All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – Big Voices with k.d. Lang & Topsy Chapman
From shouters to chanteuses, R&B melisma to the high lonesome sound of bluegrass, this week we bring you some of the biggest voices on the American soundscape. Neo-retro vocalist k.d. lang comes by to talk about her loves and influences from 50′s country to smoky lounge music. New Orleans singer Topsy Chapman tells us how a stint as a singing waitress on Bourbon Street and growing up with 15 siblings led her to an international career as a song stylist.
Bluegrass Breakdown – Lovell Sisters Live
They’ve officially disbanded, but the memory of their sweet, soaring harmonies and hard-impacting songs will live forever. Those genre-crossing, soul stirring, always enchanting girls from Calhoun, GA, Jessica, Megan and Rebecca, the fabulous Lovell Sisters, will be our special live guests. We’ll also be traipsing down to the new Bluegrass CD bins with the expectation of snagging new tunes from Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, the Farewell Drifters and Sweet Potato Pie.
Bluegrass Master Class – Banks of the Ohio #95
Special treats this week include early gospel numbers from Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, the Lewis Family, Mac Wiseman, Carl Story, Margie Sullivan, and a Curly Seckler/Marty Stuart duet. The Osborne Brothers travel light years from “Cotton Fields” (1964) and I’ll Be Alright Tomorrow” (1965) to “Rocky Top Championship Mix” (1997). A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Review – #1031
A lot about bluegrass founder Bill Monroe. Song collector and musician Lyle Lofgren, and guitarist Adam Granger are on hand to give detailed looks at the volcal arrangements of Monroe’s group, the Blue Grass Boys. Then we talk about the players influencing one of Monroe’s mandolin styles, and how Monroe influenced others. Plus, we have some new things to play and we really have a lot of fun listening to the “outside” version of “Gonna lay Down My Old Guitar” by Bryan Sutton and Chris Thile. The playlist is located at www.bluegrassreview.com. Join the Bluegrass Review discussion on Facebook. Just do a Facebook search for Bluegrass Review.
Bluegrass Signal – Further Across the Tracks (More New Releases & A Reissue)
Still catching up with the new ones. The show includes two 7+-minute workouts: Roland White’s “Marathon” and a jam among Mark O’Connor, Chris Thile, Bryan Sutton, and Byron House. The traditional sounds range from Larry Gillis and Junior Sisk to the John Hartford String Band and E.C. Ball. And there’s edge-of-grass contributions from Cadillac Sky, Cherryholmes, Dierks Bentley, and the Cana Ramblers. And, yes, more.
*The Dick Spottswood Show – #299
Five-string dobro tunes from Allen Shelton and Bobby Thompson, and Roosevelt Sykes introduces Papa Sweetback, a master of keeping up appearances when he’s broke. In Hour Two, an early version of “Lee Highway Blues” and a quietly terrific new County cd called Rural Parlor Guitar. Jim Eanes, Marty Robbins, the Blue Sky Boys and Stanley Brothers will be on hand as well.
*etown – Michael Franti & Spearhead / Mavis Staples
In this encore broadcast, eTown returns to the stunningly beautiful natural amphitheatre Red Rocks, with this special two-part broadcast taped in front of a packed house of 9,000 attendees. Part One of this two-part program brings you exciting live performances and intimate, ‘behind-the-scenes’ artist interviews with Mavis Staples and Michael Franti.
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 LIVE, 7-10 a.m. ET
The Lee Michael Demsey Show – Saturday 11a.m.-2p.m., Monday- Friday LIVE, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard – Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m., Thurs. 12 p.m.
*Mountain Stage
Featuring Robert Cray Band, Flatlanders, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson , Robin & Linda Williams, Riley Baugus. View Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow – #201029
In Mike Kear’s Music from Foggy Hollow this week he’s featuring “Sunset Drive”, a new CD by a good friend of the show, Maro Kawabata. Mike talks about Maro’s background and plays some of the songs. Also this week, great new music from Net Crisp & Bottomline, Lonesome Meadow, Ronnie King, The High Desert Band from Idaho, Volume Five, and Fiddler Tim Martin. Also the regular segment from soccer-besotted Erio Meili in Brazil and Mike looks back 5 years to see what he was doing back then, and lots lots more. It’s only for fun, so you’d be a wombat if you missed it!
Old Time Jam – #128
Open Mic – Common Ground on the Hill: Kathy Mattea
Common Ground on the Hill is a community organization focused on cultural traditions. For the past 16 years, in Westminster, MD, about an hour North West of Baltimore, a community of artists: musicians, dancers, writers, have been sharing their skills through concerts and workshops.
For two weeks each Summer, people come together on the 1850′s Carroll County Farm Museum to learn and be entertained. We’ll hear a recording from July 10th, 2010, with Kathy Mattea. Also excerpts of Katy Daley’s interview with with Kathy Mattea about her current project, Coal.
The Ray Davis Show – Monday- Friday LIVE, 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p
Rotating Shows
The Bill Miller Show – Sunday 3 a.m. (July 25)
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show – Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (Aug 1)
Special Programming - Bluegrass Spectacular Concert: March 25, 1989
We have a great team of interns here at WAMU’s Bluegrass Country and this summer we tasked them with organizing our music library and in the process we found some old concert recordings. This programs features the WAMU 10th Annual Bluegrass Spectacular Concert held March 26, 1989 at Fairfax High School. We’ll hear from music from Blue Rose (Laurie Lewis, Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Sally Van Meter, Molly Mason) and The Country Gentlemen, we’ll hear the classic emcee work of Ray Davis and we’ll even hear a bit of warble from the tape the show was recorded on.
Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster – Sunday LIVE 6-10 a.m., Tues. 9 p.m.
This week features some early recordings by J. E. Mainer, Zeke Morris, and Wade Mainer from the 1930’s. Their version of “Lights In The Valley” sounds very close to “Do Lord.” You can decide after you sing along to this old song during the old hymns at the top of the third hour. We’ll also enjoy a few more numbers from the new CD by Greenbrier.
*Thistle and Shamrock – Armorica
The peninsula that became Brittany was first named “Armorica” after the Roman conquest of ancient Gaul. Migration from Britain created a distinct community in culture and language and this is reflected in the music and song of today’s “Bretagne” or Brittany. Join us to discover the intoxicating music of this coastal area.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff – Saturday 2-6 p.m.
Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight – Traveling
This show features traveling songs and tunes, many new and fresh and some jewels from the past as well.
