From Toronto, banjo star Frank Evans is now touring with Bronwyn, and her high energy band. A virtuoso on old time and bluegrass banjo, he's also a fine singer and composer. He was with the Slocan Ramblers before moving to Nashville, where he lives now.

He and his talented friends have made East Nashville the center of most of the great bluegrass being played these days. He talked about growing up around the old time and bluegrass scene in Canada, his former band the Slocan Ramblers, The Nashvuille music world, and his road to success with one of the top bluegrass bands around!

Wayne Benson has been mandolinist for the legendary bluegrass band Russell Moore and lllrd Tyme Out for 30 years. He has a large following on his YouTube channel, and is married to 5-time IBMA banjo player of the year Kristin Scott Benson, with whom he often performs as a duet.  A fascinating conversation about all things bluegrass!

Tim Surrett is a North Carolinian through and through. From high school he began a musical career as a bassist, singer and dobro player, that led him to the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall and the Ryman Auditorium. He's played and recorded with everyone from Tony Rice and Doyle Lawson to JD Crowe and Ralph Stanley, He is a gospel singer of note with The Kingsmen, The Inspirations, Squire Parsons, and many more.

He started Mountain Home Music Company, is celebrating twenty years with Balsam Range, with 30 #1 bluegrass songs, he runs a bluegrass festival, was the director of IBMA, is a staff producer for Pisgah Ridge Records and Organic Records, and has a long career as an active studio player. Not much he hasn't seen and done!!

Ethan Setiawan won both National Mandolin Championship and Rockygrass Mandolin Championship. After attending Berklee, he's become a leading voice of the mandolin, through traditional bluegrass, classical, and jazz.

His 2025 release “Encyclopedia Mandolinnica” explored the mandolin through duets and trios with friends, mentors, and heroes includinh John Resichman, Matt Flinner and Jacob Joliff. His current band, Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground, with BB Bowness on banjo, Julian Pinelli on fiddle, Alex Rubin on guitar, and Brittany Karlson on bass, releases its first album, “Little Storms”, on October 2.

He's a force in acoustic music, and a thoughful observer of the music world.

Grammy-nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner has made a career out of playing bluegrass and American roots music in new ways. Hailed by Downbeat Magazine as "one of the best mandolin players ever," Flinner has established a reputation as one of the most respected composers and innovators in modern American acoustic music. 

In a fascinating and wide ranging conversation, we talked about his musical pals from Darrell Scott and David Grier to Joe Walsh and Peter Rowan, his heroes Tim O'Brien, Hot Rize and Miles Davis, as well as lots about bluegrass groove and the mandolin's role.

Now living in Vermont, he's been one of our favorite performers and guests at GuitartownCT over the years!

Zoe Guigueno is a Canadian bassist & singer/songwriter, now living in Eugene, Oregon. Her music has been described as having “the smartness and delivery of early Suzanne Vega with the structure and musicality of Elvis Costello” (Melissa Farrick).

Zoe studied jazz bass at Humber College in Toronto. She has been touring internationally for 20 years in a variety of acoustic projects, including Broadway, Steve Martin & Martin Short, The Faux Paws,  the Grand Ol’ Opry, and most famously playing bass for 4 years with Della Mae.

She has 2 new projects coming out in spring of 2027, emphasizing her songwriting and singing. We talked about her growing up on a small Canadian island, her musical journey, heroes, playing bluegrass bass, among many topics. 

Soraya and Luciya are the heart of The Sullivan Sisters bluegrass band. Raised in North Carolina, living in Chicago, and now both at Berklee School of Music, they were just profiled in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine. 

With strong sister harmony, great musical chops, and fine original songs, they are a young five piece band on the rise, with unlimited potential, produced by Stephen Mougin.

They talked about growing up listening to classical saxophone, the journey to bluegrass, songwriting, performing as a child duo, bluegrass heroes, and their goals as a band, with an upcoming debut album.

You will be hearing a lot from this band, and hopefully in Hamden, CT, soon!

Jeff Picker is a star bassist in Nashville. Married to 6-time Grammy winnner Sarah Jarosz, he's played with everyone from Ricky Skaggs and East Nash Grass to Nickel Creek and the Grand Ol' Opry house band. After many years in NYC playing jazz, he has a unique perspective on bluegrass, as a sideman, bandleader and studio ace. Really nice guy too, tells it like it is. 

Mandolinist Jimmy Gaudreau tells wonderful stories of Charlie Waller, David Grisman, John Duffey, and has especially fond memories of Tony and Wyatt Rice, with whom he played for 10 years. That band had a rhythm section "Like a wall of sound." Lots of fun, nicknames, etc... Jimmy is retired, but has lots to say about bluegrass, playing mandolin, and the stars he has played with. He also has a wonderful new website, jimmygaudreau.com, worth checking out for all bluegrass fans!

A wonderful conversation with this soulful and thoughtful singer, songwriter, and virtuoso on banjo and slide guitar. He won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas in 1987 and 1991. 

He recorded 18 critically acclaimed albums, with master musicians like Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Kelly Joe Phelps and Mike Marshall. He has toured with Gregg Allman, David Lindley, Derek Trucks, and Sonny Landreth. Tony, also a sculptor, is married, and lives in Portland, Oregon.

A fascinating interview! 

Ron Reno retired in 2019, after 60 years in bluegrass and country music. He started at age 7, with his dad Don Reno, and Red Smiley. He recorded ten albums during his 9 years with Merle Haggard, and played five years with the Osborne Brothers. He played with everyone from the Louvin Brothers and Ray Price to the Stanley Brothers and Johnny Cash. 

A prolific songwriter, producer and TV host, there's not much in the country and bluegrass world he hasn't experienced!

Every once in a while, I interview someone who is so natural and open that it feels like a chat with an old friend. That was the case with Heather Berry Mabe.

In 2024, Heather won IBMA's Momentum Vocalist of the Year award. In 2025, her band, Red Camel Collective, won IBMA New Artist of the Year, and she was just chosen 2026 SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year. 

Her band, Red Camel Collective, with her husband Tony on banjo, was Junior Sisk's band for many years, but they are making huge waves in bluegrass on their own, since their 2025 debut album. 

She's a very spiritual person, with a golden voice and a personality to match. You will be hearing a lot from her!!

Liam grew up just down the road from Doc Watson's home in Deep Gap, North Carolina. A child prodigy on several instruments, he surprised everyone by sweeping the 2022 RockyGrass instrumental contests in guitar, mandolin and banjo, the first person to ever do so.

He attended Berklee College of Music, and leads the band Cane Mill Road, which won IBMA's Momentum Band of The Year award in 2019.

Age 24, he is already an experienced  bluegrass pro, thoughtful and insightful. He talked a lot about Billy Strings, Doc Watson, and the trials and pleasures of leading a bluegrass band!

Blake Wiliams played banjo with Lester Flatt and Nashville Grass, before his ten year stint with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrasss Boys. He was the longest tenured banjo player ever with Monore, and has some amazing stories to prove it!

During his career, Blake has toured 48 states and 7 countries, played Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center. He recorded 2 albums with Lester Flatt, and 6 albums with Bill Monroe, including the Grammy winning Southern Flavor.

You won't want to miss his wonderful memories, some never told before!

Darren Nicholson has played mountain music since his youth in Western North Carolina. A great mandolinist with Alecia Nugent, and seventeen years with Balsam Range, he’s also an introspective songwriter, a harmony singer, lead vocalist, and guitarist. These days, he's a man on a mission, to bring North Carolina roots music back to the local community.

Ettore Buzzini is an eighteen year old banjo prodigy from North Carolina. Winner of Fresh Grass 2025 Banjo Contest, he’s a strong songwriter, instrumentalist, and vocalist, whose dream is to "bring as much of the human experience to our music as possible.” His banjo work is very melodic and sounds like no one else in bluegrass. I think he's a force to be reckoned with. Check him out.

Tim Stafford is a master songwriter, guitarist and teacher. From Alison Krauss & Union Station, to 30+ years with Blue Highway, he's had his finger on the pulse of bluegrass. A wide ranging intellect, with special love for Tony Rice, we could have easily talked for another hour!

4-time Grammy winner Andy Leftwich began playing fiddle at age 6, entered his first contest at 7, and won the National Championship for Beginners at 12. At age 19 he joined Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, where he played for 15 years.

He's also one of Nashville’s most sought after studio musicians, for artists like Bruce Hornsby, Dailey & Vincent, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Ronnie Millsap, Craig Morgan, and many more. His third album "Aced" comes out April 17. 

Andy is an amazing musician, and a man of strong faith, and we discussed music and faith at length in this fascinating conversation.

David Benedict is Grammy-nominated mandolinist. After 3 years with Missy Raines, he joined Mile Twelve, who were 2017 IBMA Momentum Award winners. David was also 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year, and a 2019 Grammy nominee. He might be even more well known for his You Tube channel, featuring his weekly series Mandolin Mondays, as well as his in-depth mandolin lessons.

He talked at length about his musical story, the mandolin with all its quirks, favorite artists, and lots of ideas about new acoustic music. 

Fiddler Brittany Haas is "a musical force of nature" says Chris Eldridge. From The Republic of Strings at age 13, through Crooked Still, The Dave Rawlings Machine, Hawktail, and now The Punch Brothers, she is a huge talent, that covers many genres, with brilliance and boundless happy energy.

She discusses her classical upbringing, her mentors Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky, her attachment to her 5-string fiddle that is shedding its varnish, the challenges of learning the Punch Brothers' repertoire for their big 2026 tour, and even her least favorite key to play in! (C#major). A gem of a person and interview!

This is a fascinating look into the realities of travelling and performing with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys, back in the mid-60's. 

 Gene Lowinger, who played fiddle with Monroe, is well known for his exciting live  performances of Monroe's classic "Uncle Pen". He was on the bus with Monroe and Peter Rowan when they wrote "Walls of Time", and then fought over whose song it was!

Gene has unique stories of Monroe, who respected his fiddle playing and stood up for him as he faced anti-Jewish prejudice from some "good ol' boys". 

Bill demanded a lot, and loved to challenge his band by changing song keys, and calling out tunes that they had never played before!

Great stuff here!!

Josh Williams is one of the premier bluegrass musicians of our time. 3-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, a virtuoso on banjo, fiddle and mandolin, he also has one of the best voices in bluegrass/country music. 

This conversation was heartfelt and emotional at times. It started with Josh talking about his family, and missing his dad Tony. Then it naturally turned to the other Tony in his life, the legendary Tony Rice, with whom Josh played for 5 years, and shared a friendship for twenty.

Josh is eloquent and thoughtful. He shared lots of Tony Rice stories and fond memories, some funny, some painful. Josh remained in awe of Tony until the end, and you can feel the love and sadness in this conversation. He still misses him. As we all do.

