Lots of great bluegrass music here, from Sam Bush, Nu-Blu, Cliff Waldron, Jim Hurst and Ricky Skaggs. There’s some fine instrumental work from Bill Evans & Fletcher Bright, Jerry Douglas & friends, Ivan Rosenberg, and some live gospel music from Reno & Smiley. A veritable treasure trove of bluegrass.

Extraordinary banjo player Eddie Adcock passed away recently; this show features some of his playing with both the Country Gentlemen and with Martha Hearon. We also play a track from the brand new Big Country Bluegrass album, some tracks from Canadian band Jerusalem Ridge, and some music from David Grier, the Dry Branch Fire Squad, Sister Sadie, and a look back at some NZ country music from Tex Morton & Sister Dorrie, featuring Tex’s fine guitar picking.

Some ‘variety’ songs in this week’s show, from the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, and the Greenbriar Boys – entertainment rather than bluegrass, but essential in a show. Of course, we’ve got some straight-ahead bluegrass from the Johnson Mountain Boys, the Country Gentlemen, Jim & Jesse, Sister Sadie, the Stanley Brothers and Sideline, and an Aussie version of a classic Bill Monroe tune.

Seldom Scene, Traveling McCourys, Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, Rhonda Vincent, lots of variety in this week’s bluegrass performers. There’s also tracks from the Lonesome River Band, the Petersens, and some fine fiddle playing from Ralph Blizzard. The HCBB get to round out the show with a nod to St Patrick’s Day, with the Keith MacMillan composed tune, Hikuai Hornpipe. Sound Irish to you?

I went to see the Bob Dylan movie “A Complete Unknown" the other day, and it reminded me of how many great songs Bob Dylan wrote, that were covered by bluegrass bands. I’ve included a few on this show, from bands such as the Dillards, Marion Arts, Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, the Country Gentlemen, and Tony Rice / Rice Brothers. Of course, I’ve added in some great music NOT written by BD, from performers such as the Petersens, Doyle Lawson, Jim Gaudet, Claire Lynch, and the Mainland Hoedowners. Have a listen!

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing two members of the Petersen Family, who are presently touring the North Island of NZ. Ellen (banjo player) and Matt (guitar player) kindly consented to be interviewed in my home studio, and we talked about lots of different things! I’ve also played a couple of tracks from one of their many albums. The rest of the show features an eclectic range of bluegrass, from Seldom Scene to Buzz Busby, Rhonda Vincent to the Shady Valley Boys, Ramona Church, and some hot dobro from Leroy Mack.

I’m playing tracks from some of my collection of ‘compilation’ albums today, because that gives me an opportunity to feature artists who we might not otherwise hear on the show. Although reasonably extensive, my LP and CD collection has large ‘gaps’ in it, and these albums help fill those gaps.

The opening tune is my first self-composed instrumental, from 1969, played on my RB100 banjo, with it’s rosewood fingerboard, hence the title of ‘Rosewood Ramble’. We then hear from Mark Newton, master song-writer Larry Cordle, the dynamic young band Flatt Lonesome, and the Osborne Brothers reprising some of their formative years’ music. Mark Johnson & Emory Lester pick a couple of tunes, Pam Crowe sings with the HCBB, and Don Stover plays some hard-driving bluegrass. Join me!

The legendary Johnson Mountain Boys, Live At The Birchmere, kick off this episode, and we’ve got some great bluegrass from my vinyl collection, including Del McCoury and Alison Krauss. Some contemporary music sneaks in, too, from the Kody Norris Show, and High Fidelity, and there’s some old-time banjo picking from Snuffy Jenkins. I’ve included a couple of crazy radio ads from the late 1960’s, performed by the HCBB, and some great picking from Scott Vestal & Co, and Bill Emerson. Not to be missed!