Back Porch Bluegrass

I enjoyed sharing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with you all so much last week that I have included another couple of tracks this week, too. We’ll also hear from the Kody Norris Show, the High Desert Band, the Poor Valley Girls (from ETSU), and Tony Ellis. The Dry Branch Fire Squad introduce some humour and some fine banjo playing from Bill Evans, and there’s a couple of tracks from a live recording of Lou Reid and Carolina.

I’ve included a couple of tunes from that classic album “Circle” album from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, featuring them and some of their musical heroes. I’ve also included tracks from my musical hero, Doug Dillard, and offerings from Hot Rize, Jerusalem Ridge, the Osborne Brothers, the Earls of Leicester, Kathy Kallick, and of course, NZ’s own Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. It’s coming up to Christmas (already!) so I’ve sneaked in a song from the Trenwiths with Caroline Jones, too.

Some of my LP’s get an airing this week. The Johnson Mountain Boys, Charlie Moore, J D Crowe on the highly-regarded ‘Model Church’ album from 1971, and some Jimmie Rodgers songs from the great Merle Haggard album ‘Same Train, Different Time’. Of course, I’ve got some more recent music from Sally Jones, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Daniel Boner, and Rickie Simpkins. Something for all tastes!

I’m continuing to dig deep into my CD shelves, and I’ve selected some great music for you. Today’s show includes music from Karen Lynn (of Australia), Kathy Barwick, Eddie & Martha Adcock, the Barefoot Nellies (love that name), and I get to play the John Hartford track I missed out last week. We’ve also got Bill Monroe, Seldom Scene and the Earls of Leicester. Lots of great listening here. Best of all, I tell you all about the forthcoming NZ tour of that great family band, the Petersens, in February 2025.

Joe Mullins, the Spinney Brothers, Phil Leadbetter, Greg Blake, Cliff Waldron, the Nashville bluegrass Band, John Hartford, all feature in this episode of Back Porch Bluegrass. The Tuttles and AJ Lee, featuring Molly Tuttle and AJ Lee when they were teenagers, present us with a couple of fine examples of ‘the next generation’ of bluegrassers. Great music!

I’ve featured my friend Tom Henderson from Tampa, FL, this week, as a tribute to the folks of Florida and eastern USA in the recent devastating storms. With his Bluegrass Parlor Band and his programme, This Is Bluegrass, did much for bluegrass music in the Tampa Bay area. I’ve also included some music from the Grascals, Patty Loveless, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson – a bluegrass Who’s Who, indeed. The Trenwiths, Matt & George & the Pleasant Valley Boys, and Country Ham also get some airtime. Enjoy.

A wide-ranging selection of bluegrass music offerings in this episode, from Missy Werner, the Lonesome River Band, Chris Jones & the Night Riders, to some pre-bluegrass from Bill Monroe, and some very early country music with what has become a bluegrass classic. Mac Wiseman, Sawmill Road and the HCBB with Pam Findlay also get some airtime – an eclectic collection!

I have my son Sam Trenwith in the studio with me today, talking a little about his music teaching world, as well as our upcoming concert in Raglan at the end of this month. I’ve also featured a band, the Forest Hills Bluegrass Band from south-west Ohio, playing their own original music, as well as offerings from Laurie Lewis, Jim Lauderdale, Bobby Hicks, Bill Blackburn, the Osborne Brothers and even The Trenwiths.

I’m digging into my LP collection for some of today’s selections – Emerson & Waldron, great band from the late-1960’s/early 1970’s, and the Johnson Mountain Boys, classic bluegrass from the 1980’s. Of course we’ve got some fine offerings from Rhonda Vincent, the Brombies, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, and the Stanley Brothers. Throw in some picking from Brad Kolodner, the HCBB and Eddie Adcock & Don Reno, and you’ve got a memorable bluegrass concert.

The Dreadful Snakes kick-off this episode of the Back Porch Bluegrass Show, and then we’ve got Balsam Range, Jeremy Stephens, Dr Pete Wernick (playing some pretty way-out sounding banjo licks), Longview and Ramona Church. I’ve got Dale Jett & Hello Stranger back this week, and the Trenwiths (previewing their appearance at the Raglan Country & Blues Festival), and a classic from Flatt & Scruggs ( because it IS a bluegrass show!)