Crystal Bunch moved to the vibrant community of Moab in 2018 and has been an enthusiastic DJ since 2019. If you have tuned it to The Artist Speaks or Desert Sol Soundsystem you have heard “DJ Sunshine” spreading cheer and tunes in Moab and beyond. She previously held the pivotal role of music and program director and has now gracefully returned to ease into that role once more. Her deep love for music began at a tender age, where she delighted in holding concerts... Read More
Latest Album Reviews
Review of Farmhand Blues
Album Info: Farmhand Blues
Randy Lee Riviere Album: Farmhand Blues Label: Wilderness Genre(s): Blues Rock Posted By: Duane Verh
Nov 2, 2025
Review
Partnering with producer/drummer Tom Hambridge, Randy Lee Riviere hammers deep redneck mojo into the shape of righteously raunchy blues-rock and fashions compelling ballads to boot. Evidence of the former present here includes the leadoff track- “Downtown” and its follow-up, “Big on a Bender” and of the latter, “Bird Watchin’”. The Montana-based guitarist/vocalist works the same alchemy on his own as well on tracks including “Alabama” and “Dovetail Joints”. Good, good stuff.
Bill Mize Album: The Southwind Label: Self-Release Genre(s): New Age Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Nov 1, 2025
Review
Dreamy and atmospheric are just a couple words to describe the sound of acoustic guitarist Bill Mize on his 2024 album The Southwind. Originally from Tennessee and now based up in Montana, Mize released his acclaimed album The Back Of Beyond in 2016 and, while it’s taken a while, The Southwind is a fine follow up. With 14 tracks that clock in at 47 minutes, The Southwind is understated yet captivating acoustic guitar based instrumental music.
A master of the acoustic 6-string guitar and lap steel guitar, Bill is also somewhat of a music historian and in the CD liner notes he claims the title track was inspired by a 1700’s Irish folk tune while another track here, an instrumental of a track written by Dolly Parton, called “Light Of The Clear Blue Morning” has an intro that Bill says was influenced by Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring. Three tracks
La Cuivraille Album: Tournivelle Label: Self-Release Genre(s): World Posted By: Joe Ross
Oct 31, 2025
Review
It’s been a decade since La Cuivraille formed in 2014 and then released their first album All Together a year later. Now, Tournivelle, the band’s second album is a very welcome project from these creative musicians who blend forceful brass, swaying violin, cohesive bass, subtle percussion and smooth vocals to bring people together and get them dancing to a unique traditionally-based groove for this day and age. The result is a sensitive mix of both the delicate and robust to have a tantalizing modern, lively and accessible sonic impact.
Formed by violinist Gabriel Lenoir (with over 15 albums to his name), La Cuivraille has both one foot in the sounds of traditional French music and another in the energetic textures of groove, funk and reggae. Through a skillful blend of violin, vocals, a brass section (trumpet, trombone, saxophone), electric bass, and percussion,
Larry Sparks Album: Way Back When Label: Rebel Genre(s): Traditional Bluegrass Posted By: Joe Ross
Oct 31, 2025
Review
Way Back When kicks off with Larry Sparks’ characteristic booming Martin guitar and soulful singing nostalgically about simpler times that emphasized love, kindness and family. The opening title track and “The Fields of Gettysburg” (both written by Gary Ferguson) are about as close as Larry comes to contemporary repertoire on this ten-track offering. From Ohio, but now based in Indiana, Larry began singing and playing bluegrass when he was five years old, learning guitar from his sister.
In 1965, at age 18, he took his first professional job as guitarist with The Stanley Brothers, replacing George Shuffler. After Carter died in December 1966, Larry took over as lead vocalist with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. In 1969, he formed his band The Lonesome Ramblers, which has undergone numerous and frequent personnel changes over the years. The two-time
Jim Lloyd Album: The Ghost of Virginia Label: 2024 Patuxent Music Genre(s): Contemporary Bluegrass Posted By: Joe Ross
Oct 31, 2025
Review
It’s always a pleasure to hear something a little different from the wealth of acoustic old-time, folk and bluegrass music being put out today. Guitarist, singer, clawhammer banjo player, Jim Lloyd plays a pre-WWII gold-plated Gibson Mastertone with a resonator. He covers a lot of ground after opening with the title cut, “The Ghost of Virginia,” a tale of a freight train that runs by the light of the moon from Raleigh, North Carolina to Richmond, Virginia. We hear a variety of material that ranges from Uncle Dave Macon (“She’s Got the Money Too”) to Tom Paxton (“Bottle of Wine”), and Clarence Ashley (“Walkin’ Boss”) to Neil Diamond (“I’m a Believer”). I especially liked the nod to Laura Nyro by his covering her “And When I Die,” as a tribute to that fine folk singer who passed in 1997 at only
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