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My guest this week is author Dan Gutstein, who joins me to chat about his book 'Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane'.
The book traces the history of one of America's most recorded folk songs, from its origins amongst enslaved people on southern plantations, through the Civl War and minstrelsy, to the folk revival and beyond. On its journey Little Liza Jane, and its variants, was performed and recorded by a huge range of artists, including Del McCoury, Nina Simone, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte, Alison Krauss...and David Bowie.
It's a fascinating subject, which could have filled several episodes!
You'll find more info on Dan and the book (including links to buy a copy) at www.dangutstein.com/#/littlelizajane
There's a great playlist of Liza Jane recordings on Spotify if you want to check out some of the versions we discuss in the episode.
You'll also find info on the ongoing film project Dan talks about at www.lizajanemovie.com
Happy picking!
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
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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!)
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- 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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Welcome to this week’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.
News and Announcements (Church Street News)
Noam Pikelny and Friends tour datesAlison Krauss tour datesEarl Scruggs Center eventsBela Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo CampEuropean Bluegrass SummitReleases (The Grass is New)
Buy Sarah Jarosz's Blue Heron SuiteSierra Hull’s Holiday Favorites 7” vinylThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistScroll on Buddy
Tony Rice Manzanita vinyl reissueRounder vinyl bundle (Tony Rice, JD Crowe, Bela Fleck)Other bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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My guest this week is Darol Anger, one of the leading lights of progressive string band music over the last 50 years.
Through his work with the David Grisman Quintet, the Turtle Island String Quartet, bands like Psychograss and New Grange and his long standing collaboration with Mike Marshall (not to mention his own wonderful solo records), Darol has been at the forefront of pushing perceptions of what string bands can do for decades.
Today we're chatting about Darol's current band, Mr Sun, and their wonderful record Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker, which feels very appropriate as we enter holiday season!
We talk about adapting Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's big band arrangements for string band and some of the challenges that involved, as well as why the humour in this music (and all music) is so important. We also talk about why Darol keeps coming back to the string band as a format, why he loves playing with Mr Sun and much more.
This one was a real treat.
You'll find more info on Mr Sun, including current tour dates for the Nutcracker record, at mrsunband.com
For info and updates on Darol and his music visit darolanger.com
Darol also has a great fiddle course on ArtistWorks
Hope you enjoy this one!
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
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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!)
- 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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My guest this week is Charlotte Carrivick.
Charlotte is one of my favourite guitarists, so I'm delighted she's back on the podcast to talk about her new record Sensible or Otherwise.
We chat about why, despite having written tunes for years, it took so long to make an instrumental record; the new guitar she commissioned for this album; why she's not uploading it to Spotify and where some of the names for the tunes on this record came from (there are some fabulous titles on this one!).
We also chat about her experience of being a tutor at Bryan Sutton's Blue Ridge Guitar Camp last year.
You can hear and buy the record digitally at Charlotte's Bandcamp page
You can also get a CD from charlottecarrivick.co.uk
For news and updates, plus some wonderful flatpick and clawhammer banjo tune videos, follow Charlotte on Instagram
Happy picking!
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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My guests this week is Olli Chanoff, Director of Programming at the FreshGrass Foundation.
So much music I love has its roots in FreshGrass Commissions, from albums like Becky Buller's Jubilee, Sarah Jarosz's Blue Heron Suite and Aoife O'Donovan's All My Friends, to instrumental works by Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas and Jacob Jolliff. So I was delighted to get the opportunity to chat to Olli about how FreshGrass goes about commissioning these works, why they support the FreshGrass Foundation's mission and what the process is like.
We also talk about FreshGrass's fantastic work to support and promote roots music and artists, including their festivals, FreshScores film commissions and their involvement in the Steve Martin Banjo prize.
I really enjoyed this conversation - I hope you do too!
Find out more about FreshGrass's mission and what's coming next at https://freshgrassfoundation.org
Happy picking,
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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Welcome to this week’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.
News and Announcements (Church Street News)
Blue Ridge Guitar CampAllison de Groot’s ArtistWorks clawhammer banjo courseReleases (The Grass is New)
Charlotte Carrivick BandcampThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistScroll on Buddy
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn’s Holiday Card listOther bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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My guest this week is Sarah Jarosz.
Sarah joins me to talk about one of my favourite albums, 'Blue Heron Suite', which is getting a physical reissue on November 22nd.
We chat about how the record developed out of a FreshGrass commission, what that process was like, the central themes that underpin the album, the decision to arrange it for a trio rather than including drums and how it fits into Sarah's journey, both personally and as a songwriter.
Getting to chat about new records is always fun, but I also love getting to dig into a record that's been out for a while and I've had a chance to really get to know - it makes for a different type of conversation and I loved this one.
We also chatted briefly about I'm With Her and the good news is that Sarah has been writing with Aoife and Sara and we can look forward to another album (although there are no specific dates yet).
'Blue Heron Suite' is being reissued as a CD and LP - you can pre-order your copy here, where you'll also find links to the album on streaming services.
