Back Porch Bluegrass Show

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!

Lots of straight-forward bluegrass music on this episode, from the Bluegrass Album Band, Mac Wiseman, Lynn Morris, Emerson & Waldron, and Laurie Lewis. There’s a double-banjo offering from Australian bluegrass icons, John Kane & Ian Simpson, and a two-tune feature of Bill Runkle & Smith Hollow. Have a listen!

This show remembers the huge contribution Buck White, who died on January 13th, has made to both bluegrass and country music. He, together with two daughters, has played memorable music since the early 1970’s, and I have several tracks featuring him. We also have music from Rich In Tradition, Flatt & Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Herschel Sizemore, and Joe Mullins. A varied programme, for all tastes.

I’ve featured some top bluegrass here, both old and new (well, newer!) including the Kathy Kallick Band, the Sonoran Dogs, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, High Fidelity, Balsam Range, and even the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys get to play a bluegrass ‘classic’, and Stu Jamieson’s Boys play some old-timey. To round it out, we’ve got the bluegrass/country sound of Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen. Top Music, for sure.

The first show for 2025, featuring a wide variety of bluegrass performers. You’ll hear the Hagar’s Mountain Boys, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Snuffy Jenkins, Joe Newberry and Larry Cordle, and that’s in the first 20 minutes! New Vintage Bluegrass Band gets a couple of songs, as do the fine duo Reno & Smiley with some of their 1950’s recordings. Paul Williams & the Victory Trio play some gospel, and Hunter Berry fiddles his heart out with a fine backing band. The best of bluegrass!

It’s the last show for 2024, and I’ve picked out some favourite tracks as well as some less-well-known tracks.

In this show, you’ll find Nothing Fancy, Niall Toner, the Forest Hills Bluegrass Band, Billy Strings, Raymond McLain, and the Bluegrass Album Band. There’s an instrumental from the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band from 1969, and some fine picking from Scott Vestal & Friends. Much to enjoy!

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.