Bluegrass Jam Along

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)

• Grey Fox Festival
• Casey Driessen Fiddle Camp Scholarship

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Scroll on Buddy/In my ears

• 1925 Fiddle Convention 100th anniversary tribute pre-orders
• ‘Complete’ Tone Poems at Acoustic Disc

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Peghead Nation
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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 is the first of a new series of episodes on the podcast I'm calling 'Bitesize'. 

I've done well over 100 interviews for the podcast now. That's a lot of conversations! The idea with these episodes is to pick out a highlight from a past conversation and share it again, in case you missed it missed it first time round, or just want to hear some bits again. If you're new to the podcast they'll also give you a great sense of what's there, so you can dive in and discover some of the older episodes.

This first one is a real favourite of mine. Back in 2023 I did a bunch of episodes celebrating Doc Watson on what would have been his 100th birthday. I spoke to people who  played with Doc and spent time with him (including Jack Lawrence, Happy Traum and T. Michael Coleman), as well as players who just love Doc's music (including Critter Eldridge, Tim O'Brien, Bryan Sutton and many more).

This comes from the chat I had with Jack Lawrence. He shares a wonderful story about Doc giving him an iconic Martin D18 that needed a little TLC.

I hope you enjoy this. It was great listening back to it!

If you want to hear more from the Doc episodes, you'll find them here:

Doc Watson 100th birthday celebration - Part 1

Doc Watson 100th birthday celebration - Part 2 

Jack Lawrence conversation in full 

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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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)

• ETSU Artist in Residence post
• Punch Brothers tour dates
• Green Mountain lineup

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Scroll on Buddy/In my ears

• Bela Fleck ‘Throw Down Your Heart’ documentary (YouTube)

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Peghead Nation
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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 Tom Nechville from Nechville Banjos.

Tom joins me to chat about 40 years of making banjos, including what he's learned along the way and some of the innovations he's brought to the banjo, including his revolutionary Heli-Mount head tightening system. 

We also chat about why he chose to sell his building in Minneapolis and move his entire shop to Sisters, Oregon; returning to his passion for hands-on building of custom instruments on his own with complete control over the outcome; the role  bluegrass plays in building and strengthening community and developing the Vintage Eclipse model for and with Billy Failing, who plays banjo with Billy Strings.

For more info on Nechville Banjos visit www.nechville.com

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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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.

Pod news

• Eric Skye - Phillips, Grier & Fliner special 
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

News and Announcements (Church Street News)

• Alison Krauss pre-order and tour info
• Billy Strings tour dates
• DelFest lineup and tickets
• Blue Highway 30th anniversary concert

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Peghead Nation
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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 on the podcast this week is Eric Skye, who joins me to celebrate the album 'Phillips, Grier & Flinner'.

Released in 1999 on Compass Records, it marks the first collaboration between bassist Todd Phillips, guitarist David Grier, and mandolinist Matt Flinner and features three original tunes from each.

We chat about how Eric first discovered the record and why it means so much to him, plus what's so special about these three musicians and this collection of tunes. We also chat about the album's sound and why listening is such an important part of making (and understanding) music.

This was a fantastic conversation to get to have and it's always a pleasure talking to Eric.

You can buy 'Phillips, Grier and Flinner' on CD or as a digital download in mp3,FLAC or WAV via the Compass Records website

For more info on Eric's music and production services, check out ericskye.com

The Chris Thile and David Grier bootleg we discuss in the episode is available via sugarmegs:

Part 1

Part 2  

Setlist

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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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.

Pod news

• Daniel Kimbro interview
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

News and Announcements (Church Street News)

• Dawg at 80
• Sierra Ferrell tour dates
• Earl Experience Banjo Camp

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Martin Guitars Billy Strings signature models

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Peghead Nation
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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 Daniel Kimbro. Daniel is the bass player in Jerry Douglas's band and plays with Jerry in Transatlantic Sessions and The Earls of Leicester. He's also part of the trio Harley Kimbro Lewis and joins me this week to chat about his first solo record Carpet in the Kitchen.  

This was a fun conversation that touches on story songs, fishing, murder ballads, collaboration and finding a sense of place in music, plus lots of chat about how Carpet in the Kitchen came together and the musicians Daniel chose to accompany him on the record.

Loyston, the first single from the album, is out now. You can listen here.

For more info check out Daniel's website and follow him on Facebook and Instagram 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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)

• Sierra Hull - pre-order/pre-save the new record
• Bluegrass in La Roche info

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Peghead Nation
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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)

• Chris Thile’s Acousticamp
• Station Inn book
• Bluegrass Hall of Fame - John Hartford Days

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist
• Full list of interviews
• Peghead Nation
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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 and Token premium guitar picks

- 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