Bluegrass Briefing - April 21st 2025

Bluegrass Briefing - April 21st 2025

Author: Matt Hutchinson April 21, 2025 Duration: 11:01

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 Street News)



Releases (The Grass is New)



Scroll on Buddy



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
Alex Graf - Tony Rice's Manzanita Changed My Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:08
My guest this week is Alex Graf and we're talking all things Manzanita.Alex made the shift from a more jazz based background to flatpicking a few years ago and Tony Rice's Manzanita became one of the absolute cornerstone…
Bluegrass Briefing - April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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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 newsBrad Kolodner intervie…
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Duration: 55:45
My guest on the podcast this week is Brad Kolodner.Brad is a fantastic clawhammer banjo player. As well as his solo records - 'Chimney Swifts' and the recent album of solo gourd banjo tunes 'Old Growth' - Brad also plays…
Celebrating 30 Years of Sore Fingers Music Camps with John Wirtz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
My guest this week is John Wirtz.John, along with his partner Moira, runs Sore Fingers, a UK bluegrass and old time music camp that celebrates it's 30th anniversary this year.John joins me to chat about how the camp star…
Bluegrass Briefing - March 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:45
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.Ted Olson interviewDoc Watson 100t…
Celebrating the Legacy of Rich-R-Tone/Folk Star with Ted Olson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:49
My guest this week is Ted Olson, professor of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University.Ted joins me to celebrate the Rich-R-Tone record label and it's offshoot Folk Star. Rich-R-Tone was founded in 1946 by…
Bluegrass Briefing - February 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:43
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.News and announcements - church st…
Dave Sinko on How 'The David Grisman Quintet' Changed His Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:13
My guest this week is sound engineer Dave Sinko, who returns to chat about The David Grisman Quintet.We've talked about that record a lot on the podcast, but this is less about the story behind the album and more about h…