All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – Gulf Coast Blues and More: Barbara Lynn and Belton Richard
Tune in for the words and music of two storied artists of the Gulf South. First up, the Empress of Gulf Coast Soul, Barbara Lynn, of Beaumont, Texas. Ms. Lynn recalls her days as the Black Elvis, playing left-handed guitar and penning and recording her own first-person paeans of love lost. Accordion player Belton Richard talks about bringing his mix of Cajun and country to dancehalls across the region and remembers his swamp pop days with the Musical Aces. Plus two hours of swampy blues, sultry country and more.
Banks of the Ohio with George McKnight Love and Lace
Bluegrass Beat 05-11-2009
Your source for bluegrass and Americana events in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.
Bluegrass Breakdown - Packway Handle Band Live.
Yes, they play bluegrass instruments; and yes, they even play them in the bluegrass way; but you won’t find a whole lot of lyrics about rambling or trains or wagon wheels and you’re not going to say you’ve heard them before, UNLESS you actually have. From Athens, Georgia, the Packway Handle Band will be ganging around the microphones in a semi-circle celebrating their wild and woolly brand of bluegrass. We’ll also be checking out new tunes from Jordan Tice, Tommy Webb, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Still On the Hill and Lost & Found.
Bluegrass Master Class – Learn about some interesting coincidences in bluegrass history. Bill Monroe formed the Blue Grass Boys the same year “The Wizard of Oz” was released (1939). The first multi-day bluegrass festival was held the year Bob Dylan plugged in (1965). “Drunken Driver” was written by the western swing steel player who also wrote “Detour.” John Hartford and Mitch Jayne were both tongue-tied in their first bluegrass introductions in the early ‘60s. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum with host Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Review
We open with new bluegrass by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa and Frank Wakefield. On Gems of Bluegrass it is “Bluegrass and the Grassroots.” The segment tells how bluegrass is a mixture of both. In the second half of the show, we talk to progressive banjoist Alison Brown, she plays for us and we listen to some of her outstanding recordings. The show concludes with a Carter Family postscript. We’ve featured songs of the Carter Family in recent shows.
Bluegrass Signal– What’s Goin’ On
The Bay Area was recently visited by Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mt. Boys, Tim O’Brien, and Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, so this week’s presents some live recordings of each: Ralph in 2001, Tim (with Hot Rize) in 1996, and Laurie in 2007. In addition: a set of collaborations among the three.
*The Dick Spottswood Show
Mother’s Day provides an excuse to feature some wonderful maternal classics, including a medey featuring country music’s First Mother, Maybelle Carter. Grateful children include Charlie Monroe, the Everly Brothers, Washboard Sam, the Stanley Brothers and Blue Sky Boys. If you’re a Mom, here’s a big bouquet. If you’re not, these songs will tell you why Mom deserves one.
*etown - Nanci Griffith & Piers Faccini
In this encore airing, we welcome back legendary folkie and an Etown favorite, singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith, as she returns with her long-time back up band. Also on the show is an impressive young talent, Paris-based singer-songwriter, Piers Faccini. Faccini calls on hosts Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones to back him up musically. Plus, there is an outstanding E-Chievement Award story from Portland, Oregon that you won’t want to miss, all this week, in 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
TuesdayMay 12th, Katy Daley talks with Dale Ann Bradley about her new album, “Don’t Turn Your Back”
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 The Derek Trucks Band, Dr. Dog, Jeff Ellis, Lenka, and Scrapomatic. Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
This week’s Music from Foggy Hollow is a very special show. It’s Mike Kear’s annual ANZAC Day Special. ANZAC Day is the main day of remembrance in Australia – a very solemn day, and in a special show this week we pause to remember those who’ve put themselves in harm’s way for us through the years. Mike plays lots of songs and retells some amazing stories of sacrifice and mateship. There are some of the most powerful songs ever recorded, some touching moments, some exciting moments and a laugh or two along the way too. It’s really important to Mike and the RAAF folks and SAS (Aust Special Forces) and their families who live in Foggy Hollow, and Mike hopes you’ll join him for the show.
Open Mic
Join Bill Foster for a two-hour feature on Buzz Busby, one of the founding fathers of Washington, DC bluegrass. We’ll play some of Buzz’s tunes and hear an interview with the mandolin-player that originally aired on WAMU in 1975.
Old Time Jam
“Home” is the topic this time, and Hubie King plays songs which all have “Home” in their titles. As you’d expect there are a lot of sentimental songs here, but not all. You’ll hear many of your favorite musicians, including the New Southern Cowtippers, the Herald Angels, Big Medicine, the Hushpuppies, The Double Decker Stringband, Cathy Fink, Ginny Hawker and Kay Justice, Beverly Smith and Carl Jones, and on and on. Tune in and make yourself right “at home.”
The Ray Davis Show Mon-Fri 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p, LIVE
Rotating Shows
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show - Sunday 3 a.m. (May 10)
The Old Home Place - Tuesday 12 p.m. LIVE, Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (May 17)
Special Programming
Katy Daley talks with Darren Beachley about his new band Legends of the Potomac[link to band site] and we hear cuts from their unreleased EP. Also, Dave Higgs captures a live performance from The Alecia Nugent band [link to band] and Phil Nusbaum brings us Gems of Bluegrass.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
Mothers take all the honors in this edition of Stained Glass Bluegrass. We remember and honor our moms with sentimental (and sometimes sad) songs from Reno & Smiley, the Easter Brothers, Cedar Hill, the Whites, Lynn Morris, Iris DeMent, the Bass Mountain Boys, Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Jimmy Dean’s classic recitation of IOU as well many other favorites. Even our old hymns at the start of the third hour take us back to the late 1880s and early 1990s with songs about mama. Do something special this weekend for your mother and count your blessings if she’s still with you.
*Thistle and Shamrock - Little Windows
Meet Julee Glaub and Mark Weems who mix Appalachian and Irish music and relish the beauty of two unaccompanied voices in close harmony. Hear them weave their timeless harmonies and talk about the power of communal song.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.
