cafe, and may not care about after reading.
• Forum members, identify everyone L-R in this photo and win a free Cafe ball cap on the house.
• Now available from Elderly, the new Butch Baldassari and Van Manakas recording Leavin' Tennessee.
• Looking for some good free music? How to subscribe to our MP3 podcast with iTunes.
• Not sure when they made the switch, but the folks at Ellis Mandolins have a really nice new web site.

August 1

• New music from the band McMule on the Mandolin Cafe MP3 page.
• From AFM: sign a petition to allow musicians the right to carry their instruments on planes.
• An interesting page on the Acoustic Oasis web site we're just now seeing: the very useful Oasis Catalog.
• A Carlo Aonzo podcast/interview from the folks at Essence of Italy (a travel web site).
• New from Steve James: Roots and Blues Mandolin.
• Wonderful forum threads: 1904 Gibson Octave Mandolin and this spectacular 1923 A2-Z.
• New music from Shawn Persinger and David Miller on the Cafe MP3 page.

July 26

• New music from Kevin Macleod: Braes Of Badentarbat.
• IBMA set to announce their 2010 Awards Nominees on August 18 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• D'Addario announces updates to theLessonRoom.com.
• New music from Indiana's Deep Fryed Acoustiblasters on the Cafe MP3 page.
• The contents of the Summer issue of Mandolin Magazine.
• Didn't go for the digital downloads of the new Sam Bush Homespun lessons? Get them in the more traditional DVD format at a good price from Elderly.
• Acoustic Vibes has a great looking pre-owned Collings MT at a great price if you're in the market.

July 23

• The Mandolin Archive has expanded their records to include Gilchrist and Dudenbostel instruments.
• Leavin' Tennessee, the late Butch Baldassari with guitarist Van Manakas is an extra-long set of right-in-the-groove bluegrass instrumentals to be released in August.
• NPR ran a great audio segment on the Three Pickers (Skaggs, Scruggs, Watson) on this date back 2003. Worth a listen.
• Did you know we have a small rock 'n roll MP3 section on this site? Not a ton of content, but a new addition from mandolinist Daniel Hertzov just added.
• Elderly announces 20% off thousands of music books. Enter coupon code 78717 to qualify (you'll need to search for more titles).
• We like the band, we like the press, now please dispense with calling them a bluegrass band.
• Some nice free instructional videos you can watch over the web from our pals at Free Mandolin Videos, done by Brad Laird. Nicely done.

July 18

• The unique mandolins of builder Brian Lock, reviewed by JazzMando.com.
• A Swiss Army Knife sort of device handy for mandolin? Behold, the Guitar Guizmo Multi Purpose Guitar Tool.
• New music from the Stringtown Trio just posted on the Cafe MP3 page.
• A new book has been published on the musical career of banjo legend Wade Mainer, believed to be the longest-lived country entertainer ever, with a banjo sound and technique that helped lay the foundation upon which Bill Monroe would spread bluegrass music in the 1940s.
• Visited our free MP3 download page lately? 314 free pieces of ear candy and much more.
• Needs some free Cafe case stickers? We have them if you'll send us a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• Elderly is advertising $4 off the usual price on the F-ZONE FT-800 Clip-On Chromatic Tuner.

July 13

• Sam Bush will deliver the keynote address at this year's IBMA Business Conference on Monday, September 27.
• New bluegrass music from The Virginia Dare Devils on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Austin-based jazz mandolinist Paul Glasse and builder Bob Altman are featured in this Summer's issue of Mandolin Magazine. » Subscribe
• Ricky Skaggs' newest project, Mosaic, now available for pre-order. Not bluegrass, but some great music in there.
• A note to our site visitors, unless a big pile of answers land in our lap this week, there will be no featured artist interview for the month of July.
• Happy 140th birthday to Malissa A. Vandiver, born July 12, 1870, the mother of Bill Monroe.
• New bluegrass music from the Colorado based Blue Canyon Boys on the Cafe MP3 page.
• More of the terrific work of builder Gary Palsmeier highlighted at JazzMando.com.
• We have winners in the photo caption contest of James T. Kirk playing mandolin on the star ship Enterprise.
• Looking ahead. With school back in session and the Summer festival and workshop rush over, what better way to spend a quality weekend than attending the 5th Annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp in Owensboro, Kentucky, September 10-12, 2010.
• Happy birthday (just passed) to the most famously dated Gibson mandolins ever made, July 9, 1923.

July 9

• We're starting to link to iTunes on our MP3 page. We'll tell you why soon, and the reason may surprise you.
• Smoking hot new bluegrass from Frank Solivan's new band on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Win a free Mandolin Cafe ball cap on the house by giving this photo a caption.

