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We welcomed eclectic songwriter Andy Sydow, Grand Ole Opry alums Monte Warden & The Wagoneers (pictured), and veteran Nashville rocker Lewis Stubbs Junior.

Listen for WMOT's Gospel show, Somebody Say Amen with Rev. Fred 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., every Sunday on WMOT.

Cordovas’ selections of deep-cutting Strange Roots from the American South and beyond, exploring the fringe of the American canon's fabric.

Brit Taylor came to town from eastern Kentucky chasing the US Route 23 dream that brought us Loretta Lynn and Patty Loveless - and wound up working with Cowboy Jack Clement and Sturgill Simpson. Adam Chaffins grew up one or two counties over and ensconced himself, as a bass player and singer, in the East Nashville bluegrass scene. Eventually, a friend was smart enough to introduce them, and they became a super-talented Americana couple. But not a duo. Taylor has four albums out, including two produced by her husband. Chaffins dropped a debut LP in 2020 and a soulful EP last year, with Taylor’s harmony vocals. Craig visited their homestead near Mt. Juliet to hear their story around their kitchen table.

On January 10, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers played their last road show - at Meadowgreen Music Park in Clay City, KY - marking the end of a 20-year touring career for one of bluegrass music’s most persuasive traditional bands. Mullins is not retiring from music, just the road. He has a lot going on with his chain of radio stations in Ohio and a new granddaughter. While they rambled, the band released a dozen albums in the bluegrass and gospel space, and in 2019 they were named Entertainers of the Year by the IBMA. We salute this fine banjo player, singer and broadcaster for 20 years of grassroots touring by opening up with a Joe banjo tune and by playing a song from their most recent album, appropriately titled “Something To Look Forward To.” Also this week, the album debut of Della Jane’s Heart by Appalachian Road Show, a new one from John Reishman and the Jaybirds, and a new old-time single from Amy Alvey herself and her duo Golden Shoals.

The Infamous Stringdusters are back with their first album of new material since 2022 and ready to celebrate their birthday. The quintet - with its roots in Nashville but its heart in Colorado’s progressive bluegrass legacy - formed 20 years ago, and on Feb. 13, they released a 20-song collection marking the occasion titled, aptly, 20/20. They won a Grammy Award and three IBMA Awards, but that doesn’t do their reputation or impact justice. Over these two decades, they’ve set the standard for musicianship, bandcraft, and songwriting in the newgrass/jamgrass world. And we’re glad to send the a shoutout with their single “Up From The Bottom” on the eve of their album release. I just interviewed three members of the band for another String appearance soon. Also this week, Tony Trischka lights up “Gentle On My Mind” for an upcoming sequel to Earl Jam, Frank Evans issues his first single from his upcoming debut solo record, Sparrow Smith brings her neo-Appalachian sound, and Mason Via sings a protest song on behalf of America’s wilderness areas

Bryan Sutton emerged from his hometown of Asheville, NC in the late 90s as a magnificently musical and technically gifted bluegrass guitarist, reaching most people for the first time through his long tenure with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. He’s now a veteran of stage and studio with nine IBMA Guitar Player of the Year trophies, regarded by many as the finest all around flatpicker of our time. As he approached the 20th anniversary of his 2006 duet collection Not Too Far From the Tree: A Collection of Duets with Heroes and Friends, Sutton wanted to try a new series “built around peers and younger players rather than mentors.” We’ve played duets with Sierra Hull and an archival track with Doc Watson. This week, it’s an intense take on “Crazy Creek” with Nashville’s much-admired Jake Stargel. Also on the show, a new single from the Steep Canyon Rangers, our first listen to Boston’s duo Cold Chocolate, and a foot stomper from fiddler/dancer/singer Hillary Klug. Plus don’t miss the fireballing figerstyle guitar of Gwenifer Raymond.

Welcome to The Old Fashioned, Catherine-Audrey Lachapelle and LéandreJoly-Pelletier, founder/leaders of the bluegrass and old-time band Veranda from Montreal, Quebec! I saw them on the showcase roster at Folk Alliance but had to bail due to weather before I got the chance to hear them. But their brand new, self-titled album made it easy to fall for them. Some stellar musicianship supports a nice variety of song styles and excellent singing en Francais. I went with the absolutely infectious “Sans Ardillon,” which some auto-translation tells me is full of fishing metaphors for relationships (the music video has them casting lines off a boat in a lovely lake). More to come. Also this week, a delicious new instrumental from Wyatt Ellis, a Tom Paxton song sung by Ashby Frank, some sweet new gospel from Eighteen Mile, and some tracks from Billy Strings to mark his fourth annual winter run at the Bridgestone Arena and the Ryman Auditorium. The history machine brings you Dave Evans and Melonie Cannon.

Multi-instrumentalists and singers Emily Mann and Wila Frank became friends long ago as they grew up at fiddle camps and folk festivals on the west coast. Their first recording was a home-made affair that emerged ten years ago. And in the meantime, despite the pandemic, they’ve released an impressive four studio albums, building a catalog of moving, downtempo songs that stir and provoke reflection. And they moved to Nashville, where they’re valued members of the string band community. The newest LP, which we celebrate this week, is Mountains On The Moon. So if you love Watchhouse or Milk Carton Kids or Gil and Dave, check out the title track. Also this week, the Travelin’ McCourys have a bold new single sung and written by Alan Bartram, plus fresh sides from Thomm Jutz, and Larry Stephenson, and Ed Snodderly, who remembers Doc Watson in song.

Out of the west they’ve come, as the jamgrassers so often do, on a wave of enthusiasm and a cloud of smoke. They are Magoo, Colorado’s hottest new expression of string band music done all the ways – the old, the new, the groovy and the sincere. RockyGrass Dobro contest winner Dylan Flynn brings “the emotional backbone,” they say, along with guitarist Erik Hill, mandolinist Cortlyn Bills, and bass player Denton Turner. They formed in 2022 and started packing in the crowds even before taking an impressive silver medal at the Telluride Bluegrass band contest last year. We feature the title track of their debut LP, What A Life, which landed Feb. 27. We also feature two other new album title cuts in Laurie Lewis’s “O California” and Big Richard’s “Pet.” Also check out the amazing new single from Michael Cleveland and Jason Carter – so well written. Junior Sisk has a new one as well, making it a very good week!