"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 3/15/2026

Our Bluegrass Cafe presented on the Ides of March opened with a selection of Irish (or Irish-sounding) tunes in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  But that was just the start of our "celebration."

On March 14th, I celebrated my birthday, so for this program, I wanted to share music from a few other March 14th birthday celebrants in the World of Bluegrass, including Bob Paisley, Kristin Scott Benson, and Terry McGill.  We enjoyed music from all of these performers.  And, of course, I couldn't resist a bit of self-indulgence, so much of the remainder of the show included songs that I would put on a list of Bluegrass favorites (though, in truth, I could have played many, many others, as well).  Next time...   😀

New music was featured, too, including selections from Junior Sisk, the Po' Ramblin' Boys, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Southern Legacy, and the Travelin' McCourys.  

This week, the NCAA Basketball Tournament (aka "March Madness") begins.  At this point, we're not 100% sure of when a game might be played on Sunday, but there's always a possibility that there will be one, and if there's possibly a game, there's also possibly a preemption of some or all of our Bluegrass Cafe time.  Lots of "possibility" there, right?  We'll let you know what happens as soon as we know anything.  Until then, enjoy the week!

Amy O.

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Requests are RED]

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• My Wild Irish Rose / Larry Stephenson Band / On Fire / Pinecastle
• When The Mist Comes Again / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass Records
• Irish Medley (The Traveler/Green Gates) / Special Consensus / Our Little Town / Pinecastle
• Colleen Malone / Hot Rize / Take It Home / Sugar Hill
• Traditional Irish Medley / Bluegrass Etc. / Travelin' Band / Sierra Records
• A Walk In The Irish Rain / California / Traveler / Sugar Hill
• Irish Spring / Country Gentlemen / Complete Vanguard Recordings / Vanguard
• Old Hickory Cane / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Live In Holland / Strictly Country Records [Remembering Bob Paisley:  3/14/1931 - 11/29/2004]
• The Hunt / Kristin Scott Benson / Straight Paths / Pinecastle [Kristin Scott Benson birthday, 3/14/1976]
• I Overlooked An Orchid / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Back To The Blue Ridge / Brandywine [Remembering Bob Paisley:  3/14/1931 - 11/29/2004]
• Great Waterton / Kristin Scott Benson / Stringworks / Mountain Home [Kristin Scott Benson birthday, 3/14/1976]
• No Vacancy / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / No Vacancy / Brandywine [Remembering Bob Paisley:  3/14/1931 - 11/29/2004]
• New Cluck Old Hen / Alison Brown & Steve Martin with Della Mae / Safe, Sensible And Sane / Compass Records
• Bluegrass Radio / Alison Brown & Steve Martin / Safe, Sensible And Sane / Compass Records
• To Make A Long Heartache Short / Carson Peters & Iron Mountain / Hold On Heart / Billy Blue Records
• Pardon Me / Po' Ramblin' Boys / single / Turnberry Records
• Steal My Today / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / single / Mountain Home
• A Brand New Whippoorwill / Junior Sisk / single / Turnberry Records
• Bill From Isonville / Southern Legacy / single / Pinecastle
• Straight Drive / Terry McGill / Straight Drive / Cabinwood Music
• The Angry Wife / Feinberg Brothers / Party For One / Cabinwood Music
• Poet With Wings / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / The Original Band / Sugar Hill
• Darling, Do You Know Who Loves You / Johnson Mountain Boys / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Rounder / Love Chooses You / Flying Fish
• The Hills Of My Home / Laurie Lewis / Love Chooses You / Flying Fish
• Steppin' Stones / Paul Williams / A Tribute To Jimmy Martin:  The King Of Bluegrass / Koch Records
• The Lonesome River / Stanley Brothers / Select Sides, 1949-1953 / JSP Records
• One More Dollar / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Unleashed / Sugar Hill
• John D. Champion / Becky Buller / Crepe Paper Heart / Dark Shadow Recording
• Railroad Line / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
• Gas And Oil / Travelin' McCourys / single / McCoury Music
• I Feel The Blues Moving In / Del McCoury / Don't Stop The Music / Rounder
• Foxhounds / Kathy Kallick Band / Foxhounds / Spruce And Maple Music
• Seeing Nellie Home / Country Gentlemen / Live In Japan / Rebel
• Richest Man / Balsam Range / Moxie And Mettle / Mountain Home
• Better Get In That Number / Spinney Brothers / Here At The Cross / Self-Produced
• Music In My Soul / High Fidelity / Music In My Soul / Rebel
• Lord, Show Me The Righteous Pathway / Special Consensus / Everything's Alright / Pinecastle
• You Can Feel It In Your Soul / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / SSE
• You Don't Love God If You Don't Love Your Neighbor / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage with Bill Gaither / Spring House
• Springtime In Glory / Johnson Mountain Boys / The Stained Glass Hour / Rounder
• On The Sea Of Life / Doyloe Lawson & Quicksilver / Rock My Soul / Sugar Hill
• One Wide River / Counry Gentlemen / One Wide River / Rebel
• I'm On A Journey / Bear Bridge Band / One More Ride / Open Road
• Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 3/8/2026

Before it's Sunday again, here's a look back at our March 8th Bluegrass Cafe.  It was a slightly abbreviated program, beginning 15 minutes later than 4PM as the UConn Women's Basketball team played in the Big East Tournament.  

