Bluegrass is more popular today than ever before. There are many festivals nationwide and internationally, attracting musicians of all skill levels from self-taught dedicated amateurs to conservatory trained powerhouse musicians. On this week’s show, we’ll examine the state of bluegrass today with some of the finest young bands and veteran players who are on the road all summer playing festivals. It’s a deep dive into bluegrass … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine!

Episode #18-34: Bluegrass Today

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Mike Barnett / “Dixie Hoedown” / Portraits in Fiddles / Compass

Tyler Grant / “I'd Rather Live by the Side of the Road” / Earth & Wood / Grant Station

Love Canon / “Solsbury Hill-Icecaps of Pentatonia Medley” / Cover Story / Organic

We Banjo 3 / “Haven” / Haven / Self Produced

Mile Twelve / “Onwards” / Onwards / Delores the Taurus

Summer Brooke & the Mountain Faith Band /“Umbrella / Small Town Life /Mountain Fever

Brennan Ernst / “Ashland Breakdown” / Had A Big Time Today / Patuxent

Becky Buller / “Another Love Gone Wrong” / A Crepe Paper Heart / Dark Shadow

Mike Barnett / “Fox Chase” / Portraits in Fiddles / Compass

Hot Rize / “Colleen Malone” / 40th Anniversary Bash / Ten in Hand

Davis Davis and the Warrior River Boys / “He Rambled” / He Rambled / Rounder

The Gibson Brothers / “Highway” / In the Ground / Rounder

High Fidelity / “The Hills and Home” / The Hills and Home / Rebel

Special Consensus / “Big River” / Rivers and Roads / Compass

The Travelin' McCourys / “Cumberland Blues” / The Travelin' McCourys / McCoury Music

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

The music world changed just a bit on August 30 1968 with the release of The Byrds’ groundbreaking album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo. For this week’s show, we'll sample a few selections from the classic recording and then trace the backstory of the record and the members of the band.

We feature music from Roger McGuinn in the years preceding the formation of the Byrds, selections from bass player Chris Hillman who started his career as a bluegrass mandolin player with the Hillmen, and we hear Gram Parsons and his group The International Submarine Band on a tune that would become an Emmylou Harris standard. We’ll also offer some bands that were influenced by this highly influential recording. Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sweetheart of the Rodeo … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine!

Episode #18-33: Sweetheart at 50

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Lloyd Green & Jay Dee Maness / “You Ain't Going Nowhere” / A Journey to the Beginning-A Steel Guitar Tribute to the Byrds / Handdrawn

Judy Collins / “Bullgine Run” / 3 / Elektra

Roger McGuinn / “Ramblin' On” / The 12 String Story / Essential Media Group

The Hillmen / “When the Ship Comes In” / The Hillmen / Sugar Hill

The International Submarine Band / “Luxury Liner” / Safe At Home / Sundazed

The Byrds / “One Hundred Years from Now” / Sweetheart of the Rodeo / Columbia

The Byrds / “Hickory Wind” / Sweetheart of the Rodeo / Columbia

The Byrds / “Life in Prison” / Sweetheart of the Rodeo / Columbia

The Flying Burrito Brothers / “Wheels” / The Gilded Palace of Sin / A+M

Lloyd Green & Jay Dee Maness / “You're Still On My Mind” / A Journey to the Beginning-A Steel Guitar Tribute to the Byrds / Handdrawn

Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels / “Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man” / Live 1973 / Rhino

Gene Clark / “Tried So Hard” / With the Gosdin Brothers / Sundazed

The Kentucky Colonels / “If You're Ever Gonna Love Me” / Livin' in the Past / Sierra

Clarence White / “Black Mountain Rag” / 33 Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals / Sierra

The Dillards / “Reason to Believe” / Wheatstraw Suite / Elektra

Rick Nelson / “Travelin' Man” / The Troubadour 1969 / Ace

Buffalo Springfield / “Go and Say Goodbye” / Buffalo Springfield / Atco

Poco / “Grand Junction” / Pickin' Up the Pieces / Epic

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

For this week’s program, we expand our musical explorations with roots music from around the globe. We’ll hear a fascinating blend of tunes recent recordings from Finland, Japan, Tibet, the Balkans, Mexico, Quebec, Brazil and beyond. Artists include the first world music “star” Tito Puente, the angelic sound of Kardemimmt from Finland, Norteno music from Los Texmaniacs, and the melding of Chinese and Latin music from Wu Man & Son de San Diego. Expand your musical horizons … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-32: World Mix

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

The Sing Out! Radio Magazine is broadcast weekly on the finest public radio stations nationwide and syndicated on iTunes, Stitcher, Podomatic, Bluegrass Planet and on the Sing Out! website www.singout.org

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Jean-Luc Thievent / “Paris Shuffle” / Resonance / Acoustic Music

Kardemimmit / “Laula!” / Onni-Happiness / Self Produced

The Grasslands Ensemble & Daniel Ho / “Between the Sky & Prairie” / Between the Sky & Prairie / Wind Music

Joji Hirota & The London Taiko Drummers / “Haru no Ibuki” / Japanese Taiko / ARC

JPP / “Hale-Bopp” / String Tease / Northside

Bela Lakatos & The Gypsy Youth Project / “Del O Brishind...” / Introducing / World Music Network

CGS / “Ientu” / Canzioniere / Ponderosa Music

Jean-Luc Thievent / “Marceline” / Resonance / Acoustic Music

Tito Puente / “Cuando Te Vea” / Dance Mania / RCA Legacy

Los Texmaniacs / “El Porron” / Cruzando Borders / Smithsonian Folkways

Wu Man & Son de San Diego / “El Pajaro Carpintero” / Fingertip Carnival / Wind Music

Les Poules A Colin / “La Volerie” / Morose / Self Produced

Calan / “Rhif Wyth” / The Ultimate Guide to Welsh Folk / ARC

Catarina Dos Santos / “Ondja” / Radio Kriola / ARC

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

We traveled on the last two editions of our show … this week, we have a destination in mind! It's summer, and that's the time to head to your favorite music festival … or better yet try out a new one. In celebration of these great events, we'll hear classic music from the first Newport Folk Festival in 1959, travel to Galax Virginia for the Fiddler's Convention, and visit Colorado for two of the Centennial State’s finest music events. It’s festival time … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-31: It's Festival Time!

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Bascom Lamar Lunsford / “Rye Sytaw” / Ballads, Banjo Tunes, and Sacred Songs / Smithsonian Folkways

Blue Ridge Mountain Ramblers / “Grey Eagle” / In the Field Behind the Stage / Old Blue Records

Roan Mountain Hilltoppers / “Sally Ann” / In the Field Behind the Stage / Old Blue Records

Kirk Sutphin with the New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters / “Belle of Lexington” / In the Field Behind the Stage / Old Blue

Tommy Jarrell / “Sourwood Mountain” / The Brandywine Mountain Music Convention / Chubby Dragon

Smokey Valley Boys / “Cricket on the Hearth” / The Brandywine Mountain Music Convention / Chubby Dragon

Barbara Dane with Frank Hamilton & Bill Lee / “Dink's Blues” / The Newport Folk Festival 1959 / Not Now

Pete Seeger / “The Bells of Rhymney” / The Newport Folk Festival 1959 / Not Now

Mississippi John Hurt / “Candy Man” / Folk Music at Newport Part.1 / Vanguard

Bascom Lamar Lunsford / “Ten Steps” / Ballads, Banjo Tunes, and Sacred Songs / Smithsonian Folkways

John Gorka / “Love is Our Cross to Bear” / Folks Live / Blue Plate Music

Norman & Nancy Blake / “Battleship of Main” / Folks Live / Blue Plate Music

Claire Lynch and the Front Porch String Band / “It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing” / Rockygrass / Blue Plate Music

Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / “Watson's Blues” / Off the Record Volume 2 / Smithsonian Folkways

Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / “Paddy on the Turnpike” / Off the Record Volume 2 / Smithsonian Folkways

Bill Dillof / “All I Got's Gone” / Bluff Country Gathering 2000-2004 / Jawbone

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

This week, we complete our two-week feature focusing on travel by highways and railways. We’ll hear music from Utah Phillips, Gordon Lightfoot, The Delmore Brothers, Judy Collins and many more. Traveling on … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-30: Traveling the Highways and the Railways Pt.2

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Country Cooking / “Farewell Blues” / 26 Bluegrass Instrumentals / Rounder

Utah Phillips / “Daddy, What's a Train?” / Good Enough / Philo

Diane Patterson / “Open Road” / Open Road / Self Produced

Gordon Lightfoot / “Me and Bobby McGee” / If You Could Read My Mind / Reprise

The Price Sisters / “Get On the Main Highway” / A Heart Never Knows / Rebel

Paul Simon / “Train in the Distance” / Heart and Bones / Legacy

John Hartford and the Hartford Stringband / “Keep On Truckin' / Good Old Boys / Rounder

Jimmy Webb / “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” / Ten Easy Pieces / Guardian

The Delmore Brothers / “Freight Train Boogie” / Freight Train Boogie / Ace

Country Cooking / “Orange Mt. Special” / 26 Bluegrass Instrumentals / Rounder

Judy Collins / “Someday Soon” / Who Knows Where the Time Goes / Elektra

John Reischman & the Jaybirds / “Wellesley Station” / On That Other Green Shore / Corvus

Roustabout / “The Race Between the Ford and the Chevrolet” / Roustabout / Yodel-Ay-Hee