David Peterson is called the caretaker of traditionl buegrass and country music for a reason. He's an independent recording artist who cherishes the early music traditions.  His powerful voice has a mountain quality, that is full of Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and Hank Williams' blues. He needs no microphone.

A Boston native, he moved to Nashville 30 years ago, and has become an iconic and well loved performer, both solo and with his band 1946. 

Dave always marched to his own drum. His more famous peers, like Stuart Duncan, Vince Gill, David Grisman and Sam Bush, love to record live with him, gathered around a  single mic. His albums are joyful and powerful and full of gospel. He's a unique voice in this fast-paced music world. 

Russell Moore,  6-time IBMA Bluegrass Singer of the Year, is now the guitarist and singer with Alison Krauss and Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas. He's has an expressive, emotional and eloquent take on the music we love, bluegrass.

From 1986-1991 Russell was lead singer for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. He left to form IIIrd Tyme Out, the band he has now led for 34 years. In late 2024 he became a member of AKUS, taking over Dan Tyminski's spot as singer/guitarist. This spring, Russell and the band embark on a huge six month tour of the U.S.

In this this fascinating conversation, Russell talks about his bluegrass roots, how he got invited into AKUS, how he had to change his singing style to blend with Alison's, and the thrills and challenges of rehearsing, touring and performing in huge arenas with one of America's most famous bands. 

When Kristin joined The Grascals in 2008, she was the first woman to hold the banjo spot in a number one, festival headlining, male bluegrass band. She has since won IBMA Banjo Player of the Year seven times, and was awarded the Steve Martin Banjo Prize in 2018.

Married to mandolinist Wayne Benson, she continues, through her teaching, performing, recording, and advocacy, to be an eloquent and positive voice for bluegrass, and especially women in bluegrass. I loved talking with Kristin!!

Sorry, for some reason the last 2 minutes of the interview weren't recorded...

Mark Hembree played bass for Bill Monroe, from 1979-1984. Mark joined the band as a long-haired 22 year old, and got a haircut very quickly!

His recent book, "On The Bus with Bill Monroe" is a fascinating description of life as a Bluegrass Boy. Kenny Baker, Burch Robbins, Wayne Lewis and Blake Williams were bandmates during those years. His stories of Bill and Charlie Monroe, Kenny Baker, Peter Rowan, the infamous bus "Bluegrass Breakdown," learning to play with Bill's rhythm, and just getting used to the long drives and meager pay at the time, are priceless.

You'll love this conversation, he's funny, fascinating and knows things that no one else remembers!

Jake Eddy, at age 26, is among a new generation of bluegrass musicians who are making a name for themselves on social media. His videos on Instagram and other platforms garner thousands of views, thanks to his technical skill, wit, and charisma. 

His bluegrass roots run deep through his family in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He toured for two years as a teenager with Melvin Goins, and went on to play with the Becky Buller Band, mandolin legend Andy Statman, and banjo great Noam Pikelny. 

He's a guitar lover through and through, as you will hear. Fascinating and funny guy!

Talk about a singer's singer! Greg Blake is a bluegrass singer that prepares and performs with his heart in every line of a song. In this interview, he expresses his strong opinions about singing, country music, and the traditions of bluegrass, as well as his appreciation for Billy Strings. 

Greg was IBMA's Bluegrass Singer of the Year in 2023 and 2025. He's also a five-time winner of the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Guitarist of the Year Award. He's lead singer for Special Consensus, now celebrating their 50th year in bluegrass!

Guitarist Jake Workman exploded onto the bluegrass scene in 2015, when he joined Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. He not only filled the huge shoes of Cody Kilby and Bryan Sutton, but created his own take on bluegrass guitar, with great rhythm playing, and some lightning fast solos that still amaze today!

We talked about his nine years in the Skaggs band, his approach to guitar and mandolin playing, his family life in Utah with his talented musical wife, Rebekah and their four young kids, his recent jam with jazz guitarist Julian Lage, his passion for teaching, and his plans for the future, post Skaggs. Thrilled to finally get Jake on the podcast!

Trish Imbrogno, who plays uder the name Trish Plays Bass, is a double bassist and singer based in Pittsburgh. Classically trained, after nearly 25 years of orchestral playing she hung up her concert clothes, pulled on a pair of cowboy boots, and hasn’t looked back.

Her training in Bach, Beethoven and Mozart laid the perfect foundation to tackle the intricate counterpoint of bluegrass music. She performs with many bands, leads jams, and is also an alumna of IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2018. Her brand new album "Bluegrass Love Songs Volume 1", features some of the top players in bluegrass.

Mandolinist Jesse Cobb was a founding member of The Infamous Stringdusters in 2006, spending 5 years with the genre-bending ‘grassers before leaving in 2011. He also played with Ronnie Bowman, and the "supergroup" with Bryan Sutton, Luke Bulla, Noam Pikelny and Barry Bales. His brother Shad Cobb is one of the most sought after fiddle players in Nashville. 

Jesse has lived a lot, spent time logging timber, running sled dogs, and working on the railroad. Now married and living on Vancouver Island, BC, he plays with The Unfaithful Servants. 

This was a very open and honest conversation about his life, both in and out of music. He's done a lot, moved around a lot, and sacrificed a lot for his family, and still managed to be one of the top mandolinists in bluegrass.  One of my favorite interviews.

Connnecticut's Austin Scelzo is a fiddle player, teacher, singer, songwriter, band member, jam leader, Pete Wernick Jam Camp insructor, and an all-around positive force in bluegrass. 

If you're interested in learning bluegrass fiddle, harmony singing, or just about anything bluegrass, check out Austin Scelzo's YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcTt1g2xiUfLsBysFWj6f-g

He left a secure job as a school music teacher a few years ago, to pursue his bluegrass dreams, and hasn't looked back. A fiddle playing member of bands On The Trail and Rock Hearts, he is familiar to New England audiences, and has made his mark in Nashville. 

A thoughful and insightful teacher, Austin has helped thousands of students navigate the path to playing and singing bluegrass with confidence and authority. A charming and knowledgeable young guy with a lot to say!

Larry Cordle is one of the legendary songwriters and singers in bluegrass and country music. He's best known for writing #1 hits "Highway 40 Blues" for Ricky Skaggs, "Murder on Music Row" for George Strait, and "Against the Grain" for Garth Brooks. He has multiple Grammy and IBMA awards, and has written top hits for Dolly Parton, Reba McIntire, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Trisha Yearwood, etc. 

Larry talks about the inner workings of "Music Row", his long friendships with Bill Monroe and Garth Brooks, the demise of "real" country music, and the hard work, frustrations and rewards of being a professional songwriter. A real down-to-earth music man!

Ben Garnett, guitarist, composer and teacher, is having a big impact on acoustic music. His new album, Kite’s Keep, features Darol Anger, Brittany Haas, Ethan Jodziewicz, Paul Kowert , and Chris Eldridge. His music ranges widely from bluegrass to pop, jazz to avant garde, folk to classical, and back. 

Ben is best known in the bluegras world as the guitarist for Missy Raines, with whose band he has appeared at GuitartownCT several times. His current tour brings him to Hamden, CT on October 14. 

Here we talked at length about improvising, jazz, his guitar heroes, practicing, soloing, and some of his musical friends. Thoughtful and fascinating.

Fiddler, composer, producer and educator, Darol Anger is at home in many musical genres, some of which he helped to invent. He drove the evolution of the contemporary string band through The David Grisman Quintet, The Republic Of Strings, the Turtle Island String Quartet, Mr. Sun, etc. etc. etc.

Delightful and spontaneous, he has fond memories of how The David Grisman Quintet started, the excitement when Tony Rice joined, feeling a bit awed by Richard Greene, thoughts about fiddle backup and duo playing, and the challenges of his fiddle, which he then took down and played live!  A wonderful podcast guest!

Wyatt Ellis is quickly emerging as a bluegrass star. At sixteen, he's a talented mandolinist, singer and songwriter. Winner of IBMA's 2024 Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year, he's two time IBMA nominee for New Artist of the Year. He's worked with Peter Rowan, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Marty Stuart, Dailey and Vincent and his bluegrass hero Bobby Osborne.

He's really into songwriting, and was returning from a Nashville songwriting session when we spoke. They had to pull off the interstate because of traffic noise! A poised and focused young man, really into classic bluegrass, with lots of wisdom for his age, and a bright future! 

Becky Buller is one of bluegrass' leading fiddle players, singers and songwriters. She has won 10 IBMA awards, including 2016 Fiddle Player and Female Bluegrass Singer of the Year, the first person ever to win both awards!

She has written many well known songs, including songs on 3 recent Grammmy winning albums, by The Infamous Stringdusters, The Travelin' McCourys, and Molly Tuttle. 

Becky has been upfront about her own anxiety and depression, especially during Covid. She talked in depth about her bluegrass career, the leading role of women in bluegrass today, her songwriting style, playing fiddle, and how she has managed to deal with mental health issues. She is an important figure in contemporary bluegrass, and this is a lovely and honest conversation.

Shawn Camp is one of America's leading songwriters, and for the last 12 years has been playing the role of Lester Flatt, as the guitarist and lead singer for The Earls of Leicester. His new album, songs that he and Guy Clark wrote, "The Ghost of Sis' Draper", gets released Sept. 12.

Shawn wrote "Magnolia Wind", "Two Pina Coladas", and "I'm Dying for Someone to Live For". He's written hits for Garth Brooks, Gibson Brothers, Loretta Lynn, Brooks and Dunn, Josh Turner, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, George Strait, and many more. Camp won a Grammy Award in 2024 for his production of Guy Clark's album, "My favorite Picture of You."

Willie Nelson's "A Beautiful Time" won a Grammy in 2023. The title cut, along with  "We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy", were both written by Camp.

He's one of Nashville's greatest singers, a great musician, and this conversation went deeply into the magic of songwriting, and Shawn's musical compadres.

C.J. Lewandowski sings and plays mandolin for hard driving bluegrass band The Po' Ramblin' Boys. They've won IBMA awards and a 2019 Grammy nomination.

Over the years, CJ became best friends with his mentor, bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne. "Keep on Keepin' On", with CJ and a bunch of legendary bluegrass musicians, is due for release August 22. It's the last recordings Bobby Osborne made, before his death in 2023. 

In this heartfelt interview C.J. talks at length about his friendship with Bobby Osborne, as well as many stories about the Osborne Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and the bluegrass life. An inside look at one of the bluegrass legends, and very compelling listening!

