All times listed are Eastern Time

*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series

*American Routes -Making New Orleans Music
It’s a two hour walk through streets of the city as we dive into two great eras of New Orleans music. First, it’s the 1940s and 50s R&B hit factory with studio man Cosimo Matassa, producer, arranger, trumpet player Dave Bartholomew, drummer Earl Palmer and more. There’s also a chat with The Meters–Art Neville, George Porter, Leo Nocentelli and Zigaboo Modeliste in which we get to the bottom of the bottom, find out what’s in the pocket and get a definition of funk from the four men who continue to dish it out.

Banks of the Ohio
As Juliet told Romeo in Shakespeare’s play, “parting is such sweet sorrow.”  This week our theme is goodbyes, farewells, and endings… familiar subjects in bluegrass repertoire.  Tracks you’re unlikely to hear anywhere else include the Morris Brothers’ “Farewell Kentucky” (1939), Grandpa Jones and the Delmore Brothers’ “Take It On Out the Door” (1947), Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper’s “Train, You Took My Baby” (1960), Buzz Busby’s “Rambler” (1970), John Starling and the Virginia Squires’ “Don’t Expect To Walk Back In” (1988), Open Road’s “Leaving Detroit” (1999), and the Blue Mountain Boys’ Swedish version of “In the Pines” (2006). A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.

Bluegrass Breakdown - Alecia Nugent Band Live
She’s one of Bluegrass-dom’s most talked about, emulated and praised singers who has knack for finding killer songs and then singing them with unabashed heart and soul. The Alecia Nugent Band—Jennifer Strickland on the bass; Thomas Wyrot playing guitar; Alex Hibbitts chunking the mandolin; Chris Wade getting after the five; and Alecia herself doing her hillbilly goddess thing–will be ganging around the microphones live in honor of Alecia’s latest Rounder foray.

Bluegrass Review - Bluegrass to Be Thankful For
It’s a show of listener requests of especially meaningful bluegrass, and listeners tell us why the songs are meaningful. Our show welcomes you comments through the blog, Culture11, or via email to the show host Phil Nusbaum, pnusbaum@bitstream.net. Extra airing of this show on Thursday 11/27 at 6 p.m. ET.

Bluegrass Signal - Happy Birthday, Roy Lee Centers
An overview of the music of Roy Lee Centers, the lead singer/guitarist with Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys during the band’s 1971-73 peak when other members included Curly Ray Cline (fiddle) and Jack Cooke (bass, vocals). Some of the best post-1970 music in all of bluegrass, and a master class in soulful singing. Includes selections from their 1971 concert in Tokyo as well as James King’s tribute, “Roy Lee.” Program begins with a celebratory song from The Bloggrass Boys.

*The Dick Spottswood Show
The 1949 edition of the Carter Family, the Texas Carter family (who called themselves the Chuck Wagon Gang),  Flatt and Scruggs on television, train songs from Carl Butler, Cajun music and Memphis blues from the 1930s–Obsolete Music, lovingly aged in aromatic casks!

*etown
This week’s broadcast features multi-cultural singer-songwriter Lila Downs along with her amazing band. Lila was raised in the Mixtec region of Oaxaca, Mexico and in Minnesota, and her music reflects her diverse roots. Then we welcome emerging artist Gregory Alan Isakov, a singer and songwriter who shares his remarkable tunes with backing help from Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones. Also, we welcome back to Etown national radio commentator, public speaker, author, and “America’s #1 Populist”, Jim Hightower. There’s also yet another moving E-Chievement Award story of a Texas schoolteacher who’s making a difference in the lives of children and abused/abandoned animals. It’s all right here, this week, in Etown!

Friday Night Free for All Friday 8 p.m. ET

The Tom Cat Reeder Show Sunday 3 a.m. (11/23)

Old Home Place Tuesday 12 p.m. LIVE, Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (11/30)

The Gary Henderson Show Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m., Friday 12 a.m.

The Katy Daley Show Monday-Friday 7-10 a.m. ET LIVE

The Lee Michael Demsey Show Saturday 11a.m.-2p.m., Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET LIVE,

Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard, Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m.

*Mountain Stage
Featuring Rosanne Cash , Bruce Cockburn, Billy Bragg, Rodney Crowell Trio feat. Jenny Scheinman and Will Kimbrough, and Ferron. Playlist.

Music from Foggy Hollow
This week, Aussie Mike Kear features the CD “Strong Enough” - a new release from Beth Stevens & Edge.  Mike talks about the band and plays some cuts from the CD.  Also on the show, Robin & Linda Williams, Alan Munde Gazette, Flatt & Scruggs, Rickey Wasson, Janet McGarry, the Daughters of Bluegrass and lots more.   Mike talks with Peter Sommerville, banjo player for the Pheasant Pluckers, and who has played for more people in one performance than anyone else in history - 3.6 BILLION people!!    Also there’s the regular segment from Sao Paulo and a look back at what was being played on the show five years ago.  It’s another packed show, so don’t miss it!

Musician Tip - Old-time banjo player Diane Jones

Open Mic
This week we Open the Mic for an encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, live performance radio from the mountain state of West Virginia. We’ll highlight the ‘grassy groups that have performed live on Mountain Stage in the past few months - The Steeldrivers, Kathy Mattea, The Hillbilly Gypsies, Crooked Still and the Dan Tyminski Band.

Old Time Jam
Hubie King interviews Adam Hurt, a bright young star of the old time banjo, along with Beth Hartness on backup guitar. We discuss Adam’s achievements, the kind of banjo he plays, some of his tunings and his feelings about how his style relates to older traditional banjo styles. Beth contributes anecdotes about how they met, their bands and how they named them. Adam plays “Belles of Lexington,” Kyle Creed’s “Lost Indian,” “John Brown’s Dream,” Ed Haley’s “Lost Indian,” “Fair Morning Hornpipe,” and “Cabin Creek” on the banjo. Marking his radio fiddling debut, Adam plays “Hangman’s Reel,” with Hubie on banjo in jam session style, and “Rebel Raid.” Adam and Hubie also combine in a banjo duet on “Spanish Fandango,” with Hubie leading off in finger-style picking to which Adam adds his clawhammer.

The Ray Davis Show Mon-Fri 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1pm

Special Programming
- Gems of Bluegrass with Phil Nusbaum
- Bob Webster interviews Beth Stevens
- Katy Daley talks to Del McCoury about his years with Bill Monroe
- Jon Stickley recorded live at IBMA 2008

LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
We’re all thankful for the wonderful bluegrass gospel music we enjoy each week from the writers, artists, and bands.  This week we’ll hear some selections involving “thanks” and being “thankful” in recognition of the upcoming holiday and of course a helping of old hymns to start the third hour.

*Thistle and Shamrock - St Andrew’s Ceilidh
Celebrated throughout the world by anyone with Scottish connections, St. Andrew’s Day is a time for ceilidhs and music-fuelled fun. We hear dance music from traditional bands and innovators, songs that make you want to dance, and Connie Irvine walks you through the steps of a Scottish Country Dance anyone can do!

*Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.