All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches Block
*American Routes – Sat. 4 a.m., Sun. 8 p.m.
Men of Steel and Soul
We’re bringing the blues from the clubs to the church this week on American Routes. The Campbell Brothers, from Rochester, NY, are masters of sacred steel. With both pedal and lap steel guitars, they summon the spirit in voice and sound. We’ll talk about growing up in the church and playing gospel blues on the guitar. Then, New Orleans bluesman Walter “Wolfman” Washington stops by the American Routes studio for a conversation about his life in the music and in the clubs around town.
*Americana Breakdown – Sat. 9 p.m.
Featuring host Art Hanson.
Bluegrass Breakdown – Sun. 2 a.m., Mon. 10 p.m., Wed. 5 a.m.
Sailing, Part Two
Just when you thought it was safe to come out of the water, we’ll be plunging even deeper into the wild blue ocean with Sam Bush, Bruce Molsky, Reno Brothers, IIIrd Tyme Out, Gary Brewer, and Mountain Heart.
Bluegrass Gospel USA! – Tues. 8 p.m.
Featuring host Bill Miller.
Bluegrass Master Class – Sun. 3 p.m. & Fri. 4 a.m.
Banks of the Ohio #113 (rebroadcast)
Visit 1948 in the Dawn of the Bluegrass Era segment, where you’ll hear some of Flatt & Scruggs’ first records, Ralph Stanley’s transition from two-finger to three-finger banjo, and Bill Monroe’s only known recording from that year. Knoxville was an early bluegrass hotspot; featured artists associated with that city include Ray Atkins, Jethro Burns, Red Rector, Carl Sauceman, Carl Story, Tater Tate, Jake Tullock, the Webster Brothers, and a little-known song by Knoxville nurse/songwriter Ruby Moody. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Review – Mon. 9 p.m., Wed. 4 a.m.
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Bluegrass depicts tragedy from the point of view of those affected, very well. A couple of flood songs open the show. Then a lengthy Gem of Bluegrass related to evolving bluegrass, called “Constructions, De-Constructions and Reinventions.” Later, we talk to Mike Munford about his approach to playing the banjo and composing banjo music. Contact host Phil Nusbaum at pnusbaum@bitstream.net or join the conversation at Facebook. The playlist is located at www.bluegrassreview.com.
Bluegrass Signal – Mon. 11 p.m., Wed. 6 a.m.
Loafer’s Glory – Yesterday & Today
This week’s “Bluegrass Signal” presents an overview of a new Southern California band, Loafer’s Glory. Comprised of three 40+-year veterans (Herb Pedersen, Bill Bryson, and Tom Sauber), plus a hotshot young’n (Patrick Sauber), they play exciting traditional bluegrass and old time music. In addition to a sneak preview of their forthcoming release, there’s music from a number of their previous affiliations, including Vern & Ray, The Dillards, Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Bluegrass Cardinals, Here Today (with David Grisman & Vince Gill), the Rice Brothers, Alice Gerrard & Brad Leftwich, Chris Hillman, and Laurie Lewis. Two of their originals are genuine bluegrass classics, and we’ll hear them done by their composers.
Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown – Last Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. ET
May 2012
Host Lee Michael Demsey features the top 30 songs as reported to Bluegrass Unlimited for the upcoming month, in the familiar countdown format. Demsey also includes brief comments from some of the artists and/or songwriters whose music is included. BU has maintained their monthly chart, the National Bluegrass Survey, for the past 19 years. Since its inception, Demsey has compiled the list for the magazine from reporting radio stations and syndicators.
The Bob Webster Show – Wed. 12-3 p.m.
Featuring host Bob Webster.
*Capital Americana – Wed. 6 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m.
Featuring host Jen Hitt.
The Chris Teskey Show – Thurs. 12-3 p.m. LIVE
The Carolina Chocolate Drops join host Chris Teskey for an interview and performance on Thursday, May 10 at 2 pm ET. They’ll chat about their gig in Alexandria, VA that evening and play songs from their new release Leaving Eden.
*The Dick Spottswood Show – Sun. 12 a.m. & 1 p.m., Thurs. 5 a.m.
#385
This week’s features include early fifties bluegrass from North Carolina’s legendary Blue Ridge label, a few19th century minstrel show survivals, starvation songs, 1920s Kentucky jug bands and a few of their country cousins. Familiar names include the Monroe Brothers, Grandpa Jones, Jim Jackson, Merle Travis, Hylo Brown and Cousin Emmy. They look forward (as does Obsolete Music host Dick Spottswood) to the pleasure of your company.