Asleep at the Wheel / “Choo Choo Ch'Boogie” / Swing Time / Sony

Hot Buttered Rum / “Leaving Dallas” / Lonesome Panoramic / Self Produced

Pure Prairie League / “Kansas City Southern” / Two-Lane Highway / RCA

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Wanderlust can become a serious problem if not treated properly. The best remedy is to get out there and travel the highways and railways. This week, we focus on great songs of the road and the long steel rail. We’ll hear great music from Chuck Berry, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Tom Rush, David Hamburger and of course Steve Goodman. So ditch those blues and come on the road … on the next edition of The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-29: Traveling the Highways and Railways, Pt.1

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Kristin Scott Benson / “Farewell Blues” / Stringworks / Mountain Home

Chuck Berry / “No Particular Place to Go” / Rock N' Roll Rarities / Chess

Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn / “Railroad” / Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn / Rounder

John O'Connor / “Big Bend Boulevard” / Rare Songs / Self Produced

Roger Miller / “King of the Road” / All Time Greatest Hits / Mercury

Tom Rush / “On the Road Again” / Take a Little Walk with Me / Elektra

Guy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi / “Sonny and Brownies Last Train” / Sonny & Brownie's Last Train / M.C. Records

Red Squirrel Chasers / “New River Train” / Shakin' Down the Acorns / Vigortone

Kristin Scott Benson / “Travelers Rest” / Stringworks / Mountain Home

Steve Goodman / “City of New Orleans” / The Original Steve Goodman / Buddah

Tim & Mollie O'Brien / “Wichita” / Away Out On The Mountain / Sugar Hill

The Young'uns / “Ghafoor's Bus” / Strangers / Hereteu Records

After the Flood / “Illinois Central” / After the Flood / Self Produced

Billy Bragg & Joe Henry / “KC Moan” / Shine A Light / Cv 30 Records

David Hamburger / “Pennsylvania Station Blues” / Pennsylvania Station Blues / Lounge Side

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen / “Hot Rod Lincoln” / Lost in the Ozone / MCA

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

One of the most popular ways to celebrate the summer is to head towards the water. This week we’ll focus on a collection of songs related to maritime life and work. We’ll hear selections from Lou Killen, Waterson-Carthy, Dan Milner, Steeleye Span and many more. So come aboard for some great nautical music … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-28: Down to the Sea

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Yankee Clipper / “Keel-Hauling Medley” / Hauling Home / Honeybee

Louis Killen / “All Things Are Quite Silent” / Ballads and Broadsides / Topic

The Boarding Party / “The Sailor's Alphabet” / 'Tis Our Sailing Time / Folk-Legacy

Deby Benton Grosjean et al / “The Flowing Tide-The Gypsies-The Roaring Hornpipe” / Celtic Voyage / Gourd

Mick Hanly / “The Good Ship Delerious” / Homeland / Celtic Connections

Anne Briggs / “Standing on the Shore” / The Time Has Come / Water

The Watersons / “The Greenland Whale Fishery” / Early Days / Topic

The Dicey Doh Singers / “The Sloop John B” / Classic Maritime Music / Smithsonian Folkways

Yankee Clipper / “The Red Star Line-The Garden Gate” / Hauling Home / Honeybee

Waterson Carthy / “Captain Kidd” / Fishes and Fine Yellow Sand / Topic

Dan Milner / “All For Me Grog-Parnell's March” / Irish Pirate Ballads and Other Songs of the Sea / Smithsonian Folkways

Steeleye Span / “Saucy Sailor” / Below the Salt / Shanachie

Cyril Tawney / “Chicken on a Raft” / Navy Cuts / ADA

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Following in the footsteps of collectors the world over, for almost a century folklorists have traveled far and wide, following leads to front porches, living rooms and backyards to record distinctive traditional songs and tunes across the U.S. The inspiration for this week’s program is the recently released set “Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris” on Dust to Digital Records.

We’ll listen to selections from that set, as well as a wellspring of recordings collected by Alan Lomax, Mike Seeger, Alan Jabbour and others, including music from Doc Watson and Gaither Carlton, Pink Anderson. E.C. Ball, Elizabeth Cotten and many more. Essential roots music, recorded in the field … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-27: Out Standing in Their Field

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

The Doc Watson Family / “Tucker's Barn” / Tradition / Rounder

James “Son Ford” Thomas / “44 Blues” / Voices of Mississippi / Dust to Digital

Will Shade, Charlie Burse and Gus Cannon / “Take Your Fingers Off It” / Classic Harmonica Blues / Smithsonian Folkways

Pink Anderson / “Talking Blues” / Classic African American Songsters / Smithsonian Folkways

Peg Leg Sam / “Froggy Went A-Courting” / Classic African American Songsters / Smithsonian Folkways

