43 avsnitt • Längd: 65 min • Månadsvis
The leaders and legends of bluegrass, up close and personal. Interviews by Chris Wuerth, host of GuitartownCT bluegrass concert series in Hamden, CT, since 2008.
The podcast Got ’Grass? is created by Bluegrass stars. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Mason is a talented young singer/songwriter/guitarist, who just left Old Crow Medicine Show after three years, to pursue his own music. He's written songs for Molly Tuttle, Del McCoury and Sierra Ferrell, was a contestant on America Idol, and has a fantastic voice and stage presence. He will be a big star in bluegrass, country, or whatever he chooses. Nice to catch these young guns on the way up!
From JD Crowe and the New South, to the Dan Tyminski Band to the Seldom Scene, Ron is a monster on both banjo and fiddle. Winner of IBMA fiddle player of the year and banjo player of the year, he's the rhythmic backbone that most other bluegrass players only aspire to. Ron is a thoughtful and I would say spiritual guy, who values giving more than receiving, both in life and in music. A true Renaissance man, he also builds and repairs instruments, gardens, and enjoys working his 50 acres with chainsaw and backhoe. A pleasure to talk with.
50 albums, a Grammy, 7 Grammy nominations. Bands: Bill Monroe, Muleskinner w/ Clarence White and David Grisman, Old and in The Way with Vassar Clemens and Jerry Garcia, Seatrain w/ Richard Greene, Earth Opera, Peter Rowan Quartet w/ Tony Rice, on and on. Wrote "Midnight Moonlight", "Panama Red", "The Walls of Time", "Land of the Navajo", and "Free Mexican Airforce". At age 82, he is a cultural force almost unmatched in American music, and a wise and joyful human being. It was pure delight talking with him!
Half of the illustrious folk duo with with Marcy Marxer, Cathy has close to 40 albums, 14 Grammy nominations, and 2 Grammy awards. She has collaborated with everyone from Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton to Ella Jenkins and Rhiannon Giddens. From folk music, bluegrass, country, and children's songs, to festivals, camps and worldwide tours, she's done it all, on almost every instrument. Truly a huge, positive force in American roots music!
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
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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....
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
The "Man of Constant Sorrow', Dan Tyminski is a 4 time IBMA bluegrass vocalist of the year, and a 14 time Grammy winner. From The Lonesome River Band, through 30 years with Alison Krauss and Union Station, and his award winning song from the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Dan has been at the top of the bluegrass world as a singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist. Fascinating interview.
Tim O'Brien is one of the superstars of acoustic music, as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, multi instrumentalist and performer. He's won Grammys, IBMA's, and has a songbook of original songs that is the envy of most musicians today. He's a very thoughtful and articulate spokesman, both for himself, and for bluegrass and Americana music.
Amanda Cook is the founder and lead singer of The Amanda Cook Band, since 2014. Crowd pleasers at festivals, she prides herself on their hard driving sound and the emotional connection they make with audiences everywhere. Hopefully she will win IBMA vocalist of the year soon!
Caroline Owens is a twenty-two year old bluegrass singer/songwriter from Denton, North Carolina. She is causing quite a stir in bluegrass, as lead singer and guitarist for her band, Caroline Owens and New Company. She's being compared to a young Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss, as she grows and develops her own style. Someone to watch!
Guitarist Clay Hess was a Grammy winner after replacing Bryan Sutton in Ricky Skaggs' and Kentucky Thunder. He went on to be the stabilizing voice with teenage Sierra Hull and Highway 111, then played with Mountain Heart before starting his own band. He talks about Tony Rice, about the emotional quality of good guitar playing, and much more in an easy and wide ranging conversation.
Mandolinist Mike Compton is the master of the Bill Monroe mandolin style, and has performed with everyone from Sting and Dolly Parton to Gregg Allman and Norman Blake. He talks about his approach to the mandolin, his relationship with Bill Monroe, the history of black musicians in country and bluegrass music, his take on modern country music, and lots more.
West coast mandolinist, songwriter and bandleader John Reischman talks at length about meeting Tony Rice in California, playing on the first 3 Tony Rice Unit albums, how he got his Lloyd Loar mandolin, about practicing, his tone and technique, and how much he loves and is inspired by Vancouver, BC. An easy and free flowing conversation!
