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
Josh Turknett (Brainjo) Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:55
Here's the final interview of the year! My guest for this one is Josh Turknett, author of the fantastic book 'The Laws of Brainjo - The Art & Science of Molding a Musical Mind’.Josh's book is all about how our brains wor…
Salt Creek (A 85 bpm) - You Play Rhythm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:18
This week we're jamming along to Salt Creek 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…
Salt Creek (A 85 bpm) - You Play Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:23
This week we're jamming along to Salt Creek 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…
Salt Creek (A 85 bpm) - Jam Along [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:30
This week we're jamming along to Salt Creek 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 thro…
Salt Creek (A 85 bpm) - Performance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:45
This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Salt Creek. 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 tun…
Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers) Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:01
My guest this week is the brilliant Chris Eldridge. Chris is a member of my favourite band in the world, Punch Brothers, but he also records and tours with Julian Lage as a duet, as well as recording, writing and produci…
Charlotte Carrivick Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:57
My guest this week is the fabulous Charlotte Carrivick. Charlotte's one of my favourite guitarists and we've been chatting about getting this interview done since July, so I'm thrilled we finally managed to find a time t…
Red Wing (G 85 bpm) - You Play Rhythm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:16
This week we're jamming along to Red Wing 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…
Red Wing (G 85 bpm) - You Play Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:17
This week we're jamming along to Red Wing 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…
Red Wing (G 85 bpm) - Jam Along [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:50
This week we're jamming along to Red Wing 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 throug…