Best Flatpicking Podcasts (2025)

1
1964 D-18

4d ago

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By TBar

1
Easter 9:39

1M ago9:39

9:39

The pastor preached a gospel sermon of hope and resurrection. The worship was inspiring. AsI left, I felt something in my chest, a familiar and indescribable twinge, as though I had accidentally walked into a beautiful hidden room full of old treasures from an earlier life. It was hope. Support the show…

1
Celebrating Norman Blake's 'Whiskey Before Breakfast' with Bob Minner 1:22:12

2d ago1:22:12

1:22:12

My guest this week is Bob Minner and we're celebrating one of the most iconic flatpicking records of all time - Norman Blake's 'Whiskey Before Breakfast'. We chat about Bob first hearing this record and why he loves it so much; its place in the flatpicking repertoire; the gear Norman used (including guitars, picks and even string gauges!) and we go…

1
Bluegrass Briefing May 26th 2025 12:42

4d ago12:42

12:42

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Romp Festival lineup and tickets Bluegrass Hall of Fame gigs Green Mountain Lineup Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Carolina Ch…

1
Wayne Erbsen on 50 Years of Writing About Southern Mountain Music 36:34

9d ago36:34

36:34

My guest this week is Wayne Erbsen, professor of old-time and bluegrass music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Wayne joins me to talk about half a century of writing about old-time and bluegrass music, including his latest book Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen. Over the past 50 years Wayne has intervi…

1
Bluegrass Briefing May 14th 2025 12:55

16d ago12:55

12:55

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Bluegrass on Hudson lineup and tickets IBMA WOB tickets IBMA International Stage applications Note - the deadline is bei…

1
Jason Carter on his 33 Years With the Del McCoury Band 52:05

23d ago52:05

52:05

My guest on the podcast this week is six time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Jason Carter. Jason recently ended his 33 year run with the Del McCoury Band and we talk about that extraordinary journey, from the fascinating story about how he got the job in the first place, to the decision to move on and what comes next. We also talk about the huge ch…

1
1957 J-45

1M ago

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By TBar

1
2021 Gibson J-45 Banner

1M ago

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By TBar

1
2021 'Early 40's J-45 Banner'

1M ago

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2021 'Early 40's J-45 Banner'By TBar

1
Bitesize - Wyatt Rice on recording Church Street Blues with Tony Rice 23:12

1M ago23:12

23:12

This Bitesize episode features a conversation I had with Wyatt Rice for a set of episodes in 2023 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tony Rice's 'Church Street Blues' album. Wyatt talks about his experience of playing on the sessions aged just 17, hanging out with Tony, the first time he saw an Ovation guitar at Tony's house and the track from 'C…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - April 21st 2025 11:01

1M ago11:01

11:01

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Tony Rice Memorial Day Music Fest Banjo in Sicily with Tony Trischka Releases (The Grass is New) Daniel Kimbro album - b…

1
Katie Harford Hogue - Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2 45:44

1M ago45:44

45:44

My guest this week is Katie Harford Hogue, who joins me to chat about the wonderful album 'Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2' We discuss how the project came about, following the discovery of dozens of John Hartford's notebooks, kept between 1983 and 2001, full of as many as 4,000 original fiddle tunes he'd composed. That l…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - April 14th 2025 10:52

2M ago10:52

10:52

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Darol Anger’s Big Book of Tunes vol 3 Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist Scroll on Budd…

1
Bitesize - Rachel Baiman on Connection, Conversation and Community in Music 25:03

2M ago25:03

25:03

This Bitesize episode comes from an interview I did in April 2023 with Rachel Baiman about her wonderful record Common Nation of Sorrow I re-listened to the episode (and the album) recently and this section really stood out. We chat about storytelling in music; the power of infusing a song with emotion; the importance of connection and conversation…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - April 7th 2025 8:29

2M ago8:29

8:29

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Earl Scruggs Music Festival Rhiannon Giddens and Kristina Gaddy book Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) N…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - March 31st 2025 10:56

2M ago10:56

10:56

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) North Carolina Guitar Celebration Releases (The Grass is New) Darol Anger & Mike Marshall with the WDR Big Band Spotify …

1
1953 J-45

2M ago

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By TBar

1
Glimmers of Hope 10:34

2M ago10:34

10:34

We are in a profoundly toxic public moment. But I will remind us that down on the ground, there is far more hope and light than you’d think from watching your preferred media. I’d suggest we let our children and teachers remind us again of who we are. Support the showBy Gary Allison Furr

