Bimbos of the Death Sun??? Gee, John, I hadn't come across that one. Probably good I missed it. I guess I'd more-or-less agree with your assessment of Sharyn McCrumb, but her books are mostly fun reading.
Elmore mentioned Revival - A Folk Music Novel by Scott Alarik. I haven't read it, but it sounds interesting. Scott was a music writer for the Boston Globe, focusing on folk music.

-Joe-