*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – Records, Jukeboxes and Radio
American Routes joins with two record men this week to study the means of production — in jazz and country. Michael Cuscuna, founder of Mosaic Records, talks about his reissuing of lavish collectors sets of jazz from Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Count Basie and many more. Al Hawkes joins us from the wilds of Maine where he’s been making old-time country, bluegrass and rockabilly records since 1955–some of his own, some on his independent Event Records label.
Banks of the Ohio
A tribute to the late Kentucky fiddler Art Stamper includes four of his cuts spanning 1961 to 1990, with the Stanley Brothers, Bill Clifton, Larry Sparks, and a solo project. There’s interesting trivia (during a 26-year hiatus in his bluegrass career, Stamper was a successful Louisville hairdresser; Fincastle, VA, site of the first multi-day bluegrass festival, was once capital of the entire Kentucky and Ohio territories) and controversy (about nasal singing, poor grammar, and the Osborne Brothers’ bluegrass/hip-hop version of “Rocky Top” — which made some listeners madder than hornets). A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, with host Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Breakdown - The Kruger Brothers Live
The last time our special guests were on the program, they had us laughing, screaming, crying, making large donations to our favorite charities and otherwise thanking God that we lived in the land of the free where the banjo, bass and guitar still reign supreme. Uwe, Yens and Joel, the mighty, mighty Kruger Brothers will once again stirring the waters when they join us live.
Bluegrass Review with Phil Nusbaum
12/15-12/18 – Bluegrass is rooted in past lifestyles and musical concepts, but it has a modernistic edge that is reflected in new kinds of songs in the repertoire. We’ll explain what we mean in our Gem of Bluegrass, and through carefully selected songs.
12/19-12/25 - The accent is on Holiday music, but we mix in some great regular bluegrass fare as well.
Bluegrass Signal
This week, Peter Thompson and Bluegrass Signal give thanks for the bluegrass pioneers who are still active. All of the featured musicians were born in 1925 or earlier — and have relatively recent releases. Music this week from Mac Wiseman (born in 1925), Earl Scruggs (1924), Everett Lilly (1924), Tut Taylor (1923), and Curly Seckler (born in 1919). Featured last week were Buck White (born in 1930), Jesse McReynolds (1929), Ralph Stanley (1927), Mac Martin (1925), and George Shuffler (born in 1925).
The Dick Spottswood Show
This week’s first hour offers samples of a mammoth Reno & Smiley session held in 1954 before turning to a jazz fiddle medley. Christmas songs start Hour 2, which concludes with a wonderfully scratched copy of a 1936 gospel disc by a memorable slide guitar team.
*etown with Nick Forster
etown looks at the city of New Orleans and reminds us of the devastating impact of hurricane Katrina in this holiday-themed rebroadcast. The legendary Aaron Neville brings his unique voice and his band to the historic Boulder Theater. Neville, who has been one of New Orleans’ most visible and outspoken proponents on the recovery of the city, shares his views with hosts Nick & Helen Forster. Also joining us are the Subdudes, with two members of the band who were personally impacted by the hurricane. And, there’s an ‘in person,’ heart-warming holiday oriented e-chievement award story to round out this week’s etown.
LIVE Friday Night Free for All with Amy and Echo
LIVE The Tom Cat Reeder Show, Tuesday 12-3 p.m.
LIVE The Gary Henderson Show Saturday 8-11 a.m.
LIVE The Katy Daley Show Monday-Friday 7-10 a.m.
LIVE The Lee Michael Demsey Show Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard
*Mountain Stage with Larry Groce
Galactic, John Jorgenson Quintet, Ruthie Foster, Jesse Harris, and Jimmy LaFave. Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
This week, Mike Kear features a brand new CD from Aussie brother duet, The Davidson Brothers. The CD was recorded in Nashville in October, and Mike’s giving the CD it’s world premier this week. Mike also previews a new Rhonda Vincent CD called “Good Thing Going” and plays some new music from the Charlie Sizemore Band. All this, plus plenty of music you know already and lots of fun along the way. It’s a packed program as usual, so you’d be a long-eared bandicoot if you missed it!
Open Mic – Michael Cleveland on Lonesome Pine RFD
This week we Open the Mic for Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. The band joined hosts Carol Beaugard and Steve Lutke on Lonesome Pine RFD in the WFDU studios on Friday, December 7th for some conversation and smokin’ hot bluegrass.
Old Time Jam
This week Hubie plays a selection of old time songs and tunes with girls’ names. That there are so many of them is an indication of the great impact women made on the music in its formative years. Most of them are dance tunes, so be prepard for an upbeat, toe-tapping hour with some of the best musicians in old time music, including James Bryan, Rayna Gellert, Bruce Molsky, Gerry Milnes, Highwoods String Band and many others.
LIVE The Ray Davis Show Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m.
Special Programming
Banjo player Hubie King steps away from the CD player this week to create his own Old Time Jam with fiddler Scott Prouty. The pair play their favorite songs, discuss the origins of tunes, and even define potatoes on this special program.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
The Minnesota based band Monroe Crossing gives us another bluegrass arrangement of an old hymn they found in the Lutheran Hymnal (#367). From their brand new CD “Live From Silver City” we’ll hear their version of “I Love To Tell The Story.” You’ll find slightly different words in the Cokesbury Hymnal. So get your song book and prepare to sing along and enjoy a few more carols throughout the show as part of this Christmas season.
*Thistle and Shamrock – Longest Night
Pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice are some of the oldest winter festivals in the world. The Norse people believed the sun was a wheel that changed the seasons and their word “houl” is thought to have given us “yule.” For the ancient Celts, the midwinter sun was believed to stand still for twelve days and a log was lit to conquer the darkness. These and many other customs have been incorporated into Christian and secular winter holidays we’ll hear music that keeps their spirit alive today.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.
