Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard 'Pioneering Women of Bluegrass: The Definitive Edition' out on October 21, 2022 on CD and digital, and available for pre-order now.

The soaring harmonies and driving string-band sound of Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard shattered the glass ceiling of male-dominated bluegrass in the 1960s. Hazel and Alice’s influence on music – and not just roots music – is hard to overstate. They’ve been acknowledged by artists as diverse as country superstars Naomi and Wynonna Judd, champion flat-picker Molly Tuttle, and proto-feminist punk rocker Kathleen Hanna. Their steadfast devotion to their own hard-hitting style inspired generations of women in bluegrass.

The Definitive Pioneering Women of Bluegrass

Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard - Childish Love

In Benin, musical traditions and accompanying dances connect participants to their religion, community, and natural environment. Neighboring Nigeria and Togo along the northern side of the Gulf of Guinea, Benin is a long-standing and dynamic hub of cultural exchange.

In 2020, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival will highlight the cultures of Benin on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The World's Musical Traditions, Vol. 8: Yoruba Drums from Benin, West Africa

Rhythm of the Dundun Ensemble from Atchoukpa: Ale Ile

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Rhythm of the Dundun Ensemble from Atchoukpa: Ale Ile

Smithsonian Folkways

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