*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – John Prine
Join us for a two-hour visit with John Prine as he walks us through his life–from urban Illinois backwards to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky–and catalog. For over 35 years, the singer and guitarist has written and performed songs which present a slightly off-kilter and darkly humorous look at working class America. We’ll also talk agitprop with the man who has written Vietnam-era protest songs like “Take the Star Our of the Window” and “Sam Stone,” and environmental broadsides such as “Paradise.” There’s also performances of Prine’s songs by others and more in this two-hour visit with one of America’s leading songwriters.
Banks of the Ohio (a rebroadcast)
We visit 1958 this week in the third half hour, including Jimmy Martin live, four great Starday cuts, and Wayne Raney’s WCKY broadcast of the first bluegrass record from Japan (the East Mountain Boys). There are three Vassar Clements cuts and the first all-female bluegrass band (the Buffalo Gals). Don’t miss the last half hour… unless you’re a staunch traditionalist and subject to apoplectic fits. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Breakdown – Farewell Drifters Live
One of the most striking new bands in Bluegrass, a young Nashville based quintet, that plays with the intensity of Mountain Heart and the fire of the New Grass Revival, the Farewell Drifters, will be picking live in honor of their exciting debut, “Sweet Summer Breeze” and, in the words of one gushing reviewer, “making folk music hip again.”
Bluegrass Review
When old time music first evolved, most of the players and audience came from rural backgrounds. Animals were part of their lives, and animals turned up in the music. On the Gem of Bluegrass, guest Lyle focuses on rabbits. They may be fuzzy and cute, but they are wild animals! Later, guest Adam Granger leads us through a set of animal songs.
Bluegrass Signal
A survey of new releases, with music from Del McCoury’s “Moneyland” collection, plus selections from Rounder (Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass, Dan Tyminski, The Grascals, James King), Patuxent (Gary Ferguson & Friends, Baker Boys, Corbett/Chrisman/Tice), and the SF Bay Area (Rosebud Blue, Mayne Smith, The Waller Brothers, The Crooked Jades, Backyard Party Boys, Earl Brothers).
*The Dick Spottswood Show
A visit with the old-time banjo singer Bascom Lamar Lunsford, some tracks from an out of print RCA ragtime CD I edited a dozen years ago, and some sad, sad songs of childhood. They were first popular in the 1870s and survived all the way to the bluegrass era. Ray Davis calls ‘em plum pitiful–I’ll just settle for Obsolete!
*etown
Please join us for this repeat broadcast of our 2006 ‘etown rocks’ extravaganza. We taped this special two part show at the beautiful natural amphitheater at Red Rocks. In part one, we’re joined by stellar performers David Gray and Aimee Mann. An inspiring e-chievement award winner (best-selling author Dave Eggers), is also featured.
LIVE Friday Night Free for All 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET
Foster’s Corner Sunday 3 a.m. (8/17)
The Bill Miller Show Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (8/24)
The Gary Henderson Show Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m., Friday 12 a.m.
LIVE The Katy Daley Show Mon-Fri, 7-10 a.m.
LIVE The Lee Michael Demsey Show Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard, Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m.
*Mountain Stage
Featuring Josh Ritter, Loudon Wainwright III, Martha Scanlan, Fionn Regan, and Lucy Wainwright Roche. Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
This week, Mike Kear features some new/old music as Sugar Hill releases a CD with the catchy title “Ricky Skaggs: American Master Series: The Best of the Sugar Hill Years”. It’s a compilation of the best recordings Ricky made for Sugar Hill between 1978 and 1988. There are some classic songs on this CD and Mike features a good selection of them throughout the show. There is lots of other music that is brand new too, so it’s another big show, jam packed with bluegrass goodness. Don’t miss it!
Musician Tip – Old Time Banjo gal, Rebekah Weiler
Open Mic
This week we Open the Mic for two bands who recently visited our Washington D.C. studios. We’ll hear from the members of Cadillac Sky, they sat down with Host Jen Hitt to provide some insight into their music and their sense of humor. Also, the family band Cherryholmes stopped by to speak with Lee Michael Demsey and pick some great bluegrass.
Old Time Jam
Bands dominate this week’s program, which includes The Spencer Family, Troublesome Creek String Band, and Forge Mountain Diggers. We’ll also hear a few individuals, vocal duets, and one folk chorus. Songs about the Spanish-American War, the Titanic disaster, a German love song, a famous Indian landmark in Tennessee, a jawbone procession, and a Louisville burglar.
Special Programming
This week’s special program part 2 in a 2 part series, another episode of Sound Sessions from Smithsonian Folkways, Black Banjo 2: Host Sam Litzinger and Scott Odell bring us a two part series on the sounds and social history of African American banjo playing from Virginia and North Carolina.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
A few old ones from Don Reno & Bill Harrell, Charlie Moore & Bill Napier, plus Molly O’Day, and new recordings by the Primitive Quartet make up this week’s edition of our bluegrass gospel meeting. Don’t forget your song book for the old hymns to start the third hour as well.
*Thistle and Shamrock – The Strathspey King
Fiddler and composer James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) wrote a huge number of tunes and many of these are now classics for today’s players. Learn more about this larger than life Victorian character – the self-styled “Strathspey King” – and hear his music played by Battlefield Band, Natalie MacMaster and by Skinner himself, recorded on cylinder in the early 20th century.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.
