Our latest Off the Shelf guest is Johnny Bell, whose album “Mountain States” expands mountain music beyond Appalachia to the Rocky Mountains of the American West. His chosen ten objects sit close to the music — and the high desert home — that shaped them. klofmag.com/2026/06/off-...

It’s true. I made a country album. Huge thanks to @bcsalmon.bsky.social and the @bandcamp.com editorial team for recognizing Mountain States. Humbled and honored!

Our latest Mixtape featured Frankie Archer, Zoh Amba, Simon Joyner, Johnny Bell, Brown Wimpenny, Iona Zajac, Stein Urheim, The Modern Folk, The Deadlians, Hack-Poets Guild, Deer Scout, Josh Kimbrough, Nora Brown, anne annie, Robert Wyatt, Maxine Funke & more. klofmag.com/2026/06/klof...

An excellent, wide-ranging and mercurial album. New Mexico banjoist Johnny Bell builds “Mountain States” around the character of the five-string banjo, though his focus is far from traditional. He set out to make a modern solo banjo album, and he’s done exactly that. klofmag.com/2026/06/john...

Vibing to the new @johnnybellsounds.bsky.social album on @centripetalforce.bsky.social records. Some of the chillest solo banjo music I’ve ever heard. It has New Age vibes which I feel is novel for the instrument. Beautiful record!

Another shitty application season is coming to a close and once again I don’t think I’ll have a tenure-track job or postdoc for next year. Maybe time to figure out another plan. In the meantime, additional paid subs would be a big help. Thanks for Listening. acloserlisten.substack.com

Thrilled to be recognized by Doom and Gloom From the Tomb.

Caldera Repose [official video] from the album Mountain States Watch here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=uJas... Directed, filmed, and edited by Luke Bern Carr at Bernlore Studios

Have you visited Mountain States?

Today we’re checking out a new album from @johnnybellsounds.bsky.social released on @ramblerecords.bsky.social www.onthefringesofsound.com/2026/05/john... #banjo #experimental #musicreview #drone #acoustic

…haunted by history, grounded in place, and unafraid to sound massive. Mountain States has arrived! johnnybell.bandcamp.com/album/mounta... Much appreciation and gratitude to @centripetalforce.bsky.social and @ramblerecords.bsky.social for giving this music a home.

Today we’re incredibly proud to release Mountain States, the new album from Johnny Bell, out now via Centripetal Force and Ramble Records (Australia). We hope you spend time with this one. It’s a special record. BANJO IS THE FUTURE johnnybell.bandcamp.com/album/mounta...

Tomorrow evening! Join myself and @johnnybellsounds.bsky.social for a listen to Mountain States. Take in the album and converse with Johnny himself. 5:30 pacific time. RSVP at the CF Bandcamp. ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

Come with me on a tone quest as I search the high desert for the banjo that I hear in my dreams.

A fantastic new video for “Caldera Repose” just dropped from @johnnybellsounds.bsky.social Directed, filmed & edited by Luke Carr + Benlore Studios. From the album Mountain States, releasing this Friday on Centripetal Force and @ramblerecords.bsky.social youtu.be/uJassTjXX2Q?...

Is there an audience for moody banjo music here on Blue Sky?

Explore the lore and consid-ore a preor-dore

Test Press Tuesday w/ @johnnybellsounds.bsky.social Preorder at the Bandcamp! johnnybell.bandcamp.com/album/mounta...

Heavy night in Tucson Arizona

Preorder my new album johnnybell.bandcamp.com

Banjoists of Bluesky- Tell me about your instrument. How do you achieve the tone that you prefer? What’s your setup? Who’s the builder? What year was it made? I wanna hear all about it! ✨🪕✨ #banjo #banjoplayer #clawhammer #clawhammerbanjo #blueskybanjo

Hey, Bluesky! Check out this progressive clawhammer banjo video that I just released!