Bluegrass Jam Along Interviews

If you were listening last week, you'll know that my interview with Trey Hensley about Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall was the 500th episode of Bluegrass Jam Along.To celebrate I thought I'd put together an episode with a few of my highlights and favourite moments from those first 500.You'll hear from:Alison Krauss, on two different car journeys with Tony RiceWyatt Rice, on recording Church Street BluesBryan Sutton, on the journey all musicians go onGabe Witcher, on leaving Punch BrothersBrittny Haas, on joining Punch BrothersChris Eldridge, on Bela Fleck's Drive albumBryan Sutton (again), on Doc Watson and his influenceSarah Jarosz, on her album Blue Heron SuiteSara Watkins, on I'm With Her's Wild and Clear and Blue and Mike Marshall, on playing with Tony Rice and what he learned from other musiciansThis journey has been a lot of fun and I can't wait to get stuck into the interviews I already have lined up for the next set of episodes.Thanks to all my guests and to all of you who've listened over the past four and a half years.If you want to hear a bit more about my journey with the podcast, check out this interview I did with Daniel Patrick from the Mandolins and Beer podcast.Finally, if you know anyone who you think would like this episode, please share it with them!Matt

Welcome to the 500th episode of Bluegrass Jam Along!My guest this week is Trey Hensley, who joins me to celebrate the very first record he bought - Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall.This historic album was a pivotal moment for bluegrass and also served as a personal intro to the music for many fans.We chat about why Flatt & Scruggs' performance at Carnegie Hall, on December, 1962 was groundbreaking, the initial skepticism from the press, the audience's enthusiastic reception and some of the famous (and soon to be famous) face in the crowd on the night.We also talk about the pivotal role Lousie Scruggs had, not just in getting this performance recorded, but in putting Flatt and Scruggs (and bluegrass music) in front of a new, younger audience.This one was a real treat!For more info on Trey check out www.treyhensley.com===If you're a Flatt and Scruggs fan and missed the Earl Scruggs 100th birthday episodes I put together last year (including Trey as a guest!) you'll find them here:Earl Scruggs 100th Birthday Tribute:Part 1 - Tony Trischka, Kristin Scott Benson and Alan MundePart 2 - Jerry Douglas, Alison Brown and Tim O'BrienPart 3 - Trey Hensley, Kyle Tuttle (Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway) & Willow OsborneJim Mills on Earl Scruggs and pre-War Gibson banjosJerry Douglas celebrates Earl Scruggs' 100th Birthday

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 BirthdayEarl Scruggs 100th Birthday Tribute:Part 1 - Tony Trischka, Kristin Scott Benson and Alan MundePart 2 - Jerry Douglas, Alison Brown and Tim O'BrienJim Mills on Earl Scruggs and pre-War Gibson banjos

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 European Bluegrass Summit registrationAlison Krauss & Union Station - Live - vinyl reissueBela Fleck Jingle All the Way tour dates and vinyl reissueIBMA Webinar-- Thursday, December 4, from 12-1PM EST-- From the Table to the DSPs and Back Again: How To Make Money Without Selling Recordings-- Zoom link to joinReleases (The Grass is New)Hildaland (Bandcamp)The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist (Spotify)Scroll on BuddyBéla Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart & Punch Brothers - Holiday Medley (live)WatchOther bitsThe Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlistFull list of interviewsCollings GuitarsHappy picking.Matt

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.comDon't forget to check out www.davidgrier.com for more info on David and to buy his CDs.

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

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 Old & In the Way Live vinyl releaseCraig Havighurst bookBlue Ridge Guitar CampReleases (The Grass is New)Buy the records mentionedAlison Brown & Steve Martin album (Compass Records)Wes Corbett - Drift (Bandcamp)I’m With Her/Iron & Wine (Bandcamp)Caitlin Canty (Bandcamp)Ben Garnett (Bandcamp)Darol Anger (Bandcamp)The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist (Spotify)Scroll on BuddySierra Hull Gibson signature mandolinChris Thile interview with Rick BeatoOther bitsThe Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlistFull list of interviewsCollings GuitarsHappy picking.Matt

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 ofChurch 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.- 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)