Joe Walsh: Mandolin Master, Teacher, NE Bluegrass Hub

Joe Walsh: Mandolin Master, Teacher, NE Bluegrass Hub

Author: Bluegrass stars December 31, 2024 Duration: 52:08
Send us Fan Mail Mandolinist, band leader, singer, songwriter, teacher, and now father, Joe is the hub of bluegrass in New England. He has played with, and taught, virtually all the young stars of contemporary bluegrass. In our interview, Joe talks about many of his contemporaries, his mandolin playing and singing, teaching, and of course how it feels to have a baby daughter at home.

Tucked away in Hamden, Connecticut, the Got 'Grass? podcast is where the heart of bluegrass beats. Host Chris Wuerth, from the GuitartownCT concert series, pulls up a chair with legends and rising stars of the genre for conversations that go far beyond the stage. While the music is the foundation, these discussions weave through personal history, the cultural commentary embedded in the songs, and the often hilarious, always candid stories from life on the road. You'll hear about the influences that shaped a sound, the historical moments that defined a career, and the quiet reflections that happen when the instruments are finally back in their cases. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's an intimate gathering where the voices behind the strings share their journeys with eloquence and a deep sense of connection. Each episode of this podcast feels like a backstage pass to the real stories, offering listeners a genuine understanding of the people who create the music. The tone is warm, engaging, and often surprisingly funny, mirroring the community it represents. For anyone curious about the souls behind the solos, Got 'Grass? provides a rich, listening experience that celebrates bluegrass in all its authentic, human complexity.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 83

Got 'Grass?
Podcast Episodes
Kyle Tuttle: Mandolin Exciter With Molly Tuttle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:25
Send us Fan Mail Banjo master Kyle Tuttle just finished up three years with Molly Tuttle (no relation) and Golden Highway, during which time they played 250 shows, won two Grammys, and many IBMA awards. He previously pla…
Chris Eldridge: Seldom Scene to Punch Brothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:39
Send us Fan Mail Chris Eldridge, son of Ben Eldridge of The Seldom Scene, is one of the most renowned guitarists in acoustic music. After getting a Grammy nomination as a member of The Seldom Scene, he co-founded multipl…
Pete Wernick: Dr. Banjo, Hot Rize and Bluegrass Jam Guru [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:20
Send us Fan Mail Pete Wernick, fondly known as Dr. Banjo, co-founded Hot Rize in 1987 with Tim O'Brien, Mike Scap, (soon replaced by Nick Forster) and Charles Sawtelle. Originally from NYC, he had a PhD in sociology, tau…
Vickie Vaughn: Rock Solid in East Nash Grass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:09
Send us Fan Mail Vickie Vaughn plays bass for the multi-awarded bluegrass band Della Mae. They will be touring soon, performing a tribute to Hazel Dickens. Vickie is an in-demand studio musician in Nashville, and fronts…
Maddie Denton: IBMA Fiddle Player of The Year 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:25
Send us Fan Mail Maddie Denton is a young fiddle player, singer and songwriter based in Nashville. She's been with the hot young band East Nash Grass for 7 years. During that time she taught high school biology, coached…
Brenna MacMillan: Rising Bluegrass Star [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:56
Send us Fan Mail Brenna Macmillan is a young singer, songwriter, banjo player, studio musician and band leader living in Nashville. From Kentucky, her story is fascinating and unusual. Home schooled with 12 siblings, nin…
Shelby Means: Leading the Band on Bass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:30
Send us Fan Mail Shelby Means played bass for Della Mae, and currently plays bass and sings with Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway. Her debut, self titled album comes out May 30, 2025. She sings lead, and wrote almost all…
Grant Gordy: Brooklyn Guitarist Breaking Boundaries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
Send us Fan Mail Grant Gordy is one of the most inventive and brilliant guitarists in acoustic music. After six years with the David Grisman Quintet, he plays with Mr. Sun, as a duo with guitarist Ross Martin, and with h…
Richard Greene: Monroe, Muleskinner, Seatrain Fiddle Virtuoso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:34
Send us Fan Mail Richard Greene, one of the most innovative and influential fiddle players of all time, grew up in L.A. and studied classical music until his encounter with the pyrotechnic fiddling of Scotty Stoneman. Wi…
Tammy Rogers: Fiddle: Steeldrivers to Country Hits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:36
Send us Fan Mail Fiddle star Tammy Rogers has been a huge force in country and bluegrass, from her early days touring with Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless, through her twenty years with The Steel Drivers. Also a fine…