Bluegrass Cafe: 2014

Sunday, December 28, 2014

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/28/2014

Our last Bluegrass Cafe to air in 2014 was a slightly sports-preempted one, as UConn Men's Hockey took over our WHUS airwaves at 6PM. Still, in the two hours remaining, we covered a lot of ground as we celebrated birthdays, looked back at some of the Bluegrass folks we've said goodbye to in 2014, shared some newer music, as well as favorites from the year, and even remembered Hank Williams. Hope you were able to join us, but if not, read on...

Happy Birthday, Tom Venne!

The show began with songs performed by two gentlemen celebrating birthdays today -- December 28th. We heard from both Nightflyer (featuring birthday boy Rick Hayes on the lead vocal and mandolin), as well as BearTracks (with birthday celebrant Tom Venne singing the lead vocal on a song he wrote). Happy Birthday to each of them!

While the Bluegrass World lost a good number of performers and behind-the-scenes folks this year, we remembered a few of those who passed by playing some music from White Mountain Bluegrass (Hazel McGee died October 27th), James Alan Shelton (d. June 3rd), George Shuffler (d. April 7th), and the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band (band co-founder Lester Armisted died May 2nd). There's no better way to remember these folks than by sharing their music, and we'll continue to do that in 2015 and beyond.

There was a bit of new music to share this week, too, including brand new recordings from Johnny Williams ("Going My Way" on Mountain Roads Recordings), Long Island's Buddy Merriam & Back Roads ("The Farm" on Buddy's own LilyPad Records), and a debut recording from songwriter Damian Muller called "Steady Work."

And we couldn't have any kind of music show so close to January 1st without remembering a man who might have been country music's greatest songwriter: Hank Williams. It has been nearly 62 years since Hank Williams died on January 1, 1953 -- more than twice as many years as how long this troubled singer-songwriter lived -- but the influence of Hank lives on...probably forever.

Thanks so much for your support of Bluegrass Cafe this year! Best wishes to you for health and happiness -- and more Bluegrass! -- in 2015! Get your year started off right next Sunday when Jim joins you for what we hope will be a full three hours of Bluegrass Cafe!

Amy

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
The Hangman's Daughter / Nightflyer / Nightflyer / Kang Records [Rick Hayes birthday, December 28]
Ta Ta, The Brushoff / BearTracks / Makin' Tracks / Self-Produced [Tom Venne birthday, December 28]
Looks Like Snow / Stephen Moughin / That's What I Love About Christmas: Timeless Seasonal Songs Penned By Rick Lang / RLM Records
Footprints In The Snow / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1940-1946 / JSP Records
Six Feet Of Snow / Neon Valley Boys / Bluegrass / Sudden Comfort Records
Grandfather's Clock / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage Records
Teardrops In My Eyes / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage Records
Church On The Foot Of The Hill / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
Soldier's Joy / James Alan Shelton / Walking Down The Line / Sheltone Records
I Am A Pilgrim / George Shuffler / Aged To Perfection / Copper Creek
Down In Union County / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Spring Fed Records
Nine Pound Hammer / George Shuffler / Aged To Perfection / Copper Creek
Monday Blues / Balsam Range / Five / Mountain Home
Rough Edges / Missy Werner / Turn This Heart Around / Self-Produced
Going Back To My Kentucky Country Home / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Another Day From Life / Rebel
Doggone / Hot Rize / When I'm Free / Ten In Hand Records
Reasons Why / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / In Session / Mountain Home
You're Not A Drop In The Bucket / The Earls Of Leicester / The Earls Of Leicester / Rounder
I'll Go Steppin' Too / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1955-1959 / JSP Records
You Can Feel It In Your Soul / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
Old Fashioned Preacher / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
China Grove, My Hometown / Curly Seckler / Down In Caroline / Copper Creek [Curly Seckler born December 25, 1917]
Sailor's Regret / Johnny Williams / Going My Way / Mountain Roads Recordings
Berkshire Mountains Waltz / Buddy Merriam & Back Roads / The Farm / LilyPad Records
Cold Cold Heart / Spinney Brothers / Going Home / Self-Produced
I Saw The Light / Hank Williams / Gospel Keepsakes / Time Life
Press On / Damian Muller / Steady Work / Self-Produced
Pray For Me / Steve Gulley / Family, Friends & Fellowship / Rural Rhythm
Call His Name / Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
Free Salvation / Del McCoury Band / The Streets Of Baltimore / McCoury Music
Auld Lang Syne / Bill Keith / O Christmas Tree / Rounder

Monday, December 22, 2014

Playlist - 12/21/2014 - Christmas

Hi Folks.

In spite of our best intentions, we were reduced to a 1-hour show because of a spurts preemption. Our intention was to program a typical show and intersperse bluegrass Christmas music along the way. We were able to do this for one hour.

We introduced several notable new recordings on this show including the surprising debut of Ruben & Matt and the Truffle Valley Boys -- surprising because they are from Italy, and have pretty much nailed the traditional bluegrass sounds of the 1950s. You can check out their Facebook page here.

Ruben & Matt and the Truffle Valley Boys

Other new recordings included music from Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle, Cody Shuler, and Christmas music from The Roys.

Steve Gulley and New Pinnacle

Recent favorites included songs from Marteka & William, Larry Sparks, Tommy Brown, Turning Ground, Phil Leadbetter, and Alex Leach.

Alex Leach

The Heritage Corner included music from The Stanley Brothers, Dave Evans, The Johnson Mountain Boys, Doc Watson, and Dry Branch Fire Squad.

Amy is scheduled to be with you next Sunday to make the banjos and fiddles ring, so make an appointment to tune in.