This was a big thrill for me!! David "Dawg" Grisman just celebrated his 80th birthday, with a musical party in Seattle, with Sam Bush, Billy Strings, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Grisman, Danny Barnes, Alex Hargreaves, Dominick Leslie, Mike Marshall and more. 

His musical career has spanned folk, jug band, blues, classic bluegrass, newgrass, swing jazz, Dawg Music, and world music. The David Grisman Quintet, Earth Opera, Old and in The Way. "Manzanita", "The Pizza Tapes". Tony Rice, Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clemens, Stephane Grappelli, Andy Statman, Mark O'Connor,  Todd Phillips, Darol Anger, and on down the line. He's still a busy guy, with lots of projects in the works, but was kind enough to take some time to chat. Thanks Dawg.

Banjo master Kyle Tuttle just finished up three years with Molly Tuttle (no relation) and Golden Highway, during which time they played 250 shows, won two Grammys, and many IBMA awards. He previously played in the Jeff Austin band. Jeff was a founder of Yonder Mountain String Band.

Kyle is closely aligned with the so called "Jam Band" style of bluegrass, but also leads his own band, and performs more traditional bluegrass regularly at Dee's in Nashville, with many top players. Sometimes flamboyant on stage, in person he is thoughtful and insightful about bluegrass, then and now. A delightful conversation!

Chris Eldridge, son of Ben Eldridge of The Seldom Scene, is one of the most renowned guitarists in acoustic music. After getting a Grammy nomination as a member of The Seldom Scene, he co-founded multiple IBMA award winning bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters. He then joined Chris Thile and The Punch Brothers, and the rest is history.

He also tours with legendary jazz guitarist Julian Lage, played in the house band on "Live From Here" (formerly Prairie Home Companion), teaches music at his alma mater Oberlin College, and tours with his wife Kristin Andreassen. An eloquent and thoughtful observer of music, with a special connection to his friend and mentor Tony Rice.

Pete Wernick, fondly known as Dr. Banjo, co-founded Hot Rize in 1987 with Tim O'Brien, Mike Scap, (soon replaced by Nick Forster) and Charles Sawtelle. Originally from NYC, he had a PhD in sociology, taught at Cornell, hosted a bluegrass radio show, and played in the progressive bluegrass band Country Cooking, with Russ Barenberg, Kenny Kosek, Tony Trischka and Andy Statman before moving to Colorado with his wife Joan.

Pete has written numerous highly regarded books on bluegrass banjo and bluegrass jamming, and founded the Wernick Method  of bluegrass instruction, which has been used by hundreds of teachers worldwide to teach tens of thousands of students how to play bluegrass. A longtime Colorado resident, Pete is a fascinating guy with lots of great stories!

Vickie Vaughn plays bass for the multi-awarded bluegrass band Della Mae. They will be touring soon, performing a tribute to Hazel Dickens. Vickie is an in-demand studio musician in Nashville, and fronts The Vickie Vaughn Band. Her second album gets released in November. She was classically trained as a singer, and sings lead in her band. She also toured and sang harmony for years with country music star Patty Loveless. 

Vickie is an eloquent voice for women in bluegrass and real country music. She has lots to say about the role of the bass, about her bass hero Missy Raines, her musical friends in Nashville, and her hope to someday get a pet cat. One of the most delightful and funny interviews I've ever done!

Maddie Denton is a young fiddle player, singer and songwriter based in Nashville. She's been with the hot young band East Nash Grass for 7 years. During that time she taught high school biology, coached their golf team, and also played with the Dan Tyminski band for 4 years. Now she's a full time musician, touring and recording with East Nash Grass. 

Lots of stories, from her youth winning Texas fiddle contests, making the somewhat difficult transition to bluegrass (tough playing in B and Bb!), finally being on the same concert bill as her hero Sting, and her lessons learned about improvising and playing relaxed. Enjoy!

Brenna Macmillan is a young singer, songwriter, banjo player, studio musician and band leader living in Nashville. From Kentucky, her story is fascinating and unusual. Home schooled with 12 siblings, nine of whom were Liberian war orphans adopted by her parents, she and her brother performed as the duo Theo and Brenna for many years, even as she worked full time, went to college, and became a chemist.

Her first album was released to great acclaim last October. She is now devoting her life full time to song writing and plans on touring with her band. Brenna is generous, talented, and determined, while at the same time she's a free spirit, who goes where her dreams and instincts take her. I hope they bring her to Connecticut soon!

Shelby Means played bass for Della Mae, and currently plays bass and sings with Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway. Her debut, self titled album comes out May 30, 2025. She sings lead, and wrote almost all the songs. 

We spoke at length about her bluegrass upbringing, her love of singing and songwriting, how she gets inspiration from Missy Raines, Molly Tuttle and Bronwyn Keith Hynes, and her views on playing the bass. Her bucket list singing partner might have been Billie Holiday. She's excited to tour, leading her own band and doing a lot of original songs. Hopefully we'll get to present her in concert sometime soon!

Grant Gordy is one of the most inventive and brilliant guitarists in acoustic music. After six years with the David Grisman Quintet, he plays with Mr. Sun, as a duo with guitarist Ross Martin, and with his own group feat. Alex Hargreaves and Dom Leslie. 

In our chat Grant talks about fatherhood, bluegrass, jazz, Charlie Parker and Tony Rice, his approach to soloing, the importance of rhythm, his sense of humor, and a lot in between. A unique and wonderful guy and musician.

