Stay Connected“Bluegrass Jam Along is a great, great podcast” – Chris Eldridge
The IBMA Award winning podcast for anyone and everyone who loves bluegrass.
Every week we feature interviews with musicians, writers, instrument makers and other key figures from the bluegrass and string band world, plus regular news and new releases.
Guests include Alison Krauss, Sierra Hull, Tim O’Brien, Wyatt Rice, Jerry Douglas, Sarah Jarosz, Jarrod Walker and David Grisman.
For more info visit https://bluegrassjamalong.com
Copyright: © 2024 Bluegrass Jam Along
This week's Bitesize episode celebrates one of the most important dates in bluegrass music - December 8th.
The main reason this date is so important is that it marks the first time Earl Scruggs joined Bill Monroe at The Opry, on December 8th 1945, leading many people to describe it as 'the birth of bluegrass'. That makes 2025 the 80th anniversary of bluegrass!
Fast forward to December 8th 1962 and we have another Flatt and Scruggs milestone - their performance at New York's Carnegie Hall, which was released the year after as Flatt and Scruggs Live at Carnegie Hall, a record that went on to become a firm favourite of bluegrass fans the world over.
To celebrate that record, I'll be joined by Trey Hensley in the next episode of the podcast...which is also Bluegrass Jam Along's 500th episode!
If you missed the Earl Scruggs 100th birthday episodes I put together last year, you'll find them here:
Jerry Douglas celebrates Earl Scruggs' 100th Birthday
Earl Scruggs 100th Birthday Tribute:
Part 1 - Tony Trischka, Kristin Scott Benson and Alan Munde
Part 2 - Jerry Douglas, Alison Brown and Tim O'Brien
Jim Mills on Earl Scruggs and pre-War Gibson banjos
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Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
Welcome to this month’s Bluegrass Briefing, a monthly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.
Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.
News and announcements - church street news
Releases (The Grass is New)
Scroll on Buddy
Other bits
Happy picking.
Matt
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
My guest this week is David Grier, who joins me to celebrate the classic album 'The White Brothers - Live in Sweden' (recently remastered and reissued in an expanded form as 'The New Kentucky Colonels - Live in Sweden').
We talk about what makes this recording special, including the fact it was recorded live and never intended for release, and why Clarence and Roland had such a unique approach to music, particularly when it comes to their joint sense of timing.
David also shares his thoughts about why bluegrass picking should be about more than just playing licks over chords and why true artistry often gets lost, as well as calling out some of the current players he loves.
This was a fascinating conversation that started as a celebration of a classic album but widened out to being about what making music is really all about.
If you want to hear my previous interview with David, which came from a two episode special to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Clarence White's death, you'll find it here.
To buy the reissued CD, and for lots more info on Clarence and Roland, visit rolandwhite.com
Don't forget to check out www.davidgrier.com for more info on David and to buy his CDs.
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
In an age where pop culture dominates the airwaves, understanding the rich variety of music beyond the mainstream becomes increasingly important. In this week's episode, journalist and broadcaster Craig Havighurst joins me to talk about his new book "Musicality for Modern Humans," his journey of exploring musical literacy and the importance of 'listening for' something in music.
Craig began his journey into music journalism in his late teens, driven in part by a curiosity about why Americans listen to some kinds of music more than others and why certain genres, such as bluegrass, jazz and classical, seem to have become marginalised.
A pivotal theme in his book is the idea of musical literacy. Craig explains why understanding music isn't just about formal education or knowing historical context; it’s about engaging with music on a personal level.
We also chat about why bluegrass is such a successful model for nurturing musical appreciation; how the bluegrass community fosters a culture of amateur musicianship, where fans feel connected to the music-making process, and why this relationship between artists and audiences creates a unique environment that encourages exploration and appreciation of the music.
"Musicality for Modern Humans" remind us of the importance of musical literacy and the value of diverse musical experiences but, more than anything, of the fact that listening deeply to music brings huge rewards.
For more info on Craig and to buy the book visit www.craighavighurst.com
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
My guest this week is Eddie Barbash.
We chat about his unique journey as a saxophonist who has embraced the world of fiddle tunes. He shares insights into the challenges and joys of transitioning from jazz to fiddle music, the intricacies of improvisation, and the importance of social music-making.
Eddie also talks about his three year journey playing with Sierra Hull and the recording process for his new album 'Larkspur', including why he chose to use film as a starting point for the tracks, his reasons for choosing to record solo versions, rather than collaborate, and the role of the natural environment in which it was recorded.
