All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – Radio Days Gone By… and Ahead
American Routes is dedicated to radio as a medium, bringing you great vernacular music from across the landscape. We also like to hear the voices of radio’s fellow travelers like: the resonant octogenarian, hipster, and “word jazz” man Ken Nordine, up close in his Chicago studio; mystery novelist, songwriter and radio head Kinky Friedman of Texas; St. Louis’ Antique Radio Museum — home to 10,000 old radios — and the self-proclaimed “radio addict” Jasper Giardina who collects them. That plus a present day music mix designed to glorify the past and future of radio.
Bluegrass Breakdown – The Freight Hoppers Live
We’ll be honoring a special kind of music—the kind of music that makes your hairs stand on end, conveys the life force of an ancient people and exudes so much power that it’s often dangerous. One of the wildest, woolliest and most revered old time bands in captivity–the newly resurrected Freight Hoppers—will be huddling around the single mike live as we take a walk on the old time side of things.
Bluegrass Master Class
Banks of the Ohio #81: This week’s program offers a great selection of West Coast and western-themed bluegrass from all eras. You’ll hear the Hillmen, “Ranger’s Command,” the Kentucky Colonels, “Cattle Call,” the Armstrong Twins, the Dillards, Country Gazette, Kathy Kallick, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Leftover Salmon, and even “I Get Around” from “Pickin’ on the Beach Boys.” A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum.
Bluegrass Review
Early in the program we play some contemporary bluegrass treatments of aging, She’s a Stranger in His Mind by Carrie Hassler and Hared Rain, which is about Alzheimer’s Disease; and the version of John Prine’s song Hello in There by Alternate Routes, which is about loneliness. The Gem of Bluegrass tells some of the evolution of the song Man of Constant Sorrow. In the second half of the show, we present some of the great bluegrass treatments of songs by country music writer, Merle Haggard. Host Phil Nusbaum enjoys hearing from listeners. Email him at pnusbaum@bitstream.net
Bluegrass Signal – Thanks(giving) Grass
Bluegrass songs of thanks from Ronnie & Rob McCoury, Sally Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse, Bobby Osborne, Larry Sparks, and the Marshall Family. “Blessings” are specifically mentioned in songs by Kathy Kallick & Laurie Lewis, Stoney Lonesome, and the Easter Brothers. And Creek Bend does “Thanksgiving” … all in honor of the recent celebration.
*The Dick Spottswood Show
We’ll share a winter train ride with fellow passengers Bob Wills, Jimmie Davis and Ragtime Texas, and hear how a Ricky Skaggs version of an 1881 vaudeville hit contrasts with Irish and calypso treatments. We’ll work up an appetite with Merle Haggard, Gorilla, and Grandpa Jones and enjoy a medley of Obsolete Hour Christmas favorites. And, as if all that weren’t enough, we’ll go back in time to hear some riveting, if dimly recorded, music from Bill Monroe with Clyde Moody, from the Opry in the early 1940s. Wow! All that in just two hours??
*etown – Moby and Nellie McKay
eTown plays host to a couple of amazing New York city based artists for this week’s show/podcast. Moby is world-renowned as a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, DJ, and electronica superstar. Along with guest vocalist Kelly Scarr, Moby treats the audience to a pensive set of stripped down, acoustic versions of his material. Then, Nellie McKay makes a return visit to eTown. She is SO talented and quirky in the very best of ways that we had to have her back to share some tunes from her latest release: cover songs of Doris Day!
The Free for All – Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. LIVE, Friday 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
The Gary Henderson Show – Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m., Friday 12 a.m.
LIVE The Katy Daley Show - Monday-Friday 7-10 a.m. ET
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., Thurs. 12 p.m.
*Mountain Stage
Featuring Sister Hazel, Brett Dennen, Eric Bibb, Madison Violet, Vagabond Opera. Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
In Mike Kear’s Music from Foggy Hollow, from Australia this week Mike’s featuring a new Australian CD from Melbourne band, Bluestone Junction. (That’s Melbourne Australia, not Melbourne Florida!) Also on the show – new music from , Canadians Hungry Hill, Aussie brother band the Davidson Brothers, some Clawhammer and dobro from Ivan Rosenberg, and Australian Karen Lynne. It’s not a serious show – there’s time for some fun too. It’s another show jam packed with bluegrass goodness. Don’t miss it!
Old Time Jam
This week, we hear from fiddler Jane Rothfield with various banjo players, visit with David Holt, explore the history of “Camp Chase,” and say “Farewell” to Craig Johnson.
Open Mic - Harrietville Gospel Concert, Bluegrass From Down Under
This week we open the mic for recorded LIVE performances from the Gospel Concert at the 2009 Harrietville Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Convention, Australia’s premier bluegrass and old time event. Bluegrass Country’s very own Mike Kear emceed the proceedings that highlighted some of the best bluegrass talent that Australia has to offer, as well as some talented performers from abroad. This program features performances from Hill Williams, My-T-Fine, Bluegrass Parkway, Heather Mandich, Hungry Hill, Bridgland Brothers, Bluestone Junction, and the Redlands Bluegrass Boys.
LIVE The Ray Davis Show – Mon-Fri 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p
Rotating Shows
The Bill Miller Show - Sunday 3 a.m. (December 13)
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show – Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (December 20)
Special Programming - Influences
This week we discuss influences. George Jones’ classic country sound has inspired music as well as visual art, the Civil War was the focus for the new bluegrass album from Rogers & Johnson, The Daughters of Bluegrass were inspired by the lack of an all-female bluegrass album, and musical archivist Alan Lomax is still inspiring new Old-Time recordings.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster
As Christmas draws upon us quickly this year we’ll enjoy Johnny Briant’s classic recitation of “The Christmas Story” about the art auction and perhaps a few more songs of the season. Keep your vocal chords warm for the old hymn sing at the start of the third hour as usual.
*Thistle and Shamrock – New Anthems
The process is mysterious, has nothing to do with critical acclaim, and builds momentum over years. Some songs then eventually capture the hearts of people from all walks of life who claim them as their own. Hear the Celtic anthems that inspire mass choruses in pubs and sporting venues, and the ones that may do so in years to come.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff – Saturday 2-6 p.m.
Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight – Yule Time
This week we offer a pre-Christmas show with songs of the season. Of special note, we are featuring several songs from the 1980 Rebel Recording (on long-play 33 rpm) “Christmas Time Back Home”. This is a terrific collection of Christmas season music by 1980′s bluegrass groups, including; the Country Gentlemen, Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, Bill Carroll, Red Ellis & the Huron Valley Boys – awesome vintage-vinyl recordings!