E.C. Ball / “The Farmer's Curst Wife” / Sounds of the South / Atlantic

Maybelle Carter and Sara Carter Bayes / “I'm Leaving You this Lonesome Song” / Classic Old-Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways

Doug Wallin / “Naomi Wise” / Classic American Ballads / Smithsonian Folkways

Burl Hammons / “The Big Scioty” / The Hammons Family / Rounder

The Doc Watson Family / “Give the Fiddler a Dram” / Tradition / Rounder

The Southland Hummingbirds / “You Don't Know Like I Know” / Voices of Mississippi / Dust to Digital

Indian Bottom Association Old Regular Baptists / “Guide Me O Though Great Jehovah” / Songs of the Old Regular Baptists / Smithsonian Folkways

Bozie Sturdivant / “Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down” / A Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings / Rounder

James “Son Ford” Thomas / “I Know It's Wrong to be Playin' the Blues” / Voices of Mississippi / Dust to Digital

Lead Belly / “Cow Cow Yicky Yicky Yea” / Cowboy Songs on Folkways / Smithsonian Folkways

Elizabeth Cotten / “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” / Close To Home / Smithsonian Folkways

W.H. Stepp / “Bonaparte's Retreat” / A Treasury of Library of Congress Field Frecordings / Rounder

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

This time out, we complete our two-part celebration of fingerstyle guitar, drawing inspiration from Craft Records’ new collection “The Thousand Incarnations of the Rose,” featuring guitar and banjo from some great “American Primitive” guitarists and banjo players. We’ll listen to John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Doc Watson, Davey Graham and many more. It’s more great fingerstyle guitar playing … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

The Sing Out! Radio Magazine

Episode #18-26: Finger Pickin' Good Pt.2

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

John Fahey / “Night Train to Valhalla” / The Thousand Incarnations of the Rose / Craft

Simon & Garfunkel / “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her” / Live From New York City, 1967 / Columbia

Tom Rush / “Rockport Sunday” / The Circle Game / Elektra

Joni Mitchell / “That Song About the Midway” / Clouds / Reprise

Doc Watson / “Windy and Warm” / Southbound / Vanguard

Bert Jansch & John Renbourn / “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” / Stepping Stones / Vanguard

Nic Jones / “Planxty Davis” / Penguin Eggs / Topic

Joan Shelley / “Brighter Than the Blues” / Over and Even / No Quarter

Peter Walker / “April in Cambridge” / The Thousand Incarnations of the Rose / Craft

Glenn Jones / “My Charlotte Blue Notebook” / The Wanting / Thrill Jockey

Leo Kottke / “Louise” / Greenhouse / One Way

Hot Tuna / “Water Song” / The Very Best of Hot Tuna / RCA Legacy

Davey Graham / “Prelude From the Suite In D Minor” / The Complete Guitarist / Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop

Steve Dawson / “Hale Road Revelation” / Lucky Hand / Black Hen

John Hartford / “Presbyterian Guitar” / Aereo-Plain / Rounder

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Two new releases served as an inspiration for the next couple of episodes.

This week we start with Tompkins Square's collection of demos and outtakes from the great guitarist Duck Baker entitled “Les Blues Du Richmond.” From there, we celebrate a whole array of other players: from Guy Van Duser to Lauren Sheehan, Mitch Greenhill, Chris Smither, Rory Block, Ry Cooder and beyond! We’re celebrating fingerstyle guitar … on the next two episodes of The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Episode #18-25: Finger Pickin' Good, Pt.1

Host: Tom Druckenmiller

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Duck Baker / “Maple Leaf Rag” / Les Blues Du Richmond / Tompkins Square

Bruce Molsky / “The Brass Band Ruchenitsa” / Soon Be Time / Compass

Lauren Sheehan / “Weepin' Willow Blues” / Some Old Lonesome Day / Wilson River

Ryley Walker / “Primrose Green” / Primrose Green / Dead Oceans

Blind Blake / “Wabash Rag” / Guitar Wizards 1926-1935 / Yazoo

Bruce Cockburn / “3 Al Purdys'” / Bone On Bone / True North

Chris Smither / “Maybelline” / Call Me Lucky / Signature Sounds

Duck Baker / “Homage to Leadbelly” / Les Blues Du Richmond / Tompkins Square

Mitch Greenhill & Mayne Smith / “Evolution of Blind Joe Turtle” / Friends of Fahey Tribute / Slacktone Records

Joan Baez / “The Lily of the West” / Vol.2 / Vanguard

John Renbourn / “Three Pieces by O'Carolan” / The Hermit / Transatlantic

Guy Van Duser / “Alligator Crawl” / Stride Guitar / Rounder

Rory Block / “Need a Little Sugar in my Bowl” / A Woman's Soul / Stony Plain

Ry Cooder / “Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer” / Boomer's Story / Reprise

Wayne Henderson / “Cannonball Blues” / Rugby Guitar / Flying Fish

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways