All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – Rockin’ the Blues with Sonny Burgess & Snooks Eaglin
Tune in and rock the blues with two guitar men who do it with great authority. First up is Arkansas wild man and original Sun Records rockabilly Sonny Burgess who still tears it up, playing his hits “We Wanna Boogie,” “Red-Headed Woman” and others well into his seventies. And hear a live set from the late great New Orleans bluesman and human jukebox Snooks Eaglin, recorded onstage in 2007 at his home base, the famous Rock ‘n’ Bowl nightclub, where one can do either of those, or both, at the same time. Feel the beat in blues, jazz, Western swing and more with a music mix designed to rock your blues away.
Banks of the Ohio with George McKnight
Bluegrass Breakdown -Bluegrassizing Country #1’s: 1982-1983
We’ll be giving number one country songs from 1982 and early 1983 a much deserved high lonesome spin. On the theory that anything is dramatically improved by the addition of a banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass, mandolin, dobro or any combination thereof, Flatt & Scruggs, the Shady Creek Outlaws, New Vintage and Bluegrass, Etc. will be making mammoth hits from Waylon, Willie, Alabama and George Strait even better.
Bluegrass Master Class
There’s lots to discover this week, including the original recordings of “New Freedom Bell” (Louise and Sonny Osborne, 1951) and “Love Please Come Home” (Leon Jackson, Johnny Bryant & the White Oak Mountain Boys, 1957). You’ll also hear three tunes from the short-lived genre “rockabluegrass,” in which mid-50s artists experimented with the new rhythms of rock ‘n roll. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum with host Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Review
Today’s show features songs of the Carter Family. The original Carter Family set in motion the original thematic impulses in bluegrass and country music. In addition, the Carter Family either wrote or introduced much of the music’s core repertoire. On the Gem of Bluegrass, we summarize what makes the Carter Family important.The show website is BluegrassReview.com. Contact host Phil Nusbaum at pnusbaum@bitstream.net
Bluegrass Signal– Giving Thanks … for the still-active bluegrass pioneers (part 2)
This week, Peter Thompson and Bluegrass Signal give thanks for the bluegrass pioneers who are still active. All of the featured musicians were born in 1925 or earlier — and have relatively recent releases. Music this week from Mac Wiseman (born in 1925), Earl Scruggs (1924), Everett Lilly (1924), Tut Taylor (1923), and Curly Seckler (born in 1919). Featured last week were Buck White (born in 1930), Jesse McReynolds (1929), Ralph Stanley (1927), Mac Martin (1925), and George Shuffler (born in 1925).
*The Dick Spottswood Show
Party hearty with Jim Eanes, Bob Wills and Rose Maddox, and then shift into high with Sam McGee, K.C. Douglas and Chuck Berry. Enjoy Lester and Earl on TV (but close your eyes—this is radio!), and listen to them share a song with the Golden Gate Quartet. Join Uncle Dave, Reno & Smiley, the Lilly Brothers and a couple of dueling harmonicats as they all run with the hounds. Enjoy cameo appearances by Molly O’Day, Charlie Poole, Rose Maddox (again), the Bailes Brothers, and Charlie Monroe. Not a bad show, if you don’t mind Obsolescence.
*etown - etown’s 15th Anniversary Celebration with James Taylor and Keb’ Mo
In this special encore broadcast, we are joined by a couple of truly remarkable musical guests for a one-of-a-kind Etown anniversary celebration. The legendary James Taylor returns for this stunning program recorded at the beautiful and historic Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado. With that recognizable voice and those beautifully crafted songs, James demonstrates why he remains one of the world’s most beloved performers. He’ll also talk candidly with host Nick Forster about his continually evolving music. Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones lend their graceful musical support to James’ set, and to that of Etown’s second guest, Kevin Moore, better known as Keb’ Mo’, the talented one man blues powerhouse. And there’s an environmental-themed ‘in person’ E-Chievement Award for this extraordinary occasion. Don’t miss this week’s repeat episode of Etown.
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.
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 Lucy Kaplansky, Rory Block, Sara Hickman, Hillbilly Gypsies and Larry Groce. Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
Mike Kear brings you Music from Foggy Hollow from Australia every week and he’s EXCITED! What a week it is. TEN brand new CDs appear on the show for the first time this week, and he’s going to be featuring a top class new CD from Rhonda Vincent called “Destination Life”. As usual they don’t take themselves too seriously in Foggy Hollow – there’s time for some fun and levity too. It’s another show jam packed with bluegrass goodness, so don’t miss it!
Music That Matters to Leigh Gibson
Open Mic
Lee Michael Demsey will host the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown show on the last Saturday of each month. In addition to the music, the program includes comments from selected artists and songwriters about their song that charted that month. The first program will air Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. ET, during the first two hours of Lee’s regular Saturday morning show on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country.
Old Time Jam
“Mountains” are the topic this week, with all the tunes having the word “mountain” in their titles. Our “mountain” music is performed by such artists as the Whitetop Mountain Band, Laura Boosinger, Nate Leath, Dave Bing, Adam Hurt, Highwoods String Band, Foghorn Stringband, the Mill Run Dulcimer Band, and a whole lot more. If you want to guess the songs we’ve selected, don’t look at the online playlist until the end.
The Ray Davis Show Mon-Fri 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p, LIVE
Rotating Shows
The Bill Miller Show - Sunday 3 a.m. (May 3)
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show - Tuesday 12 p.m. LIVE, Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (May 10)
Special Programming
With the release of Alecia Nugent’s new album, Hillbilly Goddess, scheduled for May 12th, we’ll hear a rebroadcast of her appearance on Bluegrass Breakdown with Dave Higgs. Plus, Phil Nusbaum discusses the contribution the Carter Family to bluegrass and Americana music.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
May is “Bluegrass Music Month” and we’ll recognize the roots of our beloved music with selections from the first generation of bluegrass artists, including Bill Monroe, Reno & Smiley, the Stanley Brothers, and Mac Wiseman among others. We’ll enjoy a few selections from newer artists as well to provide a little variety. No telling who you’ll hear singing the old hymns at the beginning of the third hour so have several song books on hand!
*Thistle and Shamrock - All Women
We focus upon music from some of today’s leading women artists, including Òran na Mnà (a Woman’s song), original Gaelic compositions by Maggie MacInnes “linking the voices and feelings of women from centuries past to the present day.”
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.