1
Sierra Hull - A Tiptoe High Wire 45:04

2M ago45:04

45:04

My guest this week is Sierra Hull. Sierra has been a guest on the podcast twice before and both times we chatted about an ongoing project she's been working on since her last record 25 Trips. That project eventually became her new album, the wonderful A Tiptoe High Wire, which we talk about in this episode. Recorded over four sets of sessions over …

1
David Grisman - Celebrating 35 Years of Acoustic Disc 58:02

3M ago58:02

58:02

My guest this week is a legend of American string band music. When David Grisman raised his middle finger to MCA Records, after being dropped for failing to meet arbitrary sales targets, he couldn't have known it would spark a 35-year musical revolution. As one of America's foremost, and best loved, mandolin virtuosos turns 80 this year, he offers …

1
Bluegrass Briefing - March 10th 2025 10:38

3M ago10:38

10:38

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. Pod News Bluegrass Jam Along guests on mandolins and Beer Apple Spotify Bluegrass Standard article on Bluegrass Jam Along! News and Announcements (Church Street New…

1
2023 'Early 40's J-45 Banner'

3M ago

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By TBar

1
Thoughts in Solitude 19:04

3M ago19:04

19:04

As Lent begins today, reflections on the life and words of Thomas Merton. Amid the chaos of ultranationalism and disruption, we need to grow deeper, not more distracted. Elton Trueblood told us, "We shall never have a better world until we have better persons in it." In the insanity of this present moment, finding inner peace is not an escape, nor …

1
Bitesize - Bluegrass Jam Along guests on the Mandolins and Beer podcast 12:51

3M ago12:51

12:51

This week's episode is a Bitesize episode, which is a short section highlighting a previous episode you may have missed, which feels apt, given that this is episode #450, so the back catalogue is getting pretty big! But, it's not a previous episode of Bluegrass Jam Along. This week I'm sharing part of an episode on mandolins and Beer, because the g…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - March 3rd 2025 9:58

3M ago9:58

9:58

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. Pod News Doc Watson 100th birthday episodes Part 1 Apple Spotify YouTube Part 2 Apple Spotify YouTube Bluegrass Jam Along guests on mandolins and Beer Apple Spotify…

1
Celebrating 'JD Crowe & The New South' at 50 with Tim Stafford (Rounder 0044) 58:58

3M ago58:58

58:58

My guest this week is Tim Stafford, who joins me to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the best loved and most influential albums in bluegrass. 'JD Crowe & The New South' was recorded in January 1975 and released in August the same year. Tim joins me to chat about what makes it such a milestone record in bluegrass, despite it not really being…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - February 24th 2025 10:00

3M ago10:00

10:00

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. Pod News Bluegrass Jam Along guests on mandolins and Beer Apple Spotify News and Announcements (Church Street News) Rhiannon Giddens’ American Tunes DelFest Lineup …

1
Jake Workman on 9 years with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder 59:34

3M ago59:34

59:34

My guest this week is guitarist Jake Workman. Jake joins me to talk about his recently ended 9 year run with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, including a great story about how he got the gig, what he learned from playing with Ricky, why rhythm guitar is so important in that role and why now was the time to look for a new challenge. We also talk a…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - February 17th 2025 13:20

3M ago13:20

13:20

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Grey Fox Festival Casey Driessen Fiddle Camp Scholarship Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 play…

1
Bitesize - Jack Lawrence on the D18 Doc Watson Gave Him 10:45

4M ago10:45

10:45

This is the first of a new series of episodes on the podcast I'm calling 'Bitesize'. I've done well over 100 interviews for the podcast now. That's a lot of conversations! The idea with these episodes is to pick out a highlight from a past conversation and share it again, in case you missed it missed it first time round, or just want to hear some b…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - February 10th 2025 10:09

4M ago10:09

10:09

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) ETSU Artist in Residence post Punch Brothers tour dates Green Mountain lineup Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (…

1
Tom Nechville - Nechville Banjos 55:01

4M ago55:01

55:01

My guest this week is Tom Nechville from Nechville Banjos. Tom joins me to chat about 40 years of making banjos, including what he's learned along the way and some of the innovations he's brought to the banjo, including his revolutionary Heli-Mount head tightening system. We also chat about why he chose to sell his building in Minneapolis and move …

1
Bluegrass Briefing - February 3rd 2025 12:13

4M ago12:13

12:13

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. Pod news Eric Skye - Phillips, Grier & Fliner special Apple Podcasts Spotify News and Announcements (Church Street News) Alison Krauss pre-order and tour info Billy…

