Bluegrass Briefing - April 2026

Bluegrass Briefing - April 2026

Author: Matt Hutchinson April 1, 2026 Duration: 12:56

Welcome to this month’s Bluegrass Briefing, a monthly 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




Releases (The Grass is New)




Other bits



Happy picking.

Matt



Support the show

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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

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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
Bluegrass Briefing - April 10th 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:19
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.Pod newsSign up for email alertsChur…
Red Haired Boy in A at 2 tempos - 75 bpm & 85 bpm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:12
This week we're playing another tune back to back at two different speeds - once at 75 bpm then again at 85. We're doing Red Haired Boy and we're in the key of A.We're using the jam along format - that means I'm kicking…
Bluegrass Briefing - April 3rd 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:19
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.Pod newsBluegrass Jam Along is now s…
Bluegrass Briefing - March 27th 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:07
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.Pod newsSign up for email alertsChur…
Noam Pikelny (Mighty Poplar/Punch Brothers) interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:02
My guest this week is Noam Pikelny.Noam is probably best known as a member of Punch Brothers, but he joins me this week to talk about his new project, Mighty Poplar.He’s joined in this band by fellow Punch Brother Chris…
Peartree (G 75 bpm) - You Play Rhythm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:43
This week we're jamming along to Peartree and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play rhythm track where I play the melody so you can work on backup. It's four times through in the k…
Peartree (G 75 bpm) - You Play Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:41
This week we're jamming along to Peartree and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play lead track where I play backup so you can work on the tune. It's four times through in the key o…
Peartree (G 75 bpm) - Jam Along [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:26
This week we're jamming along to Peartreeand I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the jam along track where I play backup, followed by the melody then we keep swapping. It's four times through…
Peartree (G 75 bpm) - Performance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:11
This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Peartree. This is a performance track, rather than a backing track. It's me playing both tune and backup so you've got a reference to listen to if you're new to the tune,…
Bluegrass Briefing - March 20th 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:16
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.Pod newsJohn McEuen interview - Appl…