For info and updates visit sarahjarosz.com and follow Sarah on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook
Happy picking,
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.
This week we have a special episode looking at the artists from the bluegrass and string band world who've been nominated for a Grammy. There'll be some music in here you're familiar with and, hopefully, something new to discover too.
The awards themselves will take place on Sunday February 2nd 2025.
Who are your favourites?Other bits
Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane HeleneThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/Full list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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My guest this week is Sierra Hull.
Since I spoke to Sierra for the podcast back in January 2023 she's been ridiculously busy touring and recording. We chat about the extended tour she's been on for Bela Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart (which she describes as one of the highlights of her musical life), her current and ongoing tour with her own band (which has been chaotic to say the least!) and why she chose to have a drummer in her band, even though she confesses she's not generally a fan of drums in bluegrass.
We talk about the wonderful band she's assembled and what they've been up to in the studio, including recording a new album (due in the first quarter of 2025), two great covers (Tears For Fears' Mad World and The Grateful Dead's Black Muddy River), not one but two holiday songs (the first of which,The First Snowfall, is out this week) and her Freshgrass Concerto commission.
Lots to look forward to if (like me) you're a Sierra Hull fan!
This conversation was a lot of fun - I hope you enjoy it!
For info and tour dates head to Sierra's website sierrahull.com
For regular updates follow Sierra on Facebook and Instagram
If you missed it, check out my previous interview with Sierra.
Happy picking,
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 week’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.
Podcast news
Bryan Sutton IBMA fundraiser interviewDonate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene
Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane
News and Announcements (Church Street News)Releases (The Grass is New)
The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistScroll on Buddy
Billy Strings - O Billy Where Art Thou clips:
Down To The River and Pray - Sierra Hull, Rachael Davis, Lindsay LouBilly Strings & Tim Blake Nelson - In The Jailhouse NowBilly Strings 10/31/2024 Baltimore, MD (Complete Show)Other bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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This week I'm joined by bluegrass legend Bryan Sutton for a very special episode to benefit the IBMA Trust Fund and help people suffering the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
In the run up to recording the episode we asked for questions for Bryan for Bluegrass Jam Along listeners - in this interview you'll hear me put those questions to him. We talk about growing up in Asheville and how important that community was to Bryan's musical development; about his relationship with Doc Watson and the time he got to spend with him; about how he goes about learning complex music and his thoughts on practice; why learning more than one instrument is a good thing...and his admiration for Metallica's James Hetfield. We cover a lot of ground!
Everyone who asked a question donated to our GoFundMe fundraiser, which remains open after the episode goes out. If you're able to, please do consider donating whatever you can. As you'll hear from Bryan in the interview, there are people in desperate need of help as they rebuild their homes, lives and communities.
Having grown up in Asheville, one of the areas hit hardest by the hurricane, Bryan knows just how important community is at times like this. The relief effort will take months or, in some cases, over a year, so every penny donated will be incredibly important to the ongoing efforts.
All the proceeds from this episode will go to the IBMA Trust Fund so please do donate what you can via the GoFundMe campaign.
If you can't donate, or have already donated to other fundraisers, please do share this episode with anyone you think would enjoy it and help spread the word.
Thanks to the team at IBMA for all their help putting this together and getting the word out and thanks to the team at ArtistWorks for an incredibly generous donation to get things moving. Thank you to everyone who submitted a question and everyone who's donated already (and thanks in advance to those of you who donate after hearing this!)
Here's the link again - https://www.gofundme.com/f/bluegrass-jam-along-helene-fundraiser
And thanks, of course, to Bryan for taking part in this very special episode of Bluegrass Jam Along.
Enjoy the interview and happy picking,
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 week’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.
News and Announcements (Church Street News)
Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.Biscuits and BanjosEuropean Bluegrass SummitRestring AppalachiaReleases (The Grass is New)
Chris Eaton & Flint County - Pheasant PieThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistScroll on Buddy
New Acoustic Facebook groupOther bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 Daniel Patrick, host of the excellent Mandolins and Beer podcast.
Daniel has interviewed dozens of great mandolin players for his podcast, but today we're going to talk about his new record Around the Clock, which features him playing with eleven of his heroes, including Tim O'Brien, Ronnie McCoury and Sam Bush, as well as some of the top players on the scene today, including Jarrod Walker, Jacob Jolliff and Harry Clark.
We chat about how the record came together and how it was recorded, as well as how Daniel chose the musicians he wanted to include. We also, of course, talk about Mandolins and Beer, the rise of podcasting in general and so much more, including our shared love for CD liner notes!
You can buy Around the Clock on Bandcamp and listen on Spotify
Check out mandolinsandbeer.com for info on the podcast and more.
Happy picking.
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 week’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
News and Announcements (Church Street News)
Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.Celtic Connections 2025Blue Ridge Guitar Camp 2025Michael Daves’ Clarence White Muleskinner zoom classNew Acoustic Facebook groupReleases (The Grass is New)
I’m With Her - EspressoCharlotte Carrivick - Red Riding HoodThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistOther bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 about a very special fundraiser I'm putting together.
