The show’s hosts encourage listeners to participate as you would with any other talk radio.

…if you have a question for Mike, feel free to call in or email us and we’ll ask him for you!

Sounds like fun, be sure to tune in later today for all that mandolin goodness.

The show is hosted by the editors of the magazine and will air live every Friday at 1PM PST. Each episode will be archived online for those who are unable to catch the show live. Of course, the talk will center around fretted instruments, mainly the guitar.

The first show, which aired April 3, 2009, features and interview with Martin Guitars historian John Woodland.

Featured guests for this episode: luthier John Woodland (describing the research he’s conducted on Martin guitars) and pedal steel guitarist Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case, Billy Bob Thornton’s Boxmasters). We also talk about the Fretboard Journal magazine and our new Spring 2009 issue featuring Clarence & Roland White.

It’s worth checking out if you’re into guitars. Just click the play button on the widget at the top of this post, and enjoy the show.

The first episode was entitled It’s Better When We Sing It Together and the second episode is It’s a Shame. Each podcast features a song by the same title and the children are encouraged to participate and sing along. The videos are taped with a live audience so there is on screen participation as well.

If you have you children and they are into music at all, this may be something you’ll want to check out. Cathy & Marcy tell me they are planning other Folk and Bluegrass podcasts in the future, so we’ll be watching for that.

Both of the existing episodes, along with all future ones, can be watched online. You can also subscribe to the feed from the same page to have the podcasts delivered via iTunes or whichever podcatcher you prefer.

If you’ve ever seen Keel and band in concert you know what kind of energy you’re in store for. If you haven’t seem them live, you should make a point of catching this show. It’s coming to a radio and computer near you.

The show is broadcast from The Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, KY. The show starts at 6:45 PM EST, and is broadcast to 900,000 listeners on over 400 radio stations, including a number of international stations, and now XM Radio Channel 15.

In addition to the radio broadcast, the show can also be heard, and seen, online. The WoodSongs Webcast is a multi-camera weekly broadcast made available online as a streaming cybercast, and also as a downloadable podcast. Join the fun at 7 PM to watch the 60 minute show live as it happens, then stay tuned at 8:05 PM for the encore performance. The encore is not broadcast on radio due to time restraints.

The webcast happens live and the show is made available as a podcast soon after the show date. Visit this page for more information about the WoodSongs Podcast.

If you’d like to be part of the studio audience, the ticket cost is $10. More information is available here.

He’s uploaded the video as a podcast and is running a contest with it. Go watch the video and count the bluegrass stars. Then be the first to leave him a comment with the correct number and you’ll win a spiffy prize. And if you don’t win, he’s still going to give away about 50 other prizes randomly to people who try hard.

I watched it twice and still lost count, I suggest you have a sharp pencil and pad ready!

We would like to hear from our readers/listeners though. Tell us know what you think of the GrassCast. Let us hear from you if you enjoy it and what you like about it. If you are a regular, or semi-regular, reader and don’t listen to the GrassCast please let us hear from you as well. We’re curious as to why you don’t listen and what we could do differently to encourage you to do so.

First of all Trent Dobbins. This guy is an importer of organic salmon? He’s pretty scary looking if you ask me. I wouldn’t eat anything this guy tried to sell me! And is it just me, or does he sound a little bit like Ernest T. Bass? You can watch his two campaign ads here and here.

Now about Wichita. His ads are well done as expected. He is, after all, a podcasting superstar and has some experience being in front of the camera what with the Van Heffer thing and all. My only question is this, who is the announcer in those ads? It almost sounds like the guy that does the voice over at the beginning of the western Tombstone. I don’t think it is, but his voice is similar and very impressive sounding. You can see his ads here and here.

I’m going to have to come out in support of Wichita in this election. If you are still on the fence be sure to listen to the Lester Flatt interview I mentioned earlier, it might change your mind.

Links to the ads on Wichita’s Blog

• First Round
• Second Dobbins Ad
• Second Rutherford Ad

As strange as it may sound, Wichita Rutherford has a podcast up over at his blog that features an interview with Lester Flatt. I won’t go into detail explaining how he got the chance to do the interview, but let’s just say Wichita may have had a bigger hand in shaping bluegrass music than we previously realized!

Listen to the interview here.

Listen now:

This week on The GrassCast we continue our theme of interviewing members of the new band Grasstowne. Last week we interviewed Phil Leadbetter. This week John interviews Alan Bibey. Alan has been fronting the band Blueridge for the last 6 years or so. He now leaves that band to join Phil and Steve Gulley to form Grasstowne.

Alan discusses with John why he made this decision. This interview was recorded Wednesday afternoon Dec 6th, less than a week after the announcement of Grasstowne.

Direct Download: ep56_alan_bibey.mp3

Subscribe with: or or

Listen now:

This week on The GrassCast our guest if award winning dobro player Phil Leadbetter. Phil has been in the news lately because of the formation of a new band of which he’s a part, Grasstowne (read about it here).This interview was recorded Wednesday morning Dec 6th, less than a week after the announcement of Grasstowne. Phil discusses the new band, why he’s excited about it, and why he felt it was time for him to make a change musically.

Phil spends some time talking about the musical direction the new band will be taking, and why. It’s an interesting discussion that should be of interest to fans of Phil, Steve Gulley, or Alan Bibey.

Next week’s episode will feature an interview with Alan Bibey concerning his decision to join Phil in this new undertaking.

