Bluegrass Country

American Routes

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

Produced in New Orleans, American Routes explores the shared stylistic and cultural threads of our nation’s music — and how they are distinguished, including blues and jazz, gospel and soul, old-time country and rockabilly, Cajun and zydeco, Tejano and Latin, roots rock and pop, avant-garde and classical.

Banks of the Ohio

Beginning May 23, 2009: Banks of the Ohio has undergone a name change. The show will now be called Uptown Bluegrass, the same title as George McKnight’s original program prior to taking over for Fred Bartenstein in November of 2008. Rebroadcasts of Banks of the Ohio with Fred Bartenstein can occasionally be heard in the Bluegrass Master Class time slot

The Bill Miller Show

Tues. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 3 a.m. ET

The Bill Miller Show is all about variety - from Grandpa Jones to Infamous Stringdusters. A regular feature of the show is "Lesterfest" - a salute to the singing and songwriting of Lester Flatt. You'll hear great new bluegrass, classic sounds, and songs you haven't heard in years on The Bill Miller Show.

Bluegrass Breakdown

Sun. 2 a.m. ET, Mon. 4 a.m. ET, Tues. 12 a.m. ET, Wed. 5 a.m. ET, Thurs. 6 p.m. ET,

Dave Higgs brings listeners an emotionally-charged, heart-rending, paint-peeling, splinter-kicking one-hour bluegrass show, featuring scintillating conversation and live music with some of the best in bluegrass live from Nashville, Tenn.

Bluegrass Master Class

Sun. 3-6 p.m. ET

Each week on this historical series, one of our expert hosts brings to light the talent, personalities, and music that make up the rich tradition of bluegrass. Learn more about your favorite song or just reminisce. And, don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz!

Bluegrass Review

Sun. 11 p.m. ET, Mon. 8 p.m. ET, Tues. 2 a.m. ET, Wed. 4 a.m. ET, Fri. 6 a.m. ET

Each week, host Phil Nusbaum presents current and historical bluegrass music, interviews, commentary, and the “Gems of Bluegrass” segment: dissecting a single musical concept.

Bluegrass Signal

Sun. 10 p.m. ET, Mon. 7 p.m. ET, Tues. 1 a.m. ET, Wed. 6 a.m. ET, Thurs. 8 p.m. ET

Produced in Oakland, Cal., Peter Thompson brings you an hour-long themed show filled with classic as well as recent bluegrass releases, background information and lots of music from the “left coast.”

Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown

Last Saturday of each month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET

Lee Michael Demsey plays the top 30 songs as reported to Bluegrass Unlimited for the upcoming month, in the familiar countdown format.

The Dick Spottswood Show

Sun. 12 a.m. & 1 p.m. ET, Wed. 1 p.m. ET, Fri. 4 a.m. ET,

Concentrating on music from the 1920s through 1950s, but reaching back to the 1890s and the beginnings of recorded sound, each of Dick’s programs brings listeners a surprising collection of recordings - from cylinders to 78’s and LP’s - highlighting the many facets of folk culture in the United States.

etown

Sat. 7 p.m. ET, Mon. 3 a.m. ET, Thurs. 7 p.m. ET

etown creates a constantly expanding “community on the air” by featuring diverse music and interviews with a wide variety of authors, poets, and policymakers. With etown’s inspiring “e-chievement” awards, listeners all over the country are reminded that individual efforts really do make a difference.

Foster's Corner

Tues. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 3 a.m. ET

Bill Foster brings us three hours of great bluegrass music from the traditional to the modern — in the road, and on the edge. A familiar voice on WAMU 88.5 since the early 1980’s, Bill delves into his extensive collection of bluegrass music including LPs, tapes, and CDs each month.

The Free for All

LIVE Wed. 6-9 p.m. ET, Rebroadcast Fri. 9 p.m.-12 a .m. ET

The perfect cure for those mid-week doldrums! Join Echo as she spins some contemporary and progressive bluegrass and Americana music, sure to get you tapping your foot and singing along. Grassify Your Life!

