Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys: Stanley’s voice is not of this century nor of the last one, for that matter. Its stark emotional urgency is rooted in a darker time, when pain was the common coin of life and the world offered sinful humanity no hope of refuge. Preserved in the cultural amber of remote Appalachia, this terse, forlorn sound is the bedrock of Stanley’s inimitable style. But don’t mistake an ancient voice for ancient ways. Stanley tours and performs with the vigor and elan of a rock star. www.drralphstanley.com
Cherryholmes: Chances are you’ve never encountered a family quite like the Cherryholmes. As little as 10 years ago, the band itself didn’t exist, and half of its youthful members hadn’t even picked up instruments yet. Now, it’s hard to imagine bluegrass music without them. www.cherryholmes.com