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What a year! Bronwyn got engaged, married fiddler Jason Carter at the Grand Ol' Opry, won a Grammy with Molly Tuttle, almost won a 2nd Grammy for her album I Built A World, moved to a new home in Nashville, is working on a second album as band leader and lead singer, is writing songs, preparing a big tour leading her own band in 2025, as well as touring with Molly Tuttle!

She was my first podcast guest exactly one year ago, and I thought it would be fun to catch up. And it certainly was. Congratulations to one of the true talents in music today.

Here's a great video of her wedding at The Grand Ol' Opry, with an all-star band playing Train 45. https://youtu.be/MHpkLG_50BI?si=u1O9VQOqicltkL1n 

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After years with Peter Rowan, banjo player Max Wareham strikes out on his own with the album, "Daggomit!", featuring Chris Eldridge, David Grier, Laura Orshaw, Chris Henry, Mike Bub, Larry Atamanuik, and of course Peter Rowan. Max has also written a fascinating book about Bill Monroe's unsung banjo player Rudy Lyle. An insightful and delightful conversation!

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Talk about amazing musical stories! At age 90, Alice Gerrard is sharp as a tack. Her memories of Baltimore music parties at Hazel Dickens' home, with Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Ola Belle Reed, Mike Seeger, Dock Boggs, Ralph Rinzler, Tommy Jarrell, Elizabeth Cotten, etc... are incredible. I need to have her on again soon, so much more to talk about!

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A superstar mandolinist, Sierra Hull comes across as thoughtful, warm, focused and fun loving. She has forged a unique identity through collaborations in all genres of music and all types of musicians. With several Grammy nominations, and too many IBMA awards to count, she embarks this spring on a national tour with Billy Strings, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Busy, busy, busy! We were lucky to catch up with her!

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Mandolinist, band leader, singer, songwriter, teacher, and now father, Joe is the hub of bluegrass in New England. He has played with, and taught, virtually all the young stars of contemporary bluegrass. In our interview, Joe talks about many of his contemporaries, his mandolin playing and singing, teaching, and of course how it feels to have a baby daughter at home.

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Bluegrass icon Larry Sparks started playing guitar with The Stanley Brothers in 1965, at age 17. He talks about his 61 years in the bluegrass  business, with many memories of Carter and Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, his approach to singing, and his beloved 1954 Martin D-28 with the distinctive double pickguard. What a thrill for me to talk with one of my bluegrass heroes!

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A fascinating chat with bluegrass guitarist and singer Michael Daves. He talks about his partnership with pal Chris Thile, his exposure to jazz with college mentor, saxophonist Yusef Lateef, the amazing fiddle playing of Brittany Haas, as well as lots of talk about bluegrass guitar, past and present, and much more. Too much for one interview, I'll have to have him back!

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Bassist Ronnie Simpkins, brother of fiddler Rickie Simpkins, has been a crucial member of several major bluegrass bands, including The Virginia Squires, The Tony Rice Unit, and currently The Seldom Scene. We talked about his musical upbringing, playing the bass "in the pocket", and of course many memories and stories about performing, travelling and recording with Tony Rice. Ronnie is an insightful and delightful conversationalist!

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The second part of my interview with bassist, record producer and songwriter Jon Weisberger. He talks in detail about songwriting, co-writing, the Nashville music scene, and the specific responsibilities of being a record producer. He is a fountain of wonderful information about music, and we could have talked for hours. 

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Jon is a prolific and successful record producer, bassist and songwriter. He has written over 200 songs which have been recorded, by bluegrass and country artists including Billy Strings, The Travelin' McCourys, Doyle Lawson, Blue Highway, and The Infamous Stringdusters. He also hosts "Hand Picked" with Del McCoury on Sirius radio, was bassist for Chris Jones & The Night Drivers for 16 years, is an IBMA board member.

In this first of two interviews, Jon talks about Tony Rice, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and Billy Strings, and delves deep into the history of bluegrass and country music, and how and why they diverged. He's an encyclopedia of music knowledge!

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Tony Trischka, banjo legend, innovator, composer and teacher, playing lately with young stars Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle, as well as his old pals Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland and Jerry Douglas. He won 2024 IBMA Song of the Year for "Brown's Ferry Blues" w/ Billy Strings. He talked about his wide-ranging music al influences, from Pete Seeger and jazz to Earl Scruggs and Charles Ives, and about  getting turned down for Bill Monroe's band. Recently he has been putting poems of Emily Dickinson to music. I wish we had more time to chat....

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Jesse Brock is 3-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, including 2024. He plays now with Authentic Unlimited. In this conversation Jesse talks about his mandolin style, how to play bluegrass "chop", his admiration for Michael Cleveland, Doyle Lawson and Tony Rice, and his own musical journey. He talks with great candor about his personal and musical highs and lows, a really heartfelt conversation that not many musicians are open to. Really a wonderful interview.

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Deanie Richardson is one of the premier fiddlers in country and bluegrass. She has been voted IBMA fiddle player of the year twice, including in 2024. She has toured extensively with Holly Dunn, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill, rock star Bob Seeger, and her latest band, multiple award winning Sister Sadie. Deanie is at the pinnacle of her career right now, feeling energized and full of music, joy and ideas. This was a great look at her splendid career, and her insightful thoughts on fiddle playing. 

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Baltimore based couple with gorgeous harmonies, original songs and tasteful instrumental chops. They have toured Europe and the US, and have 7 albums. A thoughtful and interesting chat about life on the road today, songwriting, and the evolution of their duet sound and influences.

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2023 IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, Grammy nominee Trey Hensley was named "Nashville's hottest young guitar player" by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He has performed with dobro superstar Rob Ickes for over ten years. He talks about guitar playing, country music, singing, and stories about his time with Johnny Cash and the Carter family, plus a whole lot more, with self deprecating humor and lots of stories. 

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A talented bluegrass couple, with many IBMA awards between them. My first "couple" podcast! Fascinating conversation about how they met and fell in love,  Kenny's path to stardom with Lonesome River Band, tips on playing bluegrass guitar, life on the road in today's world, and lots of other topics. Enjoy!

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Danny Paisley is celebrating 50 years in bluegrass. He leads the band Southern Grass, which he took over from his famous father Bob Paisley. Alison Krauss has called him her favorite singer. He has a gentle manner and a wealth of insight into bluegrass and its history. A great conversation. 

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Jerry Douglas is master of the dobro. He's played on over 1500 recordings, with every musician on the planet. He's funny, insightful, and a real pleasure to chat with. He talked about finding some previously unheard Boone Creek recordings, his long personal and musical relationship with Tony Rice, and lots of insights about his life and career. A wonderful interview. 

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Michael Cleveland is a 10-time IBMA fiddle player of the year and a Grammy winner. He is considered the best bluegrass fiddler of his time. He talks candidly and eloquently about his youth at Kentucky School for the Blind, his bluegrass heroes like Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Bryan Sutton and Tim O'Brien, his amazing fiddle "chop", and his love for pizza. He knows about Sally's PIzza in New Haven, but has yet to eat there. We'll make sure he gets there next time he's in the area!

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Bryan is a bluegrass guitar superstar. He first gained notice with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. He has since played with just about everyone in bluegrass, including a stint with country stars The Dixie Chicks. He talks at length about Doc Watson, Tony Rice, his studio career, his guitar, and his approach to bluegrass. We are thrilled to have him on the podcast!