The Gary Henderson Show

LIVE Sat. 8 a.m. ET, Mon. 12 p.m. ET, Fri 12 a.m. ET

In 1967 Gary Henderson helped to start the tradition of bluegrass on WAMU 88.5 as the producer of the show ‘Bluegrass Unlimited’. He’s still at it today, with his live Saturday show spinning contemporary hits and ‘mossy old favorites.’

The Katy Daley Show

LIVE Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. ET

Katy Daley is in the studio live every weekday morning for three hours of bluegrass. With more than 25 years of radio experience behind her, Katy celebrates the music, interviews musicians, previews special programming, and presents features like “Music that Matters.”

The Lee Michael Demsey Show

LIVE Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET, Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET

Lee has hosted bluegrass programs on WAMU 88.5’s airwaves for over 25 years. He continues his tradition of spinning contemporary bluegrass for you, live in the studio, each weekday. His Saturday program focuses on the great singer/songwriters in bluegrass and acoustic music.

Lonesome Pine RFD

Mon. 12 a.m. ET, Wed. 9 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 p.m. ET

From WFDU in Teaneck, New Jersey, host Carol Beaugard offers a mix of contemporary and classic bluegrass along with historical notes on the music, industry notes, current concert information, interviews and ‘backstage stories’ about the artists.

Mountain Stage

Sat. 10 p.m. ET

Mountain Stage is a two-hour live performance radio program produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting featuring some of the world’s greatest artists in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere with a live-broadcast edge.

Music From Foggy Hollow

Sat. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 7 p.m. ET, Tues. 3 a.m. & 6 p.m. ET, Thurs. 10 p.m. ET, Fri. 12 p.m. ET

Every week, Mike Kear broadcasts three hours of jokes, music news, and bluegrass on Sydney’s Hawkesbury Radio and then packages it up and ships it to us.

The Old Home Place

Tues. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 3 a.m. ET

Each month, mandolin player Lisa Kay Howard spins three hours of contemporary and traditional bluegrass, and gives listeners a peak into the local bluegrass scene.

Old Time Jam

Mon. 6 p.m. ET, Wed. 1 a.m. ET, Thurs. 6 a.m. ET, Fri. 8 p.m. ET

Banjo player and old time enthusiast Hubie King highlights the genre that preceded bluegrass; old time. Hubie also features field recordings of old time jams and the oxymoronic new old time musicians.

Open Mic

Sat. 6 a.m. ET, Mon. 5 a.m. ET, Thurs. 3 a.m. ET, Fri. 6 p.m. ET

Each week we “open the mic” for a two hour program featuring a rotating cast of hosts and themes including historical shows, concerts, and interviews.

The Ray Davis Show

Sun. 10 a.m. ET, Mon. - Fri. 3 p.m. ET

Ray brings you some of the best bluegrass around, from prison songs and “plum pitiful” tunes to the great train rides - and train wrecks - of bluegrass music.

Special Programming

Sat. 3 a.m. ET, Sun. 6 p.m. ET, Mon. 9 p.m., Tues. 6 a.m. ET, Wed. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 5 a.m. ET, Fri. 3 a.m. ET

Each week WAMU’s Bluegrass Country brings you exciting and diverse programs that highlight a particular artist or aspect of bluegrass.

Stained Glass Bluegrass

Sun. 6 a.m. ET, Tues. 9 p.m. ET,

Since 1974, listeners have been waking up on Sunday morning to gospel bluegrass on WAMU. Bob Webster continues that tradition with four hours of the gospel favorites, old hymns, and spiritual bluegrass songs.

Thistle and Shamrock

Sat. 6 p.m. ET

Host Fiona Ritchie explores the evolving Celtic musical traditions of Europe and North America, from the ancient tradition of reels, jigs, and ballads to the pulse of new music: an exuberant blend of rhythms, voices and instruments.

The Tom "Cat" Reeder Show

Tues. 12 p.m. ET, Thurs. 12 a.m. ET, Sun. 3 a.m. ET

Country Radio Hall of Famer Tom “Cat” Reeder plays a mix of classic country and bluegrass, and brings his unique sense of humor to the Bluegrass Country airwaves. He’ll be tickled plum twist legged to see you.