Craig Havighurst

As the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys emerged as one of the most in-demand and important bluegrass bands of the past 10 years, its founding mandolinist C.J. Lewandowski didn’t focus only on the group’s art and career. C.J., now 38, became an avid collector and caretaker of music history, a board member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, and a record producer. All of those pursuits informed his latest project, a special one for the genre, because Keep On Keepin’ On is the final studio album by bluegrass Hall of Fame singer and mandolin player Bobby Osborne.

I figured that Nashville artist Rachel Baiman and the wonderful duo of Viv (Leva) and Riley (Calcagno) were friends, but I never stopped to think about the magic potential of having their voices and talents joined together. But here they come with a side project called Kissing Other PPL (so as not to be confused with the title song of their new album), and it’s just gorgeous and flowing with the love they all share for a common body of work and a certain acoustic esthetic. The title track is by Canadian songwriter and Nashville (TV show) album Lennon Stella, and the collection of covers includes songs by Wilco, Joan Armatrading, and Dr. Dog. It’s indie-folk but it’s acoustic heart and these artists’ track record made it perfect for a spin this week. Also in the hour, we touch the new roots-folk album from The Brothers Comatose (now with Nashville mandolin player/singer Addie Levy), a new one from Bryan McDowell, and a fresh single from West coast roots master Tony Furtado.

Todd Snider, one of the most admired and whimsical songwriters to ever call Nashville home, died on Friday, Nov 14 after a health crisis suffered while on tour for the new album High, Lonesome, And Then Some. Sometimes called the Mayor of East Nashville, he was a free spirit, an irresistible barefoot troubadour, and a masterful lyricist who could dissect modern life’s absurdities and tell vivid stories that could be melancholy and hilarious. Craig Havighurst offers this appreciation.

YouTube is a wonder, but when it comes to music, I find it serves me stuff I already know. Discovery is not its strong suit. Murphy Campbell marks an exception. She popped up performing old Appalachian ballads on solo banjo out in the woods. She’s very sincere and very good for a young artist, so I kept searching. I found her making music with the important North Carolina musicians Riley Baugus (her teacher it turned out) and songwriter Laurelyn Dossett, so that was a good reference. I called Laurelyn who told me that Murphy is 19, devoted to the traditional repertoire, and “a history geek.” We rarely play field recordings here at the Old Fashioned, but fortunately Campbell has made a four-song EP, and the song “Twin Sisters” really stood out. We’ll be listening for more with an encouraging wave. Also this week, a Cajun/zydeco set inspired by Amy’s history at Blackpot in Louisiana, plus new music from the Songs From The Road Band, Russ Carson, and the slightly crazy in a good way band Damn Tall Buildings.

Robert Randolph had no plans or dreams to take his fiery talents on the pedal steel guitar beyond the New Jersey church where he grew up and the network of pentecostal Black churches around the country that made the “sacred steel” a core part of their services. But his passionate sound and his joyful improvisational spirit were a perfect match for the jam/rock scene of the early 2000s. He’s been a steady contributor ever since, through wide collaborations and a string of albums with his “Family Band.” Now he’s leading the band under his own name and he has a fabulous new record on the revitalized Sun Records.

The fast-ascending, protest-singing Jesse Welles, and the tried-and-true Kentucky song craftsman Tyler Childers secured four Grammy Award nominations on Friday, leading a strong field of roots, folk and country artists who’ll be on the edge of their seats on Feb. 1, 2026. Americana stars received nods in a new Contemporary Country Album category. Jason Isbell, a seven-time Grammy winner, received his first-ever nod in Best Folk Album.

One of the best things about bluegrass is the way its musicians mix and match, forming special projects or supergroups that may last briefly or persist through time. Back in 2016, one such outfit formed, a special collection of pickers – many then just making a name for themselves – to record an album of instrumentals. Section House, as they called themselves, was Aaron Ramsey (mandolin), Cory Walker (banjo), Bryan McDowell (fiddle), Jake Stargell (guitar), and Jeff Partin (bass). Well, they’re back, with Gavin Largent added on reso-guitar. And this show we feature their rad version of the classic fiddle and banjo tune “Pike County Breakdown.” Rad because they’ve taken a 4/4 song and cast it in 3/4 time, for a wobbly, ear-grabbing quality that’s hard to resist (and a little hard to count). Also this week, a new single from the Steep Canyon Rangers, a moment from Joseph Decosimo’s new Fiery Gizzard album, a re-issue of Wynn Osborne’s banjo prowess, and a revisit of Phoebe Hunt’s incredible solo fiddle/vocal album.

South Carolina guitar wizard and powerhouse singer Marcus King has come through the valley of shadows, breaking self-destructive habits and arriving at a place of contentment and love on his latest album Darling Blue. In a career-spanning conversation, King talks about his unique path to finding his voice on the guitar, his collaborations with a series of very different world-class producers, and his place in the shifting ecosystems of jam band and Americana music.

Sometimes you hear final recordings from late great singers and think, “That’s nice. Glad they got one more lick in, even though their voice sounds tired.” And sometimes, you get the immortal voice of Bobby Osborne in your headphones, sounding like one of the greatest bluegrass singers who ever lived, penetrating your heart with a call from beyond the grave. The new album Keep On Keepin’ On by the mandolin-playing Osborne Brother and record producer C.J. Lewandowski is one such. I’ll be posting a feature story about this collaboration soon, but this week we launched our show with two songs from this important and impressive album. I hosted this hour solo with song contributions from Amy at a distance. She shared new music from The Onlies and an old one from Anna and Elizabeth. I found new singles by members of bigger bands - NC’s Aaron Burdett who’s in the Steep Canyon Rangers and Infamous Stringduster Jeremy Garrett.

Mike Compton is a favorite of any fan of classic bluegrass and bluesy mandolin. His years with the Nashville Bluegrass Band are just one of his many claims to fame. He also has a way with duos, including projects with Norman Blake and banjo man Joe Newberry. Mike’s newest collaborator is North Carolina’s wonderful Laura Boosinger, a revered picker, singer, and educator whom I love catching up with at Earl Scruggs Fest every Labor Day. Not content with just pairing their names, they went for it and call themselves the Knackered Ramblers, and we launch this week’s show with an LB original about the NC floods from their debut album We B Ramblin’. This comes as a nice surprise. Also this week, the married team that is Benson takes on the good old “Bully Of The Town,” while Bryan McDowell shows off his bluegrass side with the iconic “Toy Heart.” And we give a belated spin to the title cut from Graham Sharp’s solo album How Did We Do It.