July 7

• A great old-time cut added to the Cafe MP3 page from the band The Knuckle Knockers.
• Information about the 9th International Korea Mandolin Festival in Seoul, September 10-12.
• New from Homespun Instant Access: Sam Bush's All About Rhythm Mandolin and All About Lead Mandolin.
• Very nicely crafted article on the late Senator Robert Byrd's music with lots of interesting history.
• Summer grilling: no denying these guitar-shaped spatulas would make flipping burgers more fun.
• Interesting: a Rob Haines interview appearing in the Mel Bay Interview Series.
• Considering for our next summer read, The Bristol Sessions: Writings About The Big Bang of Country Music.
• Fretboard Journal always has outstanding articles, but a Jethro Burns feature and highlight on Jeff Austin's 1984 Nugget make this issue a grand slam.
• For the true first-time owner, a beginner's starter mandolin package from folkmusician.com.
• Finally. The Bill Monroe movie they've whispered about for years is now out in the open. See our announcement.
• Here are the winners of a free Mandolin Cafe ball cap for giving this photo a caption.

July 1

• Monroe, Grisman, Thile, Baldassari... where can you find them all? On a video first published by CBS News in 2004 at the Acoustic Oasis TV page. That, is really something.
• Roger Siminoff has made a PDF version of his F-5L article available on his web site (bottom of the page).
• Through July 7, 20% off on all strings at Elderly. You must enter coupon code 72211.
• Sam Bush talks about inspiration and beating cancer in this StarNews online interview.
• Tim O'Brien's new solo project: Chicken & Egg.
• New to our database, Dammann Custom Instruments, builders of cellos/citterns/bouzoukis.
• Note: the Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg workshop/concert near Wichita now a one-day event.
• Back in print: the late Dave Peters' Masters of the Mandolin. See note from publisher on our forum.

June 28

• Thanks to JazzMando.com for turning us back onto Seals and Crofts and the remarkable role the mandolin played in that group in what was traditionally an electric guitar function. Discussed.
• Best caption for this photo of the Mandolin Cafe cat gets a free ball cap on the house.
• A fine fiddler and public servant has passed. Our condolences to the family of Senator Robert Byrd.
• A terrific list of educational events in store for July, the second busiest month of the year behind June.
• Dear Santa: I know it's summer, but I've been good and would like this 1924 A2Z snakehead for Christmas.
• Music you should own, and could own in a few minutes, from Acoustic Oasis: The Complete Tone Poems.
• Weekend window shopping: for our money, it's hard to beat a 1923 Gibson snakehead in Sheraton brown. Plus, Lloyd was in the house when it was born!
• Congraulations to Del McCoury, a 2010 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship Recipient.

June 24

• Books about mandolins and mandolin players are a lot more frequent these days and that's a good thing. The latest: The Mandolin Case - a Novel by Dr. Tom Bibey.
• Interested in learning some Monroe style mandolin this Fall in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music? Read on.
• Nicely done: this morning we enjoyed a great cup of a coffee and a pleasurable visit to the D'Addario Strings Blog for some Ricky Skaggs and general music reading. Recommended.
• New releases on tap from Acoustic Oasis later this month.

June 21

• We second JazzMando.com's recommendation on Jamey Aebersold method books.
• From the Country Boys on The Andy Griffith Show, to The Kentucky Colonels, Monroe, Lester Flatt, Country Gazette, NBB, and the Roland White Band, our Roland White Interview.
• Interesting: a four-part video history of John Duffey's mandolins as told by Akira Otsuka of the group Bluegrass 45.
• Easily amused, yes, but we're digging the amazon.com preview widget on our MP3 page.
• Mandolin Cafe ball caps: now in four flavors, or colors if you prefer, including red.
• Hal Leonard announces the publication of The Beatles for Mandolin. » Get it
• Always some nuggets of good information from the Dawg: Q&A with David Grisman.

June 17

• Acoustic Oasis is reporting they've posted new free viewing Radio and TV files.
• From Paste Magazine, Chris Thile talks about the Punch Brothers new recording.
• Meet the Atlantic City, New Jersey Mandolin Orchestra, date unknown.
• Interesting art: Hands of Music, as discovered by one of our forum members.
• Released June 15, the Punch Brothers: Antifogmatic. Get it: MP3 or CD.
• New music from Scott Carnder and Hickory Robot on the Cafe MP3 page.

June 14

• In advance of his concert and workshop in Kalamazoo, Carlo Aonzo interviewed.
• New: Don Stiernberg's new recording Swing 220. Purchase exclusively from Elderly. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Few chances to see one: the very rare Epiphone Windsor mandolin.
• No picture yet, but Guardian is unveiling a brand new fiberglass mandolin case at next week's summer NAMM.
• Now available in red, charcoal, olive and khaki: Mandolin Cafe ball caps.
• It's never too late to get a web site, even if you're no longer around: daveapollon.com

June 10

• Interested in previewing cuts from the new Punch Brothers recording? We have them right here.
• Summer reading, while awaiting our Roland White interview, catch up with John Reischman, Paul Glasse, Mike Compton, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg, Sam Bush, Doyle Lawson and others.

June 6

• Happy birthday today (June 8) to Tony Rice, born this day in Danvillle, Virginia, 1951. He shares the date with Sara Watkins, formerly of Nickel Creek who is 29.
• A fascinating twist on portability: the pocket mandolin, from Australian builder Graham McDonald.
• An ultimate destinations for finely crafted U.S. mandolins: 10 Questions for Trevor Moyle.
• The countdown is on, but you can pre-order the new Punch Brothers recording Antifogmatic now.
• A timeless classic, available in print: Butch Baldassari's New Classics for Bluegrass Mandolin.
• Weekend window shopping: a Collings MF Standard Sunburst, gloss top, ivoroid binding.
• From Twitter: on sale, the F-Zone FT-800 clip-on tuner from Elderly, regularly $35, now $13.95.

June 2

• New music from the talented singer/songwriter Andrew Anderson on the Cafe MP3 page.
• We don't normally comment on bluegrass band releases, but have to give a shout out for the new Kathy Kallick disc. An outstanding new recording. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Coming soon: new options in colors for our Mandolin Cafe ball caps. And maybe red, in the future...
• Roland White's 1972 solo recording I Wasn't Born to Rock N Roll is now available for order on his web site.
• Now available for the first time as a pocket guide, the ever popular Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars (third edition).
• Just out. For traditional music buffs: Blind But Now I See, the biography of Doc Watson.

May 30

• Through June 3, Elderly is offering 20% off on all new cases & gigbags, enter coupon code 24511.
• Roland White, the subject of next month's Cafe interview informs us his 1976 solo recording I Wasn't Born to Rock N Roll is being re-released June 1 and is available for pre-order.
• A new release coming soon from Acoustic Oasis: The David Grisman Quintet: Live at the Count Basie Theater.
• A masterpiece unlike anything we've heard, very highly recommended, the self-titled recording by Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.

May 25

• New music from San Francisco's Three Mile Stone (Marla Fibish) on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Another gem released this week by Acoustic Oasis, the Complete Tone Poems with David Grisman and Tony Rice.
• Walnut Valley Festival National Mandolin Championship.
• A ton of fun: this Dave Apollon & Victor Borge music and comedy bit on the Acoustic Oasis TV.
• Mandolin Cafe events calendar. Get your gig, workshop or festival added to this home page on the day of the event.
• A fascinating addition to the Siminoff F-5L article.
• Our big Doyle Lawson interview.
• Looking to supercharge your playing for the summer? Take a lesson from one of the masters with Homespun's Instant Access Lessons. There and instantly accessible when you want them. What our members say about these lessons.
• New original music from Tom Bekeny with the Kathy Kallick Band on the Cafe MP3 page.
• A news feed for our MP3 of the Day? We now have one.

May 21

• It's not a new TV reality show, but if there was one, we'd use this old gem and call it Mandolin Rescue 9-1-1.
• Released May 18, an important recording we've been anticipating: Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg.
• May 18, 2005: Bob Black's "Come Hither to Go Yonder: Playing Bluegrass With Bill Monroe." More Monroe resources.
• For a limited time only, 10% off on all stock at Strings and Beyond for Mandolin Cafe guests.
• Prelude from Suite for Ali, composed by Victor Kioulaphides.
• Looking for a carbon fiber mandolin case? So are we. Some forum members are taking the matter into their own hands.
• Roger Siminoff: The F-5L Mandolin - A turning point in the history of Gibson's acoustic string instruments.
• For those looking to improve their chops: Peter Wernick's SlowJam DVDs and Jam resources for closet pickers.

May 16

• From National Public Radio, a segment on damage to musical instruments: Floods Wreak Havoc On Nashville Music Scene.
• The Gibson Foundation announces a series of flood relief events to assist Nashville and surrounding areas.
• A picture worth a thousand words in the wake of the destruction caused by recent tornados in Oklahoma.
• New to us but going on our short list of sites we really like for used mandolins: The Parlor in Knoxville.
• We enjoyed finding this interview on NPR today featuring Ronnie and Del McCoury from 2007.

May 11

• From this date (May 11) 1999, Jamie Masefield of the Jazz Mandolin Project was featured in this NPR radio interview.
• Keith Whitley passed away May 9, 1989. His 70s recordings with Ricky Skaggs are still some of our favorite bluegrass.
• We just heard from the ZoukFest organizers that the 100 tickets for the ZoukFest custom Graham McDonald mandolin raffle have all sold. Good luck to all.
• Our Doyle Lawson interview with questions from our forum members has been postponed for publication until May 16.
• Two sources of flood information for Tennessee: The Tennessean News, and locally, our forum discussion.
• Surely there's a way to turn this into a business trip: the 7th annual Raffaele Calace juried competition in Italy.
• Mighty spectacular headstock inlay and detail on this pre-owned Bulldog F-4 style mandolin.
• Weekend window shopping: check out the serious flame and sunburst on this Eastman MD815 F mandolin.
• Fascinating: a video of the staining and sunburst process by John Hamlett.
• New original music from Jason Bailey: Mandolbug. Hear a free cut on the Cafe MP3 page.

May 5

• New original music from Jason Bailey: Mandolbug. Hear a free cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• While not official, it sounds like Nashville's Gibson OAI suffered a devastating loss as a result of the flooding.
• Sad: our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Nashville. Pictures and links to the devastation (and discussion of) on our forum.
• Serious Mowry eye candy.
• We often hear from interesting musicians around the world. Meet Hidenori Yoshimizu who sells scores for mandolin orchestra in Japan (and apparently conducts).
• A note to our MP3 page visitors: we've turned off auto-play and moved some furniture around. The paint has not dried and please wipe your feet before you enter.
• Dream vacation: what could be more fun that a week of world-class music instruction, fantastic food and friendship in a scenic area of Italy? The answer: Carlo Aonzo's Fifth International Mandolin Academy, August 22-29, 2010.
• Our pals at Acoustic Oasis have added new selections to their TV and Radio page.
• New music from the Hamilton De Holanda Quintet: Brasilianos 2. Great CD cover art.
• 17-piece Berklee World Strings to perform May 11-12 in Washington D.C. and New York City.
• From JazzMando.com, we concur: breathtaking treasures at The Acoustic Music Company.
• Lehigh University, 1923, and a wonderful story behind this 1919 Gibson with some history.
• Masterpiece: released 16 years ago today (May 1) on Acoustic Disc: Tone Poems with David Grisman and Tony Rice.
• This used mandolin page from the Acoustic Music Company in the UK is one of craziest wonderful collections we've seen in awhile.

May 1

• More window shopping. While Lloyd was in the building at Gibson, over at Martin guitar, the '24 Style B mandolin.
• From their newsletter: we weren't aware Elderly carried tons of old vintage print materials, and plenty of it mandolin related.
• New music from Carlo Aonzo and Elena Buttiero and their new recording Fantasia Poetica on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Adventures in carbon fiber, for those looking for an instrument that can double as a snow shoe.
• Nine years ago today: NPR featured this audio story on Bill Monroe's mandolin selling for $1.25 million.
• A new "old release" just made available on Acoustic Oasis: Svend Asmussen - Swing Violin Masterpieces.
• Interesting build: the Gypsy 10-String nylon strung mandolin reviewed by JazzMando.com.
• We've had these postcards on the Mandolin Cafe for many years. Nothing new in particular, but it just seemed to be a good time to revisit 55 old friends we haven't seen in awhile.

April 27

• A picture that shows attending an Irish session can be a burning experience, literally. From Bluegrass Ireland Blog.
• With festival season right around the corner, you should know the truth: Are You A Bluegrass Redneck?
• We've added two new postcard friends starting here.
• April 25, 1997, the monument over Bill Monroe's grave dedicated in Rosine. See it: Virtual Visit to Rosine, Kentucky.
• Permanent price reduction on our Mandolin Cafe ball caps. Save $2.00 each on all orders.
• Why wait when it's instantly available? Get a lesson from Monroe, Thile, Bush, Marshall, McCoury, and many other mandolin legends. Right now. Homespun's Instant Access downloads.
• A pleasant weekend read: Wisconsin Fire Chief builds mandolins to relax.
• Larry Rice passed away May 13, 2006. He would have been 61 today (April 24). A remarkble musician from a remarkably musical family, here's an MP3 he shared with us before his untimely passing, from Clouds Over Carolina: Tabasco.
• Now available for pre-order with a street date of June 15, the new recording from The Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic.

