Search results for

Leftover Salmon played their first formal show on New Year’s Eve in 1989 in Boulder, CO, an event that might be to Colorado Jamgrass what Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys at the Grand Ole Opry in 1945 was to bluegrass. And Salmon is still crushing it almost 35 years later. I saw them in late March leading the music at the opening weekend of Jerry Garcia – A Bluegrass Journey at the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Owensboro, KY. So they came right to mind when we were amusing ourselves with a set to mark 4/20, the date this show premiered. We could have drawn from a lot of weed-friendly recordings, but we went with Billy Strings, Sam Bush, and Jesse McReynolds, who made one of the greatest Grateful Dead cover albums. Also this week, a locomotive of a new single from the Travelin’ McCourys, a new album from Junior Sisk, and a gorgeous “Weeping Willow” by the Lilly Brothers and Don Stover from back in the day.

In Show 106 Amy and I ponder authorship in folk music and some of the disputes and errors that can arise. I love the song “The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore,” which I first heard sung by Norman Blake. Some claim Tom T. Hall wrote it. But we spin the original version by its true author – the great Kentucky folk singer Jean Ritchie. Another critical tribute we offer this week is for Seldom Scene co-founder and banjo master Ben Eldridge. He passed away on April 14 at age 85, and the impact of his innovative playing will always be immense. Besides a couple of Seldom Scene numbers, we hear from his key influence Bill Keith, and his son Chris Critter Eldridge of Punch Brothers. Also in the hour, a new single by Colorado band Jake Leg, who’s got a debut album coming May 11 that I’m looking forward to. Our first block includes a double shot of NC banjo man Tray Wellington, a new single of his own and a tune by his new string band New Dangerfield.

Featuring Ghalia Volt, Stephanie Lambring & Singa B. With a special set from Grace Pettis, Natalie Price & Robby Hecht.

It’s one thing to get applause for your songs, and it’s another to get laughs. John Craigie of Portland, OR has quietly built a robust touring career because he’s an excellent songwriter who also keeps his audiences in stitches between songs. His newest album is a collaboration called Pagan Church with TK and the Holy Know-Nothings, the Portland band fronted by admired songwriter Taylor Kingman. We talk about how Craigie developed his stagecraft under the influence of artists like Arlo Guthrie and his friend Todd Snider, as well as his unlikely path to performing while getting a math degree in California. No surprise, it’s a lot of fun. Also in the hour, Dave Wilson and John Teer reflect on 25 years as Chatham County Line and the new directions baked into the new album Hiyo.

This week we say thanks and farewell to mandolinist Frank Wakefield, the eccentric and outrageous mandolinist who died in late April at age 89. The East Tennessee native played with Red Allen and Jimmy Martin. His other claim to fame was being the first influential teacher of David Grisman, who champions Wakefield’s music to this day. We’ve got a block dedicated to his inspiring performances, including his famous original song “New Camptown Races.” Also this hour, new songs from the peerless voices of Danny Paisley and Del McCoury, a raging instrumental between Chris Thile and Michael Daves, and a deep cut from the Nashville Bluegrass Band.

The recent passing of banjo legend Ben Eldridge and mandolinist Frank Wakefield were sad but not entirely unexpected given their ages. But prior to this show we got news that Jim Mills, one of the iconic banjo players of our time and one of the world’s foremost expert dealers of Gibson banjos had died of a heart attack at age 57. It is a deeply sad loss. I learned of Jim’s mastery like so many people during his years with Ricky Skaggs when he went all-in on bluegrass with his Kentucky Thunder band. Jim’s Scruggs-style playing was fierce and precise and inventive. And he’ll be missed. We hear him in this show from two of his solo albums, an early track from his career with the band Summer Wages, and a fiery Skaggs track. Also this week, a hot new single from fiddlers Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland, another new track from songwriter/guitarist Rebecca Frazier, and emerging Nashville band Off The Rails.

While the public has become hyper aware of Billy Strings on his rocket ride to the top of bluegrass, only a small retinue of the music’s traditional veteran artists have achieved popular name recognition. I think especially of Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs. But there’s a deeper world there, and we should work a little harder to shine the light on more of the old school masters working today. That’s what episode #299 of The String is about, through conversations with singer Danny Paisley and mandolinist John Reischman. They are “musicians’ musicians,” which doesn’t help them put food on the table or build their legacies.

Michael Cleveland is finally getting the mainstream media attention he’s long deserved, with an NBC News feature and a New York Times profile among other things. The hook is his new album Lovin’ Of The Game with its mix of songs and tunes and special guests, including Billy Strings, Bela Fleck, Vince Gill and the Travelin’ McCourys. With 12 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year awards, he’s the most celebrated fiddler of his generation and a deeply intuitive and fluid musician who can step into wildly different settings. We offer a set of Michael’s music framed by new songs. Also, a fun Steve Earle cover by The Cleverlys, a sharp new single from Sister Sadie, and some pristine fiddling from Natalie Padilla. Historic tracks come from David Davis and the Stanley Brothers.

You may have heard fiddler Sami Braman on The Old Fashioned before, because she’s part of the incredible old-time band The Onlies. But you’ve never heard her solo music here because she’s getting set to release her debut album Riveter on April 7, and we’ve got the title track for you this week. Sami grew up in the string band world in the Pacific Northwest. Now she resides in Nashville, making this yet another awesome old-time project to come out of modern Music City. Also this week, new music from a big slate of excellent duos - The Gibson Brothers, Zoe & Cloyd, Nedski & Mojo, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, and Starlet & Big John.

Featuring Emily McGill, Anne McCue & Boys Club For Girls