Richard Greene, one of the most innovative and influential fiddle players of all time, grew up in L.A. and studied classical music until his encounter with the pyrotechnic fiddling of Scotty Stoneman. With Bill Monroe, he invented the fiddle chop. With Seatrain he became the first rock musician to play electric violin. He was a member of the legendary band Muleskinner, with Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Bill Keith and Clarence White. His advanced techniques influenced every fiddle player, from Jean-Luc Ponty and Darol Anger to Alison Krauss and Stuart Duncan. 

At age 82, he has amazing stories of Bill Monroe, Tony Rice, Tony Rice, Clarence White, Peter Rowan and on and on. An unforgettable conversation!

Fiddle star Tammy Rogers has been a huge force in country and bluegrass, from her early days touring with Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless, through her twenty years with The Steel Drivers. Also a fine singer and songwriter, she has a great love and admiration for the music, which comes through loud and clear in her words and her playing. A real treat to talk to. 

Mason is a talented young singer/songwriter/guitarist, who just left Old Crow Medicine Show after three years, to pursue his own music. He's written songs for Molly Tuttle, Del McCoury and Sierra Ferrell, was a contestant on America Idol, and has a fantastic voice and stage presence. He will be a big star in bluegrass, country, or whatever he chooses. Nice to catch these young guns on the way up!

From JD Crowe and the New South, to the Dan Tyminski Band to the Seldom Scene, Ron is a monster on both banjo and fiddle. Winner of IBMA fiddle player of the year and banjo player of the year, he's the rhythmic backbone that most other bluegrass players only aspire to. Ron is a thoughtful and I would say spiritual guy, who values giving more than receiving, both in life and in music. A true Renaissance man, he also builds and repairs instruments, gardens, and enjoys working his 50 acres with chainsaw and backhoe. A pleasure to talk with.

50 albums, a Grammy, 7 Grammy nominations. Bands: Bill Monroe, Muleskinner w/ Clarence White and David Grisman, Old and in The Way with Vassar Clemens and Jerry Garcia, Seatrain w/ Richard Greene, Earth Opera, Peter Rowan Quartet w/ Tony Rice, on and on. Wrote "Midnight Moonlight", "Panama Red", "The Walls of Time",  "Land of the Navajo", and "Free Mexican Airforce". At age 84, he is a cultural force almost unmatched in American music, and a wise and joyful human being. It was pure delight talking with him!

Half of the illustrious folk duo with with Marcy Marxer, Cathy has close to 40 albums, 14 Grammy nominations, and 2 Grammy awards. She has collaborated with everyone from Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton to Ella Jenkins and Rhiannon Giddens. From folk music, bluegrass, country, and children's songs, to festivals, camps and worldwide tours, she's done it all, on almost every instrument. Truly a huge, positive force in American roots music!

What a year! Bronwyn got engaged, married fiddler Jason Carter at the Grand Ol' Opry, won a Grammy with Molly Tuttle, almost won a 2nd Grammy for her album I Built A World, moved to a new home in Nashville, is working on a second album as band leader and lead singer, is writing songs, preparing a big tour leading her own band in 2025, as well as touring with Molly Tuttle!

She was my first podcast guest exactly one year ago, and I thought it would be fun to catch up. And it certainly was. Congratulations to one of the true talents in music today.

Here's a great video of her wedding at The Grand Ol' Opry, with an all-star band playing Train 45. https://youtu.be/MHpkLG_50BI?si=u1O9VQOqicltkL1n 

After years with Peter Rowan, banjo player Max Wareham strikes out on his own with the album, "Daggomit!", featuring Chris Eldridge, David Grier, Laura Orshaw, Chris Henry, Mike Bub, Larry Atamanuik, and of course Peter Rowan. Max has also written a fascinating book about Bill Monroe's unsung banjo player Rudy Lyle. An insightful and delightful conversation!

Talk about amazing musical stories! At age 90, Alice Gerrard is sharp as a tack. Her memories of Baltimore music parties at Hazel Dickens' home, with Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Ola Belle Reed, Mike Seeger, Dock Boggs, Ralph Rinzler, Tommy Jarrell, Elizabeth Cotten, etc... are incredible. I need to have her on again soon, so much more to talk about!

A superstar mandolinist, Sierra Hull comes across as thoughtful, warm, focused and fun loving. She has forged a unique identity through collaborations in all genres of music and all types of musicians. With several Grammy nominations, and too many IBMA awards to count, she embarks this spring on a national tour with Billy Strings, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Busy, busy, busy! We were lucky to catch up with her!

Mandolinist, band leader, singer, songwriter, teacher, and now father, Joe is the hub of bluegrass in New England. He has played with, and taught, virtually all the young stars of contemporary bluegrass. In our interview, Joe talks about many of his contemporaries, his mandolin playing and singing, teaching, and of course how it feels to have a baby daughter at home.

Bluegrass icon Larry Sparks started playing guitar with The Stanley Brothers in 1965, at age 17. He talks about his 61 years in the bluegrass  business, with many memories of Carter and Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, his approach to singing, and his beloved 1954 Martin D-28 with the distinctive double pickguard. What a thrill for me to talk with one of my bluegrass heroes!

A fascinating chat with bluegrass guitarist and singer Michael Daves. He talks about his partnership with pal Chris Thile, his exposure to jazz with college mentor, saxophonist Yusef Lateef, the amazing fiddle playing of Brittany Haas, as well as lots of talk about bluegrass guitar, past and present, and much more. Too much for one interview, I'll have to have him back!

