Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has just released the groundbreaking new album Ears of the People: Ekonting Songs from Senegal and The Gambia that represents the first full length representation of the West African ekonting. Considered the key ancestor of the American banjo, the ekonting is alive and well in West Africa, telling the stories of the artists who love it today. And yet it still exhibits some of the same or similar playing techniques as the American banjo, separated by centuries and some of the worst history in the world.

Following word of the Summer 2023 release of This Moment – their first new studio album in 46 years – revolutionary world music ensemble Shakti will continue to discover and explore the musical common ground bridging East and West on an extensive U.S. tour, beginning August 17 in Boston, current itinerary below with more dates TBA.

The Newport Folk Festival, one of the most highly-anticipated events of the summer music season, is set to return July 28-30th. Tickets go on sale to the public on February 1st, 2023 at 1:00 pm EST.

Touring in 2022 is coming to an end, just one more run of My Bluegrass Heart dates in December. The band is so hot and so joyful. Michael Cleveland on fiddle, Sierra Hull on mandolin, Justin Moses on - well - everything, Mark Schatz on bass, and Bryan Sutton on guitar - this was the band that kicked off the My Bluegrass Heart tour. You’ll see a lot of these dates have Punch Brothers on the bill. We’ve sure been looking forward to that! What will we come up with for those shows? There’s only one way for you to find out!

Béla Fleck is out on the road for much of the rest of this year - hitting over 20 states - able to share the new music with lots of you folks! Below you’ll see the different bands for each part of the tour. They’re all incredible musicians, so no matter what My Bluegrass Heart show comes to your town, Béla can confidently predict fireworks! .

We finally did it. We found a time where our schedules overlapped just enough to go on tour together! I’m excited to bring My Bluegrass Heart on tour with Punch Brothers this December. You’ll get a set from them, a set from me and my bluegrass band, and even a few tunes from all of us together…what’s better than a night of world class Bluegrass?!

GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter, producer, and guitarist extraordinaire Cory Wong has released his new album, Power Station, today. The explosive jazz-funk LP features many special all-star guests including Big Wild, Chromeo, Billy Strings, Béla Fleck, Sierra Hull, Victor Wooten, Larry Carlton, Nate Smith, and more. Power Station is available at all DSPs and as a limited-edition 12” Double Black Vinyl (33 rpm).

The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency proudly presents the final concert in the Hollywood ArtsPark Experience 2021/2022 on April 28th featuring Grammy-winning banjo masters Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn.

Earl Scruggs Music Festival has announced the full lineup for its inaugural event taking place September 2-4, 2022 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Joining previously announced headliners Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band this Labor Day Weekend will be American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck performing with his GRAMMY-nominated My Bluegrass Heart ensemble which includes Billy Contreras, Jacob Joliff, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton.

Over the last four decades, Béla Fleck has made a point of boldly going where no banjo player has gone before, a musical journey that has earned him 15 Grammys in nine different fields, including Country, Pop, Jazz, Instrumental, Classical and World Music. But his roots are in bluegrass, and that’s where he returns with his first bluegrass tour in 24 years, My Bluegrass Heart.