All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches Block
*American Routes – Hard Times and Honky Tonks: Dale Watson, David Rawlings and Gillian Welch
The sounds may seem old but the songs are not. This week on American Routes we visit with a few musicians who are known for crafting modern country music from old-time inspirations. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings share with us how they fit “an electric peg into an acoustic hole.” Then conversation with Austin’s king of the honky-tonks, Dale Watson, who literally wears his musical inspirations on his sleeve.
Bluegrass Breakdown – Bluegrass Sarahs (rebroadcast)
She was Abraham’s wife, a much admired Biblical character whose name remains one of the most popular of all time, especially in BluegrassLand. We’ll be meeting Sarah Malone, Sarah Hogan, Dear Sarah, Little Sara, Sweet Sarah, Pretty Saro and Long Skinny Lanky Sarah Jane. (originally aired February 2010)
Bluegrass Gospel USA! – Tues. 8 p.m. ET
Bluegrass Master Class – Banks of the Ohio #118
The year 1953 is featured in the “Dawn of the Bluegrass Era” segment, including songs connecting Jim & Jesse and the Osborne Brothers to the Korean conflict. Whatever else you’re doing this week, don’t miss the live cuts in “Starving Out” from Red Allen & Frank Wakefield (1963); Bill Keith, Jim Rooney, Joe Val, and Herb Applin (1963); and an incredible band assembled by Carlton Haney at the first multi-day festival in 1965: Bill and James Monroe, Mac Wiseman, Don Reno, and Benny Martin. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Review – #1138
The program starts with new bluegrass by Blue Highway. Then, two views of romance. One is full of excitement, the other self doubt. It’s an example of the expanded range of moods in current bluegrass. The Gem of Bluegrass focuses on the bluegrass banjo sea change. Later, we talk to Patrick McAvinue, fiddler with Audie Blaylock and Red Line about using his jazz knowledge in bluegrass soloing. Finally, in the shadow of Bill Monroe’s day of birth (Sept 13) we play a couple of Monroe tributes. We’d love to hear your comments on Facebook. If you want to contact host Phil Nusbaum, the email address is pnusbaum@bitstream.net. The playlist is located at www.bluegrassreview.com.
Bluegrass Signal – #394 (Happy Birthday, Carter Stanley)
Originally broadcast on what would have been Carter Stanley’s 86th birthday, the show presents some of his classic compositions as performed by the Stanley Brothers from 1949-1963, some of the highest achievements in bluegrass history. As Gary Reid notes, “It’s the music of Carter and Ralph Stanley that has stuck with me the most over the years. As a team, they were, in my book, hard to beat. It’s hard to articulate in words the emotional power of their music that makes it so compelling. The qualities of the duo have been noted a lot of times: the sincerity of their vocals and the blend they achieved with their harmonies; the tender themes of love, loss, and sorrow in their songs; and the instrumental prowess that each of the brothers achieved on their respective instruments.” The music that got your host hooked.
*Capital Americana – Wed. 8 p.m. ET, Sat. 2 p.m. ET
*The Dick Spottswood Show – #355
This week the Obsolete spotlight falls on the Stonemans, Frank Hovington, Lynn Morris, Gov. Jimmie Davis, Bill Monroe, Blind Lemon and Jimmie Rodgers, with songs about old age, cotton mills and steel mills too.
Editor’s Picks – 2011 IBMA Awards Preview Show
We’ll review some of the 2011 nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. The Awards ceremony takes place on September 29th in Nashville, Tenn. at the Ryman Auditorium. We’ll be covering the awards on Twitter. Sign up to follow us at http://www.twitter.com/wamubluegrass .
*etown – The Travelin’ McCourys / Railroad Earth
Hosts Nick & Helen Forster pack up the crew and hit the road for Jacksonville, Oregon to be part of the annual Britt Festival Music Series. With us for this special eTown ‘on the road’ program is the multi talented band Railroad Earth, who provide Americana music at its progressive-bluegrass, jam-band best. And The Travelin’ McCourys make their first visit to eTown: this stellar group features the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury (Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo) who continue their father’s musical legacy with fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Alan Bartram (also of Dell’s band).
The Free for All – Monday-Thursday, 6-8 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
The Weepies, Punch Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Trampled By Turtles. View Playlist
Music from Foggy Hollow – #201138
Old Time Jam – #176
This week on Old-Time Jam, we’ll hear tunes by Wade Mainer. We’ll also hear new recordings by The Freight Hoppers and Red Hen Stringband. Add in Motherless Child, the October Waltz, a Gone Indian and Forsaken Love, and we’ll have ourselves a jam! So join me for Old-Time Jam!
Open Mic – Sat. 6 a.m. ET, Mon. 5 a.m. ET, Thurs. 3 a.m. ET, Fri. 6 p.m. ET
The Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown for October
The Ray Davis Show – Monday- Friday LIVE, 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p
Rotating Shows:
- The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show with host Tom “Cat” Reeder – Tues. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 3 a.m. ET (Sep 25)
- The Old Home Place with host Lisa Kay Howard – Tues. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 3 a.m. ET (Oct 2)
Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster – Sunday LIVE 6-10 a.m., Tues. 9 p.m.
On the eve of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass annual convention in Nashville, TN we’ll preview many of the artists and songs in the final competition for the awards to be presented on Thursday, September 29th during our first three hours together. Our old hymns portion of the program will highlight many of the nominees as well.
*Thistle and Shamrock – New Releases
This week we stop to take stock of new traditional and contemporary recordings from rising roots music talent, along with releases from the well- established names most popular with our radio listeners.
*Traditions with Mary Cliff – Saturday 3-6 p.m. LIVE
Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight – #1545 (New Releases)
This week’s show features some tremendous new tunes. Enjoy.
