This week's Bitesize episode comes from one of my favourite interviews, the conversation I had with Caitlin Canty about her record Quiet Flame.

The album was produced by Chris Eldridge (of Punch Brothers and Mighty Poplar) and features a fantastic band, including Paul Kowert, Brittany Haas, Sarah Jarosz, Noam Pikelny and Andrew Marlin.

In this excerpt Caitlin talks about the delay between experiencing something and writing about it and how she needs to see patterns emerge before she starts to write. We also talk about a couple of the tracks on Quiet Flame and what they mean to her.

This was such a fun conversation and one I've gone back and listened to more than once in the couple of years since it was recorded.

If you want to hear the full interview, you'll find links on bluegrassjamalong.com

For more info on Caitlin and to buy the album, visit caitlincanty.com

There are some great videos, featuring the band from the album, on Caitlin’s YouTube channel (you should watch them, they’re fantastic).

For updates, follow Caitlin on Facebook and Instagram

Happy picking!

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

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- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Hi,

This week's briefing is slightly different - I'm running you through some of the nominees for this year's IBMA Music Awards.

I'd love to hear what you think - who you think will win, who you think should win, who's missing from the lists and any other thoughts.

Come and join the conversation via Instagram, Facebook or Threads and let me know!

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

My guest this week is Sara Watkins, with a deep dive into I'm With Her's latest record, 'Wild and Clear and Blue', which has already become one of my favourite records of recent years.

We talk about the album’s first writing sessions in 2021, just as the world was starting to reconnect post-pandemic and how that theme of connection eventually grew to run through the whole record. 

We also talk about collaboration and how essential that is to I’m With Her; the joy of cover versions and getting to know someone through music; how that shared love provided the seed for the album’s title track and why playing these songs with Aoife and Sarah at this point feels so special.

I also ask Sara about her own journey as a songwriter, stepping out of the shadows of her bandmates in Nickel Creek and we discuss the idea that albums are like puppies (you’ll just need to listen!)

This was one of my absolute favourite interviews to record. I hope you enjoy it.

For more info on I’m With Her, including tour dates and to buy I’m With Her vinyl, CDs and merch, visit imwithherband.com

For regular updates follow Sara on Instagram and Facebook

Happy picking,

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.

Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.

News and Announcements (Church Street News)

• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Tiny Desk Concert
• IBMA Nominee Announcement details

Releases (The Grass is New)

•  The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• IBMA Grammy’s Zoom webinar info

In My Ears

• Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz interview

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Collings Guitars

Happy picking.

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

My guest this week is Shelby Means. 

Lots of you will know Shelby from her time with Della Mae and, more recently, from her time as the bass player in Molly Tuttle's band Golden Highway, who she won a Grammy with. She now has a new solo record out called Shelby Means.

We talk about making the record, including the people she assembled to play on it; the songs, which were written over a long period of time; co-writing and the joy of songs you know so well they feel like vintage clothes.

We also chat about her time with Molly Tuttle and the extraordinary journey the band went on over 4 years.

This was a fun conversation about a great record.

You can buy a copy at www.shelbyleemeans.com, where you'll also find info and tour dates. 

Follow Shelby on Instagram and Facebook for news and updates.

Happy picking,

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

My guest this week is Joe K Walsh.

Joe plays mandolin with several projects, including Mr Sun (featuring Darol Anger, Grant Gordy and Aidan O’Donnell); the Mike Block Trio; a duo with Matt Flinner and a trio with Ella Jordan and Jed Wilson. 

He joins me this week to chat about his most recent solo record “Trust and Love” and also his previous record ”If Not Now, Who?”

Both records have a quiet, conversational feel and feature some wonderful musicians. Joe describes his approach to "Trust and Love":

"It's a collection of instrumental love songs of a sort, an understated record for an over-stimulating time. I think of it as gently making the case for a "less is more" approach to the string band sound."

We chat about that philosophy; why the record started with the people, rather than the songs; how Joe's quietest record to date ended up with drums on it and what conversation means in music.

It was a fascinating conversation about what it means to make music and be true to yourself as a musician. I hope you enjoy it.

For more info on Joe visit https://joekwalsh.com

You can buy "Trust and Love" at Joe's Bandcamp page

Also check out Joe's Peghead Nation course

Happy picking!

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.

Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.

News and Announcements (Church Street News)

• IBMA Picking For the Prize
• Noam Pikelny tour dates
• Jake Workman safari
• Ned Luberecki safari

Releases (The Grass is New)

•  The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

In My Ears

• I’m With Her - Ancient Light live at Sunset Sound

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Collings Guitars

Happy picking.

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

This week we're celebrating IBMA World of Bluegrass as it prepares to make the move to Chattanooga after a successful decade in Raleigh.

First I'll be talking to former IBMA Executive Director, and current board member, Paul Schiminger about the history of World of Bluegrass, how it started, the various cities it's been hosted in over the years and why it's moving this year.

After that I chat to Jill Snider, former Convention Services / Member Services Director at IBMA who's been very involved with every step of the process of moving the event to Chattanooga this year. We talk about the work it takes to put on an event of this size and scope, what's needed from a partner city and what people can expect from this year's event, as there will be a few changes. 

World of Bluegrass is an amazing event - in reality it's really several events in one - so it was fascinating to get to get a behind the scenes insight into what goes into putting it on. It was also fun to get to celebrate what has become a real highlight of the bluegrass year and the role it's played in so many bluegrass stories over the past four decades.

To find out more about World of Bluegrass, and to get tickets fort this year's event, visit - https://worldofbluegrass.org

For more info on IBMA go to - https://ibma.org

Happy picking!

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

We're celebrating 50 years of the David Grisman Quintet with a special set of 3 episodes. This week is part 3, featuring the man himself, David Grisman.

I chat to David about how the Quintet came together and developed over those early years, how it built on the work he'd already done with The Great American Music Band, how Tony Rice joined the band and what he brought and how, through continuous rehearsal, the Quintet learned to craft and build the arrangements that are such a key part of their sound.

This was a fascinating conversation with one of the true legends of modern string band music.

For more on David Grisman, and to buy copies of the Quintet's music (including the wonderful David Grisman Quintet - First Recordings Live in Dawg’s Living Room) visit acousticdisc.com

Don't forget to check out parts 1 and 2 of the series too, featuring Darol Anger, Mike Marshall and Todd Phillips.

Happy picking,

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.

Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.

News and Announcements (Church Street News)

• Tony Rice Backwaters re-release
• Del McCoury Pickin’ Party
• Bluegrass at the Ryman

Releases (The Grass is New)

•  The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Gabe Witcher Interview
  • Apple
  • Spotify
  • YouTube

In My Ears

• Bill C Malone Book
• Ted Olson interview
  • Apple
  • Spotify
  • YouTube

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Collings Guitars

Happy picking.

Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts