Back Porch Bluegrass Free FM

A rare treat this week – we have French mandolinist who together with host Paul Trenwith, plays some music ‘live’ in the studio.
Of course, we have some gems from my shelves, too, including songs featuring IBMA 2023 winners Greg Blake (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Vickie Vaughn (Bass Player of the Year). Vickie is playing with High Fidelity, and we have songs from the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Richard Bennett, the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band and Jean-Luc Leroux.

I’m delighted to host, in the studio at FreeFM, French mandolinist and vocalist extraordinaire Jean-Luc Leroux.
We talk about his early days in bluegrass, his approach to the music, his recordings, and we play some tracks from his newest album as well as some from his earlier albums. Next week, we might play some ‘live’ music in the studio!
Of course, we kick off the show with some classic bluegrass from Curly Seckler, and the Nashville Bluegrass Band.

Lots of ‘classic’ bluegrass in this show, with a few surprises thrown in! The Bluegrass Album Band, Dan Crary, Sonoran Dogs, the Bluegrass Cardinals, Lynn Morris, plus some great songs from Tim O’Brien, Vince Gill, some fine fiddling from Billy Hurt and guitar picking from Dan Crary. There’s a track from the 1960’s, too, from the HCBB singing about springtime. Seasonal bluegrass?

I regularly surprise myself with some of the gems of bluegrass that I find hiding on my shelves! Some of these tracks come from albums that have featured many times on the show, and some are new to the show. Listen here for tracks from Jeremy Stephens (High Fidelity), Grasstowne, Scott Vestal & Co, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Joseph Decosimo, Pam Findlay with the HCBB, and others.

Some real stars of the bluegrass music scene are featuring in today’s programme. Ricky Skaggs, Mike Compton, Blue Highway, Lou Reid, Dale Ann Bradley and the Goodbye Girls with Molly Tuttle. There’s some songs from Darren Beachley, John Bowman, and some classic bluegrass from the Stanley Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs.

I’ve dug deep into my LP shelves to come up with music from Seldom Scene (1979), the Bluegrass Alliance (1970), and Tony Trischka (1980). Of course, there’s some more contemporary bluegrass as well, from the Spinney Brothers, the late Roland White, Sierra Hull, Mike Scott and the Kathy Kallick Band. A song from the HCBB, a tune from Kenny Baker – some great music here.