Bitesize - Jack Lawrence on the D18 Doc Watson Gave Him

Bitesize - Jack Lawrence on the D18 Doc Watson Gave Him

Author: Matt Hutchinson February 13, 2025 Duration: 10:45

This is the first of a new series of episodes on the podcast I'm calling 'Bitesize'. 

I've done well over 100 interviews for the podcast now. That's a lot of conversations! The idea with these episodes is to pick out a highlight from a past conversation and share it again, in case you missed it missed it first time round, or just want to hear some bits again. If you're new to the podcast they'll also give you a great sense of what's there, so you can dive in and discover some of the older episodes.

This first one is a real favourite of mine. Back in 2023 I did a bunch of episodes celebrating Doc Watson on what would have been his 100th birthday. I spoke to people who  played with Doc and spent time with him (including Jack Lawrence, Happy Traum and T. Michael Coleman), as well as players who just love Doc's music (including Critter Eldridge, Tim O'Brien, Bryan Sutton and many more).

This comes from the chat I had with Jack Lawrence. He shares a wonderful story about Doc giving him an iconic Martin D18 that needed a little TLC.

I hope you enjoy this. It was great listening back to it!

If you want to hear more from the Doc episodes, you'll find them here:


Doc Watson 100th birthday celebration - Part 1

Doc Watson 100th birthday celebration - Part 2 

Jack Lawrence conversation in full 


Happy picking,

Matt


Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)


Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

- Review us on Apple Podcasts


Hosted by Matt Hutchinson, Bluegrass Jam Along is an IBMA Award-winning conversation that feels like pulling up a chair in the middle of a lively, expert picking session. It’s built for anyone with an ear for the intricate stories and sounds of bluegrass and old-time music, going far beyond just the recordings. Each episode brings thoughtful interviews with the people who shape the scene, from legendary performers like Alison Krauss and David Grisman to the skilled instrument makers and writers whose work forms the foundation. You’ll hear from voices such as Sierra Hull, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, and Sarah Jarosz, discussing craft, history, and the personal journeys behind the music. Alongside these deep conversations, the podcast weaves in updates on new releases and notable news, keeping you connected to the evolving string band world. The result is a rich, weekly listen that offers both education and genuine camaraderie, mirroring the collaborative heart of a jam itself. Tune in to this podcast for an authentic and engaging exploration of the music, hosted by someone deeply embedded in its community.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 516

Bluegrass Jam Along
Podcast Episodes
Happy Traum (Homespun Tapes) repost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
Last week we lost Happy Traum, one of the shining lights of acoustic music for over half a century.It’s hard to fully grasp, in our online world where everything is right there whenever we need it, just what an enormous…
Roger Siminoff - Celebrating Lloyd Loar and the Gibson F5 Mandolin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:55
My guest this week is Roger Siminoff. Not only is Roger an authority on instrument making, the physics of music and tap tuning, he's also an expert on the life and work of Lloyd Loar.Loar worked at Gibson in the early 19…
Bluegrass Briefing - July 15th 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:47
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and Announcements (Church Stree…
Bluegrass Briefing - July 8th 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:25
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.Podcast News Gabe Witcher interviewB…
Brittany Haas on joining Punch Brothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
My guest on the podcast this week is Brittany Haas, fiddle player with Hawktail and, now, Punch Brothers!I interviewed Gabe Witcher last June, a few days after he played his final shows with Punch Brothers at Telluride.…
Bluegrass Briefing - July 1st 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:39
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and announcements - Church Stre…
Ruth Oxenberg and Rob Schumer's Bluegrass Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:35
My guests this week are Ruth Oxenberg and Rob Schumer.They join me to talk about a very special series of concerts they've curated called Bluegrass on Hudson, which are happening at The Fisher Center for the Performing A…
Tony Trischka on Earl Jam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:27
My guest this week is Tony Trischka, who returns to Bluegrass Jam Along to chat about his superb new record Earl Jam.We talk about Tony receiving a thumb drive containing 200 unheard recordings of Earl Scruggs jamming wi…
Bluegrass Briefing - June 10th 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:20
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and announcements - Church Stre…