Editor’s Picks – Sat. 3 a.m., Sun. 6 p.m., Thurs. 4 a.m., Fri. 8 p.m.
The Boxcars / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
This week we’re featuring performances from The Boxcars and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice recorded at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2011 World of Bluegrass Conference in Nashville, TN.
Foster’s Corner – Mon. 6-9 p.m.
Featuring host Bill Foster.
*etown – Sun. 7 p.m.
Blues Traveler / Ruthie Foster
Nick & Helen Forster welcome back a couple of eTown veterans for this week’s show. It’s been almost a decade since Blues Traveler last was with us. Originating in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987, this globetrotting band has continued to top charts over the last 25 years. Ruthie Foster, gifted Austin-based singer/songwriter, also joins us (Nick & Helen and the eTones back up her bluesy, down-home tunes).
The Free for All – Thurs. 6-9 p.m., Fri. 9 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat. 3-6 a.m.
Featuring host Echo.
The Gary Henderson Show – Sat. 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Mon. 12-3 p.m. LIVE
*Irish Heartbeat with Dervish – Sat. 7 p.m.
Join Cathy Jordan and her band Dervish as they welcome Seamus O’Kane, Ireland’s foremost maker and master beater of the old Irish instrument: the bodhran; and Kila, one of the most popular bands in Ireland. Enjoy the Craic (Irish for fun)!
The Katy Daley Show – Mon.- Fri. LIVE, 7-10 a.m.
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen join host Katy Daley for a live interview and performance Tuesday, May 8 at 9 am ET. Tune in as Frank introduces two new members of Dirty Kitchen and chats about the band’s upcoming gigs in the Washington, DC area.
The Lee Michael Demsey Show – Sat. 11a.m.-2p.m., Mon.- Fri. LIVE, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Lonesome Pine RFD – Mon. 4 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m.
Hosted by Carol Beaugard.
*Mountain Stage – Sun. 10 p.m.
Featuring Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, Van Dyke Parks, Teitur, Randall Bramblett, Caroline Aiken. View the playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow – Sat. 12 a.m., Tues. 4 a.m., Thurs. 9 p.m.
Featuring host Mike Kear.
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The Old Home Place – Tues. 6-9 p.m. LIVE
Featuring host Lisa Kay Howard.
Old Time Jam – Fri. 12-3 p.m. LIVE
Featuring host Rosemarie Nielsen.
Old Time Jam host Rosemarie Nielsen presents a live recorded performance from the duo of Paul Brown & John Schwab on Friday, May 11 at 1 pm ET. This “house concert” was recorded in the WAMU community room in front of an audience of station listeners and staff. To view videos from this performance, visit our YouTube channel.
Open Mic – Sat. 6 a.m., Fri. 6 p.m.
Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown May 2012
Overnight – Mon.-Fri., 12-4 a.m.
Each weeknight we air condensed encore presentations of some of your favorite live Bluegrass Country shows.
The Ray Davis Show – Mon.- Fri. 3-6p.m. LIVE, Sun. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
*RootsWorld Radio – Sat. 8 p.m.
Featuring host Cliff Furnald.
RootsWorld Radio #10
RootsWorld Radio will start with the rhythms of the African postal service, the Appalachian beat of San Francisco, cross fusions from Germany, Senegal, Sweden and Italy, some banjos from France and a whole lot more. Artists on the show include Uxía, Mariem Hassan, Volker Goetze and Ablaye Cissoko, Martha Mavroidi Trio, Trio Mio, Ellika Frisell, Crooked Jades, Bratscht, Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila, Les Doigts de l’Homme, Alamaailman Vasarat, Al Andaluz Project and Ricardo Tesi & Banditaliana.
Stained Glass Bluegrass – Sun. 6-10 a.m. LIVE
Featuring host Bob Webster.
*Thistle and Shamrock – Sat. 6 p.m.
Beltane Bash
The ancient year marked seasonal changes with special festivals and rituals. Beltane, one of four quarter-day festivals, is recreated today in the modern Scottish capital with festivities to re-establish Edinburgh residents’ links with the natural year. Join in our celebration in a Beltane-themed hour of music.
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show – Tues. 12-3 p.m. LIVE
*Traditions – Sat. 3-6 p.m. LIVE
Featuring host Mary Cliff
