Back Porch Bluegrass Show

May is NZ Music Month, and I’m playing some early NZ bluegrass from the 1960s and ‘70s. Groups include the HCBB, excerpts from the National Banjo Pickers’ conventions of 1968 and 1969, the Beale St String Stretchers, Phil Garland, and Colleen Trenwith.

Back to my deepest shelves for much of today’s programme. Charlie Moore, Rich In Tradition, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina, the Lewis Family for a couple of gospel favourites, Merle Travis, Herschel Sizemore, and Colleen Trenwith. We also get to hear from the Gibson Brothers, Grasstowne, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, and some Uncommon Tunes from Bill Monroe via Mike Compton.

We’ve just had Easter, this Friday we NZers and Aussies celebrate ANZAC Day. I’ve included songs, appropriate to both these occasions, in this week’s show, featuring artists such as High Fidelity, Bill Clifton, Blue Highway, John Reichmann & the Jaybirds, and Flatt & Scruggs, There’s some mandolin picking from Jean-Luc Leroux, and a special ANZAC song from NZ singer-songwriter Rosy Parsons.

I’ve just been re-reading Neil Rosenberg’s superb book, ‘Bluegrass Generation’, chronicling the years in the early 1960’s that he spent being very involved the music programs at the Bill Monroe’s Brown County Jamboree (otherwise known as ‘the old barn’ at the Beanblossom Festival site. Fascinating. So, I’ve included some music from that era in this edition of Back Porch Bluegrass, that you might’ve heard if you’d been at one of the shows, including Bill Monroe with his ‘hot’ new banjo picker, Bill Keith.

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!