It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m playing some Christmas songs, some familiar, some not, but all good listening. I also get to talk to Anna Tukuitoga, singer and song-writer, banjo player, guitar player, about her music and music studies at Massey University.

Digging deep into my shelves of CD’s, I’m finding some real gems of bluegrass. We hear from Emerson & Taylor, David Parmley, some ‘Blue Ridge’ bluegrass from Mickey Galyean, some favourite performers like Laurie Lewis, some old-time from the New Lost City Ramblers, and more. Great listening!

The Christmas theme is creeping into Back Porch Bluegrass, with a carol from Tony Trischka with David Grier, and a contemporary song from Becky Buller. We’ve got songs from Larry Stephenson, Chris Stuart & Back Country, Richard Bennett, Dale Ann Bradley, and some instrumental work from Scott Vestal & Co, and Leroy Mack. My son Sam Trenwith sings ‘Banjoing Along’ which gets me every time. Lots of ‘pre-Christmas’ music to enjoy.

I kick off the show with an instrumental from the mid-1970’s, featuring the ‘Scruggs’ pegs’ on my banjo, then we get into the show with the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Red Allen, Blue Highway, Beth Stevens & Edge, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. A couple of musical offerings from some 80+ years-old women (the Stonemans), Doyle Lawson, Sam Bush & Jerry Douglas, and Don Rigsby. Some really fine bluegrass music here! Of course, I remind you all about the forthcoming NZ tour of that great family band, the Petersons, in February 2025.

The Steeldrivers, Russell Moore & Third Tyme Out, Detour and Longview are all presented in this episode, as are the Lovell Sister, Dan Tyminski, and some NZ bluegrass from the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. Lyman Enloe plays a fiddle tune, and the Kentucky Colonels play a gospel tune. Of course, I remind you all about the forthcoming NZ tour of that great family band, the Petersons, in February 2025.

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!