Bassist Ronnie Simpkins, brother of fiddler Rickie Simpkins, has been a crucial member of several major bluegrass bands, including The Virginia Squires, The Tony Rice Unit, and currently The Seldom Scene. We talked about his musical upbringing, playing the bass "in the pocket", and of course many memories and stories about performing, travelling and recording with Tony Rice. Ronnie is an insightful and delightful conversationalist!

The second part of my interview with bassist, record producer and songwriter Jon Weisberger. He talks in detail about songwriting, co-writing, the Nashville music scene, and the specific responsibilities of being a record producer. He is a fountain of wonderful information about music, and we could have talked for hours. 

Jon is a prolific and successful record producer, bassist and songwriter. He has written over 200 songs which have been recorded, by bluegrass and country artists including Billy Strings, The Travelin' McCourys, Doyle Lawson, Blue Highway, and The Infamous Stringdusters. He also hosts "Hand Picked" with Del McCoury on Sirius radio, was bassist for Chris Jones & The Night Drivers for 16 years, is an IBMA board member.

In this first of two interviews, Jon talks about Tony Rice, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and Billy Strings, and delves deep into the history of bluegrass and country music, and how and why they diverged. He's an encyclopedia of music knowledge!

Tony Trischka, banjo legend, innovator, composer and teacher, playing lately with young stars Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle, as well as his old pals Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland and Jerry Douglas. He won 2024 IBMA Song of the Year for "Brown's Ferry Blues" w/ Billy Strings. He talked about his wide-ranging music al influences, from Pete Seeger and jazz to Earl Scruggs and Charles Ives, and about  getting turned down for Bill Monroe's band. Recently he has been putting poems of Emily Dickinson to music. I wish we had more time to chat....

Jesse Brock is 3-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, including 2024. He plays now with Authentic Unlimited. In this conversation Jesse talks about his mandolin style, how to play bluegrass "chop", his admiration for Michael Cleveland, Doyle Lawson and Tony Rice, and his own musical journey. He talks with great candor about his personal and musical highs and lows, a really heartfelt conversation that not many musicians are open to. Really a wonderful interview.

Deanie Richardson is one of the premier fiddlers in country and bluegrass. She has been voted IBMA fiddle player of the year twice, including in 2024. She has toured extensively with Holly Dunn, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill, rock star Bob Seeger, and her latest band, multiple award winning Sister Sadie. Deanie is at the pinnacle of her career right now, feeling energized and full of music, joy and ideas. This was a great look at her splendid career, and her insightful thoughts on fiddle playing. 

Baltimore based couple with gorgeous harmonies, original songs and tasteful instrumental chops. They have toured Europe and the US, and have 7 albums. A thoughtful and interesting chat about life on the road today, songwriting, and the evolution of their duet sound and influences.

2023 IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, Grammy nominee Trey Hensley was named "Nashville's hottest young guitar player" by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He has performed with dobro superstar Rob Ickes for over ten years. He talks about guitar playing, country music, singing, and stories about his time with Johnny Cash and the Carter family, plus a whole lot more, with self deprecating humor and lots of stories. 

A talented bluegrass couple, with many IBMA awards between them. My first "couple" podcast! Fascinating conversation about how they met and fell in love,  Kenny's path to stardom with Lonesome River Band, tips on playing bluegrass guitar, life on the road in today's world, and lots of other topics. Enjoy!

Danny Paisley is celebrating 50 years in bluegrass. He leads the band Southern Grass, which he took over from his famous father Bob Paisley. Alison Krauss has called him her favorite singer. He has a gentle manner and a wealth of insight into bluegrass and its history. A great conversation. 

Jerry Douglas is master of the dobro. He's played on over 1500 recordings, with every musician on the planet. He's funny, insightful, and a real pleasure to chat with. He talked about finding some previously unheard Boone Creek recordings, his long personal and musical relationship with Tony Rice, and lots of insights about his life and career. A wonderful interview. 

Michael Cleveland is a 10-time IBMA fiddle player of the year and a Grammy winner. He is considered the best bluegrass fiddler of his time. He talks candidly and eloquently about his youth at Kentucky School for the Blind, his bluegrass heroes like Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Bryan Sutton and Tim O'Brien, his amazing fiddle "chop", and his love for pizza. He knows about Sally's PIzza in New Haven, but has yet to eat there. We'll make sure he gets there next time he's in the area!

Bryan is a bluegrass guitar superstar. He first gained notice with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. He has since played with just about everyone in bluegrass, including a stint with country stars The Dixie Chicks. He talks at length about Doc Watson, Tony Rice, his studio career, his guitar, and his approach to bluegrass. We are thrilled to have him on the podcast!

The "Man of Constant Sorrow', Dan Tyminski is a 4 time IBMA bluegrass vocalist of the year, and a 14 time Grammy winner. From The Lonesome River Band, through 30 years with Alison Krauss and Union Station, and his award winning song from the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Dan has been at the top of the bluegrass world as a singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist. Fascinating interview.

Tim O'Brien is one of the superstars of acoustic music, as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, multi instrumentalist and performer. He's won Grammys, IBMA's, and has a songbook of original songs that is the envy of most musicians today. He's a very thoughtful and articulate spokesman, both for himself, and for bluegrass and Americana music.

Amanda Cook is the founder and lead singer of The Amanda Cook Band, since 2014. Crowd pleasers at festivals, she prides herself on their hard driving sound and the emotional connection they make with audiences everywhere. Hopefully she will win IBMA vocalist of the year soon!

Caroline Owens is a twenty-two year old bluegrass singer/songwriter from Denton, North Carolina. She is causing quite a stir in bluegrass, as lead singer and guitarist for her band, Caroline Owens and New Company. She's being compared to a young Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss, as she grows and develops her own style. Someone to watch!

Guitarist Clay Hess was a Grammy winner after replacing Bryan Sutton in Ricky Skaggs' and Kentucky Thunder. He went on to be the stabilizing voice with teenage Sierra Hull and Highway 111, then played with Mountain Heart before starting his own band. He talks about Tony Rice, about the emotional quality of good guitar playing, and much more in an easy and wide ranging conversation. 

Mandolinist Mike Compton is the master of the Bill Monroe mandolin style, and has performed with everyone from Sting and Dolly Parton to Gregg Allman and Norman Blake. He talks about his approach to the mandolin, his relationship with Bill Monroe, the history of black musicians in country and bluegrass music, his take on modern country music, and lots more. 

West coast mandolinist, songwriter and bandleader John Reischman talks at length about meeting Tony Rice in California, playing on the first 3 Tony Rice Unit albums,  how he got his Lloyd Loar mandolin, about practicing, his tone and technique, and how much he loves and is inspired by Vancouver, BC.  An easy and free flowing conversation!

David Grier talks about his childhood, growing up with Bill Monroe and Clarence White playing music in his house,  his approach to practicing, a couple of things he learned from Tony Rice, his development as a singer and songwriter, and much more. David is a unique talent, who speaks his mind, and is usually right!

Rob Ickes talks about his affection for, and playing with, The Tony Rice Unit, his time with Earl Scruggs, his take on country music today, and, amazingly, how  much he doesn't know about playing the dobro! An insightful and friendly conversation.

Jason Carter has played fiddle with The Del McCoury Band for 30 over years. He has won 3 Grammys, and 5 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year awards. He is also a member of The Travelin' McCourys, and is engaged to fiddle player Bronwyn Keith Hynes of the Molly Tuttle Band. 

Legendary bassist who played 5 years with with Tony Rice Unit, plus Nickel Creek, Tim O'Brien and John Hartford. Mark now tours with Bela Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart. He talks at length about his time playing with and managing Tony Rice, his friendship with Bela Fleck, his love of clogging and claw hammer banjo,  and views on the history and confluence of Afro American music and dance, with English folk music and dance traditions. Fascinating interview!

Luke Bulla is one of the best fiddle players of his generation. A Grammy winner with Ricky Skaggs, 15 years with Lyle Lovett, and has performed with every A-list bluegrass star. He discusses growing up in the family band, joining Ricky Skaggs in Nashville, his singing and guitar playing career, and much more. A great interview.

Rhonda Vincent has won more awards than just about anyone in bluegrass, from IBMA and  SPBGMA  to the Grammys. She is called The Queen of Bluegrass for good reason! She leads her hard driving bluegrass band The Rage, and duets with many of country music's biggest stars. 

Bassist Todd Phillips was a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet, The Tony Rice Unit, and The Bluegrass Album Band. Our conversation provides a unique and wide ranging inside look at the history, music and personalities of that unforgettable era. 

Bluegrass star Justin Moses expounds on his early years, his time with Ricky Skaggs and Dan Tyminski, touring the world with Bela Fleck's "My Bluegrass Heart", and of course his marriage and performing career with Sierra Hull. A brilliant multi-instrumentalist, he's 5-time IBMA dobro player of the year!

This is a long and fascinating interview.  Doyle reminisces about performing and recording with Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin,  J.D. Crowe, The Country Gentlemen, The Bluegrass Album Band  and of course Quicksilver.  His memories of Jimmy Martin and Tony Rice may surprise you. He recorded over 47 albums, and won 17 IBMA awards.  Truly a bluegrass legend!

Phil Rosenthal was the lead singer and guitarist for The Seldom Scene from 1977-1986. He talks freely about his hiring by the Seldom Scene in 1977, and his abrupt and bitter firing by the band in 1986. His friend Tony Rice was one of the few who called to sympathize, having left the David Grisman Quintet under less than ideal circumstances himself a few years earlier. 

Phil is also a prolific songwriter, "Muddy Water" being his most famous song, recorded by Johnny Cash, among many others. His American Melody Studios has produced many award winning recordings. Phil lives in Guilford, Connecticut, and still performs, teaches and records regularly.

Missy Raines is a highly regarded and influential bassist, bandleader, singer and songwriter. She has been voted best bluegrass bassist by the International Bluegrass Music Association ten times, and was nominated for a Grammy in 2020. 

Missy talks at length about  being a woman in bluegrass, her ideal duet partner (Jimmy Martin), how Jim Hurst really encouraged her singing, and how challenging it is to sing and play bass at the same time!

2-time IBMA bluegrass fiddler of the year Bronwyn Keith-Hynes chats about her upbringing in Virginia, her exciting years at in Boston at Berklee College of Music with other young bluegrass musicians like Sierra Hull, how she co-founded bluegrass band Mile Twelve, and her move to Nashville in 2020.

After 2 years in Nashville, she decided to leave Mile Twelve to play with Molly Tuttle, a hard choice, but one which has had momentous results, capped by her 2024 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. She just got engaged to fiddle player Jason Carter of The Del McCoury Band, is working on her own songwriting, and is planning on leading her own band soon.