March 8th was International Woman's Day, so we shared music from many of the fine women performers who have survived and thrived in the World of Bluegrass.  We included everyone from Sara and Maybelle Carter to Martha Adcock and Lynn Morris to Molly Tuttle.  

During our program, we took a few minutes to remember the music of Jim Buchanan (January 1, 1941 - March 6, 2026) -- a top-notch Bluegrass fiddler who worked for many years with Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys, as well as with country music performers like George Jones and Mel Tillis.  

And we took a few minutes to chat with Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance President Jeffrey Horton, as the RIBA folks have a wonderful concert event they are presenting at Bally's Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI on March 21st.  Find more info about RIBA, this event, and their upcoming Hall of Fame ceremonies in April by clicking on the hyperlinks.

We'll join you once again this coming Sunday afternoon for our next Bluegrass Cafe.  4PM is the time, so we'll see you then...

Amy O.

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Daughter Of The Stars / Red Camel Collective / Red Camel Collective / Pinecastle
• True Life Blues / Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard / O Sister! / Rounder
• Easy Come, Easy Go / Burnett Sisters Band / Easy Come, Easy Go / Pinecastle
• Wildwood Flower / Carter Family / Anchored In Love:  Their Complete Victor Recordings, 1927-1928 / Rounder
• Diesel Train / Jim & Jesse / Radio Shows / Rural Rhythm [Remembering Jim Buchanan:  1/1/1941 - 3/6/2026]
• Billy In The Lowground / David Grisman, Vince Gill, Herb Pedersen, Jim Buchanan, Emory Gordy, Jr. / Here Today / Rounder [Remembering Jim Buchanan:  1/1/1941 - 3/6/2026]
• Cheyenne / Jim & Jesse / Radio Shows / Rural Rhythm [Remembering Jim Buchanan:  1/1/1941 - 3/6/2026]
• Lonesome River / David Grisman, Vince Gill, Herb Pedersen, Jim Buchanan, Emory Gordy, Jr. / Here Today / Rounder [Remembering Jim Buchanan:  1/1/1941 - 3/6/2026]
• Say You Lied / Neon Valley Boys / Bluegrass / Sudden Comfort Records
• Telephone conversation with Jeffrey Horton of the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance
• Anger And Tears / Northern Lights / Can't Buy Your Way / Flying Fish
• All Will Be Well / Sister Sadie / All Will Be Well / Mountain Home
• Blow Out The Candle, Laura / Linda Lay & Sammy Shelor / Taking The Crooked Road Home / Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
• Pain Of Loving You / Mark Newton with Gloria Belle / Follow Me Back To The Fold / Rebel
• Scotty's Hoedown / Bronwyn Keith-Hynes / I Built A World / Sugar Petunia Records
• I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) / Cox Family / O Brother, Where Art Thou / Mercury
• Anywhere The Wind Blows / Missy Raines & Allegheny / Love & Trouble / Compass Records
• Don't Neglect The Rose / Lynn Morris Band / Shape Of A Tear / Rounder
• Red Rocking Chair / Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands / O California! / Spruce And Maple Music
• Crooked Tree / Molly Tuttle & Golden HIghway / Crooked Tree / Nonesuch Records
• Through The Window Of A Train / Blue Highway / Through The Window Of A Train / Rounder
• Gentle On My Mind / Tony Trischka with Billy Strings / Earl Jam 2 / Down The Road Records
• Foolish Heart / Alison Krauss / Too Late To Cry / Rounder
• Poor Ellen Smith / Wilma Lee Cooper / O Sister 2 / Rounder
• I Can't Settle Down / Laura Orshaw with Jenee Fleenor & Brittany Haas / Solitary Diamond / Dark Shadow Recording
• Blue Ain't The Word / The Kody Norris Show / Highfalutin' Hillbilly / Rebel
• This Morning At Nine / Eddie & Martha Adcock / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• God Is Watching / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management Music
• Abide With Me / Rrinaco / Little Songs / Rebel
• Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown / Jim & Jesse / Radio Shows / Rural Rhythm
• Speakin' To That Mountain / Becky Buller / Crepe Paper Heart / Dark Shadow Recording
• He Said If I Be Lifted Up / Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder
• Get On The Main Highway / Price Sisters / A Heart Never Knows / Rebel
• Light At The River / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / That's Why I'm Lonesome / Patuxent Music
• Count Your Blessings / Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick / Together / Kaleidoscope
• Jordan / Darin & Brooke Aldridge feat. Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney & Mark Fain / Talk Of The Town / Billy Blue Records
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 3/1/2026

