Bluegrass and Religion

This is a wonderful example of what one might call scholarly fandom. Pete Ward is an amateur bluegrass musician who studies theology and a professional theologian who studies bluegrass. He is also a wise, painstaking and imaginative researcher. Bluegrass and Religion is a must read for anyone fascinated by the everyday entanglement of musical and religious experiences. * Simon Frith, University of Edinburgh, UK * Pete Ward has undertaken an ambitious and creative approach to explicating the religious content of bluegrass and related musics. Employing tools of historical, theological, cultural, intellectual, and survey research, he illuminates important patterns and posits striking, relevant insights. For anyone interested in exploring bluegrass gospel music and its ties to unfolding patterns in modern society, I highly recommend Bluegrass and Religion. * Fred Bartenstein, Former President of the IBMA Foundation, USA * A musician as well as a theologian who has investigated encounters with God outside of traditional churches, Ward provides unique insights on the ways we deal with religion in our music making. The chapters include close readings and critical re-examination of key bluegrass gospel texts and historical contexts, media representations and myths, and highlight the diversity of views on religion voiced by musicians. I look forward to the discussions in classrooms and around jam circles after people read and think through these pages. * Lee Bidgood, East Tennessee State University, USA *