1
Celebrating 'Phillips, Grier & Flinner' with Eric Skye 1:00:29

4M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

My guest on the podcast this week is Eric Skye, who joins me to celebrate the album 'Phillips, Grier & Flinner'. Released in 1999 on Compass Records, it marks the first collaboration between bassist Todd Phillips, guitarist David Grier, and mandolinist Matt Flinner and features three original tunes from each. We chat about how Eric first discovered…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - January 27th 2025 8:16

4M ago8:16

8:16

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. Pod news Daniel Kimbro interview Apple Podcasts Spotify News and Announcements (Church Street News) Dawg at 80 Sierra Ferrell tour dates Earl Experience Banjo Camp …

1
Daniel Kimbro - Story Songs, Murder Ballads and a New Solo Record 55:04

4M ago55:04

55:04

My guest this week is Daniel Kimbro. Daniel is the bass player in Jerry Douglas's band and plays with Jerry in Transatlantic Sessions and The Earls of Leicester. He's also part of the trio Harley Kimbro Lewis and joins me this week to chat about his first solo record Carpet in the Kitchen. This was a fun conversation that touches on story songs, fi…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - January 20th 2025 10:29

4M ago10:29

10:29

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Sierra Hull - pre-order/pre-save the new record Bluegrass in La Roche info Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mos…

1
The Price of Admission 13:30

4M ago13:30

13:30

An unforgettable day. But I was most touched by something his daughter said that night. She told us a little-known fact—that part of his childhood was spent in a children’s home. His family was disconnected by life. She said one of the reasons he loved sports teams so much was that family life had been hard for him. At the park, though, no matter w…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - January 13th 2025 13:33

5M ago13:33

13:33

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode News and Announcements (Church Street News) Chris Thile’s Acousticamp Station Inn book Bluegrass Hall of Fame - John Hartford Days Releases (The Grass is New) The Gr…

1
Jimmy Carter's Vision 12:35

5M ago12:35

12:35

In other words, unity of heart, spirit and love can exist even though we must have differences that will take longer to resolve. We begin with this willingness to know a fellow Christian’s heart and build upon the possibility of fellowship. It does not mean give up our convictions. But we must begin with the hardest and highest call Jesus gave to u…

1
1973 D-18 Monroe's Hornpipe

5M ago

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By TBar

1
The Visit of the Magi 17:50

5M ago17:50

17:50

I want you to consider this: three astrologers came from Persia, without knowing anything about who they were dealing with in Herod. The salvation of the world lay innocently in the arms of his mother, nothing to protect him from the power of the state. His fate depended on these strangers and what they were to make of a dream they had that likely …

1
Dan Gutstein - 'Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane' 54:22

6M ago54:22

54:22

My guest this week is author Dan Gutstein, who joins me to chat about his book 'Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane'. The book traces the history of one of America's most recorded folk songs, from its origins amongst enslaved people on southern plantations, through the Civl War and minstrelsy, to the folk revival and beyond. On its j…

1
Christmas Cards 23:17

6M ago23:17

23:17

Cryptic and mysterious messages begin coming through the unlikeliest of messengers: an elderly woman in a nursing home. Crowds flock to see her, and experts try to determine what causes it. The local ministers are perplexed. Is it the medication? Dementia? Wishful thinking? Support the showBy Gary Allison Furr

1
Bluegrass Briefing - December 9th 2024 15:06

6M ago15:06

15:06

Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass. Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode. News and Announcements (Church Street News) Noam Pikelny and Friends tour dates Alison Krauss tour dates Earl Scruggs Center events Bela Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Ca…

1
73 D-18

6M ago

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By TBar

1
The Stories of Christmas 9:52

6M ago9:52

9:52

It was a desperate time. You might even say the worst of times. And the story plainly says that while we were still lost in the tragedy called sin,God showed up, as Forrest Gump once said. Support the showBy Gary Allison Furr

1
Darol Anger - Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker 59:05

6M ago59:05

59:05

My guest this week is Darol Anger, one of the leading lights of progressive string band music over the last 50 years. Through his work with the David Grisman Quintet, the Turtle Island String Quartet, bands like Psychograss and New Grange and his long standing collaboration with Mike Marshall (not to mention his own wonderful solo records), Darol h…

1
Charlotte Carrivick - Sensible or Otherwise 40:11

6M ago40:11

40:11

My guest this week is Charlotte Carrivick. Charlotte is one of my favourite guitarists, so I'm delighted she's back on the podcast to talk about her new record Sensible or Otherwise. We chat about why, despite having written tunes for years, it took so long to make an instrumental record; the new guitar she commissioned for this album; why she's no…

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