Jim Beaver

Artist / Song / Disk / Label

Marteka and William / Sally Goodwin / The Sounds Of A Tradition / Self-released
Larry Sparks / Will You Be Satisfied That Way / Lonesome And Then Some... / Rebel
The Johnson Mountain Boys / Darlin' I'm Coming Home / Walls Of Time / Rounder
The Johnson Mountain Boys / The Friendly Beasts / Acoustic Holidays / Rounder
Ruben & Matt and the Truffle Valley Boys / Theme / Single / Self-released
Ruben & Matt and the Truffle Valley Boys / Nashville Jail / Single / Self-released
Ruben & Matt and the Truffle Valley Boys / Teardrops Mixed With Rain / Single / Self-released
The Stanley Brothers / Christmas Is Near / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life
Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle / Leaving Crazytown / Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks No.2 - 2014 / Rural Rhythm
Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass / Leaving This Town Little Darlin' / Leaving This Town / Randm
Cody Shuler / My Home Is On This Ole Boxcar / Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks No.2 - 2014 / Rural Rhythm
The Roys / Bluegrass Kinda Christmas / Bluegrass Kinda Christmas / Rural Rhythm
Turning Ground / Old Memories / Cell Of Mine / Self-released
Phil Leadbetter / Just Joshin' with Jerry Douglas & Rob Ikes / The Next Move / Pinecastle
Alex Leach / Miller's Cave / Mountain Heartache / Self-released
Doc Watson / New Born King / Single / United Artists
Dave Evans / When The Snow Falls On My Foggy Mountain Home / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel Records Llc
Rueben & Matt and the Truffle Valley Boys / The Lord's Last Supper / Single / Self Released
Dry Branch Fire Squad / Jesus On The Mainline / Long Journey / Rounder [requested]

Sunday, December 14, 2014

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/14/2014

New music from Doyle in January!

What a mixed-up Sunday! From 4-6PM, there was supposed to be a preemption for Men's Basketball. However, due to a technical glitch, that broadcast never happened. Instead, we took back our Bluegrass broadcast a bit earlier than the 6PM end time of the original game, and put together a compact edition of Bluegrass Cafe.

Coming soon in 2015...a new record from Springfield Exit!

The music we played on Sunday's shortened show included a little bit of Christmas music -- a couple of country tunes mixed in with some Bluegrass Christmas. New music figured a little bit into the show, too, with some fresh-from-the-mailbox music from Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, as well as single releases from forthcoming projects by Cody Shuler, as well as Springfield Exit. There was even a little bit of new Christmas music from a collection of songs written by New Hampshire songwriter Rick Lang, and an a cappella carol for the season from Nightflyer.

This show was my last scheduled turn on the radio before Christmas, but I strongly encourage you to join Jim next Sunday for what should be a full three-hour broadcast.

Merry Christmas to all!

Amy

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
Christmas Story / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Tinsel Tunes / Sugar Hill
Jingle Bells / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
Reindeer Boogie / Hank Snow / Hillbilly Holiday / Rhino
Bluegrass Christmas / McCoury Brothers / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life
Christmas Country Style / Statler Brothers / Christmas Present / Mercury
Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life
Dusty Old World / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
Rose Of My Heart / Whitstein Brothers / Rose Of My Heart / Rounder
Roll Big River / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / In Session / Mountain Home
My Home Is On This Ole Boxcar / Cody Shuler / single / Self-Produced
Some Old Day / Springfield Exit / single / Patuxent Music
I'll Go Steppin' Too / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
That Star Belongs To Me / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / On The Radio, 1952-1953 / Rounder
Travelin' On And On / David Peterson & 1946 / David Peterson & 1946 / Self-Produced
Angels From On High / Jana Mougin / That's What I Love About Christmas: Timeless Seasonal Songs Penned By Rick Lang / RLM Records
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / Stanley Brothers / All Gospel, All Bluegrass / Federal
O Holy Night / Nightflyer / single / Kang Records
The Place Prepared For Me / Country Gentlemen / Calling My Children Home / Rebel
Turn Your Radio On / Chris Hillman / Way Down Deep In My Soul / Sugar Hill
Precious Child / Tony Trischka / Glory Shone Around / Rounder
Sweeping Through The Gates / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Forty Years Of Trouble / Strictly Country

Sunday, December 07, 2014

"Bluegrass Cafe" - 12/7/2014

Jim was called away from the radio this week, so I got to share three hours of the Bluegrass on Sunday's show. During the broadcast, we talked a bit about the newly-announced Grammy nominees (only those in the "Best Bluegrass Album" category, of course), shared a little bit of Christmas music, and remembered the significance of December 7th in history, among other topics. Hope you were able to join us!

The U.S.S. Arizona burning after the attack on Pearl Harbor -
December 7, 1941

On a December 7th broadcast, it would be absolutely wrong if we didn't mention the surprise Japanese Imperial Navy attack that drew the United States into World War II on Sunday, December 7, 1941. This event is not a topic that has been greatly covered in the world of Bluegrass music, but we were able to play a Bluegrass version of a morale-boosting song from World War II ("There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere"), an instrumental song from Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne titled, "7th Of December," and a bona fide, stir-'em-up patriotic number from 1942: "Remember Pearl Harbor" from Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra. Now, that last song IS NOT Bluegrass by any stretch, but sometimes, genre just isn't important for a few minutes, and remembering Pearl Harbor seems to be one of those times.

One of five terrific nominees in the
"Best Bluegrass Album" category for
the 2015 Grammy Awards.

The nominations for 2015 Grammy Awards were announced this week, and in the category of "Best Bluegrass Album," there are some really fine choices. We sampled one song from each recording on Sunday's show, and will be interested to see who comes home with the Grammy Award in February 2015. To read more about the Bluegrass nominees, click here.

One of the Grammy nominees is the recording from the Earls of Leicester -- a fine, all-star tribute band to the music of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs & the Foggy Mountain Boys. It's great to see that the music of Flatt & Scruggs is still inspiring a new generation or two. This week marks a couple of significant anniversaries in the history of Lester & Earl -- the seminal "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" was first recorded by the Foggy Mountain Boys on December 11, 1949, and on December 8, 1962, Flatt & Scruggs played a show at New York's Carnegie Hall. This was a big whoop for a Bluegrass/Country act in those days (as it would be today), and the resulting album, "Flatt & Scruggs Live At Carnegie Hall!" is an absolute classic.

We couldn't not play a couple of Christmas songs in the mix on Sunday's broadcast, either. Those came to us this week from the Stanley Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, Bill Grant & Delia Bell, the Country Gentlemen, and the Johnson Mountain Boys.

Hope you enjoyed the show, and that you'll be sure to join me on the air next Sunday from 4-7PM.

Have a great week!

Amy

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

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
If We Make It Through December / Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum / Winter's Grace / Signature Sounds
Christmas Is Near / Stanley Brothers / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life
O Christmas Tree / Rhonda Vincent / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
That Little Girl Of Mine In Carolina / Edgar Loudermilk / My Big Chance Tomorrow / Mountain Fever Records
Margie / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Road Into Town / Patuxent Music
When You Are Lonely / Peter Rowan / The First Whippoorwill / Sugar Hill
Snowflake Breakdown / Jim & Jesse / On The Radio / Rural Rhythm
Up This Hill And Down / Larry Stephenson & Mark Newton / Live At Mr. B's / B's Records
Remember Pearl Harbor / Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra / Remember Pearl Harbor: Classic Songs Of World War II / RCA
There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen / Songs Of The American Spirit / Pinecastle
7th Of December / Bobby Osborne & Jesse McReynolds / Masters Of The Mandolin / Pinecastle
The Hard Times / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder [Bobby Osborne birthday - 12/7/1931]
Walk Through This World With Me / Seldom Scene / Long Time...Seldom Scene / Smithsonian Folkways
Walking In The Early Morning Dew / Bill Harrell & the Virginians / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
Try A Little Kindness / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press / Rounder
Christmas Time Back Home / Country Gentlemen / Christmas Time Back Home / Rebel
Reuben / Marteka & William / The Sounds Of A Tradition / Self-Produced
Kisses Don't Lie / Lynn Morris Band / The Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
Frozen In Time / Gibson Brothers / Help My Brother / Compass Records
Your Love Is Dying / Lost & Found / Across The Blue Ridge Mountains / Rebel
The Pain Of Loving You / Mark Newton with Gloria Belle / Follow Me Back To The Fold / Rebel
Leavin' You And Mobile, Too / Lost & Found / Across The Blue Ridge Mountains / Rebel
Memories Of Mother And Dad / James King & David Davis / Plum Pitiful / Time Life
Darling Little Joe / Don Reno & Bill Harrell / Plum Pitiful / Time Life
Busy City / Rhonda Vincent / Only Me / Upper Management Music
Betrayal / Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen / Cold Spell / Compass Records
Cricket On The Hearth / Bryan Sutton / Into My Own / Sugar Hill
Dig A Hole In The Meadow / The Earls Of Leicester / The Earls Of Leicester / Rounder
Wheel Hoss / Noam Pikelny / Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe / Compass Records
Foggy Mountain Breakdown / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury [recorded 12/11/1949]
Oh! Susanna / Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick / Laurie & Kathy Sing The Songs Of Vern & Ray / Spruce & Maple Music
Saro Jane / Roland White Band / Straight-Ahead Bluegrass / Self-Produced
Monday Blues / Balsam Range / Five / Mountain Home
Don't Think About It Too Long / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Trouble Follows Me / Rebel
She Doesn't Mourn Anymore / Spinney Brothers / Tried & True / Mountain Fever Records
How Long Have I Been Waiting / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / The Original Band / Sugar Hill
Salty Dog Blues / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall: The Complete Concert / Koch Records [recorded 12/8/1962]
Let The Church Roll On / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall: The Complete Concert / Koch Records
Talk It All Over With Him / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Album, Volume 4 / Rounder
The Friendly Beasts / Johnson Mountain Boys / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
Get Behind Me Satan / Bear Bridge Band / A Bear Bridge Sampler / Open Road
I'm Rollin' Through This Unfriendly World / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill
Lord Build Me A Cabin In Glory / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1957-1958 / JSP Records
You'll Be Rewarded Over There / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boyd / One Morning In May / Rounder
I Am The Road / Hot Rize / When I'm Free / Ten In Hand Records
He Will Set Your Field On Fire / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall: The Complete Concert / Koch Records
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Sunday, November 30, 2014

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/30/2014

On the last Sunday of November, we shared a couple of Christmas songs, gave away a CD or three, paid tribute to a Country Music Hall of Famer, and listened to a few 2014 favorites and music of classic Bluegrassers. Hope you were able to make us a part of your end-of-Thanksgiving holiday weekend...

One of my favorites of 2014...

This is the time of year when many websites and such start listing out "The BEST ______ of 2014." While I wasn't able to find any "Top Bluegrass" listings quite yet, I still shared a few of my personal favorite releases of 2014 from performers including Crowe, Lawson & Williams, the Spinney Brothers, Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick, and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

Have you ever had a seemingly-random song that you don't recall hearing in forever start going through your head? I had that very thing happen to me today when "Ribbon Of Darkness" -- the Gordon Lightfoot tune performed by Marty Robbins in 1965 -- popped into my head and wouldn't go away. I interpreted that as a "sign," of sorts, to play Bluegrass covers of a few Marty Robbins songs, and so, we put together a set featuring Marty Robbins tunes performed by Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, the Gibson Brothers, the Johnson Mountain Boys, and Jim Hurst.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's not too early to share a Christmas song or two. To that end, we included a track from the brand-new-for-2014 Christmas recording by the Claire Lynch Band -- "Holiday!"

