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)

• Peghead Nation - Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials, taught by Aaron Weinstein
  • Use the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any course
• Delfest lineup

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Billy Strings live release
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Bela Fleck Rhapsody in Blue album

In My Ears

• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify 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 Ted Olson.

Ted is Professor of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University.  He's also written liner notes and essays for some wonderful projects, including “Doc Watson – Life's Work: A Retrospective,” and the fantastic  “Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs Of Jane Gentry and Mary Sands” by Martin Simpson & Thomm Jutz.

Ted joins me to talk about three wonderful projects he worked on for Bear Family Records, celebrating three key recording sessions that took place in East Tennessee in the 1920s and '30s - The Bristol Sessions, The Johnson City Sessions and The Knoxville Sessions.

Bear Family put out a multi-CD box set for each of these, which Ted did extensive research and  provided some wonderful essays and liner notes for. Each set is also distilled into a single CD release.

We talk about why The 1927 Bristol Sessions, which brought The Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers to the attention of the world, came to be known as the 'big bang' of Country music, why that label doesn't sit quite right with Ted, how the sessions came about, what was happening in the world of commercial recording at the time and why the legacy of those recordings is so important, plus much, much more.

It was a fascinating conversation and put those recordings in a whole new context for me, both helping me understand their importance, but also (thanks in part to the wonderful transfers and re-mastering, as well as the incredible liner notes) helping me realise there's just some great music in there too!

You'll find the single CDs here:

Bear Family CDs

• Bristol Sessions
• Johnson City Sessions
• Knoxville Sessions

and the box sets here:

Bear Family box sets

• Bristol Sessions
• Johnson City Sessions
• Knoxville Sessions

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)

• Lessons with Marcel - Mickey’s Fiddle Tune Arrangements book
• Sierra Hull tour dates
• Billy Strings Europe 2023 Mini Tour Documentary

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Rachel Baiman ‘Common Nation of Sorrow’ deluxe edition
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Tristan Scroggins socials
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
• US Postal Service bluegrass stamp

In My Ears

• Bear Family CDs
  • Bristol Sessions
  • Johnson City Sessions
  • Knoxville Sessions
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Other bits

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

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 week we've got something I haven't done in a while - a mini jam episode. That means we're playing 3 tunes back to back instead of focussing on just one. The idea is it feels a bit more like playing at a jam session. I know some of you use these tracks to work up to attending a jam so hopefully this will help with that!

I've gone for  3  tunes with a more open feel, they're not quite as busy as tunes like Blackberry Blosson. They are:

1. Home Sweet Home in D 
2. Red Wing in G
3. Peartree in G

We're doing all three at 85bpm and each tune follows our regular 'jam along' format. That means I play backup and you play lead, then we swap, then we repeat the whole thing another 3 times. The whole jam lasts around 20 minutes.

If you want chord charts for these tunes,  head to bluegrassjamalong.com, where you'll also find details of how to get in touch. I'd love to hear any feedback on these mini jams so do let me know what you think.

Thanks,
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)

• MerleFest Lineup
• IBMA Emcee masterclass

Releases (The Grass is New)

• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Atkin Guitars
  • D37 12S model (Instagram link)

In My Ears

• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify 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  week we're jamming along to the classic tune Big Sandy River. This is a performance track, rather than a backing track. It's me playing both tune and backup so you've got a reference to listen to if you're new to the tune, or just want to be able to listen a few times to the whole thing.

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done and jam along!

If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch),  head to bluegrassjamalong.com

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 week we're jamming along to Big Sandy River and I've got  three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the jam along track where I play backup, followed by the melody then we keep swapping.  It's four times through in the key of A at 75 bpm.

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done.

If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch),  just head to bluegrassjamalong.com

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 week we're jamming along to Big Sandy River and I've got  three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play lead track where I play backup so you can work on the tune.  It's four times through in the key of A at 75 bpm.

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done.

If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch),  just head to bluegrassjamalong.com

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 week we're jamming along to Big Sandy River and I've got  three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play rhythm track where I play the melody so you can work on backup.  It's four times through in the key of A at 75 bpm.

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done.

If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch),  just head to bluegrassjamalong.com

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)

• Energy Curfew Music Hour tickets

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Kelly Hunt - Ozark Symphony
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Mandolin Cafe

In My Ears

• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify playlist

Other bits

• Sign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is (mostly) New Spotify 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