We returned for our first three-hour, live-in-the-studio Bluegrass Cafe this past Sunday, March 1st!  After what seems like weeks away due to snow and ice (and one missed Sunday for attendance at the fabulous Joe Val Bluegrass Festival), I was ready for radio.  Hope you were able to join us!

During our program, we celebrated many birthdays, some for Country Music legends whose material has been greatly covered in the world of Bluegrass (Johnny Cash, Faron Young), and other birthdays of gentlemen who are important members of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (Doug Dillard, John Duffey, Don Stover, Doc Watson, Pete Wernick).  Lots of fine music to be heard there!  

We also had our annual telephone visit with Michelle Canning -- a Nashville-based songwriter/performer who is a Massachusetts native, and who, several years ago, when she was a 16-year-old banjo player/band leader decided to hold a benefit for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.  On March 21st, Michelle will host the 15th edition of this event -- called "A Night On The Edge" -- in Chelmsford, MA.  In her fifteen years of raising money to support research on this terrible disease, Michelle has raised nearly $100,000!  Her goal this year is to surpass that total, so please consider helping her reach that goal, if you can.  More info on the event or how to donate can be found here:  Michelle Canning - Alzheimer's Benefit

It was great to be back with our Bluegrass Cafe on Sunday, but since we have now entered tournament season for UConn Basketball, the means our show may be subject to preemptions here and there for the rest of the month.  To that end, the start of this coming Sunday's show (March 8th) will be delayed by about thirty minutes as the UConn Women play in the Big East Tournament game at 2:30PM.  We'll look for you around 4:30PM, and then, at 5PM we're planning to have a telephone chat with Jeff Horton of the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance about some of their upcoming events.  Should be a fun day.

Until then, enjoy the weekend, and we'll see you around 4:30PM on March 8th.

Amy O.

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Hey Porter / Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble & The Rose / Rounder [Remembering Johnny Cash:  2/26/1932 - 9/12/2003]
• A World So Full Of Love / Gibson Brothers / Iron & Diamonds / Sugar Hill [Remembering Faron Young:  2/25/1932 - 12/10/1996]
• Give My Love To Rose / Sally Love Connell / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm [Remembering Johnny Cash:  2/26/1932 - 9/12/2003]
• Alone With You / White Mountain Bluegrass / Oh So Many Years / Self-Produced [Remembering Faron Young:  2/25/1932 - 12/10/1996]
• Big River / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill [Remembering Johnny Cash:  2/26/1932 - 9/12/2003]
• Go Back You Fool / Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road [Remembering Faron Young:  2/25/1932 - 12/10/1996]
• If You Talk In Your Sleep / Del McCoury Band / Songs Of Love And Life / McCoury Music
• Please Mr. Postman / Special Consensus feat. Rick Faris / Been All Around This World / Compass Records
• Uncle Ned / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Weary River / Patuxent Music
• Breaking Up Is Hard To Do / Michelle Canning / The Flower And The Serpent / Self-Produced [Remembering Neil Sadaka:  3/13/1939 - 2/27/2006]
• Down The Road / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
• Carry Me Back To The Bluegrass / Big Country Bluegrass / Carry Me Back To The Bluegrass / Rebel
• Scotland / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / 20th Century Masters / MCA
• I'll Love Nobody But You / Jim & Jesse / In The Tradition / Rounder
• Banjo Player's Blues / High Fidelity / Banjo Player's Blues / Rebel
• It's All Fun And Games ('Til Someone Gets Hurt) / Junior Sisk / It's All Fun And Games / Turnberry Records
• Hill Country Highway / East Nash Grass / All God's Children / Mountain Fever Records
• Come On Sunshine / Williamson Branch / Southern Sunshine / Pinecastle
• Chat with Michelle Canning re: her 15th annual "Night On The Edge" benefit for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America - 3/21/2026
• High Above The Mountains / Michelle Canning / The Flower And The Serpent / Self-Produced
• Look Down That Lonesome Road / Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands / O California! / Spruce And Maple Music
• O California! / Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands / O California! / Spruce And Maple Music
• Going Down The Road Feeling Bad / Doc & Merle Watson / Elementary Doctor Watson / Sugar Hill [Remembering Doc Watson:  3/3/1923 - 5/29/2012]
• The Young Fisherwoman / Country Gentlemen / Folk Session Inside / Mercury [Remembering John Duffey:  3/4/1934 - 12/10/1996]
• Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / There Is A Time (1963-70) / Vanguard [Remembering Doug Dillard:  3/6/1937 - 5/16/2012]
• Things In Life / Don Stover / Hand-Picked:  25 Years Of Bluegrass On Rounder Records / Rounder [Remembering Don Stover:  3/6/1928 - 11/11/1996]
• Black Mountain Rag / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Sugar Hill [Remembering Doc Watson:  3/3/1923 - 5/29/2012]
• Lonesome Pine / Blue Highway / Lonesome Pine / Rebel
• Little Maggie / Stanley Brothers / Selected Cuts, 1956-1959 / JSP Records
• You Tried To Ruin My Name / Wilma Lee Cooper / O Sister! / Rounder
• Memories That We Shared / Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder
• Reason For Being / The Seldom Scene / Act Two / Rebel [Remembering John Duffey:  3/4/1934 - 12/10/1996]
• Little Annie / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots, 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways Recordings [Remembering Don Stover:  3/6/1928 - 11/11/1996]
• Millworker / Becky Buller / Songs That Sing Me / Dark Shadow Recording
• Wild Ride / Hot Rize / Untold Stories / Sugar Hill [Pete Wernick birthday, 2/25/1946]
• Which Train / Williamson Branch / Heritage & Hope / Pinecastle
• The Other Side Of Heaven / Greg Blake & Hometown / The View From Home / Get It Played
• I'm Working On A Road / Country Gentlemen / Let The Light Shine Down / Rebel [Remembering John Duffey:  3/4/1934 - 12/10/1996]
• I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling / Joe Val / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• I Can't Sit Down / Special Consensus / Been All Around This World / Compass Records
• His Charming Love / High Fidelity / Banjo Player's Blues / Rebel 
• You Must Come In At The Door / Doc Watson / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill [Remembering Doc Watson:  3/3/1923 - 5/29/2012]
• Sweeping Through The Gates / Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• That Glory Bound Train / Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 2/8/2026

 SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Request is RED]

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• All In My Love For You / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / My Heart Is Yours / Sugar Hill
• What A Wonderful Life / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• A Daisy A Day / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
• My Heart Skips A Beat / Lynn Morris Band / The Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
• You're For Me / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
• Rose Of My Heart / IIIrd Tyme Out / John & Mary / Rounder
• Kentucky Sweetheart / Rhonda Vincent / A Dream Come True / Rebel
• She's Heavenly / Del McCoury Band with Molly Tuttle / Songs Of Love And Life / McCoury Music
• She Paints A Picture / Gibson Brothers / Another Night Of Waiting / Hay Holler
• Before I Met You / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
• Marianne / Paul Adkins & the Borderline Band / Modern Times / Rebel
• Ten Degrees And Getting Colder / J.D. Crowe & the New South / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Rounder
• Raw Hide / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
• How Mountain Girls Can Love / Stanley Brothers / Classic Bluegrass Collection, Volume 3 / Time Life
• Bad Case Of Lovin' You / Lou Reid, Terry Baucom & Carolina / Carolina Blue / Webco
• Scraps From Your Table / Missy Raines & Allegheny / Love & Trouble / Compass Records
• Sweethearts In Heaven / Reno & Smiley / On The Air / Copper Creek
• Orange Blossom Special / Johnson Mountain Boys / At The Old Schoolhouse / Rounder
• Rambler's Blues / Laurel Canyon Ramblers / Rambler's Blues / Sugar Hill
• Maple On The Hill / Tony Trischka with Sister Sadie / Earl Jam 2 / Down The Road Records
• Life's Highway / Whysper / single / Whysper Dream Music
• Rhythm Of The Ridge / Unspoken Tradition / single / Mountain Home 
• Tucson / Trey Hensley / single / Pinecastle
• Come On Back / DownRiver Collective / single / Self-Produced
• Red Dirt, White House, Blue Ridge Mountain Home / Tennessee Bluegrass Band / Nolichucky / Flagpond Records
• The Devil Went Down To Deep Gap / Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings / single / Mountain Home
• That's How I Can Count On You / Red Allen / Lonesome And Blue:  The Complete County Recordings / Rebel [Remembering Red Allen:  2/12/1930 - 4/3/1993]
• Dear Old Mother / Jim & Jesse / In The Tradition / Rounder [Remembering Jim McReynolds:  2/13/1927 - 12/31/2002]
• Georgia Stomp / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder [David McLaughlin birthday, 2/13/1958]
• Truck Driver's Queen / Charlie Moore / Charlie Moore Sings Again--Gone But Not Forgotten / Wango [Remembering Charlie Moore:  2/13/1935 - 12/24/1979]
• Don't Wake Me / Bill Emerson with Red Allen / Reunion / Webco [Remembering Red Allen:  2/12/1930 - 4/3/1993]
• All I Have To Do Is Dream / Crowe & McLaughlin / Going Back / Rounder [Remembering Boudleaux Bryant:  2/13/1920 - 6/25/1987]
• Bye Bye Love / Gibson Brothers / Brotherhood / Rounder [Remembering Boudleaux Bryant:  2/13/1920 - 6/25/1987]
• A Brand New Heartache / Larry Stephenson & Dudley Connell / Celebration Of Life / Skaggs Family Records [Remembering Boudleaux Bryant:  2/13/1920 - 6/25/1987]
• Rocky Top / Osborne Brothers / High Lonesome / CMH [Remembering Boudleaux Bryant:  2/13/1920 - 6/25/1987]
• What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round? / Special Consensus / Been All Around This World / Compass Records
• Northern Rail / Northern Lights / Take You To The Sky / Flying Fish Records
• That's Why I'm Lonesome / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / That's Why I'm Lonesome / Patuxent Music
• City That Drowned / Mile Twelve / City On A Hill / Delores The Taurus Records
• Streets Of Baltimore / Del McCoury Band / The Streets Of Baltimore / McCoury Music
• Not A Word From Home / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• Calling Me / Eddie Sanders feat. Larry Cordle, John Cowan, Shawn Camp / I'm A Jesus Man / True Lonesome Records
• Waiting For The Boys To Come Home / Country Gentlemen / Let The Light Shine Down / Rebel
• Will There Be Any Stars? / Alison Krauss & the Cox Family / I Know Who Holds Tomorrow / Rounder
• I Believe / Feinberg Brothers / Songs We Sing / Cabinwood Music
• Let Me Be The Best Bible / Rock Hearts / Unfinished Bridges / 615 Hideaway Records
• God Told Nicodemus / Authentic Unlimited / Gospel Sessions, Volume 1 / Billy Blue Records
• There's A Higher Power / Kathy Kallick / Count Your Blessings:  A Bluegrass Gospel Collection / Live Oak Records
• I'll Shout And Shine / Corrina Rose Logston & Jeremy Stephens / Songs Of Home And Inspiration / Self-Produced
• City On A Hill / Northern Lights / Can't Buy Your Way / Flying Fish
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 2/1/2026

On Sunday afternoon, we returned with our first live-in-the-studio Bluegrass Cafe program since January 11th.  Two weeks of snow and/or ice in eastern Connecticut made us remember that we're actually having a winter this year.  Still, it was a lot of fun to be back on the radio sharing lots of wonderful music, so sure hope you were able to tune in to the show.

February 1st is a date we always celebrate, as four very important members of the Bluegrass community celebrate their birthdays that day:  Del McCoury (1939), Tom Gray (1941), David Parmley (1959), and Jason Carter (1971).  There's no better to celebrate these gentlemen than to share their music, and we definitely did that.  

New music was high on our priority list this week, too, and we shared brand-new music from Dailey & Vincent, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Greg Blake with Becky Buller, DownRiver Collective, and Appalachian Road Show.  

And if all of this wasn't enough, we also had an enjoyable conversation with Gerry Katz of the Boston Bluegrass Union, and he told us all about the return of the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, as it will take place February 12-15 in Framingham, MA.  This festival hasn't happened since 2020, and should be a wonderful experience.  Learn more here.

Thanks for joining me on Sunday afternoon!  We look forward to visiting with another Bluegrass Cafe this coming Sunday afternoon, 4-7PM.  

See you then!

Amy O.

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Request is RED]

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Don't Let My Love Get In The Way / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
• Bessie's Tune / Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike / Small Town Heroes / Bell Buckle Records [Tom Gray birthday, 2/1/1941]
• Wake Up / David Parmley & Continental Divide / Pathway Of Time / Pinecastle [David Parmley birthday, 2/1/1959]
• Kissimmee Kid / Jason Carter / Lowdown Hoedown / Fiddleman Records [Jason Carter birthday, 2/1/1971]
• So Black And White / Del McCoury Band / single / McCoury Music [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
• Grandfather's Clock / The Seldom Scene / Live At The Cellar Door / Rebel [Tom Gray birthday, 2/1/1941]
• Wonder Could I Live There Anymore / David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition / David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition / DP&CD Records [David Parmley birthday, 2/1/1959]
• Midnight Flyer / Jason Carter / Lowdown Hoedown / Fiddleman Records [Jason Carter birthday, 2/1/1971]
• Ground Hog / The Dillards / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
• Wall Around Your Heart / Becky Buller with Jim Lauderdale / Songs That Sing Me / Dark Shadow Recording [Becky Buller birthday, 1/31/1979]
• Mountains And Memories / Country Gentlemen / Souvenirs / Rebel [Remembering Charlie Waller:  1/19/1935 - 8/18/2004]
• Have You Come To Say Goodbye / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems / Radio Gems
• Just A Little Ways Down The Road / Laurie Lewis / Trees / Spruce And Maple Music
• With Body And Soul / Johnson Mountain Boys / At The Old Schoolhouse / Rounder
• In The Mexican Sun / Red Camel Collective / single / Billy Blue Records
• Hill Country Highway / East Nash Grass / All God's Children / Mountain Fever Records
• Ragged Man / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
• Conversation with Gerry Katz of the Boston Bluegrass Union about Joe Val Bluegrass Festival
• Cold Wind / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Diamond Joe / Rounder 
• He Can't Own Them / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Bluegrass Troubadour / Mountain Fever Records
• Blink Of An Eye / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Bluegrass Troubadour / Mountain Fever Records
• Don't Sell Daddy Any More Whiskey / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• Ruby / Dailey & Vincent / single / Pillar Stone Records
• Walkin' Back To Georgia / Carson Peters & Iron Mountain / single / Billy Blue Records
• Love Found Me / Greg Blake with Becky Buller / single / Turnberry Records
• Rosalee McFall / Appalachian Road Show / Della Jane's Heart / Billy Blue Records
• Come On Back / DownRiver Collective / single / Self-Produced
• Steppin' Stones / Jimmy Martin / Good 'n' Country & Country Music Time / Jasmine
• Lonesome Pine Breakdown / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
• Leaning On A Travelin' Song / Billy Strings / Highway Prayers / Reprise Records
• Blue Ain't The Word / Kody Norris Show / Highfalutin' Hillbilly / Rebel
• Heartbreak Hurricane / Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time / Songs From The Workbench / Ripchord Records
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Parmley & McCoury / Families Of Tradition / BGC Records
• Every Humble Knee Must Bow / Nashville Bluegrass Band / To Be His Child / Rounder
• Lay Down Your Troubles / Gary Ferguson / I'm Really Leaving / Webco
• Heavenward Bound / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• His Charming Love / High Fidelity / Banjo Player's Blues / Rebel
• Bring Him Your Talents / Bluegrass Cardinals / Way Down Deep In My Soul / Sugar Hill
• Take Him In / The Seldom Scene / Scene 20 / Sugar Hill
• Free Salvation / Del McCoury Band / The Streets Of Baltimore / McCoury Music
• Won't That Be A Happy Time / Special Consensus / Chicago Barn Dance / Compass Records
• I Found A Church Today / Gibson Brothers / In The Ground / Sugar Hill
• Somebody Touched Me / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 1/11/2026

During this past Sunday's Bluegrass Cafe, we spent a whole lot of time (and a good number of songs) on Sunday afternoon honoring one of the finest songwriters in Bluegrass history:  Randall Hylton (January 8, 1946 - March 19, 2001).  Though this wonderful guitarist, performer, and songwriter left this world nearly 25 years ago, his music will live on forever, as his music continues to be recorded and remembered wherever fine Bluegrass is played.  

There was a tiny bit of new music to share on Sunday, too, with selections from Dale Ann Bradley, Della Mae, the Tennessee Bluegrass Band, and a fun duet selection from Bryan Sutton and Billy Strings.

Thanks for joining us for our radio visit on Sunday.  Barring any major snowstorms in the area, we'll plan on joining you for another three-hour Bluegrass Cafe this coming Sunday.  See you then!

Amy O.

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Requests are RED]

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Viva Las Vegas / The Grascals with Dolly Parton / The Grascals / Rounder [Remembering Elvis Presley:  1/8/1935 - 8/16/1977]
• Dixie / Gibson Brothers / Help My Brother / Compass Records [Remembering Elvis Presley:  1/8/1935 - 8/16/1977]
• Down In Caroline / Front Range / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Remembrance Is A Golden Chain / Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show with Darrin Vincent / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Mountain Fever Records
• Our Last Goodbye / Stanley Brothers / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
• Leavin's Heavy On My Mind / The Grascals / The Grascals / Rounder
• Julia Belle / Janet Beazley / 5 South / Backcountry Music
• Wrong Road Again / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• Tennessee Hound Dog / The Grascals / 20 / Mountain Home
• I've Been A Long Time Leaving (But I'll Be A Long Time Gone) / Amy Gallatin & Roger Williams / From The Heart--Homespun 2 / Happy Appy Records
• Sad Prison Song / Hylo Brown / The Best Of King & Starday Records, Volume 4 / Gusto
• New Camptown Races / Jesse Brock / Kickin' Grass / Pinecastle
• Finders Keepers / Bear Bridge Band / A Bluegrass Sampler / Open Road
• That's What Your Love Does To Me / Jeannie Kendall / Jeannie Kendall / Rounder
• Black Mountain Special / Rich In Tradition / Black Mountain Special / Mountain Roads Recordings 
• Ground Speed / Kenny Ingram / Foggy Mountain Special:  A Bluegrass Tribute To Earl Scruggs / Rounder
• The Devil Went Down To Deep Gap / Bryan Sutton & Billy Strings / single / Mountain Home
• Mary's Rock / Dale Ann Bradley / single / Pinecastle
• Family Tree / Della Mae / Magic Accident / Compass Records
• Edison's Bounce / Tennessee Bluegrass Band / Nolichucky / Flagpond Records
• Pulleybone Gaden / Randall Hylton / True Stories, Tall Tales, And Lies / Copper Creek [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Uncle Billy Play Your Fiddle For Me / Bluegrass Cardinals / The Essential Bluegrass Cardinals:  The Definitive Collection / CMH [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• The Likes Of You / Country Gentlemen / The Sugar Hill Collection / Sugar Hill [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Slowly Getting You Out Of The Way / Flatt Lonesome / Too / Mountain Home [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• The Boatman / The Seldom Scene / Dream Scene / Sugar Hill [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Cumberland River / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Sawmill Road / Lost & Found / January Rain / Rebel [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Be Good To My Little Baby Girl / Aaron McDaris with David Parmley / First Time Around / Pinecastle [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Rough Edges / Traditional Grass / The Blues Are Still The Blues / Rebel [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• 32 Acres / Special Consensus / 25th Anniversary / Pinecastle [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Cold Sheets Of Rain / Virginia Squires / The Best Of The Virginia Squires / Rebel [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Room At The Top Of The Stairs / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Mountain Laurel / Bluegrass Caridinals / The Essential Bluegrass Cardinals:  The Definitive Collection / CMH [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Coal Town Saturday Night / Randall Hylton / Dark As A Dungeon / Rebel [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Summer When You First Loved Me / Lonesome River Band / Head On Into Heartache / Mountain Home [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2001]
• Hank / Laura Orshaw / Solitary Diamond / Dark Shadow Recording
• Town Hall Party / Rock Hearts / Unfinished Bridges / 615 Hideaway Records
• You're Gonna Wonder About Me / Patuxent Partners / Seven Or Eleven / Patuxent Music
• You're Not A Drop In The Bucket / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
• Tears Of Regret / High Fidelity / Banjo Player's Blues / Rebel
• Brown Mountain Light / Country Gentlemen / Can't You Hear Me Callin' / Rebel
• I'm Gonna Be Moving / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Heavenly Treasures / Sugar Hill [Remembering Randall Hylton:  1/8/1946 - 3/19/2021]
• Touch Of God's Hand / Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick / Laurie & Kathy Sing Songs Of Vern & Ray / Spruce And Maple Music
• God Loves His Children / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• I Am Just A Pilgrim / Appalachian Road Show / Barry Abernathy & Darrell Webb Present Appalachian Road Show / Billy Blue Records
• Walk In The Sunshine / Spinney Brothers / Living The Dream / Mountain Fever Records
• Free Salvation / Del McCoury Band / The Streets Of Baltimore / McCoury Music
• I Like To Hear 'Em Preach It / Jimmy Martin / The King Of Nashville / MCA 
• Less Of Me / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Enter The Gates / Bluegrass Patriots / E Pluribus Bluegrass / Red Feather
• I've Found A Hiding Place / Johnson Mountain Boys / Favorites / Rounder
• Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 1/4/2026

Our first Bluegrass Cafe for 2026 started just a couple of minutes later than our usual 4PM, as we were waiting for the end of the UConn Men's Basketball game.  That's all fine, though, as we still managed to fill our remaining time with lots of fine music from lots of wonderful folks.

As we generally tend to do, we remembered the great Hank Williams (September 17, 1923 - January 1, 1953) -- not a Bluegrass performer, of course -- in a Bluegrass style in honor of the anniversary of his famous passing.  There are very few individuals in Bluegrass or otherwise that we honor both on the anniversary of their birth as well as the death anniversary date, but Hank Williams was a unique individual, and he certainly has impacted the world of Bluegrass music and will continue to do so.

We also remembered the legendary Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 - March 28, 2012) with several of his innovative tunes.  Where would Bluegrass music be without Earl?  We also remembered early January birthdays of both Patty Loveless and Gary Ferguson.