If you listened to the show on Sunday, you might

Something to look forward to in 2015:
a new record from the Gibsons!

have learned that the Gibson Brothers will be appearing in Connecticut this coming week -- in a trio form. If you'd like to see Eric & Leigh Gibson along with longtime bass player (and right hand), Mike Barber, they can be found at the Spaceland Ballroom in Hamden on Friday night. For more information on this show, click here. Chances are pretty good that you'll hear something from the Gibsons' forthcoming Rounder recording, "Brotherhood."

Be sure to join Jim for another edition of Bluegrass Cafe next Sunday afternoon -- and have a nice week!

Amy

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
I've Never Been So Lonesome / Longview / Longview / Rounder
Weary Hobo / Johnson Mountain Boys / Walls Of Time / Rounder
Jesse James / Bill Emerson with Marshall Wilborn & Lynn Morris / Eclipse / Rural Rhythm
Radio Boogie / Hot Rize / So Long Of A Journey / Sugar Hill
I Feel The Blues Moving In / Del McCoury / High Lonesome And Blue / Rounder
Wear A Red Rose / James King / Bed By The Window / Rounder
The Memory Of Your Smile / Dede Wyland / Keep The Light On / Patuxent Music
Earl's Breakdown / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems
Loneliness And Desperation / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
Fiddlin' Joe / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / On Down The Line / Compass Records
Will You Be Satisfied That Way / Larry Sparks / Lonesome And Then Some... / Rebel
Feeling Blue / The Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / The Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
Someone Took My Place With You / Stonewall Bluegrass / I Won't Be Troubled Anymore / Self-Produced
Lonely Violet / Peg & Ed / Lonely Violet / Self-Produced
I Don't Know What To Do / Warrior River Boys / New Beginnings / Rounder
Wild Montana Skies / Special Consensus with Claire Lynch / Country Boy: A Bluegrass Tribute To John Denver / Compass Records
In The Wind Somewhere / Richard Bennett / In The Wind Somewhere / Lonesome Day Records
Many A Mile / Country Gentlemen / Can't You Hear Me Callin': Early Classics, 1963-1969 / Rebel
Crowe On The Banjo / Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
My Walking Shoes / Crowe, Lawson & Williams / Standing Tall And Tough / Mountain Home
They're At Rest Together / Seldom Scene / Dream Scene / Sugar Hill
Two Feet On The Floor / Crowe Brothers / Forty Years Old / Mountain Fever Records
I Dreamed Of An Old Love Affair / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Everything I Wanted Love To Be / Happy Appy Records
All I Have To Offer You Is Me / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Trouble Follows Me / Rebel
I'm Leaving You This Lonesome Song / The Boxcars / It's Just A Road / Mountain Home
Ribbon Of Darkness / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / No One But You / Rebel
Don't Worry / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
I Can't Quit / Gibson Brothers / Spread Your Wings / Hay Holler
Big Iron / Jim Hurst / Second Son / Pinecastle
Home For The Holidays / Claire Lynch Band / Holiday! / Thrill Hill Records
That White Christmas Song / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
Ring The Bell / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
The East Bound Train / Gibson Brothers / Long Way Back Home / Sugar Hill
Gonna Catch A Train / Spinney Brothers / Tried & True / Mountain Fever Records
I'm A Ramblin' Rolling Stone / Phil Leadbetter with John Cowan & Sam Bush / The Next Move / Pinecastle
Black-Eyed Susie / Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick / Laurie & Kathy Sing The Songs Of Vern & Ray / Spruce & Maple Music
Roll On Big Mama / The Grascals / When I Get My Pay / Mountain Home
Big Eyed Rabbit / Adam Steffey / New Primitive / Organic Records
Lonesome Without You / Donna Ulisse / An Easy Climb / Hadley Music Group
Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet / Stanley Brothers / The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers / Columbia
So Happy I'll Be / Bluegrass Album Band / Songs Of Flatt & Scruggs / Rounder
Sinner You'd Better Get Ready / Louvin Brothers / Songs That Tell A Story / Rounder
Light At The River / Steve Gulley / Family, Friends & Fellowship / Rural Rhythm
Rock My Soul / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Rock My Soul / Sugar Hill
The Darkest Hour / BearTracks / Makin' New Tracks / Self-Produced
Fill My Way With Love / Doc Watson / Every Time I Feel The Spirit / Sugar Hill
You Don't Love God If You Don't Love Your Neighbor / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume 1 / GGS
Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Playlist - 11/23/2014

Hi Folks.

This show had a few focus areas, the big one being the large number of classic, rare, and obscure songs and tunes from vinyl sources - 23 tracks. The playlist below indicates the vinyl by the mark (LP) or (45) next the the label name.

James King at the Firebox, Nov. 22, 2014

Another focus area was the music of James King. James performed at the Firebox the evening before this show, so we saluted James by playing some of his early recordings as well as his most recent CD, and several in between as well as some Longview recordings in which James is a member.

Last but not least, we featured several tracks from the brand new CD from Larry Gillis. Alex Leach and Ella Naiman Warde -- long time Gillis associates -- are featured.

Other newer music included songs from Russ Carson, Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass, The Earls of Leicester, Becky Buller, Turning Ground, and our teenage friends from West Virginia, Marteka and William Lake.

It is fall break at UCONN, so you may hear both Jim and Amy filling in at random times in the schedule for absent students. We will give notice on our Facebook page when we have a bluegrass-type fill-in coming up.

Amy will be back next week hosting Bluegrass Cafe, and Marti and I will be back on Red Rooster Party just in front of that.

Have a safe Thanksgiving.

Jim Beaver

Artist / Song / Album / Label

Rafe Brady / Katy Hill / Cherokee Rose / Hertage
Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy / Early Recordings / Rebel
Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / The Little Paper Boy / One Morning In May / Rounder
The Bear Bridge Band / I Got A Letter / One More Ride / Open Road
Grass Routes / Bailey's Deal / Bailey's Deal / Grass Routes
James King / Highway To Nowhere / Three Chords And The Truth / Rounder
Stanley Brothers / Gonna Paint The Town / Folk Festival / Stanley
Russ Carson / Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey / Avenue Of The Giants / Patuxent
Dry Branch Fire Squad / Jesus On The Mainline / Live At the Newburyport Firehouse / Rounder
Curly Ray Cline / Just A Hangin' / Smarter Than The Average Idiot / Tin Ear (LP)
Don Stover and the White Oak Mountain Boys / Swing Them Pretty Girls Round / Don Stover and the White Oak Mountain Boys / Rounder (LP)
Don Stover and the White Oak Mountain Boys / Picked Up A Hammer / Don Stover and the White Oak Mountain Boys / Rounder (LP)
James King / I Just Want to Grow Old Lovin' You / Webco Classics Vol 2 - James King / Pinecastle
Charlie Moore & Bill Napier / Story Of Love / 45 rpm single / American (45)
Johnson Mountain Boys / Let's Part the Best of Friends / Favorites / Rounder
The Keen Brothers / I Got Wise / Grassy Mountain Sound / Old Homestead (LP)
Larry Gillis / Swamp Folk / Swamp Folk / Tin Folk (LP)
Longview / I've Lived A Lot In My Time / Lessons In Stone / Rebel
Bill Box And The Dixie Drifters / Georgia-Alabama / Big Blue Grass Special / Rich-R-Tone (LP)
Foggy Mountain Hilton / Bluegrass Music Has Ruined My Life / Show Me the Way to Go Home / Patuxent
Curley Lambert with the Goins Brothers / Daybreak In Dixie / Blue Grass Evergreen / Old Homestead (LP)
The Sandy Valley Boys / Banjo John / Hard Road To Travel / Vetco (LP)
Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers / Give Me Time to Think It Over / She Left Me Standing On a Mountain / Blue Circle
Larry Gillis / Fiddler's Blues / Swamp Folk / Tin Folk
Rual Yarbrough / Blackberry Blossom / 5-String Banjo by Rual Yarbrough / Tune (LP)
Audie Blaylock / Trains Are The Only Way To Fly / Trains Are The Only Way To Fly / Self-released
Turning Ground / Dig 2 Graves / Cell Of Mine / Self-released
The Butler Brothers / Sailing On the Ocean / Sounds Of Bluegrass / Carpenter (LP)
The South Carolina Broadcasters / Write Me Sweetheart / Short Time To Stay Here / Flaming Heart
Judy & Whitey / Sweethearts In Heaven / Pioneer Valley Jamboree / Jay-Vac (LP)
Delia Bell and Bill Grant / The Blues - Mountain Style / The Blues - Mountain Style / Kiamichi (LP)
Bill Lowe / Aunt Hattie / Kentucky Farewell / Ramblin' (LP)
James King / These Old Pictures / These Old Pictures / Rounder
White Mountain Bluegrass / Ice Covered Birches / Ice Covered Birches / Fishtraks (LP)
The Bailes Brothers / How Many Biscuits Can You Eat / The Bailes Brothers Johnnie & Homer / Old Homestead (LP)
The Bailes Brothers / Silver Trumpet / The Bailes Brothers Johnnie & Homer / Old Homestead (LP)
Hylo Brown & The Timberliners / Cricket Hop-Get Lost You Wolf / Original Radio Recording Collector's Special / Grassound (LP)
Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass / Leaving This Town Little Darlin' / Leaving This Town / Randm
Rafe Brady / Silly Hill (bed) / Cherokee Rose / Hertage
Rafe Brady / Cherokee Rose (bed) / Cherokee Rose / Hertage
Larry Gillis / Little Rose / Swamp Folk / Tin Folk
James King / Crazy Heart / Lonesome and Then Some / Rounder
Larry Gillis / Three Sheets In The Wind / Swamp Folk / Tin Folk
Marteka and William / John Henry / The Sounds Of A Tradition / Self-released
Marteka and William / Johnson Ridge Special / The Sounds Of A Tradition / Self-released
Don Stover & Friends / Six Months Ain't Long / My Blue Ridge Memories / White Oak (LP)
The Earls Of Leicester / I Don’t Care Anymore / The Earls of Leicester / New Rounder
James King / Toil, Tears and Trouble / Thirty Years of Farming / New Rounder
The Stanley Brothers / Jesus Savior Pilot Me / The Stanley Brothers Goes To Europe / Rimrock (LP)
Vern and Ray / Happy I'll Be / Sounds From The Ozarks / Old Homestead (LP)
Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass / My Bible Tells Me / Leaving This Town / Randm
Carl Story / He Will Walk Through The Shadows With You / It's A Mighty Hard Road To Travel / Country (LP)
Jimmie Williams and Red Ellis / Open Window / Holy Cry From The Hills / Starday (LP)
Longview / He'll Save Your Soul Yet / High Lonesome / Rounder
Unplugged Demos (Myrna Riquier) / Hello Lord / Momma's Flowers / Natchaug Music
Becky Buller / I Serve a God (Who Can Raise the Dead) / 'Tween Earth And Sky / Dark Shadow
Mickey Boles / Let My Feet Go Runnin' / Let My Feet Go Runnin' / Self-released
The South Carolina Broadcasters / River Of Jordan / Can You Hear Me Now / Flaming Heart
Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Walking In A Dream / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Saturday, November 22nd...a great Bluegrass Day in Connecticut!

In case you've not heard, there are at least three terrific opportunities for you to see and hear some fine Bluegrass music this evening in Connecticut. Try to get out and support at least one of these events, won't you?

