"Bluegrass Rules" #3 & #4 with James & Cathy

James and Cathy Ward continue to brighten up the afternoon musical landscape with their bluegrass show. Next Monday afternoon, October 18, they will be playing the first part of the 2010 IBMA Awards Show, so don't miss it.

Here are the playlists for their past two shows:

Show #3, Monday, October 4, 2010

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Just Another Setting Sun / Steve Gulley & Tim Stafford / Dogwood Winter / Rural Rhythm
• Hide Me The Rock Of Ages / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
• Southern Filibuster / Various Artists / A Tribute to Tut Taylor / E1 Entertainment
• Warm Kentucky Sunshine / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
• Long Journey Home / Charlie Lawson & Oak Hill / Memories Of You / Self-released
• John Henry / Aaron McDaris / Ultimate Banjo / Pinecastle
• Rusty Old Halo / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
• The Harder I Fall / Cherryholmes / Common Threads / Skaggs Family
• I Want To Be Wanted / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
• Madison Tennessee / The John Hartford String Band / Memories Of John / Red Clay-Compass
• The Love She Left Behind / Chris Jones & The Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM
• Single Girl / Bearfoot / Doors And Windows / Compass
• When The Bloom Is Off The Rose / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management
• Ring The Bell / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
• Great Day In The Mornin' / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
• Travel, Travel On / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Memories That Bless And Burn / Rounder

Show #4, Monday, October 11, 2010

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Banks of the Ohio / Tony Rice / Tony Rice / Rounder
• Coat Of Many Colors / Dolly Parton / Live In London / Dolly Records
• Heartbreak Express / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
• Orphan Child / Don Rigsby / The Voice Of God / Rebel
• Loving Her Was Easier
• (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) / The Country Gentlemen / Sugar Hill Collection / Rebel
• I Wish I Had A Friend Today / Barry & Holly Tashian / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
• Little Man / Ray Legere and Roger Williams / River Of No Return / Strictly Country
• Always On A Mountain / The Big Dogs / Live At The Birchmere / Strictly Country
• Carolina Memories / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• I've Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / 30th Anniversary / Rounder
• My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan's Land / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin', Praisin and Singin' / Rural Rhythm
• Shuckin' The Corn / Marty Stuart / Live At The Ryman / Universal South
• Guess Things Happen That Way / Emmylou Harris and The Nash Ramblers / Live At The Ryman / Warner Bros
• I'll Be Lifted Up / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder
• Drinkin' Dark Whiskey / The Steeldrivers / The Steeldrivers / Rounder
• Angeline The Baker / Sammy Shelor & Linda Lay / Taking The Crooked Road Home / Virginia Folklife
• For Me, It's You / Jerry Salley / New Songs, Old Friends / Mountain Home

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 10/3/2010 - Remembering Fred Etheridge

Hi Folks,

We were saddened to hear that our dear friend, bluegrass picker, and avid bluegrass enthusiast Fred Etheridge of Sterling, CT, passed away Friday, October 1, 2010 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Fred was an impressive presence with his powerful build and snow white beard, but was one of the kindest and gentlest men I have ever met. A friend to all, he was always ready to pick his guitar and would gladly pick with anyone at any level of proficiency, making Fred a respected mentor to many budding bluegrass musicians in Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. He played in many bands in his forty-plus years of making music, ultimately settling on guitar as his instrument of choice, and always playing in his own recognizable and tasteful style.

Fred held down significant positions in Bill Hall's band Northwind and the band Pine Creek (photo left) during his last decade. He most recently played with a country / bluegrass trio called Still Pickin', and another trio with Nick Anderson and Mark Doyle with whom he recorded a CD in early 2010. (photo below right of Fred and Nick courtesy of Jack Holland)

I was Fred's band mate in the group Pine Creek, and though Pine Creek never released a CD, I did have several recordings of the band made live at festivals and in the production studios of WHUS. I selected some of those tracks along with selections from Fred's CD to honor the man who meant so much to so many people.

As Fred was nearing the depths of his illness, he told me "I'm going to be playing with the Big Boys, maybe. I don't know if they will let me in the Field or not, but we'll see." I am certain that Fred was welcomed into the Field enthusiastically and there is a heck of a jam session going on now.

Jim Beaver


Fred Etheridge video by Jim Beaver 9/6/2010

Fred Etheridge tribute in red

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Banjo In The Hollow / Rodney Dillard / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• In The Garden By The Fountain / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management
• The Darlin' Boys / Rodney Dillard / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• Sweet Summertime / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management
• God's Own Child / Peter Rowan / Legacy / Compass
• Peacemaker / The SteelDrivers / Reckless / Rounder
• I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages / Rich In Tradition / Black Mountain Special / Mountain Roads
• Hand In Hand With Jesus / Ginger Boatwright / Inside The Gate / Self-released
• Let The Light Shine Down On Me / Doug Dillard / Heaven / Self-released
• Shenandoah Breakdown / Pine Creek / Live at Woodland Meeting House / Private Recording
• Your Old Standby / Pine Creek / WHUS Production Studio / Private Recording
• Home Is Where The Heart Is / Pine Creek / WHUS Production Studio / Private Recording
• Pine Creek Breakdown / Pine Creek / Live at Creamery Brook / Private Recording
• Plant Some Flowers / Pine Creek / WHUS Production Studio / Private Recording
• Washington Lee Fling / Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released
• It's Never Too Late / Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released
• What Would You Do / Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released
• Precious Memories / Blue Around The Edges / Live at Blistered Fingers / Self-released
• Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

"Bluegrass Rules" #2 with James & Cathy - 9/27/2010

James and Cathy continued their new Monday afternoon bluegrass program for the second week. This is their playlist:

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Heartaches & Teardrops / The Cana Ramblers / No Expectations / CMR
• Amanda Lynn / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
• Let The Light Shine Down / Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice / Heartaches & Dreams / Rebel
• Apple Jack / Pam Gadd / Benefit of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway
• Going Down To Charleston / The Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Self-released
• Son Of A Sawmill Man / The Grascals / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder
• Hello Mary Lou / Dailey & Vincent / Sing The Statler Brothers / Rounder
• In The Garden By The Fountain / Rhonda Vincent with Dolly Parton / Taken / Upper Management
• I'm Building On the Rock Of Ages / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / Self-titled / Mountain Home
• You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• Carolina Blue / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• Cold and Lowdown Lonesome Blues / Blue Highway / Some Day / Rounder
• Here Today We're Gone Tomorrow / Rhonda Vincent & The Sally Mountain Show / Bound For Gloryland / Rebel
• Hard Times Come Again No More / The Isaacs / Naturally / Gaither
• When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / The Spinney Brothers / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Self-released
• Hillbilly Goddess / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder