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: 2017 | 2016

2018 Front Page Highlights

June 14

• Mandolin Mondays: David Surette brings the heat on a traditional Celtic jig played on a custom Girouard mandolin.
• On sale, 20% off: Northfield's Airloom "Deluxe" Case Cover.
• Yes, still available but our summer sale ended for Mandolin Cafe Ball Caps.
• 20% off Acoustic Disc Summer Sale (not including downloads)! Use Discount Code SUMMER2018 at checkout.

June 8

• Rest in peace: we are sad to learn of the passing of builder Allen Jones of Glenn Mandolins.
• Every once in awhile a post on our forum touches a lot of folks deeply. This is one of those posts.
• Boston-based musician Dan Bui is Mandolin Mondays Guest #127.
• Published one year ago today, the never-before-seen video Bill Monroe Interview in Denver, Feb. 19, 1986.
• June 22 release for Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey, by various artists.
• IBMA is sticking with Raleigh for another three years.

June 2

• Mandolin Mondays #126 special guest is jazz mandolinist Simon Dunson on his Girouard mandolin. Nicely played!
• Published this date 2011: An Interview with Thomas A. Adler about his must-read book on Bean Blossom.
• It's that time of year: What's Your Score? Take the test here if you wish.
• More owner reviews of the new Northfield Airloom Recurve.

May 28

• New from Mel Bay Publications, Inc. - Easy Classical Mandolin Tunes for Kids.
• Liam Purcell is our Mandolin Mondays special guest #125 with a great original composition!
• Original Gibson Jr. instruments brochure up for auction on eBay.
• Builder Maegan Wells talks about her mandolins at Peghead Nation.
• Alan Bibey Mandolin Camp, Aug. 22-24, Surfside Beach S.C. wth Alan Bibey, Don Stiernberg and Emory Lester.
• A brand new solo project from Ethan Setiawan has just been released: Flux.

May 21

• Published one year ago: never-before-seen interview of Charlie Derrington.
• $2,000 discount to all Mandolin Cafe citizens on any new Giacomel. More...
• Registration has opened for the Great Lakes Music Camp.
• The Andrew Collins Trio has announced their release of a new double recording project entitled Tongue and Groove.
• Michael Cleveland is our special guest for Mandolin Mondays #124, playing his original composition "Lonesome Desert."
• New guitar offering from Collings we can get behind: the Bill Collings Tribute AT 16.

May 15

• Published one year ago today (May 14), our Tim Connell Interview.
• Nice looking Gibson A Jr. snakehead at auction on eBay. Priced right, so far.
• Possibly all of the chords you'll ever need, but you won't know unless you have one. Available only from the Mandolin Cafe Shop at CafePress.com.
• Lots of musicians ask about these so we're glad to see Bruce Weber filling a market need: The Ranger Travel Mandolin By Montana Lutherie.

May 10

• Ashley Broder is Mandolin Mondays guest #123 with her original composition "The Race." Wow!
• 2018 North Carolina Heritage Award Recipient Tony Williamson celebrates this prestigious honor with his new recording entitled "Heritage."
• One of our favorite articles published this date 2010: The F-5L Mandolin - A turning point in the history of Gibson's acoustic string instruments.
• New in print from Mel Bay: Easy Popular Mandolin Tunes for Kids.
• Good grief... airport finds new way to hassle: Will Your Viola Pass the Explosives Test?
• Good read about Tim O'Brien from Washington Post: This bluegrass musician appreciates the irony of leaving W.Va. to appreciate its music.
• It's the one year anniversary of the Bill Monroe Farm Interview from February 25, 1986, lost for over 30 years. Footage of the farm rarely seen.

May 6

• News item from ten years ago: Rounder Records Announces National Debut Of Sierra Hull.
• Winner of our Pava A5 Pro Giveaway shows off his brand new mandolin.
• One year ago we shared the never-before-seen video of Bill Monroe receiving his mandolin post repair from Gibson, February 25, 1986.
• Mandolin Mondays #122: we welcome Banjo Ben Clark playing one of his long-time favorites on his Rattlesnake Mandolin.
• Joe K. Walsh demonstrates his go-to mandola, an A. Lawrence Smart A-Style.
• New from David Benedict at Mandolins Heal The World: Jivin' On The Jigs.
• Meet the man responsible for Mandolin Mondays, our David Benedict Interview published this date (May 1) 2016.
• And in news we could all predict: Gibson Files for Bankruptcy in Deal to Renew Guitar Business. Discussed on our forum.

April 30

• Get yours in time for summer: Mandolin Cafe Ball Caps. Always shipped with two free Mandolin Cafe case stickers.
• Reviews and discussion about the new Northfield Airloom "Recurve" case. Does it slice? Does it dice!?
• Priceless... video of Collings Mandolin Giveaway winner Kyle Ledson unpacking and test driving his brand new mandolin.
• We concur: we're a big fan of the work of Dalton Bell at Weber, providing their look with a timeless quality.
• Tony Williamson releases recording celebrating North Carolina Heritage Award. To be presented lifetime achievement award May 23.
• Mandolin Mondays #121 - Tim O'Brien with "Arpeggiando Despaciomente!"
• A good read: featured in Musical Merchandise Review: "Advancing the Traditional Weber Mandolins."
• Kyle, the winner of our Collings MT2 Giveaway shows off his new mandolin!

April 24

• Meet Greg D. from Pennsylvania, winner of our Pava A5 Pro Mandolin Giveaway.
• Registration opens May 1 for the Nashville Mandolin Camp. Don Julin, Nate Lee, Frank Solivan and Ashby Frank.
• Historically important: the Gibsonians, performed at the White House this date (April 22) 1923, later all identified by Joe Spann.
• Now in stock, for sale: the new Northfield Airloom "Recurve" Mandolin Cases.
• Utah Musician Wins Scholarship to Guitar & Mandolin Camp North.
• Published this date (April 21) 2014: our Don Julin Mandolin Exercises For Dummies Interview. A valuable instructional book! Purchase
• Bluegrass Museum Renamed Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
• Elisa Meyer Ferreira is our Mandolin Mondays special guest with a stunning original entitled Nobre Coração.
• Cool Acoustic Music Company video!

April 18

• Registration is now open for the Old School Bluegrass Camp.
• We've successfully resynced video and audio for the historic moment Bill Monroe received his mandolin post-repair from Gibson, Feb. 25, 1986.
• A GoFundMe for Peter Ostroushko who has suffered life threatening setbacks.
• Mandolin Mondays #119 - Ryan Paisley of Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass.
• The winner of our Schertler giveaway shows off the spoils of his win!
• Pictures of Mike Black built mandocello being constructed.

April 13

• Our April Fools entry for 2018: All-Star Instrumental ABBA Greatest Hits Mandolin Tribute.
• Great version of "Watson's Blues" by Joe K. Walsh and Scott Nygaard. Sweet!
• Forrest O'Connor is Mandolin Mondays #118 playing an original composition.
• Great version of "Watson's Blues" by Joe K. Walsh and Scott Nygaard. Sweet!
• Props to a supporter with a web site with great tools: Fretboard Toolbox.

April 5

• Forrest O'Connor is Mandolin Mondays #118 playing an original composition.
• Props to a supporter with a web site with great tools: Fretboard Toolbox.
• An Interview with Tunefox's Bennett Sullivan, developer of a practice app for mandolin, banjo and guitar.
• Information about the 2018 Classical Mandolin Convention, Santa Rosa, Calif.
• Marc MacGlashan is Mandolin Mondays guest #117. Marvelous playing!
• Congratulations B. Clark, winner of our Schertler Group GIULIA amp giveaway.

March 28

• Mars Hill University to Introduce Roots Music Week, June 24-28.
• All about this summer's 13th Annual Targhee Music Camp, August 6-9.
• The latest story on the saga of Gibson's financial woes.
• Hannah Johnson is the winner of the 2018 Monroe Mandolin Camp Video Scholarship winner. Nicely played!
• Proud of the great blogging Michael Eck (who writes for us) is doing at Weber.
• Happy birthday, David Grisman! Born this date (March 23) 1945.
• Mandolin Mondays #116: welcome Jordan Ramsey.
• Grass Talk Radio: interview with "Blue Grass Boy" author Barb Rosenstock.

March 22

• $25 off a quarterly subscription to Mandolins Heal The World with Discount Code QTSAVE.
• Weather forces new date for Metamora Mandolin Gathering. Now July 14.
• Don't Fret, She's Not Elderly Yet! A Conversation with Stan and Lillian Werbin of Elderly Instruments.
• Back in stock: Mandolin Cafe ball caps.
• New from Native Ground: Easy 2-Chord Songs for Mandolin.
• An update on the status of the new Northfield "Recurve" mandolin case.
• Interesting: why Colorado Case Company is no longer in business.
• Collings MT Giveaway: Kyle in California was our winning entry. More...
• Korey Brodsky is Mandolin Mondays #115 with the tune Groundspeed.

March 15

• Classifieds: our formal policy on PayPal Family and Friends use.
• New from David Benedict at Mandolins Heal the World: Jivin' On The Jigs!
• Fine article celebrating one year in print: A Brief History of Evening Prayer Blues.
• Our friends at Northfield just launched a great looking new web site.
• New from Mel Bay - French Baroque Mandolin Suite.
• Michael Eck who works for us on occasion does some nice blogging for Weber.
• Lost/stolen: Silverangel Mandolin en route via USPS in Lexington, KY.
• 11 new Chris Henry Monroe-style lessons added to Mandolins Heal The World.
• Got Mandolin Cafe On Demand? Possibly the only lessons you'll ever need.

March 9

• Just a number but Sunday, March 11 we reached a new high volume of mandolins for sale in our Classifieds topping 600.
• Mandolin Mondays #114: Bryan McDowell of the Claire Lynch Band.
• Sad end to the story of counterfeit strings purchased from amazon.
• Ouch: United Airlines smashes treasured viola da gamba.
• Einstein's violin for sale at Bonham's auction house. Bring a large wallet.
• It's not just our members complaining about counterfeit strings. amazon has even bigger issues, called out by CNet.
• Bruce and Mary Weber back in business at Montana Lutherie. Congrats!
• New: Joe K. Walsh's Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites. See news release.

March 2

• 14 Heritage Guitar Workers off the job as company heads in new direction.
• Dominick Leslie is our special guest for Mandolin Mondays #113.
• First it was counterfeit strings. Now amazon has ruined a shipped Kentucky mandolin.
• First general public views of the new Northfield "Recurve" case at Wintergrass: their reaction.
• Published one year ago today: Rising Brazilian Mandolinist Elisa Meyer.
• This date 1986: see the only surviving video of Monroe receiving his mandolin post repair from Charlie Derrington at Gibson.
• Slipped Disc picks up our forum members reporting amazon sells counterfeit strings.

February 26

• Ahead of our Collings MT2 giveaway starting Wednesday, feast your eyes on the Collings Custom Mandolin Gallery.
• Disappointed, but not surprised amazon sells counterfeit D'Addario Mandolin Strings.
• New: German Baroque Music for Mandolin. Purchase: Mel Bay | Elderly | amazon
• It's rare that we do gear reports, but a new Schertler amp prompted one.
• Lauren Price is this Mandolin Mondays guest with a great version of "Monroe's Blues."
• California Coast Music Camp announces two week-long July camps.

February 22

• Two new jazz tracks by Phil Lawrence, one featuring the Dawg, on the Cafe MP3 page.
• Registration has opened for the 2nd Annual Marshall Mando Summit, August 9-12.
• Gibson Guitar is pronounced dead every few years. Here's the latest with few surprises.
• Everyone knows about our mandolin chord coffee mugs, but for guitar?
• Kym Warner pays us a visit for Mandolin Mondays episode #111.
• New smoking hot jazz from Emil Ernebro & Erik Igelström on the Cafe MP3 page.

February 16

• Hanging out for a few days at Folk Alliance International. Here's our activity report.
• Prominent classical music blog Slipped Disc asks, "When did you last hear a mandolin concerto?"
• Back in stock at Elderly after running out: Masters of the Mandolin - 130 of the Greatest Bluegrass and Newgrass Solos.
• Music Camps North announce scholarships for Guitar & Mandolin Camp North.
• What to do with all that old Mandolin Brothers content, photos and writing? Stan Jay's daughter asks.
• Brian Oberlin & Carlo Aonzo have released a new single entitled "Mantello e Cilindro."
• 2018 San Diego Classical Mandolin Camp announced for July 30 - August 5.
• New in print: Theory and Improvisation for the Modern Mandolinist, Vol. 1.
• New in print: Masters of the Mandolin - 130 of the Greatest Bluegrass and Newgrass Solos.
• Released this date 2007: Rhythm Mandolin: From Bluegrass to Celtic to Swing.
• Mandolin Mondays #110 with Mike Compton playing a historic composition.

February 10

• Nice to see the mandolin contribute to the most bizarre side of the internet. Our forum responds.
• This April 13-15: Guitar & Mandolin Camp North registration is under way.
• A treasure trove of David Benedict mandolin lessons with more on the way they tell us.
• Anniversary of our Chris Thile in London Interview that led to us to the original owner of his Loar.

February 5

• Did someone say Super Bowl?
• Rest in peace: the great Jethro Burns passed away February 4, 1989.
• A ton of feedback on Marla Fibish on our forum about her courses at Peghead Nation.
• Monroe Mandolin Camp Video Scholarship Competitions for mandolin, banjo & fiddle.
• Clever guitar accessories at a new start-up, friends of the Mandolin Cafe: 785 Studio.
• We chipped in, hope you will too: Ethan Setiawan's Kickstarter for a new album.
• Mandolin Mondays #109 - David Benedict's Twisty Jigs as he prepares to visit Ireland.
• Our Winter NAMM Show thread. Lots of exciting new products for 2018.

February 1

• What Do You Think?, by Aaron Weinstein. Minimal but great mandolin content.
• Mandolin Orchestra of Kansas City Formed.
• Nashville Mandolin Camp announces two unexpected openings.
• Long-time Cafe fan Ryan Chappell's band Upstate Rubdown could use your help for their album Kickstarter project just lunched.
• Video action from the Weber booth at this past weekend's NAMM Show.
• Chris Thile audio feature: How to Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black.
• AMGuSS: The American Mandolin & Guitar School Returns June 25-30.
• Reviewed Pava A5 Pro Mandolin by our friends at Peghead Nation.
• Check out the new Northfield mandolin cases at the NAMM Show.

January 25

• News from Nonesuch: Chris Thile to hold Carnegie Hall Debs Composer's Chair for 2018–19 Season.
• JazzMando.com's Ted Eschliman is Mandolin Mondays guest #108 with a chordal version of "Our Love is Here to Stay." Nicely done!
• In a bold business move attempting to own the search term Bluegrass Cajon...
• March Mandolin Festival. Marla Fibish, David Surette, Will Patton, Matt Shipman and more.
• An organization that has our hearty support and approval: The Handsome Ladies, support for women bluegrassers of all levels.
• Help a rare Stanley Brothers recording not heard for 60+ years get preserved.
• Celebrating two years in publication, our Sierra Hull - Weighted Mind Interview.

January 19

• Arguably the finest mandolin recording ever: Homer & Jethro's Playing It Straight / It Ain't Necessarily Square.
• Coming March 24: 5th Annual Metamora Mandolin Gathering. Workshops, concerts and more.
• Long time friend of the Mandolin Cafe, performer, educator and author Marilynn Mair is Mandolin Mondays #107.
• Not sold in stores. Our operators are not standing by to take your call. Improve your mandolin playing and support the Cafe at the same time by wearing a Mandolin Cafe ball cap.
• Epic: odes honoring Bill Monroe's toaster that appeared on eBay.
• Add your input to a mandolin book in the process of being written.
• Mandolin Mondays #106: the fine playing of Nick Dumas gets the week off to a great start.

January 12

• Scare Tactics: Tips on How Musicians Can Overcome Stage Fright, from Strings Magazine online.
• These are cool: a variety of Carter Vintage Guitar ball caps.
• Carlo Aonzo's 18th annual U.S. mandolin workshop returns to Milwaukee June 7-10. Register soon! More...
• For a limited time at Mandolins Heal The World: full year membership plus two live video lessons via Skype, FaceTime, etc. for only $199.99.

January 8

• New Bill Monroe book for young readers, Blue Grass Boy set for March 18 release. Pre-order: amazon
• Always an eye opening read: Slipped Disc's World's Worst Airlines for Musicians, 2018.
• Mandolin Mondays #105: Josh Rilko plays the old time tune, "Lost Girl."
• New in print, Masters of the Mandolin: 130 of the Greatest Bluegrass and Newgrass Solos. Reserve your advance copy: Elderly | amazon
• New in print: Three Chord Songs for Mandolin. Pre-order: Elderly | amazon
• New music from Jimmy Ryan: Solo Mandolin: Jimmy Ryan Performs Top Gospel Hits.
• Plans for the 2018 Monroe Mandolin Camp announced.
• Released this week 2012: Charlie Louvin's Satan Is Real, an epic read everyone should have a chance to enjoy.

January 1

• Information about the new mandolin release coming in 2018 from Ethan Setiawan.
• Start Jan. 8-10: Matt Flinner's wildly popular online group lessons.
• Money where our mouth is: we're an official sponsor of the 2018 Monroe Mandolin Camp.
• Got yours? Mandolin Cafe ball cap.
• Rest in peace: Curly Seckler passes at 98.
• Mandolin Monday: David Benedict's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."