The James King Band performed in Westminster, VT on November 21st.
(Photo courtesy of Candi Sawyer)

James King has long been considered one of the most emotional singers in Bluegrass music. 2014 has been a rough year for him, seemingly filled with a lot of health issues and personal issues. James's singing is still pretty raw and REAL, though. After playing a show in Vermont last night, James King will be performing at what is being billed as the LAST Bluegrass show at the Firebox restaurant (539 Broad Street, Hartford). Since the Fall of 2008, Nick Novia has been a wonderful host and promoter of Bluegrass on Sundays at the Firebox, and while the last Sunday show at the Firebox happened last month, tonight's show featuring James King promises to be a super-emotional one. Check it out tonight, if you can. Showtime is 8:30PM, and Nick can be reached at 203-650-3492. More show info is here.

The Del McCoury Band at the 2014 IBMA Awards

Meanwhile, also in Hartford, the Del McCoury Band will be playing a show at Infinity Hall in Hartford (32 Front Street). Showtime is 8PM. Del is a bona fide Living Legend in the Bluegrass world, and was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame a few years ago. Seeing him perform in Connecticut is a treat, so be sure to see this fine band if you get a chance this evening. More info is here or call 1-866-666-6306.

If you prefer to listen to Bluegrass performed by some mighty fine Connecticut performers, there's a show tonight at the Killingly Grange featuring ShoreGrass, along with a set or two from host band, Nick Anderson & Shady Creek. Showtime is 7PM. The Killingly Grange is located at the intersection of Route 101 and Dog Hill Road in Killingly, and Nick can be reached at 860-564-1018. More info is here.

ShoreGrass makes their Killingly debut tonight!

If all of those offerings aren't quite enough, in the not-strictly-Bluegrass-but-still-very-wonderful category, there will be music from Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters tonight at the Sounding Board Coffeehouse in West Hartford (held at the Universalist Church on 433 Fern Street). Showtime is 8PM, and more information can be found here.

Amy Gallatin with Roger Williams - Andover, CT - August 2014

Get out and support these live performances, won't you? Choosing just one might be difficult, but please make an effort to do it, if at all possible...

Have fun!

Amy

Sunday, November 16, 2014

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/16/2014

Sunday's Bluegrass Cafe featured selections from a couple of different vinyl LPs, a birthday tribute to Country Music Hall of Famer -- and tremendous songwriter -- Whisperin' Bill Anderson (who celebrated birthday #77 on November 1st), and a bit of music from newer recordings.

On my way out the door to Storrs, I grabbed a couple of LPs from the house that I'd not heard and/or played in a while. Those old records worked their way into our playlist on Sunday afternoon, and I must say, I probably could have played that whole Osborne Brothers & Red Allen LP. Such harmonies! Other vinyl selections came from the short-lived 1980s band, Summer Wages; guitar duo Orrin Star & Gary Mehalick; and a not-as-well-remembered-as-they-should-be brother duo, the Sauceman Brothers.

Into the mixture of older songs, we also included a good portion of newer Bluegrass from recordings by Missy Werner, NightFlyer, the Spinney Brothers, Hot Rize, Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick, the Earls Of Leicester, the Lonesome River Band, Bob Dick, Flatt Lonesome, Tommy Brown & the County Line Grass, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, the Crowe Brothers, and the Larry Stephenson Band. There was brand-spanking new music from a fine new recording by banjo picker, Russ Carson -- "Avenue Of The Giants" on Patuxent Music.

Be sure to join Jim in the Bluegrass Cafe next Sunday afternoon, won't you?

Have a great week!

Amy

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Requests are RED; Bill Anderson-penned songs are BLUE]

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
When Someone Wants To Leave / Seldom Scene / Bluegrass The World's Greatest Show / Sugar Hill
Diamond Joe / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Bluegrass Mountain Style / Rounder
Wait 'Til The Clouds Roll By / White Mountain Bluegrass / Oh So Many Years / R Own
Summertime Is Past And Gone / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1946-1949 / JSP Records
If Lonely Was The Wind / Lynn Morris Band / The Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
Colder And Colder / Lost & Found / Across The Blue Ridge Mountains / Rebel
Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Baby Girl / Stanley Brothers / Selected Cuts, 1955-1956 / JSP Records
Are You Coming Back To Me / Bill Harrell with Mac Wiseman / Bill Harrell & Friends / Rebel
Rocky Top / Osborne Brothers / Time-Life's Treasury Of Bluegrass / Time Life [recorded November 16, 1967]
Wild Mountain Honey / Osborne Brothers & Red Allen / The Osborne Brothers & Red Allen / Collector's Classic
No Honey No / Osborne Brothers & Red Allen / The Osborne Brothers & Red Allen / Collector's Classic
Is This My Destiny / Osborne Brothers & Red Allen / The Osborne Brothers & Red Allen / Collector's Classic
Roll Muddy River / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
Big Spike Hammer / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Compact Disc / Rounder
Dear Old Dixie / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Essential Earl Scruggs / Columbia
What Are They Doing In Heaven Today / Lilly Brothers / Bluegrass Early Cuts, 1947-1953 / JSP Records
Amnesia / Del McCoury Band / The Streets Of Baltimore / McCoury Music
We Missed You / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / The Hard Game Of Love / Sugar Hill
Get A Little Dirt On Your Hands / Tony Holt & the Wildwood Valley Boys / Lost Highways & Treasured Memories / Old Homestead
The Lord Knows I'm Drinking / Wildfire / Where Roads Divide / Pinecastle
Once A Day / Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / The Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
Slippin' Away / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
I Don't Love You Anymore / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
Some Kind Of War / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / They're Playing My Song / Rebel
Rough Edges / Missy Werner / Turn This Heart Around / Self-Produced
Lonesome Wind / NightFlyer / Rail, River & Road / Kang Records
Thank God For The Highways / Spinney Brothers / Tried & True / Mountain Fever Records
Western Skies / Hot Rize / When I'm Free / Ten In Hand Records
My Old Kentucky Home / Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick / Laurie & Kathy Sing The Songs Of Vern & Ray / Spruce & Maple Music
Some Old Day / Earls Of Leicester / The Earls Of Leicester / Rounder
Her Love Won't Turn On A Dime / Lonesome River Band / Turn On A Dime / Mountain Home
New York Chimes / Russ Carson / Avenue Of The Giants / Patuxent Music
Talkin' To The Wall / James King / Three Chords And The Truth / Rounder
Appleland Breakdown / Bob Dick / Life's Highway / Appleland Records
Fort Worth Jailhouse / Tommy Brown & the County Line Grass / Leaving This Town / Randm Records
Deep River / Orrin Star & Gary Mehalick / Premium Blend / Flying Fish
Never Let Me Go / Flatt Lonesome / Too / Mountain Home
Honky-Tonked To Death / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Trouble Follows Me / Rebel
I'll Be No Stranger There / Sauceman Brothers / The Early Days Of Bluegrass, Volume 7 / Rounder
Over On The Other Side / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / On Down The Line / Compass Records
My Soul's Been Satisfied / Summer Wages / Summer Wages / Rebel
Where Will You Be? / Crowe Brothers / Forty Years Old / Mountain Fever Records
God Loves His Children / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey / Russ Carson / Avenue Of The Giants / Patuxent Music
It's Hard To Stumble (When You're Down On Your Knees) / Lou Reid & Carolina / Sounds Like Heaven To Me / Rural Rhythm
Joy Of Revelation / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
Born Again / Larry Stephenson Band / Pull Your Savior In / Whysper Dream
The Lighthouse / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill

Sunday, November 09, 2014

Playlist - 11/9/2014

Hi Folks,

We at Bluegrass Cafe have received a treasure trove of new recordings, and we showcased some of those on this show with emphasis on the traditional releases as if to demonstrate bluegrass can be traditional and still grow.

A featured new release was a CD from Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass that is getting national distribution (and a fine CD it is!) We also heard new music from Phil Leadbetter, Monroeville, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Gold Heart, Becky Buller, Crowe Brothers, The Spinney Brothers, Missy Werner, Larry Sparks, Lonesome River Band, Marteka and William, Joe Mullins, Nu-Blu, Junior Sisk, Larry Stephenson, Doyle Lawson, Hot Rize, and The Earls of Leicester. Whew!

We didn't cut back the classic and obscure bluegrass, either. We had a rare 45 from The Dillard Brothers (Doug & Rodney before The Dillards), a new release from Patuxent Records of Red Allen, Frank Wakefield and The Kentuckians recorded for radio in 1963, Doc & Merle Watson, Dave Evans, Flatt & Scruggs, Delia Bell & Bill Grant, Carl Story, Rose Maddox, The Campbell Trio, Chestnut Grove Quartet, and more.

Traditional bluegrass is alive and well at Bluegrass Cafe.

Tune in next Sunday when Amy will make the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

Requests in blue

Artist / Song / Album / Label

The Dillard Brothers / Dougs Breakdown / 45 rpm single / K-Ark
Red Allen, Frank Wakefield and The Kentuckians / Deep Elum Blues / The WDON Recordings 1963 / Patuxent
Foggy Mountain Hilton / Bluegrass Music Has Ruined My Life / Show Me the Way to Go Home / Patuxent
Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass / Fort Worth Jailhouse / Leaving This Town / Randm
Dave Evans and River Bend / White House Blues / The Best of the Vetco Years / Rebel
Doc & Merle Watson / The Tragic Romance / Ballads from Deep Gap / Vanguard
Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys / The Martha White Theme / Flatt and Scruggs At Carnegie Hall / Koch
Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys / I Wonder Where You Are Tonight / Flatt and Scruggs At Carnegie Hall / Koch
Grass Routes / When You Come Back Down / Something New / Grass Routes
Grass Cats / Bluegrass Man / The Blues Are Back In Town / New Time
Phil Leadbetter / Just Joshin' / The Next Move / Pinecastle
Monroeville / Heartbreaking Machine / Can't Put Me Out / Monroeville
The Lewis Family / Flyin' High / Flyin' High / Mountain Home
Darin and Brooke Aldridge (w. Sam Bush) / Get Up John / Snapshots / Mountain Home
Delia Bell & Bill Grant / Silver Tongue and Gold Plated Lies / Dreaming / Rounder
Gold Heart / Ain't That Crazy / Places I've Been / Self-released
The Gillis Brothers / The Memory Of Your Smile / Best of The Gills Brothers / Hay Holler
Scott Brannon / The Thought Of Losing You / Faded Love And Winter Roses / Wango
Becky Buller / Southern Flavor / 'Tween Earth And Sky / Dark Shadow
Crowe Brothers / I've Got the Moon On My Side / Forty Years Old / Mountain Fever
The Goins Brothers / I Guess I'll Do Without / Still Goin' Strong / Hay Holler
The Spinney Brothers / Freightyard Down the Street / Tried & True / Mountain Fever
Missy Werner / The Heart You Break / Turn This Heart Around / Self-Produced
Red Allen, Frank Wakefield and The Kentuckians / Sombody Loves You Darling / The WDON Recordings 1963 / Patuxent
Larry Sparks with Curly Seckler / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke / Lonesome And Then Some... / Rebel
Lonesome River Band / Lila Mae / Turn On a Dime / Mountain Home
Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass / A Dark Road Is a Hard Road to Travel / Leaving This Town / Randm
Travers Chandler & Avery County / I Could Change My Mind / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
Dave Evans / Be Proud Of The Gray In Your Hair / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
The Dillard Brothers / My Only Tru Love / 45 rpm single / K-Ark
Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers / Broken Heart and a Worried Mind / She Left Me Standing On a Mountain / Blue Circle
Marteka and William / Reuben / The Sounds Of A Tradition / Self-released
The Earls Of Leicester / Dig a Hole In the Meadow / The Earls of Leicester / New Rounder
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Goin' Back to My Kentucky Country Home / Another Day From Life / Rebel
Turning Ground / Echo of the Steel / Cell Of Mine / Self-released
Nu-Blu / It's Not That Cold In Montana / All The Way / Rural Rhythm
ShoreGrass / The Letter / Going Home / Shaw Family
Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups / Dear Old Dixie (bed) / Burnin' Up The Strings / Rural Rhythm
Tater Tate With Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups / Black Eyed Susan (bed) / Burnin' Up The Strings / Rural Rhythm
Reno & Smiley / Natural Bridge Blues (bed) / Burnin' Up The Strings / Rural Rhythm
Hylo Brown / Banjo On the Mountain (bed) / Burnin' Up The Strings / Rural Rhythm
Shady Creek / The Old Home / The Old Home / Self-released
Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Frost On The Bluegrass / Trouble Follows Me / Rebel
The South Carolina Broadcasters / East Virginia Blues / Short Time To Stay Here / Flaming Heart
Hot Rize / Doggone / When I'm Free / Ten In Hand
Larry Gillis and the Hard Driving Bluegrass Band / Down By The River / Swampgrass / Tinman
Seldom Scene / Little Georgia Rose / Long Time... Seldom Scene / Smithsonian Folkways
The Campbell Trio / Brush Arbor Meeting / We're Hooked On Bluegrass / Woodrich
Alex Leach / Willing To Try / Mountain Heartache / Self-released
Larry Stephenson Band / Will You Meet Me Over Yonder / Pull Your Savior In / Whysper Dream
Rose Maddox with the Vern Williams Band / Take Me In The Lifeboat / Beautiful Bouquet / Arhoolie
Unplugged Demos (Myrna Riquier) / In the Shadow of the Son / Momma's Flowers / Natchaug Music
Mickey Boles / Since I've Laid My Burdens Down / Let My Feet Go Runnin' / Self-released
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Climbing Upward / Open Carefully Message Inside / Mountain Home
David Peterson / Are You Washed In the Blood ? / Simplicity / Self-released
Carl Story / Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan? / Complete Atteiram Collection / Gusto
Chestnut Grove Quartet / Lord, Don't Leave Me Here / The Legendary Chestnut Grove Quartet / Rebel Records
Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Walking In A Dream / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

Fill-in Playlist - 11/4/2014 - Basement Tapes from Ray Davis

Hi Folks.

I did a quick one-hour fill-in Tuesday evening and filled it with music from the famous "basement" of Ray Davis -- the legendary Baltimore and Washington DC bluegrass DJ who just retired last year (2013) after nearly 60 years in broadcasting.

Jim Beaver

Artist / Song / Disk / Label

Gillis Brothers / Train 45 / Freight Train Special Volume Two - Songs of America's Railroads / Wango
The Stanley Brothers / How Mt. Girls Can Love; Comedy w/ Uncle Henry; Mountain Dew; On Top Of Old Smokey; Comedy w/Uncle Henry; Little Birdie / Radio Series Volume Six / Wango
Warrior River Boys / Blue Ridge Mt. Blues; The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise; Tomorrow You'll Be Gone; Blues Stay Away From Me / Radio Series Volume Six / Wango
Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Sweet Potato Rag; Darlin' Nellie Across The Sea; I'm Comin' Back (But I Don't Know When); Gotta' Travel On / Radio Series Volume Six / Wango
Gillis Brothers / Fire On The Strings; It's Never Too Late; Old Jackson Prison; Don't Cheat In Our Home Town / Radio Series Volume Six / Wango

Sunday, November 02, 2014

WHUS "Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/2/2014

A UConn Men's Hockey game took away 2/3 of our Bluegrass Cafe program today, but we tried to make the best of the situation.

Hazel & Mac McGee -- Pioneers of Bluegrass

We opened with a few songs from White Mountain Bluegrass featuring the wonderful, strong voice of Hazel McGee. Hazel -- recognized as a "Pioneer of Bluegrass" with her husband, Mac, by the International Bluegrass Music Museum -- passed away this past Monday, October 27th after battling cancer for the last several years. Rest in peace, Hazel...

Two chances to see Del & the boys in CT this month!

The great Del McCoury Band is playing not one but TWO shows in Connecticut later on this month -- November 21st at Infinity Hall in Norfolk and November 22nd at Infinity Hall in Hartford. Over the next couple of weeks, both Jim and Susan Forbes Hansen will have tickets to give away to the DMB show in Hartford on November 22nd. When will they give 'em away -- and on which program? Who knows? That's another reason for you to always be listening to WHUS, right? You betcha! Today, we gave away a pair of tickets to this show to a lucky listener. Hooray!

There's actually a good bit of live, big-name Bluegrass to be heard in Connecticut (and close by) over the next few weeks. In addition to the two DMB shows mentioned above, here are some of the other highlights:

November 9th -- Spinney Brothers at Country Corner Coffee House, South Hadley MA. Showtime is 2PM. More info: 413-467-9394
November 15th -- Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys at Unitarian Society Hall, Hamden CT (GuitarTownCT Productions). Showtime is 8PM. More info: 203-430-6020
November 22nd - James King at Firebox Restaurant, Hartford. Showtime is unknown, but further information is coming...
December 5th - Gibson Brothers Trio (Eric & Leigh Gibson with Mike Barber on bass) at Spaceland Ballroom, Hamden CT (GuitarTownCT Productions). Showtime is 8PM. More info: 203-430-6020

Be sure to join Jim for next Sunday's Bluegrass Cafe -- which we are hopeful will be three hours long and minus any sports preemptions.

Enjoy the week!