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When D'Addario recently announced they'd met and surpassed their goal of recycling 2 million strings as part of "Playback," the world's leading string recycling program, we decided to dig a little deeper into the program and share that success story with our readers.

For those looking for a better result than seeing your old strings end up in the trash, the program and act of recycling couldn't be easier.

All it costs is your time to join Playback (part of D'Addario's Players Circle loyalty program) and their free postage option:

1. Collect a minimum of 2 lbs of strings, pack them

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Nashville, Tenn. — Nashville-based mandolinist Isaac Eicher has announced the release of his first solo recording entitled Native Language, now available for pre-order.

A two-time Walnut Valley Mandolin Contest winner, Eicher hails from a musically prominent family based in Oklahoma that includes his ...

Farmingdale, N.Y. — D'Addario has announced the launch of a new addition to their mandolin offerings with D'Addario Monel Mandolin string sets.

Monel is a classic nickel alloy that offers a balanced and natural tone popular among vintage enthusiasts. ...

Tucked neatly away beneath the Mandolin Cafe Forum, out of sight and mind of most of the community, a group of mandolinists gather daily in search of new music, new skills, new ideas, new videos.

Tunes are shared, written music and MP3s are exchanged, advice doled out, suggestions are given and accepted. A complete musical community that is at once supportive, encouraging and friendly. This is not your typical internet social gathering.

Meet "The Song-A-Week Social Group."

Barbara Shultz, Mandolin Cafe member since April, 2005 is the group leader responsible for what we think is the single best, most effective and supportive "social group" of mandolinists on the internet.
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Milwaukee, Wisc. — Hal Leonard publishers has announced the publication of Mandolin Fretboard Atlas: Get a Better Grip on Neck Navigation, by Joe Charupakorn.

From Hal Leonard: "Mastering the mandolin neck can be a challenge, even for very experienced ...

Fenton, Mo. — Mel Bay Publications, Inc. has announced the release of Tunes from 17th Century Scotland, arranged for mandolin by Rob MacKillop.

Many great Scottish traditional tunes such as "Flowers Of The Forest" can be traced back to ...

Nashville, Tenn. — Nate Lee has announced a June 25 release date from his new instructional DVD How to Play a Solo On a Song You've Never Heard Before, also available as a download.

Join Nate and his students to unlock the secrets to improvisation in a few easy steps. ...

Boston — David Benedict has announced the upcoming release of his new solo recording The Golden Angle.

About the new recording David told us, "After moving to Boston in early 2017 to join Mile Twelve bluegrass band, I started working on a collection of new instrumental string-band compositions. At that time, I randomly came across this geometric principle called 'The Golden Angle,' and I became obsessed with the musical implications.

"I'm actually not much of a math person, and I'm still trying to get my head around this principle, honestly! But to my understanding, the basic idea is related ...

We profiled Retrofret Vintage Guitars about five years ago as part of our visit to the city. Thirty-five years in the business has established the shop and its owner, Steve Uhrik, as among the nation's elite dealers of vintage instruments, both electric and acoustic. And now comes news that the shop is moving to a new location. We asked Brooklyn resident Bradley Klein to check out the new digs.
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Weber to Unveil New Yellowstone Models in Nashville at Carter Vintage Guitars & Summer NAMM Event, Partnering with Mandolin Cafe.

Bend, Ore. — Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments is celebrating the launch of their newly redesigned Yellowstone series, and the official global public release of the Yellowstone "large body" models including Mandola, Octave and Mandocello ...

Washington, D.C. — Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has announced a target date of June 22 release for Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey, by various artists.

On Epilogue, the bluegrass music community comes together to create a marvelously fitting tribute to ...

Fenton, Mo. — Mel Bay Publications, Inc. has announced their release of Easy Classical Mandolin Tunes for Kids, by Rob MacKillop.

Written in standard notation and mandolin tablature. Includes access to online audio featuring every tune ...

Surfside Beach S.C. — Mandolinists will gather here August 22-24, 2018 when the Annual Alan Bibey Mandolin Camp at Ocean Lakes Campground is held in conjunction with the Ocean Lakes Bluegrass Festival.

Lodging for the Camp is good through the weekend so you can ...

Boston, Mass. — Ethan Setiawan has announced the release of his new recording entitled Flux for Friday, May 18.

Flux is a collection of all original compositions except for "Metaphorical Door," composed by Sam Leslie, Avery ...

Toronto, Canada — The Andrew Collins Trio has announced the release of a double project, two separate recordings, entitled Tongue and Groove.

11 vocal cuts (tongues) to 11 instrumentals (grooves) create a seamless finish for their cleverly monikered and mandolin delicious double album entitled Tongue & Groove ...

World-Touring Musicians Unite to Create a One-of-a-Kind Musical Experience in West Michigan.


Grand Rapids, Mich. — Registration has opened for this year's Great Lakes Music Camp (GLMC), a four-day acoustic music symposium held at Camp Blodgett (West Olive, MI) October 11-14, 2018. Space is limited and certain packages are already sold out.

The camp, which features some of the finest acoustic music instructors in the country, will include workshops, lessons, hosted jams, ...

San Rafael, Calif. — To celebrate a decade of David Grisman's association with noted Italian luthier Corrado Giacomel, Dawg Productions is offering a $2,000 discount to all Mandolin Cafe citizens on any new Giacomel instrument.

These unique, superb sounding mandolin ...

Fenton, Mo. — Mel Bay Publications, Inc. has announced their release of Easy Popular Mandolin Tunes for Kids, by Rob MacKillop.

These simple arrangements of all-time popular songs are ideal for younger learners and will get them playing ...

Siler City, N.C. — 2018 North Carolina Heritage Award Recipient Tony Williamson celebrates this prestigious honor with "Heritage," an anthology of unreleased or out-of-print highlights from an illustrious 50-year recording career.

Williamson will be honored by the North Carolina Arts Council for his unique lifetime contributions in a ceremony May 23 in Raleigh, N.C.

Beginning with brother Gary in 1968, the recording opens with a blistering instrumental version of "John Henry," and covers each phase and decade with contributions from such music legends as Tony Rice, Vassar Clements, Jerry Douglas and today's stars ...