All Bluegrass/Jamgrass Episodes

I can't think of better ambassadors for the state of Montana, at least musically then the Kitchen Dwellers. Their very old school blend of bluegrass combined with effects and crazy covers has always had me thinking that this was a cool band. Their third album, Wise River is a tribute to a Montana river that runs in the Southwestern region of the state and empties into Big Hole River. While they make Bozeman Montana home, about two hours away from Wise River, it's clear that the Kitchen Dwellers ...

Entering their third decade now, Railroad Earth have solidified their position in the jam world as a Bluegrass tinged Americana outfit. With their notoriety and hustle, also sadly came change in 2018 with the passing of founding member Andy Goessling. So when they went to make their new record, All for the Song due out April 22nd, they headed to New Orleans and recruited singer songwriter and producer Anders Osborne to help at the dials. I caught up with drummer Carey Harmon to talk about the ma...

Get Yourself Outside is Yonder Mountain Strinband’s latest release, their first since 2017s “Love. Ain’t Love”. Since that time, there has been a personnel change, a global pandemic, and a coming of age for a band that has been at the bluegrass, jamgrass thing for over two decades. I caught up with Adam Ajala and newest member Nick Piccininni to talk about the new record and more.First song: If OnlySecond song: Into The FireSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there is a silver lining to what has been a very difficult couple of years during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s likely all the great music that’s been made by some of our favorite musicians and bands. In fact, some bands like the Infamous Stringdusters took that concept to the extreme, with each member contributing a solo project and album. With the release of band’s last album Toward the Fray, out today, we’ve noticed a culmination of all of the work the guys have put in individually and colle...

Last year, on Christmas Day 2020, we lost the great Tony Rice. He was an influential acoustic guitar player not just for the bluegrass community but for the folk and acoustic jazz worlds as well. He was undoubtedly one of the best acoustic players at his peak, and likely since. His credits are too numerous to mention here, but some career highlights include playing in the Bluegrass Alliance, the New South and collaborations with Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman Bela Fleck and Jerry Garcia to name a f...

It’s not terribly shocking that a band like the Infamous Stringdusters would go back to their roots, and put together a compilation of Bill Monroe tunes. I get it, he’s the founder of Bluegrass, and they are part of the group that is carrying the torch forward. What is confusing though, is that Monroe was a mandolin player, and the Dusters are without a mandolin player, opting for other cool instruments like the dobro and fiddle. I mean being a quintet is limiting. At any rate, a Tribute to Bill...

I first heard about the High Hawks, an all-star Americana outfit consisting of players from mostly the jamgrass scene from Chad Staehly of Hard Working Americans and Great American Taxi when I talked to him a few months back about the John Hartford tribute record, and the band’s contribution of Waugh Paugh.The band includes, Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), Chad Staehly (Hard Working Americans),  Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Brian Adams (DeadPhish Orch...

Chris Panfolfi is the banjo player in The Infamous Stringdusters, but his latest solo project is a little different than what you'd come to expect from this newgrass stalwart. It fuses Chris' passion and playing of the banjo with his penchant for production. In all, it's a fascinating listen one that I'd encourage you to check out. We caught up with Chris to talk about the record, and a whole lot more. Our conversation started at the beginning though, when I asked Chris about what inspired him t...

If this pandemic, and the general malaise of 2020 has taught me anything, it is to be prepared for just about anything. So when word broke earlier this week that we would be getting some new music from Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, sooner rather than later, I was psyched to hook up with Adam Greuel of the band to talk about Miles in Blue, the band's forthcoming release, due out November 25th. Of course aside from talking about music, and the new record, we had time for Greuel's other project Ber...

Grammy award winning Steep Canyon Rangers recently released their first album of 2020 Arm in Arm. I say that somewhat tongue and cheek, because this latest release follows two great releases in 2019 North Carolina Songbook and Be Still Moses. The album which was recorded over several days at the Southern Ground Studios in Nashville is filled with exquisite playing, great song writing and beautiful harmonies. The album certainly expands on the bands sound, while paying respect to their early Blue...

Many years ago I saw Jerry Douglas play here in Toronto with the Derek Trucks Band and I was completely mesmerized by the tone of the dobro and the way in which Jerry commanded the instrument. Since then I’ve had the good fortune of seeing Andy Hall and Anders Beck play live and obviously on tape and I still can’t believe how cool the Dobro, or rather the resophonic guitar sounds when in capable hands. So when I heard Andy Hall the slide/dobro/resophonic guitar player of The Infamous Stringduste...

Featured Songs:1. 00:38 - Rise Sun - 12-31-19 - The National - Richmond, VA2. 04:24 - For What Its Worth - 01-16-20 - Historic Ashland Armory - Ashland, OR3. 08:20 - Wake The Dead - 01-18-20 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA4. 15:26 - Mister Charlie - 02-07-20 - Vic Theatre - Chicago, IL5. 25:32 - Where The Rivers Run Cold - 03-07-20 - Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, COSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wood & Wire are a special kind of bluegrass band, who stretch the boundaries of what they do beyond typical bluegrass music. Sure there are others that do the same, but Wood & Wire offer something more unique in terms of song structure and style. I suspect that even if you weren’t a typical bluegrass fan, you’d enjoy their music, because it pays homage to so many other genres. That’s what first got me into the band a few years back when I heard North of Despair and had Tony Kamel on the podcast....