And we played a couple of tunes in honor of Gabe Hirshfeld, the wonderful banjo player of the Lonely Heartstring Band and a friend to just about everyone in Bluegrass, passed unexpectedly late in December at the age of 36.  Gabe was far too young, but his musicianship and kindness and humor touched so many people and will be for many years to come.  As I mentioned on the air, the Boston Bluegrass Union has set up a memorial fund in honor of Gabe Hirshfeld.  If you would like to contribute to this fund, here's a link for you to click.

Enjoy the rest of the week, and we'll hope to join you on Sunday from 4-7PM for another Bluegrass Cafe.

Amy O.

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Requests are RED]

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Auld Lang Syne / Bill Keith with Jim Rooney / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
• Feel Good Day / Continental Divide / Feel Good Day / Pinecastle
• There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder / Larry Sparks / New Moon Over My Shoulder / Rebel
• We Three Kings / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Living In These Troubled Times / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
• Don't Cheat In Our Hometown / Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs / Second Generation / Rebel
• Country Side Of Heaven (Where The Bluegrass Music Flows) / WhiteHouse / WhiteHouse / Pinecastle
• Don't Hold Your Breath / WhiteHouse / WhiteHouse / Pinecastle
• That's How The Cookie Crumbles / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
• Raised By The Railroad Line / The Seldom Scene / 15th Anniversary Celebration / Sugar Hill
• Little White Washed Chimney / Bill Clifton / The Early Years, 1957-1958 / Rounder
• Anybody Else's Heart / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass Records
• Is It Wrong (To Love Somebody New) / Paul Adkins & the Borderline Band / Reflections Of Love / Rebel
• Soppin' The Gravy / Corrina Rose Logston / Bluegrass Fiddler / Patuxent Music
• Leftover Biscuits / Lost & Found / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Queen Anne's Lace / Del McCoury Band / Blue Side Of Town / Rounder
• Old Hickory Cane / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Big Bruce / Lonely Heartstring Band / Deep Waters / Rounder [Remembering Gabe Hirshfeld (1989-2025)]
• If I Had A Hammer / Lonely Heartstring Band / Deep Waters / Rounder [Remembering Gabe Hirshfeld (1989-2025)]
• He Came From Carolina (A Tribute To Earl) / Jim Mills / Bound To Ride / Sugar Hill [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Heavy Traffic Ahead / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / The Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1945-1949 / Columbia [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Pike County Breakdown / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Essential Earl Scruggs / Columbia Legacy [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Foggy Mountain Chimes / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Classic Bluegrass Live, 1959-1966 / Vanguard [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Hey Good Lookin' / Hank Williams / Hillbilly Hero / Proper [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight / Jim Mills with Alan O'Bryant / Bound To Ride / Sugar Hill [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• Settin' The Woods On Fire / Good Ol' Persons / Good n' Live / Sugar Hill [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• Move It On Over / Lynn Morris Band / Shape Of A Tear / Rounder [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• When God Comes And Gathers His Jewels / Gibson Brothers / Spread Your Wings / Hay Holler [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• Cold, Cold Heart / Spinney Brothers / Going Home / Self-Produced [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• May You Never Be Alone / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Another Day From Life / Rebel [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• Baby We're Really In Love / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• Six More Miles / Hank Williams / Hillbilly Hero / Proper [Remembering Hank Williams:  9/17/1923 - 1/1/1953]
• Sis Draper / Shawn Camp / The Ghost Of Sis Draper / Truly Handmade Records
• That's Why You Left Me So Blue / Jason Barie feat. Bobby Osborne & Doyle Lawson / Radioactive / Billy Blue Records
• It's All Fun And Games (Till Someone Gets Hurt) / Junior Sisk / It's All Fun And Games / Turnberry Records
• Another Love Gone Wrong / Becky Buller / Crepe Paper Heart / Dark Shadow Recording
• On Whiskey Mountain / Bill Emerson with Bill Harrell / Reunion / Pinecastle
• Mama Blues / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall! / Koch Records [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Lay Down Your Troubles / Gary Ferguson / I'm Really Leaving / Pinecastle [Gary Ferguson birthday, 1/6/1950]
• You Don't Love God If You Don't Love Your Neighbor / Rhonda Vincent / The Storm Still Rages / Rounder
• So Happy I'll Be / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury [Remembering Earl Scruggs:  1/6/1924 - 3/28/2012]
• Shouting On The Hills Of Glory / Connie & Babe & the Backwoods Boys / Down The Road To Home / Rounder
• We're Living In The Last Days Now / High Fidelity / Music In My Soul / Rebel
• Lead Us Safely / Ronnie Bowman / Cold Virginia Night / Rebel
• Jesus On The Mainline / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Live At The Newburyport Firehouse / Rounder
• Call His Name / Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• Daniel Prayed / Patty Loveless / The Best Of Can't You Hear Me Callin' / SME [Patty Loveless birthday, 1/4/1957]
• Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder