On a trip to Wellington in 2023, I went shopping for (and purchased) some second-hand CD’s – but NEW to me.
I thought I’d share them with you all. Music from Jim Lauderdale, Chris Jones, Alison Krauss, the original Jimmie Rodgers, Ricky Skaggs and Roy Acuff. There’s some songs from Dierks Bentley, and Delia Bell and Bill Grant, as well as a tune from the HCBB featuring mandolinist Graham Lovejoy.
Jul 21
58 min
I was doing a recording session on banjo for music producer Dan Cosgrove, and thought he’d be a great guest on Back Porch Bluegrass. I was right! I ask Dan about his recording work, the ins and outs of being an engineer/producer/musician, and how he goes about it. I also play him some bluegrass music that I know he’ll be interested in, for the variety of techniques used in production. The CD’s I used on this show feature Dan Tyminski, Claire Lynch, the Bluegrass Album Band, Flatt & Scruggs live, Seldom Scene, Earl Taylor, and Dan Crary.
Jul 14
58 min
I’ve just been given a box of LP’s from my guitar-playing friend Barry Paterson, and there’s some real treasures in that box. This episode of BPBG features three of those LP’s – the Bluegrass Cardinals, Country Gazette, and Frank Necessary & Al Jones. I’ve also included tracks from the Stanley Brothers, the Foggy Hogtown Boys, James Monroe, Herb Petersen, and the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. Irene Kelley plays a lovely gospel song, and Kenny Baker takes us out with a classic fiddle tune. A brand new album from the Kody Norris Show rounds out an action-packed programme.
Jul 7
58 min
From the 1950 Lonesome Pine Fiddlers to a brand-new album from Claire Lynch, this episode features a great range of bluegrass. The Earls of Leicester, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Scott Vestal and JD Crowe get us underway, and that’s followed up by the Kody Norris Show. Then we’ve got the afore-mentioned LPF, we’ve got Tony Ellis playing a banjo tune, and of course, two songs from Claire’s new album. The Isaacs do a classic Stanley Brothers gospel tune, and some fancy picking from JD Crowe rounds out the show. Great bluegrass music!
Jun 23
58 min
This episode of Back Porch Bluegrass has a ‘country-ish’ feel to it, with several songs taken from the country music genre. But bluegrass has always borrowed songs from other genres, and it makes for interesting listening. Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Special Consensus, Del McCoury and the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band all feature such songs. Of course, we have some bluegrass classics from Dudley Connell & Don Rigsby, the Stanley Brothers, and Blue Highway, and some old-timey fiddling from the Iron Leg Boys. An eclectic mix!
Jun 16
57 min
Music for show #700 has been taken from new CDs (2026) and my old LPs. Lots of variation of the genre here!
From Bill Monroe through to You Me Everybody, with tracks from Ricky Skaggs, Lindsay Butler, High Fidelity, Russell Moore, and the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band (presenting a bit of tomfoolery!), Tony Rice, Larry Sparks and Butch Robins, there’s something for all tastes.
Jun 9
58 min
Show originally aired on June 7, 2022.
I’ve found some 1950’s ‘classic’ bluegrass for you, as well as some great music from Sawmill Road, Nu-Blu, Tony Rice
and even NZ’s own Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. Flatt & Scruggs, the Kentucky Travellers, Bill Clifton, Allen Shelton all contributed greatly to the bluegrass genre, as do more current performers such as Jeanette Williams, Joe Walsh and Kenny & Amanda Smith. A very varied collection!
Jun 2
58 min
The ‘theme’ song of this show, aptly titled ‘Back Porch Bluegrass’, kicks off, and then we have some great music from the Kody Norris Show, the Lynn Morris Band, Kenny Baker playing a tune (about my latest project, boat building), the fine Canadian band Jerusalem Ridge, and the Lonesome River Band. There’s a couple of Stanley Brothers tunes from Seldom Scene and Doc Watson, and the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band features Colleen in the classic tune, ‘Ashokan Farewell’. Dolly Parton sings some bluegrass, and we round out the show with some great tunes from the bands listed above. Fine music.
May 26
58 min
We start the show with a very driving Dobro tune, then feature some fine performers, including David Grisman, the Gibson Brothers, banjo picker Jim Mills, and the Bluegrass Album Band. Claire Lynch sings a couple of lovely songs, and Little Roy Lewis picks some hard-driving banjo. The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band do a great version of a Dillards tune – really, the best of bluegrass.
May 19
58 min
I’m using three LPs on this episode of the Back Porch Bluegrass Show, meaning I’m digging deep into my archives. Country Gazette, the Johnson Mountain Boys, and John Hartford all feature from the vinyl collection. I’ve dug into my CDs, too – Dan Tyminski, Lee Ann Womack, Junior Sisk, Sierra Hull and High Fidelity all get to pick and sing, and banjo picking favourite Bill Emerson plays his version of a song from the 1850’s. I hope you enjoy them all.
May 12
56 min
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