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
Tonewoods Special with Nully from Collings Guitars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:36
Steve Nall (Nully), Collings' Head of Production, returns to the podcast to chat about tonewoods. When Nully was originally on the podcast in July we touched on this and I thought it would make for a great episode in its…
Harry Clark (East Nash Grass/Dan Tyminski) interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:24
My guest this week is Harry Clark, a recipient of the 2022 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award.Harry plays mandolin with East Nash Grass as well as in Dan Tyminski's band, both of which have new records due o…
Turkey in the Straw in G at 2 tempos - 75 bpm & 85 bpm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:48
A couple of weeks ago I released an episode where we played Wildwood Flower back to back at two different speeds - once at 75 bpm then again at 85. It proved so popular I've decided to do the same with some more tunes! T…
Tim Stafford Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:34
My guest this week is Tim Stafford.Tim is a multi award winning guitarist, songwriter, singer, producer and author.We covered a lot of ground, including the recent Blue Highway Fest, Tim's songwriting partnerships, how b…
Wildwood Flower in C at 2 tempos - 75 bpm & 85 bpm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:48
This week we've got a bonus episode! As we've been playing Wildwood Flower for the past two weeks, I thought it would be fun to have a run through at 75 bpm, then, when we're warmed up, go through it again slightly quick…
Wildwood Flower (C 85 bpm) - You Play Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:04
This week we're jamming along to Wildwood Flower 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 th…
Wildwood Flower (C 85 bpm) - Jam Along [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:20
This week we're jamming along to Wildwood Flower and 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…
Wildwood Flower (C 85 bpm) - Performance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:31
This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Wildwood Flower. 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 th…