April 23

• More spring cleaning: 20% off all DVDs at Elderly through May 1. Enter coupon code 22311.
• MandoBasso, a new recording by Bill Bradbury and Gunnar Biggs. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• First Collings mandola we've seen in retail, at Acoustic Music Works in Pittsburgh (that's Charley Rappaport playing it).
• Just announced: Ronnie McCoury will be one of our future interviews where our forum members ask the questions.
• The contents of the Spring, 2010 issue of Mandolin Magazine, featuring Buddy Merriam on the cover.
• A seriously good experience for acoustic musicians: this summer's Berklee Acoustic String Festival, July 15-17.

April 20

• Walnut Valley Festival changes their mandolin contest to national championship status.
• Stuck at work? Bored? It's OK. Give yourself an Acoustic Oasis web TV or radio break. Now back to work.
• $3? We'd be there in a minute if it was in driving distance: Berklee College of Music student Mandolin Mashup.
• For April 19 we extend birthday wishes to occasional lunch partner Jim Triggs of Triggs Guitars and Mandolins.
• Very little mandolin content, but funny: stranded by volcanic ash and forced to drink imported beer. From our forum.
• Weekend window shopping, expensive: this July 9, 1923 Loar F5 at $250K. Matching Bill Monroe's date, add $$.
• Our forum members provided the questions, and now it's time to read Sam's responses: The Sam Bush Interview.
• Sadly, we've never seen it. 35 years ago the movie Capone was released featuring music by David Grisman.
• Last year we ran an article about newly discovered Lloyd Loar F5 #76782. Today it was strung up and played for the first time in over 50 years and we were there.
• New music from the talented 16 year-old mandolinist Taylor Baker of the Baker Boys bluegrass band.

April 14

• From the Nashville Business Journal: Gibson Guitar Corp. faces a federal tax lien of nearly $446,000.
• From the Punch Brothers and now available for pre-order, their new recording, Antifogmatic.
• Mandolin Magazine sent us a preview of the Spring issue cover featuring Buddy Merriam. » Subscribe.
• Priceless: a visit to the A5 Loar with Darryl Wolfe.
• How to get the Mandolin Cafe's free mandolin case stickers.
• The initial hype over the launch may have slowed but we're still bullish on the rare and one-of-a-kind historical acoustic music content found at David Grisman's Acoustic Oasis.
• For our guitar playing readers, Strings and Beyond has announced blowout sale prices on strings and other items.
• We have a new cut from the band The Kindreds on the Cafe MP3 page.

April 9

• Andy Statman will now take your questions for a future Mandolin Cafe exclusive interview.
• Sierra Hull updates us on her new recording project, life at Berklee College of Music and her new instruction DVD on AcuTab in 10 Questions for Sierra Hull.
• Weekend window shopping pick: the Kentucky KM-900s seem to be flying off the shelf. Instrument discussed.
• Get a load of the stock at Acoustic Vibes, posted on the Cafe's forum courtesy of a visit there from JazzMando.com.
• David Grisman Quintet concert tix winners have been notified.
• Our best wishes and a get well soon to bluegrass legend Curly Seckler, recovering from surgery in Nashville.

April 5

• Spotted by a forum member: the new Paul Glasse signature model mandola from Arrow Guitar & Major 5th Instruments.
• From JazzMando.com: notes on some rare material available at Acoustic Oasis.
• Homespun asks for and receives input from us for a Sam Bush instructional project.
• One of the great books in print is now in third edition: Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars.

April 1

• A bit of April Fool's fun: New Millennium Acoustic Design Carbon Fiber Mandolins purchased by Cabela's. » Story
• Released 3/30, new music from Mark Johnson and Emory Lester, their third recording together: Acoustic Vision: Blockade Runner.
• Featured on NPR two years ago: Jethro Burns and Steve Goodman helping to open the baseball season. Play ball!
• The Scottish Mandolin Tutor is a new publication from Dagger Gordon, an outstanding Scottish player and distinguished member of our own forum. Very highly recommended!
• Another web story about 105 yr. old mandolin player Frank Semola. We like his "secret."
• April is shaping up as one of the busiest workshop/camp months for this time of the year in a long time, and we have the list.
• International Bluegrass Music Museum has announced Peter Wernick's Jam Camp part of this year's River of Music Party.
• The Mandolin Cafe's forum members have the questions, and Chicago-based jazz mandolinist extraordinaire Don Stiernberg has the answers for another of our exclusive extended interviews.

