A pillar of Australia’s bluegrass scene, Kristy Cox has earned a host of international accolades over the course of her career, including five Bluegrass Recording of the Year Awards at Australia’s CMAs and a 2019 IBMA nomination. On her seventh full-length album Shades of Blue, Cox showcases her celebrated voice atop tight, virtuosic arrangements that utilize both the intricate delicacy available to acoustic ensembles and the more barn-burning fury of traditional bluegrass. Lyrically, Cox works topical material into the album, as on single and album standout “Person of the Year,” which pays tribute to frontline healthcare workers who worked tirelessly to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.