Direct Download: ep55_phil_leadbetter.mp3

Subscribe with: or or

This week on The GrassCast we continue our interview with bluegrass legend Paul Williams. Last week we took a look at Paul’s background in the music business, how he got started, and left the discussion after listening to a song he had written and performed on a live DVD production.

Part 2 of the interview continues this week as Paul discusses one of his most popular tunes, My Walkin’ Shoes Don’t Fit Me Anymore, and then goes on to tell us about a new song he has written that has been recorded on a recent Marty Raybon release. We’ve included a verse and chorus of Marty singing the song.

Paul then goes on to talk about his DVD release and his plans for the future. This is the conclusion to a great interview, be sure to listen to both parts.

Direct Download: ep54_paul_williams_pt2.mp3

Subscribe with: or or

Our guest this week on The GrassCast is bluegrass legend Paul Williams. Paul has a historic career in bluegrass. He’s well known for his singing but many fans may not be aware of his contributions to the music through songwriting. During the interview Paul talks about songs he wrote and then cut with Jimmy Martin. He also talks about the process of writing songs and how he got started writing bluegrass songs.

The interview is a long one so we’ve decided to split it in two. This week is part one and focuses on Paul’s history and how he got started as a songwriter. Next week we’ll continue it and see how Paul is continuing to be a vibrant songwriter who still gets cuts, while at the same time fronting his own band.

Direct Download: ep53_paul_williams.mp3

Subscribe with: or or

Listen now:

This week’s guest on The GrassCast is Tim Shelton of NewFound Road. Their latest CD, Life In A Song, was released the end of September 2006. Tim and John discuss the CD and preview several of the tunes including one written by Tim Stafford and another by Tom T. Hall.

Tim also introduces each of the band members and discusses their role in the band.

Another topic of interest to some listeners, will be their discussion of how NFR got signed to Rounder Records, and the benefits they’ve seen from being on the label. All aspiring bluegrass bands hoping for a record deal should give this a listen.

Direct Download: ep52_tim_shelton.mp3

Subscribe with: or or

Listen now:

This week’s guest on The GrassCast is mandolin legend and Grand Ole Opry star, Jesse McReynolds. Jesse has a new CD out titled Dixie Road. He had a copy with him at IBMA and we sat and talked about the recording. In the interview we preview 4 tracks from the disc, talk about the players on the disc, and touch a bit on songwriting.

In addition to the new CD, Jesse also talks about his history in bluegrass music. He tells us how he came up with the crosspicking mandolin style he’s known for, and explains what it was like in the early years of bluegrass playing and singing with his brother Jim McReynolds. He also discusses the changes in recording technology and how that has affected the music.

This is a great interview with a true bluegrass pioneer. Don’t miss it!

Direct Download: ep51_jesse_mcreynolds.mp3

Subscribe with: or or

Listen now:

Our guest on this episode of The GrassCast is Claire Lynch. In the interview John and Claire discuss her history in bluegrass music, talk about her band members, and discuss her newest CD, New Day. The discussion leads to previewing three of the tracks off the CD, one of which was written by Claire. The conversation turns to songwriting and what makes a good song in her opinion.

Those of you who enjoy Claire’s music should find this interview intersting. If you’ve never heard Claire before, this is a good chance to preview her music and see what you think.

Direct Download: ep50_claire_lynch.mp3 (It’s a big one – 18MB)

Subscribe with: or or

Additional links:

clairelynch.com
missyraines.com
jimhurst.com

Listen now:

This episode of The GrassCast features an interview with Michael Cleveland. Michael was nominated for several awards at the recent IBMA and won two of them. The interview was recorded before the awards show so he didn’t know he was going to win. He did win Fiddle Player of the Year for the fourth time and also won Instrumental Album of the Year for his most recent CD, Let ‘Er Go Boys.

Michael and I discuss the awards nominations, the Flamekeeper band, Michael’s history with the fiddle and learning bluegrass. Michael also engages in a very interesting discussion of learning to play tastefully. It’s great stuff and should be of interest to any aspiring fiddle players or Michael Cleveland fans.

Michael also makes mention of the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend coming up in November where he’ll be serving as a fiddle instructor.

Direct Download: ep49_michael_cleveland.mp3 (It’s a big one – 18MB)

Subscribe with: or or

Additional links:

mikecleveland.com
audioblaylock.com
myspace.com/audieblaylock

Sadly, Wichita is saying this is the last of the video clips in the series. That saddens me because I was cheering him on in his Ricky Skaggs impression and really wanted to see him nail it. I just know he can do it.

To watch him try, and fail, a couple times you might want to watch those clips as well while you’re on his blog.

This episode of The GrassCast features an interview with Frank Solivan II. Frank plays in the Navy band Country Current. He performs on mandolin and fiddle when the band is doing bluegrass and also plays electric guitar in the country version of the band. In the interview Frank and I discuss the Navy band, what their mission is, what is it was like to audition for the band, and the bluegrass component of what the band does.

In addition to playing in the Navy band, Frank also has two solo CDs out. The latest one, Selfish Tears, came out late this summer. Frank and I talk about the CD and specificially we discuss, and preview, three of the songs on the disc. We also brush on Franks other obsession, cooking. Check out the photos in the enhanced version of the podcast (see iTunes link below), I’m gonna have to eat dinner at his place one of these days!

Direct Download: ep48_frank_solivan_ii.mp3

Subscribe with: or or