March 28

• Pictures of Mark Franzke's Kansas City Irish Fest mandolin being built through a special grant.
• Idaho: A Mike Compton mandolin workshop just added, late May. A reminder to event organizers and performers, you can list your own events on our forum calendar with images and links.
• Through this coming Tuesday: 20% off on all straps at Elderly. Over 150 choices. Enter coupon code 22291.
• Congratulations to Matt Flinner and family on their newest addition: Teagan Lewis Flinner, born March 8.
• The International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro has launched a benefit concert series to raise funds for the museum.
• August 26-29, the 2010 Klamath River MandoJam in Orleans, California. Focusing on gypsy jazz but room for all styles.
• Beautiful progress on the Mandolin Cafe Restoration Challenge.
• New Epiphone MM-50E mandolin boasts unique technology, although unbalanced string pair volume isn't exactly a worry that keeps us awake at night.
• Now available, the highly anticipated Sierra Hull instructional DVD from AcuTab. We've previewed the content and think this is an exceptional product that should be a part of any serious student's collection. » Order. Read the ongoing discussion and feedback from our forum members.
• With close to 1,500 mandolin haikus crafted by our forum members, it's no surprise at least one of them made the front page of a mandolin builder's web site.
• New music from the alternative celtic band Mythica on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Here's a nice resource for single strings if you need a particular gauge or break a certain set regularly. Available from several different manufacturers.

March 15

• Two wonderful new choro collections from ChoroMusic.com: Pixinguinha and Altamiro Carrilho. You are the sololist!
• We served our 40,000th Classified ad on Sunday, March 14. That's a whole lotta instruments and money swapping hands.
• New music from a very interesting band out of Italy, the Sequoia Bisquits, on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Mandolin Camp North 2010 announces a change of location.
• Starts this week in the Big Apple: the 10th annual Carlo Aonzo Manhattan Mandolin Workshop.
• Senior Bill Monroe disciple Lou Martin has just published two new books of interest.
• It's not the newest phone app from Apple Computer, it's a new solo mandolin recording from Cafe member Chad Fadely: iMando. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• New from Carlo Aonzo and Elena Buttiero - Fantasia Poetica.
• You'll want to shut down now. Our last page on the internet.
• Carlo Aonzo and Elena Buttiero open their U.S. tour in Pittsburg on Saturday. Concert information for their appearance with The Pittsburgh Mandolin Society.

March 10

• Dan Beimborn visits a former 60s rock star, pioneer software developer and now owner of one of the finest vintage instrument collectons in the world for another exclusive Mandolin Cafe interview: 10 Questions For Lowell Levinger.
• The Mandolin Cafe well represented at the North Texas Irish Festival.
• From The Mandolin Store newsletter which they're now archiving with a provider: New instruments from the Mandolin Store.
• A new combination book/CD set from mandolinist Jesper Rübner-Petersen and Mel Bay, Inc. just released, Mandolin Picker's Guide to Bluegrass Improvisation.
• New bluegrass music from the band Long Road Home on the Cafe MP3 page.
• We wish this super-clean 1924 A2Z would sell so we could stop looking at it.
• New music from Arrow In The Sky on the Cafe MP3 page.

March 6

• Homespun has announced their entire catalog of DVDs is now available for download delivery through their Instant Access Delivery system available through the Mandolin Cafe.
• A new web site for the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra. They'll be hosting the 2010 CMSA convention.
• Some nicely done blogging from builder Mark Franzke.
• Meet Mick Buck, Curatorial Director at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum and one of the caretakers of Bill Monroe's mandolin. » 10 Questions for Mick Buck.
• New music from the band Round the House on the Cafe MP3 page (Dave Firestine and Mark Robertson-Tessi on mandolin).
• Smoking hot: the first public photos of the new David Grisman/Eastman model Lyon & Healy mandola.

March 1

• Pictures of the recent Wintergrass have been posted in our forum starting about half way down the page.
• Cool gear. This is a new one we'd not seen, a leather mandolin case/gig bag from Glenn Cronkhite.
• Count us among the practioners of Ted Eschliman's Lizard Ear concept. Wandering off now.
• Carlo Aonzo and Elena Buttiero perform with the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra in concert March 13 in Pittsburgh.
• Of particular interest to builders, but will it work with mandolins? Alchemy Acoustic Labs™.
• Random web surfing, we like this wide nut glossy black face Collings A with F-holes.
• Kudos to mandolinist Joe Brent and harpist Bridget Kibbey and other world class performers that are part of NYC's Bringing It To You!, an arts outreach program benefiting underprivileged children on March 4 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Feburary 25

• Of interest to fans of acoustic music, the now soon-to-be published Tony Rice Story.
• Always an interesting subject: one of Bill Monroe's other mandolins.
• AcuTab has announced the launch date for the Sierra Hull instructional video for March 16, 2010.
• Congratulations to Larry Stephenson on his new release 20th Anniversary, featuring an all-star line-up.
• Through March 3, 20% off on all books at Elderly. Enter coupon code 22339.
• The 1927 F2 at Mass Street Music that was originally priced too high has been reduced. Still pricey, but, oh my...
• Coming soon, our interview with the caretaker of Monroe's mandolin at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Happy Birthday to Chris Thile, born February 20, 1981 in Oceanside, California. See our Thile interview from 2006.
• Our Mike Marshall interview with questions from our message board members has arrived containing possibly the world's only recorded audio of a virzi removal! » The Mike Marshall Interview.

