My guest this week is singer songwriter Caitlin Canty.

Caitlin joins me to chat about her new album Quiet Flame, produced by Chris Eldridge (of Punch Brothers and Mighty Poplar) and featuring a fantastic band, including Paul Kowert, Brittany Haas, Sarah Jarosz, Noam Pikelny and Andrew Marlin.

We talk about working with those musicians, the fact that the record was about to be made when the pandemic struck, how the final record differs from the one it would have been if it had been recorded back in 2020 and so much more.

It was a wonderful conversation full of insight and laughter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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

You can watch the videos we talked about on Caitlin's YouTube channel (and you should, they're great).

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 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.

Bluegrass Jam Along News

• Bluegrass Jam Along website
• List of tunes on the website

News and announcements (Church street News)

• New Northfield mandolin (and guitar) models
• Ron Block banjo app

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Wyatt Ellis ‘Grassy Cove’ video
• 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

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's episodes were supposed to be a set of backing tracks for Big Sandy River. I recorded them and started editing and they just sounded a bit....well...bad!

So rather than put them out, or make up an excuse, I thought I'd share that in the hope it helps a few other people go a little easier on themselves on their bad days. Because we all have them (even Bryan Sutton).

It's a short episode but hopefully there's some value in it.

That's it - happier 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.

Bluegrass Jam Along News

• New Bluegrass Jam Along website

News and announcements (Church street News)

• IBMA Mystery Merch Sale

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Wyatt Ellis ‘Grassy Cove’ 

Other bits

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

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 Tim Stafford of Blue Highway.

Tim joins me to chat about his new record Guitar Melodies, a wonderful album of guitar instrumentals. We talk about the tunes, the guitars he used, who else plays on the record and why Tim dedicated the album to the memory and legacy of Tony Rice.

It's a great record and it's always a pleasure to chat to Tim.

Head to Tim's website for more info. You can buy Guitar Melodies from Tim's store.

If you don't know the tony_units Instagram account Tim mentions, go and check it out (you don't need to be on Instagram to see the posts).

If you missed the Tony Rice Church Street Blues 40th anniversary celebration, you can listen here (Tim features in part 1):

Tony Rice – Church Street Blues 40th anniversary part 1 (Tim Stafford, Wyatt Rice, Mike Marshall, Alison Krauss, Bryan Sutton, Chris Eldridge & Caroline Wright)

Tony Rice – Church Street Blues 40th anniversary part 2 (Bob Minner, Jake Eddy, Justin Moses, Marcel Ardans, Scott Nygaard, Jason Keiser & tony_units)

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.

Bluegrass Jam Along News

• New Bluegrass Jam Along website

News and announcements (Church street News)

• Samuel Smith story
  • Samuel’s Instagram
  • Listen to ‘In the Springtime’

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Watch Molly Tuttle’s ‘San Joaquin’
• The Grass is New Spotify playlist

Scroll on Buddy

• Bela Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Camp

Other bits

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

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 Gabe Witcher.

Just a couple of days before we recorded this, Gabe played his last shows with Punch Brothers, the band he was a founding member of and was in for 18 years.

We chat about how the band came together, what the early years were like and why now felt like the right time to move on. We also talk about what's next for Gabe, including continuing his work as a  producer and arranger.

It was a joyous conversation and a real treat to get to be a part of. Punch Brothers are one of my favourite bands and getting to chat about their journey and hear Gabe's thoughts and insights was fantastic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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.

Bluegrass Jam Along News

• New Bluegrass Jam Along website

News and announcements (Church street News)

• Preserve Rockwood campaign

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Dan Tyminski - God Fearing Heathen
• Caitlin Canty - Quiet Flame
  • Buy the album
  • Listen
• Shannon Slaughter - Hard A’Port 
• The Grass is New Spotify playlist

Other bits

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

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 playing another tune back to back at two different speeds  - once at 75 bpm then again at 85. We're doing Blackberry Blossom and we're in the key of G.

We're using the jam along format - that means I'm kicking off playing backup and you're on the tune, then we swap and go round 4 times. Then, after a quick pause, we do the whole thing again at 85 bpm.

Don't forget to grab a chord sheet if you need one from bluegrassjamalong.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.

Bluegrass Jam Along News

• New Bluegrass Jam Along website

News and announcements (Church street News)

• IBMA Bluegrass Live!

Releases (The Grass is New)

• Tim O’Brien Cup of Sugar
• Tim Stafford Guitar Melodies
• Watch Cup O’ Joe Weathered and Worn

Scroll on Buddy 

• David Grisman’s New Smokey Grass Boys

Other bits

• Sign up for https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/
• The Grass is New Spotify playlist

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