August 2-8: Hubie King reviews the music, musicians, and contestants featured at the Old Time Banjo Festival, held July 12 & 13, in the Washington DC area. Hear tracks from Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Bruce Molsky on Banjo, Reed Martin, as well as interviews with contestants Lydia Martin, Bill Mansfield and Fred Cherney.
We focus on up and coming musicians on this week’s special program; First, Sierra Hull sits down with Host Bob Webster to talk about her debut album on Rounder Records, Secrets. Following that, Town Mountain, visits our studio all the way from Asheville, North Carolina, to play some traditional bluegrass and chat with Host Jen [...]
July 19, 10 a.m. ET: Cherryholmes will be live in the studio playing music and chatting with host Lee Michael Demsey.
Starting things off, Phil Nusbaum discusses the genius of Jimmie Rodgers on Gems of Bluegrass. Following that, we’ll hear Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet. They joined host Lee Michael Demsey in our studio recently for some conversation and music. Closing out the hour, Bob Webster hosts a feature on the bluegrass super-group, Grasstowne.
June 29-July 4: Host Hubie King interviews and plays music with the founding members of Friends of Old Time Banjo; a D.C. group that started with a handful of beginners and has grown to almost 150 members.
Starting things off, Phil Nusbaum discusses the theme of loss and longing in bluegrass music on Gems of Bluegrass. Following that, we’ll explore the breadth of music offered on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country including segments from Dick Spottswood, Ray Davis and Mary Cliff. Please note Special Programming will not air on June 22 to accommodate for [...]
Starting things off, we’ll preview the bands performing at our Open House on Sunday June 22nd. Following that, we’ll hear a The Gibson Brothers. They joined host Katy Daley in our studio recently for some conversation and bluegrass.
June 8-13: Williams & Clark Expedition visited our studio in Washington D.C. to chat with Host Katy Daley. The band discusses their new album, Brand New Set of Blues, and we hear recordings from their concert recent at Cherrydale United Methodist Church in Arlington, Virginia.
June 1-20: Host Bob Webster interviews members of the group Cedar Hill and plays some of their tunes.
May 25-June 6: Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein join host Lee Michael Demsey in the studio for some music and chatting.
May 18-30: The Lovell Sisters play music and chat with host, Echo Propp.
May 18-23: Trevor Whitney and Jen Hitt review some of the best performances at this year’s MerleFest with live tracks provided by FestivaLink.net.
May 11-16: Join host Sam Litzinger and Smithsonian Folkways archivist Jeff Place for another Sound Sessions from Smithsonian Folkways, this time featuring folk singer Jean Ritchie. More information on the music played in this program is available from Smithsonian Folkways. Please note this program will air at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 11th, instead [...]
Starting things off, Phil Nusbaum discusses some well-known bluegrass “characters” on Gems of Bluegrass. Following that, Katy Daley is joined by the recently retired guitar player from the Country Current, Wayne Taylor. To round out the hour we’ll hear Kathy Mattea talk in-depth about her career and her new album, Coal.
April 20-25: This week we’re joined by a new voice on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country, Trevor Whitney. Trevor and Jen Hitt will highlight the artists performing at MerleFest 2008.
