This week I pay tribute to bluegrass legend and personal friend Bill Clifton, who passed away at the end of October 2026 aged 95. His contribution to early bluegrass is immense, as a singer, performer, promoter, and collector of songs. I also present music from Emerson & Waldron, the Goodbye Girls, the Po’ Ramblin” Boys and Fred Geiger. Charlie Waller & Randall Hylton pick a tune for us, and Earl Taylor sings about political problems (a long time ago!). I feature just a taste of Bill Clifton’s music, some of it with the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, and the Nashville Grass take us out with a gospel song.

Host Paul Trenwith is a founder member of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, playing banjo and occasionally singing harmony parts. From the mid-70's to the mid-90's, Paul and his fiddle-playing wife Colleen played as mostly gospel music, bluegrass-style, with a group of friends, and often featuring songs that Paul had written. He has become something of a musical 'jack-of-all-trades', playing banjo, dobro, pedal steel and rhythm guitar. He also plays double bass in the Hamilton-based Irish band.
Paul has always been an enthusiastic advocate for and promoter of bluegrass music, and the show includes tracks from the classic bands, the traditional stylists and contemporary groups as well as some 'roots' bluegrass and new-grass. NZ and Australian bluegrass gets an airing, and every show includes some of his personal favourites.