I’m working with Bryan Sutton to raise funds to help people suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. Bryan is from Asheville, NC, one of the cities hit hardest by the hurricane, so this cause is very close to his heart.We’re putting together a one off episode of Bluegrass Jam Along where you, the podcast's listeners, get to interview Bryan! Here's how it works...
When you donate, you get to send me a question to ask Bryan in the episode, then I'll put as many questions as I can to Bryan over the course of the interview. What do you want to ask him?
(Don’t worry, you don’t have to have a question, you can just donate too!).All proceeds will go to the IBMA Trust Fund to help those in need. All donations, big or small, are very welcome.
This is the link to donate (and ask your question). Please do share this with as many people as you can.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/bluegrass-jam-along-helene-fundraiser
Thanks in advance!
Matt and BryanSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 week’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.
News and Announcements (Church Street News)
Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.Appalachian Allies benefit concertEnergy Curfew Music HourYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyReleases (The Grass is New)
The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistOther bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 guests on the podcast this week are Lillian Werbin and Kristina Gaddy. I caught up with them at IBMA to chat about Roots Revival : A Black Stringband Symposium, a collaboration between IBMA and The Banjo Gathering.
Hosted at IBMA's World of Bluegrass, the symposium celebrated and explored Black contributions to Bluegrass and other traditional music, both historic and continuing, featuring contemporary conversations about diversity and inclusion in traditional music and the ways in which Black musicians, builders, and researchers navigate bluegrass and traditional music spaces.
We talk about how the event came together, some of the themes it explores and how discussions and events like this can become part of the continuing conversation about traditional music.
For more information on The Banjo Gathering, and to sign up for the 2024 event, which is happening this month, head to The Banjo Gathering website.
If you missed it, check out my interview with Kristina about her fabulous book Well of Souls : Uncovering the Banjo's Hidden History. You can buy Well of Souls at Elderly Instruments (which Lillian is also CEO and co-owner of!).
I really enjoyed this conversation and it helped me think about some of the issues we touched on with fresh insight and understanding. I hope you enjoy it.
Happy picking.
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 week’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
News and Announcements (Church Street News)
Donate to help those devastated by hurricane HeleneJohn Hartford tune marathonReleases (The Grass is New)
The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistOther bits
Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any courseHappy picking.
Matt
Send a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 a selection of interviews I carried out at IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina last week.
IBMA executive director Ken White, on IBMA WOB's move to Chattanooga next yearChristopher Howard-Williams from IBMA, EBMA and Bluegrass in La Roche, on the international bluegrass scene and some of the challenges it facesPatricia Butler, co-founder of ArtistWorks, on receiving a Distinguished Achievement AwardSteve Nall (Nully) of Collings Guitars, on why their new Hill Country series is a radical departure for Collings and why bringing them to IBMA is so valuable in terms of feedbackBrenna MacMillan, on her brand new record Dear Life, and finding community amongst her fellow musiciansChris Eaton, UK dobro player, on coming to IBMA for the very first time
It was the last IBMA in Raleigh before the event moves to Chattanooga in 2025, and was an amazing week, full of great conversations, events, music, instruments, picking and people. I had a fantastic time and can't tell you how much it means to me to feel so welcomed by the bluegrass and string band community.
But it was also a devastating week for the people of western North Carolina and East Tennessee, as hurricane Helene devastated the area. In Raleigh we were lucky to escape with some rain and minor delays to the street festival - others were nowhere near so lucky.
There's a desperate need for help and resources in the area so, if you'd like to donate something (however small), there's a list here of places you can go to do that.
OK, on with the interviews. In this episode you'll hear from:
Thanks to everyone I met out in Raleigh. Back next week with another IBMA interview - in the meantime have a great week and happy picking.
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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 all about learning to play music.
I’ve been listening back to the interviews I’ve done over the past 3 years and so many of them touch on some really core stuff when it comes to being a musician. All of it has helped me at one point or another, so I thought I’d put together a compilation of some of my favourite bits.
There’s something in here for everyone, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been playing for years and just need some inspiration or encouragement.Whether you’ve listened to all of these before, or you’re new to the podcast, this grab bag of ideas and inspiration has something for you, no matter where you are on your musical journey (which is a key theme of these conversations).
You’re going to get tips and advice from some of the leading figures in acoustic music and a couple of writers who have amazing insights to share.
You’ll be hearing from Bryan Sutton, Sierra Hull, Scott Nygaard and Stephen Mougin, as well as best selling author Oliver Burkeman and author and neuroscientist (and banjo player!) Josh Turknett.
You’ll also hear (briefly!) from me.
I got so much from listening back to these and I hope you find something to inspire you too.
Here are links to the full interviews these came from, in case you missed them, or just want to listen again.
Josh TurknettBryan SuttonSierra HullStephen MouginScott NygaardOliver BurkemanHappy picking!
MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!)
Support the show
===
Instagram Facebook
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)
- 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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