David Grier talks about his childhood, growing up with Bill Monroe and Clarence White playing music in his house, his approach to practicing, a couple of things he learned from Tony Rice, his development as a singer and songwriter, and much more. David is a unique talent, who speaks his mind, and is usually right!
Rob Ickes talks about his affection for, and playing with, The Tony Rice Unit, his time with Earl Scruggs, his take on country music today, and, amazingly, how much he doesn't know about playing the dobro! An insightful and friendly conversation.
Jason Carter has played fiddle with The Del McCoury Band for 30 over years. He has won 3 Grammys, and 5 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year awards. He is also a member of The Travelin' McCourys, and is engaged to fiddle player Bronwyn Keith Hynes of the Molly Tuttle Band.
Legendary bassist who played 5 years with with Tony Rice Unit, plus Nickel Creek, Tim O'Brien and John Hartford. Mark now tours with Bela Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart. He talks at length about his time playing with and managing Tony Rice, his friendship with Bela Fleck, his love of clogging and claw hammer banjo, and views on the history and confluence of Afro American music and dance, with English folk music and dance traditions. Fascinating interview!
Luke Bulla is one of the best fiddle players of his generation. A Grammy winner with Ricky Skaggs, 15 years with Lyle Lovett, and has performed with every A-list bluegrass star. He discusses growing up in the family band, joining Ricky Skaggs in Nashville, his singing and guitar playing career, and much more. A great interview.
Rhonda Vincent has won more awards than just about anyone in bluegrass, from IBMA and SPBGMA to the Grammys. She is called The Queen of Bluegrass for good reason! She leads her hard driving bluegrass band The Rage, and duets with many of country music's biggest stars.
Bassist Todd Phillips was a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet, The Tony Rice Unit, and The Bluegrass Album Band. Our conversation provides a unique and wide ranging inside look at the history, music and personalities of that unforgettable era.
Bluegrass star Justin Moses expounds on his early years, his time with Ricky Skaggs and Dan Tyminski, touring the world with Bela Fleck's "My Bluegrass Heart", and of course his marriage and performing career with Sierra Hull. A brilliant multi-instrumentalist, he's 5-time IBMA dobro player of the year!
This is a long and fascinating interview. Doyle reminisces about performing and recording with Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe, The Country Gentlemen, The Bluegrass Album Band and of course Quicksilver. His memories of Jimmy Martin and Tony Rice may surprise you. He recorded over 47 albums, and won 17 IBMA awards. Truly a bluegrass legend!
Phil Rosenthal was the lead singer and guitarist for The Seldom Scene from 1977-1986. He talks freely about his hiring by the Seldom Scene in 1977, and his abrupt and bitter firing by the band in 1986. His friend Tony Rice was one of the few who called to sympathize, having left the David Grisman Quintet under less than ideal circumstances himself a few years earlier.
Phil is also a prolific songwriter, "Muddy Water" being his most famous song, recorded by Johnny Cash, among many others. His American Melody Studios has produced many award winning recordings. Phil lives in Guilford, Connecticut, and still performs, teaches and records regularly.
Missy Raines is a highly regarded and influential bassist, bandleader, singer and songwriter. She has been voted best bluegrass bassist by the International Bluegrass Music Association ten times, and was nominated for a Grammy in 2020.
Missy talks at length about being a woman in bluegrass, her ideal duet partner (Jimmy Martin), how Jim Hurst really encouraged her singing, and how challenging it is to sing and play bass at the same time!
2-time IBMA bluegrass fiddler of the year Bronwyn Keith-Hynes chats about her upbringing in Virginia, her exciting years at in Boston at Berklee College of Music with other young bluegrass musicians like Sierra Hull, how she co-founded bluegrass band Mile Twelve, and her move to Nashville in 2020.
After 2 years in Nashville, she decided to leave Mile Twelve to play with Molly Tuttle, a hard choice, but one which has had momentous results, capped by her 2024 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. She just got engaged to fiddle player Jason Carter of The Del McCoury Band, is working on her own songwriting, and is planning on leading her own band soon.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.