Back Porch Bluegrass

A wide-ranging selection of bluegrass music offerings in this episode, from Missy Werner, the Lonesome River Band, Chris Jones & the Night Riders, to some pre-bluegrass from Bill Monroe, and some very early country music with what has become a bluegrass classic. Mac Wiseman, Sawmill Road and the HCBB with Pam Findlay also get some airtime – an eclectic collection!

I have my son Sam Trenwith in the studio with me today, talking a little about his music teaching world, as well as our upcoming concert in Raglan at the end of this month. I've also featured a band, the Forest Hills Bluegrass Band from south-west Ohio, playing their own original music, as well as offerings from Laurie Lewis, Jim Lauderdale, Bobby Hicks, Bill Blackburn, the Osborne Brothers and even The Trenwiths.

I'm digging into my LP collection for some of today's selections – Emerson & Waldron, great band from the late-1960's/early 1970's, and the Johnson Mountain Boys, classic bluegrass from the 1980's. Of course we've got some fine offerings from Rhonda Vincent, the Brombies, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, and the Stanley Brothers. Throw in some picking from Brad Kolodner, the HCBB and Eddie Adcock & Don Reno, and you've got a memorable bluegrass concert.

The Dreadful Snakes kick-off this episode of the Back Porch Bluegrass Show, and then we've got Balsam Range, Jeremy Stephens, Dr Pete Wernick (playing some pretty way-out sounding banjo licks), Longview and Ramona Church. I've got Dale Jett & Hello Stranger back this week, and the Trenwiths (previewing their appearance at the Raglan Country & Blues Festival), and a classic from Flatt & Scruggs ( because it IS a bluegrass show!)

This week, we've got some Carter Family music from Dale Jett, some old-time country from Lulu Belle & Scotty, and some banjo picking from Junie Scruggs – Earl's brother. There's some fine bluegrass in here from Aaron Foster, Jeanette Williams, Roland White, and the Earls Of Leicester, a great band called ‘Sideline', and some straight-ahead picking from Nothing Fancy. The ‘best of bluegrass'.

Missy Werner, the Kody Norris Show, Seldom Scene, Jim & Jesse, and Nine Mile Creek (from Australia) are on the show this week. I've also included some great cuts from a Hot Rize live concert, and some fine picking from John Hickman.

I've just bought some ‘new' CDs from a friend and fellow collector of bluegrass, and I've used them to compile this episode of Back Porch Bluegrass. I've also paid tribute to the great bluegrass fiddle player, Bobby Hicks, who passed away earlier this month.

Great banjo playing from Jim Mills, wonderful mandolin playing from David Grisman & Sam Bush, with a generous helping of fine picking & singing from the Stanley Brothers, Alison Krauss and lots of others. Pure delight!

A little bit of Irish bluegrass from Niall Toner, some dynamic music from Newtown, songs from David Parmley, Del McCoury, Double Overtime, Earl Taylor, and Sierra Hull, and some fine instrumentals from the Boxcars, and Billy Hurt. Oh, and some old-timey clawhammer from Bob Siggins. A rare mix of bluegrass!

A very eclectic collection of the varying shades of bluegrass in this episode, almost as many colours as in an artist's blue palette. Lou Reid, Norman Blake, Jeremy Stephens, Jean-Luc Leroux, the Lonesome River Band, Frank Solivan, the Whitstein Brothers, Bluestone, Claire Lynch, Jim Mills – something for everyone. Enjoy!

This episode of Back Porch Bluegrass features music from 1927 right through to 2023, with lots of great tunes in between. Uncle Dave Macon, the Bluegrass Album Band, Starlett & Big John Talley, John Reischman & the Jaybirds, Jane Germain & Ian Simpson, the Stanley Brothers – some fine selections here.

Dan Tyminski, Alison Krauss, Dailey & Vincent, Hot Rize, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, are all featured in this episode of Back Porch Bluegrass, along with some fine picking from Clarence White & the Kentucky Colonels, the Sonoran Dogs and even NZ's own HCBB get a chance to show their skills. Not to be missed.

Created by Free FM, Hamilton, New Zealand

This episode of BPBg features an interview with Dr Des Walsh, of the Dublin, Ireland-based band ‘Whistle'. I visited with the band during my recent visit to Ireland, and enjoyed a great evening of their music, as well as some jamming with them. Of course, we've got a few ‘regulars' on the show like High Fidelity, Blue Highway, David Grisman and even some HCBB.

I'm delighted to be delving into my CD's again, and I think I've come up with some gems for you. Great bluegrass from the likes of JD Crowe, The Dillards, Sawmill Road, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Sister Sadie and Joe Mullins; a new original opening track from me with Jean-Luc Leroux, and a track from Cliff Waldron that didn't make it into last week's show.

First show since I returned from my overseas trip, and I've picked out a variety of tracks for you, that I think you'll enjoy.

Originally aired 16-06-20.

Formerly 14-09-21 - Jeremy Stephens interview.

Formerly 19-11-19 - Missy Raines interview.

Formerly 10-05-22 - Paul T with Claire Lynch.

Formerly broadcast 21-07-20 - K MacMillan interview.

May is NZ Music Month, and this show features some NZ musicians and bands that have contributed to the bluegrass genre whilst overseas. Musicians featured include BB Bowness, Gerry Paul, Mark Mazengarb, Leonard Cohen, George Jackson, and of course, members of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band.

May is NZ Music Month, and this show features some NZ musicians and bands that have contributed to the bluegrass genre over the years.

Darren Beachley, Dale Ann Bradley, Blue Highway, the Bluegrass Album Band all feature in this show, along with the Gibson Brothers, and Sideline. I also pay tribute to NZ bass player Bruce Fergus, part of the 1970's NZ band Bluegrass Expedition, who passed away recently.

Bluegrass legend, and one of my heroes, banjo player Ben Eldridge died very recently. On this show I feature just some of Ben's magical banjo work with Seldom Scene and his prior work with Cliff Waldron & the New Shades of Grass. We've also got some music from Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, the All-Girl Boys, Bryan Christianson, and the Pleasant Valley Boys.

I've been digging deep into my shelves of CD's, and I've come up some selections from familiar performers that I've not played on this show previously, as well as a few ‘favourites' that leap out me saying ‘pick me, pick me'. Among the performers featured are the Osborne Brothers, Donna Ulisse, Special Consensus, Doyle Lawson, Longview, the Bluegrass Cut-Ups, and Seldom Scene.

A new album from French bluegrass legend Jean-Luc Leroux, plus offerings from Travers Chandler, X-Train, the Price Sisters, and Dan Tyminski. We've got some old-timey banjo picking from David Holt, and a rare gospel song from the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band.

Some songs you may not have heard previously, some instrumentals, some NZ performers, some from the USA, all part of the wide variety that is bluegrass music.

Bluegrass from Wildfire, the Grascals, the Missy Werner Band, Lou Reid & Carolina, instrumentals from Seldom Scene, Sidesaddle and the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, and gospel music from Rhonda Vincent as an Easter ‘special'. Lots to like in this episode.

St Patrick's Day has just been celebrated the world over. And there's a lot of the Irish in bluegrass music. I searched my collection to come up with songs that give a nod to our Irish heritage, and have featured some songs and tunes in this episode. There's also some ‘regular' bluegrass too, of course, and you'll hear from Dale Anne Bradley, Hot Rize, the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, Bill Monroe, J D Crowe, Tony Ellis and others.

We had a great concert in my backyard with George Jackson & Brad Kolodner, and I'm featuring their music on this show. I've also got some great tracks from the Travelling McCourys, Barry & Holly Tashian, the Stanley Brothers, and Junior Sisk. High Fidelity get a look in, and there's even an opening track from Australian great Slim Dusty and the Travelling Country Band.

Still finding treasures in my deepest shelves of bluegrass LP's. This week's show has music from Billy Baker (fiddler), Mac Wiseman & the Osborne Brothers, and Merle Haggard singing a Jimmie Rodgers favourite. There's a brand-new release from Missy Raines & Allegheny, and songs from Peter Rowan, the Bluegrass Album Band, the HCBB and others; and some fine resonator playing from Kathy Barwick.

I've dug deep into my shelves of LPs, and hauled out a few favourites – the Blue Velvet Band, Seldom Scene, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, fiddler Glen Duncan, to find some tracks I've not played on the show previously. We've got a little more contemporary with the HCBB, George Jackson, the Kody Norris Show, and Balsam Range, and some classic bluegrass from Tony Ellis.

Jim Hurst, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dale Ann Bradley, Tim O'Brien with some fine bluegrass; a ‘classic' tune from Bill Monroe, and some offerings from the HCBB, Trev Warner, Alison Krauss & the Cox Family. There's a strangely-named fiddle tune from Kenny Baker, and fine picking from some of your favourite musicians.

Classic bluegrass from Jim and Jesse, some ‘hardcore' from Chris Henry & the Hardcore Grass, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Ricky Skaggs , some contemporary songs from Irene Kelley, and some 1970's Californian bluegrass from Country Gazette. Real variety in this week's show.

I enjoyed the first ‘live' concert from Sassafras at Tauranga this past weekend, with more to come this week. So they are featured in this episode along with some classic bluegrass from Curly Seckler, George Shifflet, Bill Harrell, and the Country Gentlemen, and some contemporary bluegrass from Sawmill Road, Craig Smith and Karen Lynn.

I had a weekend of live music – some of it is represented in the songs I've selected, and the usual eclectic selection of bluegrass from many sources makes up the programme. Claire Lynch, Po' Ramblin' Boys, Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band, Sassafras and the Grascals are just some of the bands featured.

We kick off with some ‘original ‘ bluegrass from Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys, and include both contemporary bluegrass (Sassafras, Jordan Tice, Del McCoury), some ‘classic' bluegrass (Country Gentlemen, Joe Mullins, Nashville Bluegrass Band and the HCBB) and some that defies categorization (J D Crowe & the New South, Dan Walsh) but it's all bluegrass, folks!

Mark Newton, High Fidelity, Scott Vestal & Co, Sierra Hull, and some classic bluegrass from ‘Here Today', with all sorts of supporting music. Something for all tastes.

Some ‘classic' bluegrass (Jimmy Martin & the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse), some contemporary bluegrass (Midnight Skyracer, Sassafras) and lots of regular bluegrass, just to get 2024 off to a good start.

Created by Free FM, Hamilton, New Zealand

Holiday listening, with some of my favourite musicians. Skaggs & Rice, Byron Berline (with 3 banjos!) John Reischman & the Jaybirds, Country Gentlemen, Jerry Douglas all get to present their songs and tunes, as do Flatt & Scruggs, Doyle Lawson, the HCBB, Frank Wakefield and Seldom Scene. George Jackson plays a fiddle tune, and I even get to play the end of the last show for 2023.