Got 'Grass?

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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 R...

Send us Fan Mail 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. 

Send us Fan Mail 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 &...

Send us Fan Mail 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 t...

Send us Fan Mail 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 re...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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.

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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. 

Send us Fan Mail 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. 

Send us Fan Mail 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 S...

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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....

Send us Fan Mail 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.

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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 convers...

Send us Fan Mail 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. 

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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!

Send us Fan Mail 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.

Send us Fan Mail 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.