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.

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.

I was browsing around the World of Bluegrass exhibit hall in Chattanooga in September and who should I see but Jesse Cobb, master mandolin player. I’d made friends with him way back when I was chasing the then-new Infamous Stringdusters around with a video camera. Then he moved on a couple years later to raise a family in Vancouver, so he wasn’t circulating as much. But he was at World of Bluegrass to showcase his band The Unfaithful Servants, who are looking to make a national splash with their new album Fallen Angel, which officially dropped Oct. 17. Besides Jesse, the band includes singer-songwriter Dylan Stone, fiddler Quin Etheridge-Pedden, and bassist Mark Johnson. We spin their title cut at the end of block two. Also this week, a new single from the Asheville Mountain Boys marking the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene with a song about an even older flood in Appalachia. Plus Larry Sparks, Meredith Moon, and an introduction to East Tennessee songwriter Beth Snapp.

It’s not presented a bluegrass album per se, but Shawn Camp’s newest, The Ghost of Sis Draper, is rustic, acoustic, and soulful, and it’s full of fiddle tune Easter Eggs. The title track weaves its melody around “Arkansas Traveler.” One of the most famous American songs is reworked as “Soldier’s Joy 1864.” And the pickers, well they’re some of the best in bluegrass: Tim Crouch (fiddle), Mike Bub (bass), Chris Henry (mandolin), Jimmy Stewart (dobro), and Cory Walker (banjo). So okay, it’s bluegrass, but with all the praise it’s getting, let’s hope it gets nominated for Americana Album of the Year. We open with the title track. Also this week, new singles from the Foreign Laners, the Wilder Flower, and Ralph Stanley II. Amy was taken by Foggy Mountain Spaceship at World of Bluegrass (me too), and she picked their version of “Linus & Lucy” as our oddball track of the week. Far out.

One day after Amy Alvey and I taped this edition of the show from a Chattanooga, TN hotel room at World of Bluegrass, Trey Hensley won his second IBMA Award as Guitar Player of the Year. And that just hints at the many talents he’s likely to win awards for in the years to come. The East Tennessee native was spotted early as a magnificent musician and singer, and he was playing on the Grand Ole Opry before his teens. A stint with Blue Highway brought him to my attention and kicked off an incredible run in a duo with Rob Ickes that produced three amazing albums and hundreds of enthralling shows. So Trey is more than ready for his closeup, and this week’s opener “Can’t Outrun The Blues” is his first single for Pinecastle Records, where, in 2026, he’ll issue a solo debut and launch as a leader. We are ready. Our backlog of new singles includes Darren Nicholson, Marty Falle, the Lonesome Ace String Band and the Grascals with a certain legend named Dolly Parton. Buzz Buzby brings the historic bluegrass buzz.

Steve Martin and Alison Brown first met when the star comic actor and writer invited Brown, the leading banjo player and owner of Compass Records, to be on his board for the Steve Martin Banjo Prize. That was almost 15 years ago, and as they got to know each other, they broke out their banjos to see what that felt like. Their blend of clawhammer style (Steve) and Scruggs-style (Alison) sounded special, so they co-wrote the instrumental “Foggy Morning Breaking.” That went Number 1 on bluegrass radio, prompting Martin to write the song “Bluegrass Radio” in gleeful celebration. They kept writing, and before you knew it, they had an album’s worth of material, which they’re about to release as Safe, Sensible and Sane on Oct. 10. On the way, they co-hosted the 36th annual IBMA Awards in Chattanooga, and this show features music that was nominated for prizes, along with the loveliest song from their album, “Dear Time,” sung by Jackson Browne. It’s last in the hour, so on the way there, enjoy music from nominees for New Artist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year and more.

Meredith Moon isn’t new to folk music or to America, but she’ll be meeting a lot of American fans for the first time through her debut on Compass Records, From Here To The Sea, which arrived during AmericanaFest, where she showcased and played at our String Band Throwdown. Here, however, we build up to that release with her take on “Soldier’s Joy” from her prior album Constellations of 2022. Moon, an Ontario native, started her musical life in punk and grunge but turned to performing and recording folk music 10 years ago, building her name in the Toronto scene and developing into a lovely singer and banjo player. “Banjo’s sort of where I can put my energy and half lose my mind on stage, and it’s really fun,” she told me at Americanafest. But guitar and piano are my home instruments.” Also bringing the old tunes, Tony Trischka offers “Little Liza Jane.” Nicholas Edward Williams of Chattanooga makes his first appearance on the show.

East Nash Grass, born at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in East Nashville, is one of the primary reasons we created The Old Fashioned three and a half years ago. We’ve seen them through two album releases now, including their third LP, All God’s Children, now out from Mountain Fever Records. They’ve made some subtle shifts since Last Chance To Win came out in 2023. Jeff Partin replaced Jeff Picker on bass, and dobro master Gaven Largent, while playing on the new one, is now more of a sometime member. But the core remains: James Kee on guitar, Cory Walker on banjo, and Maddie Denton on fiddle. We fire up Show #170 with two songs – the title track and the Harry Clark-led road song “Hill Country Highway.” Keep it between the ditches, friends. The other new album release this week worth your notice is Joseph Decosimo’s Fiery Gizzard, a mesmerizing collection of deftly enhanced banjo instrumentals. Also here, new songs from Danny Burns, Conrad Fisher, the Tennessee Bluegrass Band, and Becky Buller.

Vickie Vaughn keeps stepping up her game across the board. She’s been a charming and sincere member of the Nashville bluegrass community for years, lending her bass playing and harmony vocals to a range of artists as a side player and some premium bands as well, including High Fidelity and Della Mae. In 2023, she was named IBMA Bass Player of the Year and then she repeated a year later. This year she’s been rolling out new music as a featured artist, on her way to releasing an album on Mountain Home Music this November. We’ve spun her twist on Bruce Robison’s “Leavin’” and now she shines on the emotional ballad “Mama Took Her Ring Off Yesterday.” We knew she could really sing; now we really get to hear it. Also this week, a square dance number from Lonesome River Band, a new one from Jaelee Roberts, and a swinging instrumental from Andy Leftwich.