Feburary 20

• A new all-original recording of music for mandolin, mandola and mandocello by Don Grieser: Hillbilly Chamber Music.
• We're making a few minor changes to this web site. Please review this information.
• New music from John Edwards and his band The Sleepwalkers on the Cafe MP3 page.
• These are picks? Who knew? Mickey Mouse, The Simpsons, Beatles, Rastaman, and... Monsters!

Feburary 15

• Condolensces to the family and friends of Jennings Chestnut, a banjo and mandolin builder who has passed away.
• Blasphemy! A version of our mandolin chord coffee mug for our guitar playing pals.
• Olympic playlist of the day: biathlete Lowell Bailey counts the Grisman Quintet's version of E.M.D. as inspiration.
• The California Bluegrass Associaton's first Winter Music Camp is under way, and some lucky kids are attending thanks to the generosity of the Mandolin Cafe's members and visitors who donated close to $2K towards scholarship funds.
• String pricing war? First Elderly, now Strings and Beyond. 10% off store prices, limited time. Note: use coupon code on their site.
• Elderly has announced a 20% off sale on all strings if you enter coupon code 84122. Good until February 21. See coupon.
• A virtual visit to Rosine, Kentucky. OK, not really, but via amazon.com, in a way.
• A spectacular new solo recording from Scott Napier: All Out Front. Very highly recommended. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Tragic: renowned builder Taku Sakashta feared slain near his shop in Oakland.
• How to kick off a traditional bluegrass classic, even if the participants might not headline a hard core festival.
• New old-time duet music from the duo The Twilite Broadcasters on the Cafe MP3 page.

Feburary 11

• Zouk alert! Just added to the Homespun Instant Access catalog, Zan McLeod's "Learn to Play the Irish Bouzouki." Good companion to "Tim O'Brien's mandolin and bouzouki" lesson.
• It's true. A picture is worth a thousand words.
• A marvelous French Canadian cut from Antoine Gauthier and the band Les Chauffeurs à Pieds on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Another fine piccolo mandolin, this one from Joseph Campanella Cleary.
• Just added to the Collings web site, their official presentation of the Collings MT2 Mandola.
• Almost live from Nashville via Rob Haines, this SPBGMA video.
• More random eye candy. We really like this 1920 Gibson A4 at Mass Street Music.
• Sam Bush will now take your questions, one of our future message board interviews.
• Unlike other social networking sites, we find Twitter free from much of the visual noise of Facebook, and it's a great way for us to keep up on the industry. The Mandolin Cafe on Twitter.

Feburary 6

• New from mandolinist Fàbio Machado: Franz Schubert String Trio in B flat Major D.471.
• A great bargain! The McCoury Band announces their Family Circle recording available as an MP3 download from amazon.com for $5.00.
• Our February list of camps and workshops is filling in nicely with a strong line-up of terrific learning opportunties the rest of the year. See all events.

Feburary 1

• Cool, and not a toy! A brand new piccolo mandolin from our local pal Mike Black.
• Tempting: this re-release of Brendan O'Regan's A Wind of Change just popped up at Elderly.
• Your gigs next to Grisman, Skaggs, Doyle, Statman, Marshall, etc. through your message board account: community events calendar.
• Study with a legend: April 11 Frank Wakefield workshop in New Jersey.
• A gala mandolin orchestra weekend: American Mandolin and Guitar 2010 Winter Seminar.
• Coming the first week of February, our monster Mike Marshall interview with questions from our message board members.
• Mandolin Camp North (near Boston) is up April 16-18 and has an impressive instructor line-up: Stiernberg, Surette, Gilchrist, Harvey, DelGrosso, Gorman, and more.

January 26

• Near the Village in NYC, Feb. 1, one spectacular concert: Metropolis Ensemble Celebrates Avner Dorman release.
• Not content to love the mandolin just once, someone on our message board did it twice.
• Sure, every mandolin web site has a links page, but don't you get tired of every fourth link being broken? We have one of those pages, and the links work.
• A build in motion. We like these private peeks into what a builder is up to. From Ellis Mandolins.
• Gibson Guitar Corp. has made this offical announcement available to media outlets including the Mandolin Cafe.
• An unmistkable voice: the House of Representatives has voted unanimously to honor bluegrass legend Lester Flatt.
• Our series where our message board members interivew the greats: Don Stiernberg will now take your questions.
• Frozen in time: this spectacular 1927 Gibson F2 at Mass Street Music might be the finest and cleanest specimen of its kind.
• New music from the band Ranger and the Re-Arrangers on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Meet the newest addition to our family, born a few days ago and doing really fine: Baby Arches.

