Back Porch Bluegrass Show

Joe Mullins and his Radio Ramblers kick us off (it IS FIFA World Cup time!), and I’ve featured Patty Loveless, Bluestone, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, , as well as some tracks from the ETSU Old Time band, Bill Monroe, the Witcher Brothers, Tony Ellis and the Band Of Ruhks. I’ve got the HCBB playing a tune, and Art Stamper with an old favourite. Lots to like.

Music for a variety of tastes here, from Special Consensus, the Lynn Morris Band, and High Fidelity to Stringbean, the early Country Gentlemen, and Kenny Baker. There’s also some fine music from Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, the Larry Stephenson Band and songwriter Larry Cordle.

A variety of bluegrass styles here, including music from Blue Highway, Claire Lynch, Monroe Crossing, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, and Sawmill Road. There’s some fine picking from Norman Blake, some classic bluegrass from Marvin Howell and the Franklin County Boys, the Lonesome River Band, and a great starting tune from yours truly, recorded back in 1976.

On a recent trip to Wellington, I went shopping for (and purchased) some second-hand CD’s – but NEW to me.

I thought I’d share them with you all. Music from Jim Lauderdale, Chris Jones, Alison Krauss, the original Jimmie Rodgers, Ricky Skaggs and Roy Acuff. There’s some songs from Dierks Bentley, and Delia Bell and Bill Grant, as well as a tune from the HCBB featuring mandolinist Graham Lovejoy.

Created by Free FM, Hamilton, New Zealand

A tribute to bluegrass great Bobby Osborne, who died on June 27, 2023. Featuring music of the Osborne Brothers, plus recordings of Bobby working with Rhonda Vincent, Mac Wiseman, and tracks from other groups doing Osborne Brothers’ tunes. You’ll hear NZ’s own HCBB, Bill Runkle, the Dillards, Doyle Lawson and others in this great line-up.

Bluegrass from my shelves. Something here for all tastes – contemporary bluegrass from Midnight Skyracer, old-time from Uncle Dave Macon, classic bluegrass from the Bluegrass Album Band, Rickie Simpkins, the Osborne Brothers, Jim Hurst, the Grascals, Dan Tyminski – a great line-up! There’s a song from Ralph Stanley I and Ralph Stanley II, and more besides. Enjoy!

This episode is a ‘tribute show’ for the great Jesse McReynolds who died 23 June 2023, aged 93. The influence of his ‘brother’ duo, Jim & Jesse & The Virginia Boys, has been immense for bluegrass music. Jesse was the lead singer, a stunning mandolin player who developed his own style of mandolin playing that is difficult to emulate, a fine song-writer and great band leader. His legacy is huge. This show features Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys, Carl Jackson, Raymond McLain, the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, and High Fidelity, all playing Jim & Jesse songs and tunes. We’ve also got a new track from the Kody Norris Show, and songs from Claire Lynch, Rhonda Vincent and Matt Leadbetter.

This programme features some classic bluegrass as well as some offerings from contemporary performers like Becky Buller and NuBlu.

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Tim O’Brien, Sidesaddle & Co from San Jose, J D Crowe & the New South, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Roy Acuff and the HCBB are among those who feature in this show. There’s also a track from the legendary fiddle player, Billy Baker. Lots of top bluegrass here, and a few you might not expect!