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This week’s show, hosted by Amy, pays tribute to folklorist and record producer Chris Strachwitz, who died in mid May at the age of 91. Founder of deep roots label Arhoolie Records, he was a giant in American music as a talent scout, a writer, a promoter, and a field recordist. His first Arhoolie release was with Mance Lipscomb in 1960, and the New York Times noted he’d go on to bolster the careers of Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Big Mama Thornton. He’ll be missed. Also this hour, new music from Songs From The Road Band and Josie Toney, plus a remarkable cowboy ballad by Australian musician William Alexander.

If you saw my feature about Tony Rice and Gordon Lightfoot, you’ll understand how my appreciation for the late, great Canadian songwriter was awakened and enhanced by the fandom of the late, great bluegrass star. It was a match made in roots music heaven, but Tony was far from the only bluegrasser to cover Gordon beautifully. I took this show – hosted solo by me – as an opportunity to explore that thread of history with Lightfoot songs as interpreted by Mac Wiseman, the Country Gentelmen, Claire Lynch, Chris Jones and others. Also here, the first single in advance of Molly Tuttle’s newly announced 2023 album City Of Gold, a new one from Robbie Fulks’s superb new Bluegrass Vacation album and Gina Furtado interpreting Bill Monroe.

We’re enjoying the recent album The Band Is Playing Covers by The Fly Birds out of Winchester, VA (Patsy Cline’s hometown FYI), and we salute them on their truth-in-advertising approach to album titles. I was captivated by their version of John Prine’s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness,” and that got me thinking about other bluegrass and trad artists who’d interpreted Prine over the years. Many years in fact. I found the Country Gentlemen singing “Souvenirs” from 50 years ago when that song was new. I remembered Tim and Mollie O’Brien’s gorgeous take on “Unwed Fathers.” So it just felt natural to build a set around bluegrass Prine songs. Also this week, new songs from Tina Adair, Chris Jones and the fiery duo of Billy Strings and Tommy Emmanuel. And in another great cover, Liam Purcell and Cane Mill road take on a great one by Darrell Scott.

Welcome to our first guest host! On her springtime travels, Amy Alvey met up with her good friend Brad Kolodner, the banjo player, radio host, and show promoter from Baltimore MD, and this show was curated and co-hosted by them on location. They spin artists that first connected them to traditional music including Bill Monroe himself, songs from Baltimore artists like the High and Wides and the Honey Dewdrops, leading young artists like Jake Blount and the Local Honeys – and more. You’ll also hear selections by Brad and Amy as artists.

This week's broadcast of Finally Friday featuring The Vegabonds, Dallas Burrow and Gabe Lee.

Featuring The Pink Stones, Ian Flanigan & Allie Dunn.

Featuring Buddy Mondlock, Tim Easton & Paisley Fields

Episode #250 of The String opens with thoughts about the seemingly divergent music genres of indie rock and folk music, because in my rambling through this year’s coolest, Americana chart-making albums, I came across a couple of fascinating artists who split the difference in their own ways. Cat Clyde is an exciting young songwriter from Canada whose current album Down Rounder impresses with its moody grace and confrontive lyrics. About the same time, Eric D. Johnson released yet another album under his moniker Fruit Bats, and in the wake of his award-winning work with folk trio Bonny Light Horseman, his bright and uplifting pop sounds downright rootsy. They split a fresh-sounding hour of the show.

Tim O’Brien, one of the most creative and consistent masters of bluegrass and traditional music of the past forty years, is back. His new album Cup Of Sugar is the first in his career he says featuring all original songs, and a lot of them seem to be about animals. We recently featured the first single “Little Lamb,” while this week’s featured tune is “Bear.” Meanwhile in old time business, the Ozark Highballers offer “Bear Creek” and Michael Hurley brings “Hog of the Forsaken,” whatever that means. I plucked songs by The Grassifieds and Maddie Denton, while Amy curated a set of Round Peak fiddling to celebrate the annual gathering in Mt. Airy, NC.

Featuring Ed Snodderly, Megan And Shane & The Arcadian Wild