Good at Losing Everything is the latest album from The Ghost of Paul Revere, a great band out of Maine, that we absolutely adore. They are a little bit holler folk, straight ahead folk, but mostly good ole' rock n roll, and frankly that's why we love them so. The title track, and the entire album ebbs and flows through their sonic journey, with the human condition in toe, bound up in the pain of loss, love, and life in the band's lyrics. Had the awesome opportunity to sit down with Griffin Sherr...

Molly Tuttles surprise covers album ...but I'd rather be with you drops today. We caught up with the singer songwriter, to talk about the record, and much more. Our conversation started when I asked about the East Nashville storms of March 5th, and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.First Song: 00:56: Olympia, WAInterview Begins: 05:04Extro Song: 26:54: Standing On The Moon

The struggle for band’s to make a living in the time of COVID-19 has been well documented. So we’re not going to mention it again. Instead we’re going to celebrate a band like the Kitchen Dwellers who have been very active putting out an EP, doing some live streaming and performing live for small groups of people as part of a really innovative offering. So we caught up with Torrin the banjo playing wizard of the band to get his take on what’s been keeping the band busy. Our conversation started ...

On June 26th, LoHi records will be releasing On the Road: A tribute to John Hartford. For the uninitiated John, a musician, and a bonafide artist, was a genre bending genius who many credit for planting the seeds of the current jamgrass movement, and what many consider Americana music. His accomplishments are vast, and his contribution to roots music are well documented. So it just makes sense that LoHi records, put together this tribute, filled with so many prominent artists who have Hartford to thank for setting up the scene of which they are a part. Bands like Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades have all contributed covers to this collection that includes many more great bands and artists. I’ve been listening to the collection for what feels like months since I begged the publicist to share it with me, but only recently did I catch up with Chad Staehly the man responsible for curating the sonic deliciousness that is On the Road:…

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The Steep Canyon Rangers have been busy over the last little bit, releasing two projects in wide release. The North Carolina Songbook is a re-release of sorts, having released the live album from their performance at Merlefest on Record Store Day originally on vinyl, it has now found its way to the digital sphere. They’ve also released a pseudo greatest hits record Be Still Moses that was recorded with the Asheville Symphony. We’ve never chatted with the band who are bluegrass stalwarts not only in their home state of North Carolina, but pretty much all over the country. So we got in touch with Woody Platt to talk about these two releases, and is usual the case, our conversation wandered into different subjects including the current state of bluegrass, the band’s history with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin and well, much more.

Carolina has always been home for Jim Lauderdale. While he makes his residency in Nashville, this prolific singer-songwriter who’s resume speaks for itself still has a vast network of friends and family back all over the Carolinas and more specifically in North Carolina. His latest release, When Carolina Comes Home Again, his 33rd, draws on songs, stories, and indeed musicians who are now part of the scene in Carolina, most notably Ashville, North Carolina. It’s a record chalk full of amazing songs and performances. Our conversation took many twists and turns, as we spoke about the new record, John Oates, Robert Hunter and much more. When Carolina Comes Home Again is due out March 27th on Yep Roc records, and you’ll want to listen to it, over and over again.  Heck, you may even want to move to North Carolina. For more on Jim a Lauderdale visit jimlauderdalemusic.com. 

We've been following the career of Trout Steak Revival for quite some time, and while they've gone through some personnel changes and the like, as all bands do, the band has matured a great deal through their five records. What has remained constant though for this string band is their insistence to keep true to the bluegrass tradition, while branching out into other similar genres like Americana and folk. The Light We Bring sparks a new set of circumstances for the band, and their sound is one I dig a lot. So we caught up with Casey Houlihan the bass player in the band to get his take on the new record and much more. For more on Trout Steak Revival including tour dates, visit troutsteakrevival.com.

It feels like I just spoke to Mimi Naja from Fruition about the release of Wild as the Night. Turns out, my memory is spot on, because we spoke to her November 8th. At the time, I thought the record, was one of the best of 2019 and kind of left things at that. Well, we were all surprised I think, except obviously Mimi and the rest of Fruition, that the band intended on releasing a companion album, Broken at the Break of Day on January 17th. Should have known, because Mimi was quite coy, and even their manager mentioned to me, that more great tunes were in store. Well, I've listened to Broken at the Break of Day and I can honestly tell you, it picks up where Wild as the Night left off, and maybe even better than that first side, depending on your taste, I suppose. It also feels like, between these two records, and more specifically on Broken at the Break of Day, Fruition has cracked the code, as to what is their sound, and what we can expect moving forward.  You should, if you can, lis…

Since we're all psyched about the news that the Lil Smokies will be releasing a new studio album Tornillo in the new year, thought we would get in touch with with Jake Simpson the band's fiddle player and one of the voices of the band. While we couldn't play any tunes from the record for you just yet, I can tell you that the Lil Smokies third studio album might be their finest yet. Our interview is filled with lots of terrific insight into the band, their new record Tornillo and all the touring that they do. Mark down January 24th on your calendars, and make sure you check out the new record. For more info on that record, and the band's tour schedule visit thelilsmokies.com. 

The latest release from Keller Williams and the Keels is "Speed". It's a whimsical record full of great covers and a couple of originals from Keller Williams and one half of The Keels, flat picker Larry Keel. Of course Jenny Keel, the other half of The Keels, also plays upright bass on the entire record. So why would someone as prolific as Keller Williams need an additional outlet for fun? While that isn't entirely clear, it was good to talk with Keller about this project and what inspired its impetus. Speed is a ton of fun and a record you should check out. In fact you should check out Keller on the road, where he may indeed be appearing with the Keels. You can check out his busy tour schedule and more at kellerwilliams.net.