This was a fascinating conversation on many levels, which not only gave me an insight into how other instrumentalists think, but also helped me see bluegrass and string band music from a new perspective.
You can watch the videos on Eddie's YouTube channel
For more info on Eddie and his musical projects, visit www.eddiebarbash.com
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
Welcome to this month’s Bluegrass Briefing, a monthly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.
Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.
News and announcements - church street news
Releases (The Grass is New)
Scroll on Buddy
Other bits
Happy picking.
Matt
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
This week's Bitesize episode features a conversation I had with Chris Eldridge from Punch Brothers and Mighty Poplar celebrating Tony Rice's classic album Church Street Blues.
Chris talks about Tony's ability to combine big musical gestures with intricate detail, how other musicians played better when they played with Tony and why you should listen to Church Street Blues on vinyl, if you can find a copy (but why that's not necessarily true of other albums).
This extract comes from a two part special I put together celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of Church Street Blues in 1983, including in-depth interviews with Wyatt Rice, Alison Krauss, Tim Stafford, Bryan Sutton and many more. I've included links below to those.
Tony Rice - Church Street Blues 40th anniversary:
- part 1 (Tim Stafford, Wyatt Rice, Mike Marshall, Alison Krauss, Bryan Sutton, Chris Eldridge & Caroline Wright)
- part 2 (Bob Minner, Jake Eddy, Justin Moses, Marcel Ardans, Scott Nygaard, Jason Keiser & tony_units)
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
My guest this week is Darol Anger, who joins me to discuss his new album 'Diary of a Fiddler 2 - The Empty Nest'.
We chat about the original 'Diary of a Fiddler', released in 1999, and how the second volume celebrates and deepened Darol's connection to the fiddle community, in particular the players he's taught, mentored and collaborated with since the first record came out.
Darol explains why this project felt like a purposeful completion of a long process, which began with that first record. We also talk about how the landscape of fiddling has been transformed by fiddle camps and music schools like Berklee, where Darol taught and first met several of the players on this record.
We also discuss the development of rhythmic accompaniment on the fiddle, which was still relatively new in the 1990s, how the pandemic inspired a joyful collaborative project that kicked this new record off, how Darol's move to Nashville connected him to a wider community of fiddlers and why 'Diary of a Fiddler 2' feels like the clearest expression of any musical legacy he might leave.
Any opportunity to talk to Darol is a treat and this one was no exception. I always come away from a conversation with Darol feeling like I've learned something and with a smile on my face. I hope you enjoy it too.
You can buy 'Diary of a Fiddler 2' (and Darol's other releases) via his Bandcamp page
Darol also has a great fiddle course on ArtistWorks
Matt
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
This week's episode is another special recorded at IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Chattanooga. I have four shorter interviews for you, each with someone connected to Dark Shadow Recording.
First up is Becky Buller. Becky came onto the podcast in August of 2024 to chat about her record Jubilee. This time we're talking about her album of covers Songs That Sing Me and the role music has played in her life. I also chat with each of my guests in this episode about the importance of IBMA's World of Bluegrass to them as an artist or industry figure.
Second is Ben Wright from Henhouse Prowlers, chatting about the band's 21 years together and their 10th record Unravel, as well as their non-profit work with The Bluegrass Ambassadors and why cultural diplomacy is more important now than ever.
Up next is singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and luthier Rick Faris. Rick was IBMA's Songwriter of the Year in 2024 and we talk about writing, including his long standing collaboration with Rick Lang, who co-wrote several track's on Rick's new record Life's Parade, plus the guitar building community and his work at Kentucky Guitar Works.
Finally I chat to Jana Mougin, who runs Dark Shadow Recording alongside her partner Stephen Mougin, IBMA's Recording Engineer of the Year for 2025. We talk about running a recording company, how Dark Shadow works with their artists as a family and the opportunities IBMA provides for networking and connecting with people.
These were fun to do - I hope you enjoy them.
For more info, visit https://darkshadowrecording.com and check out their online store to buy any of the albums we talk about in the episode.
You'll find more info on the individual artists here:
Becky Buller - website / Instagram / Facebook
Henhouse Prowlers - website / Instagram / Facebook / Bluegrass Ambassadors
Rick Faris - website / Facebook / Kentucky Guitar Works
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
Welcome to this month’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.
Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.
Pod News
News and announcements - church street news
Releases (The Grass is New)
Scroll on Buddy
Other bits
Happy picking.
Matt
===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
- Sign up to get updates on new episodes
- Free fiddle tune chord sheets
- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews
- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:
- Review us on Apple Podcasts
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