January 22

• The new issue of Mandolin Magazine is out. See the contents of the Winter 2009-2010 issue with a feature on Jesse Cobb.
• Spectacular new Brazilian release from Paulo Sá: Brazilian Things. Hear a cut from the recording on the Cafe MP3 page.
• A major classical release from Israeli based mandolinists Jacob Reuven & Alon Sariel: Sources.
• The 2010 NAMM show was held this past weekend. Check out our photo highlights and Cafe Meet & Greet on Friday.
• January 21: lets all sing "happy birthday" to the builder of Chris Thile's mandolin: Lynn Dudenbostel. And the same to Tom Rozum! Two greats born on the same day, but different years.
• Carrie Rodriguez sure can make an electric mandolin look especially cool.
• Here's how you can take individual mandolins lessons with one of finest on the planet: Mike Marshall.
• A work of art in musical form from luthier Lawrence Smart, and 10 strings to boot.

January 16

• New: from the folks at Collings Guitars and Mandolins, here's a sneak peek at their brand new Collings MT2 Mandola. New enough it's not yet visible on their web site, but posted here with their permission.
• Spend some quality time with a true bluegrass legend: our mega Mike Compton interview with questions from our message board members.
• It's news if that's what they call it: Ricky Skaggs and bluegrass hair, from the Washington Post.
• This week at the Anaheim NAMM show, join us for a Cafe meet and greet.
• One year ago, January 10: we lament the passing of mandolinist and friend Butch Baldassari.
• Most news web sites are full of bland interviews with predictable questions and predictable artist answers. This interview with Ricky Skaggs is not one of those.
• New music from southern Italian based mandolinist Gianluca Longo on the Cafe MP3 page, along with hundreds of other cuts from all genres.

January 11

• You can't make up stuff this good so we present just the real thing: Accused Banjo Beater Allowed To Tour.
• Cool experience for beginning mandolinists. Grab your axe and some friends (or meet new ones!) at Peter Wernick's 2010 Bluegrass Jam Camps. First banjo player ever featured on the Cafe home page? :)
• Mandolins Gone Wild. A band a mandolin player can't help but love: Seattle's MandoMorphosis and their new recording, 2010. Hear a cut on the Cafe MP3 page.
• A mandolin quartet in Bulgaria. Who knew? Elderly Instruments, that's who. Prikazka Za Balkana - "A Story About the Balkan Mountains."

January 5

• New music from the San Francisco based band Ragtime Skedaddlers on the Cafe MP3 page. One of the more interesting bands we've heard in some time.
• Nightmare ended: the second of two mandolins stolen from Bob Gray in Tijeras, New Mexico—his prized 1981 Monteleone—is now back home. His Sullivan mandolin was recovered in December. » Reader response.
• Denver, Colorado: one week from today, they're looking for a few mandolin players to round the Mike Compton workshop.
• Here's something you don't see every day: a matched set of Weber mandolin family instruments.
• Looking to hone your chops in 2010? Plenty of opportunities to study with great players on our Mandolin Camps and Workshops resource. Over 60 events listed with more added daily.
• Looking ahead: mid-month we'll be in attendance and bringing you a first-hand report from this year's 2010 NAMM show in Anaheim, California. A weekend of true musical madness and fun.
• Wouldn't your mandolin case or car (or truck!) look better with a free Mandolin Cafe case sticker?

January 1

• Looking ahead: our Mike Compton interview answers are in! Publication in a week or so (we hope). You did catch our John Reischman and Paul Glasse interviews, didn't you?
• Helping out a fellow mandolin player: the hearing loss of David McLaughlin. We've sent our donation. Won't you?
• Happy holidays from the Mandolin Cafe to your home. Be looking for some exciting new additions to our site during 2010.
• The right song for the right time: Evan Marshall's stunning version of Away In A Manger (MP3 audio file).
• Merry Christmas and happy 90th birthday to bluegrass legend Curly Seckler, born December 25, 1919.
• Made up of questions submitted by our message board members and packed with information, some free tunes, a jazz chart and more, it's our Paul Glasse Interview.
• Very, very good news for the holidays: Bob Gray's stolen Sullivan mandolin recovered.