Back Porch Bluegrass Show - 15-09-2026

Back Porch Bluegrass Show - 15-09-2026

Author: Free FM September 15, 2026 Duration: 58:19
There are many different styles of bluegrass, and in this show we get to hear just some of them. From the ‘early’ classic bluegrass sound of the Stanley Brothers (played by two youngsters emulating their heroes, Ricky Skaggs & Keith Whitley), through the powerful sounds of the Country Gentlemen featuring Charlie Waller, to the folkier sound of Richard Bennett. Women play a large part, so we hear from Sally Jones. Instrumental prowess is always a feature of the music, so we have tunes from master fiddler Kenny Baker, banjo maestro John Hickman, and even NZ’s own Colleen Trenwith with the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. In between all these we’ve got Kenny & Amanda Smith, the Lonesome River Band, and Marty Stuart. It’s a bluegrass festival packed into a one-hour show!

There's a particular warmth and camaraderie found in bluegrass music, a feeling best shared in an informal setting. That's the spirit captured in Back Porch Bluegrass, hosted by Paul Trenwith. More than just a presenter, Paul is a genuine enthusiast-a player, promoter, and dedicated advocate for the genre's rich traditions and vibrant contemporary scene. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair on that proverbial back porch to hear some truly exceptional music. The playlist is thoughtfully curated, showcasing a wide range of the genre's best performers, from legendary pickers to exciting new voices keeping the sound alive. You'll hear the driving rhythms of classic banjo, the soulful weave of mandolin and fiddle, and those signature close-harmony vocals that define the style. Produced by Free FM, this podcast is a genuine celebration of bluegrass in all its forms. It’s for anyone who already loves the high, lonesome sound, or for those simply curious about authentic roots music played with undeniable passion and skill. Tune in for a regular dose of expertly selected tracks and the quiet, knowledgeable guidance of a host who truly lives for this music.
Author: Language: en-nz Episodes: 50

Back Porch Bluegrass Show
Podcast Episodes
Back Porch Bluegrass - 25-11-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:39
A rather ‘odd’ mix of early bluegrass, old country songs, Western Swing and dynamic fiddle tunes. It must be bluegrass!
Back Porch Bluegrass - 18-11-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:39
Lots of ‘classic’ bluegrass, from the likes of Red Allen & Frank Wakefield, the Johnson Mountain Boys, and the Friendly City Playboys. The Dillards play a couple of tunes, as do Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, and we…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 11-11-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
We’ve got a disparate selection of songs from the very broad ‘bluegrass’ genre; with some classic bluegrass, some songs from Arizona, songs about home towns, great instrumentals, and sad love songs. Bluegrass Album Band,…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 04-11-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
While on my weekend away in Wellington for the Wellington Folk Festival 60th Anniversary, I visited Slow Boat Records in Cuba St, and found some bluegrass CDs there that I considered necessary to add to my collection. Co…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 21-10-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
Another deep dig into my shelves, and I’ve found some lesser-known bluegrass artists for your enjoyment. I’ve also featured a brand-new album from the master, Larry Sparks. The Osborne Brothers, Louie Setzer, Leon Morris…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 14-10-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
Special Consensus are first up (after the opening track by Colleen Trenwith & myself), followed by the Bluegrass Album Band, the Kruger Brothers and the Brombies. We’ve also got the Price Sisters, Earl Taylor and the Sto…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 07-10-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:11
Some familiar artists this week, with maybe a few you’ve missed. Longview play some driving bluegrass to get us started, then it’s the Skaggs & Rice duet, fiddling Kenny Baker, old-timer Clyde Moody, and Cliff Waldron. T…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 30-09-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
It doesn’t get more bluegrassy than Ricky Skaggs singing ‘Little Maggie’, but then we have the Gibson Brothers, Bill Evans and Bill Monroe in a couple of ‘live’ performances. The Cox Family sing one of their best-known s…
Back Porch Bluegrass - 23-09-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:35
We kick-off with some ‘Bluegrass Picking’, then go straight into some classic Flatt & Scruggs style bluegrass from the Earls of Leicester. You’ll hear from the Petersens, Cumberland Gap Connection, Joe Mullins (with Del…