Other Sites and Musicians Worth a Visit

Kate and Lou: Kate and Lou are veterans of the bluegrass/old-time scene in New York City, and two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Lou plays guitar, mandolin and (literally) wrote the book on contemporary accordion, Kate is an astonishing singer. Their music ranges from traditional American country, bluegrass and blues to Cajun music to sophisticated jazz originals.
Mike Skliar: New York City songwriter Mike Skliar and I have been working together since 1997. Mike writes quirky songs that can be riotously funny or genuinely heartfelt, and he's a talented multinstrumentalist as well.
The Ponkiesburg Pickin' Party: Brooklyn is full of great bluegrass jams, and this is the one I attend most frequently. It's been a bottomless source of friendship and musical collaboration.
Y'all Stars: The Y'all Stars play string band music with an emphasis on the close harmony of Fran Leadon and Charles Puckette, with support by Ben Fraker on mandolin, Diane Stockwell on fiddle, and John Cleveland on bass. I sit in with them occasionally, and we all met through the Ponkiesburg Pickin' Party.
Pat Wictor: Pat Wictor is one of the people I'm thinking of when I say that acoustic blues is still alive and well. He's a beautiful songwriter and exquisite guitarist, in the lap style of musicians like Kelly Joe Phelps.

Robert J. Howe: Bob Howe is an SF writer and an excellent essayist, and one of the few writers with whom I have successfully collaborated.
William Shunn: Bill is a Nebula-nominated science fiction writer and web developer, who also describes himself, truthfully, as "a recovered Mormon with a related criminal record in Canada."

Music Maker Relief Foundation: Many of America's great southern musicians live in poverty, with little recognition. MMRF provides practical financial assistance to these musicians and also gives their music the audience it deserves. They describe their mission as "giving back to the roots of American music." I can think of no musical organization more worthy of support than this one.