Our buddy Wichita Rutherford is perceived by many as a funny man, and rightly so. But the truth is, he takes at least one thing seriously, bluegrass music! He has a lot of fun for sure, but he truly respects the music and the people who create it. His show this week should make that abundantly clear.

His guest this week on The Grand Old Time Machine is none other than Ricky Skaggs himself. The entire hour long show is a conversation with Ricky concerning his latest CD, Songs My Dad Loved.

This interview is unlike any other you’ve heard Wichita do. In fact, it’s unlike any you’ve heard Ricky do! Over the course of an hour you’ll get to hear all 13 of the tracks from the CD, and you’ll hear Ricky talk about the tunes, his childhood, growing up in rural Kentucky and learning to play bluegrass. He really opens up and shares his heart in this interview.

It’s a riveting discussion that gives you a picture into Ricky’s past, and his thinking about the music. I’m sure the story will resonate with many who grew up in similar circumstances.

Here’s a short clip to give you a taste of what the interview is like throughout.

If you want to hear the whole thing, you’ll have to tune in to SiriusXM radio channel 14(XM), channel 65(Sirius). Below are the show times.

Friday the 6th – 9 pm eastern
Saturday night the 7th – 12 midnight
Tuesday the 10th – 3 pm eastern

Mac Wiseman has been a little out of pocket lately due to a broken leg, but after his doctor gave him an “all clear” report, he called up his buddy Wichita Rutherford.

Mac called and asked if I would give him a ride to Cracker Barrel for breakfast… So we went to Cracker Barrel… and to 1947, to 1956, to 1985, to 1963, to 1997, to 1936, to…

In other words Mac was Wichita’s co-host aboard The Grand Old Time Machine this past weekend. He sounded good and seemed to be having a blast hanging out with Wichita and playing some great music.

If you missed it over the weekend, it’s about to come on again. Each week The Grand Old Time Machine airs Fridays at 9pm Eastern and Saturday night at 12, then the following Tuesday at 3PM Eastern.

So tune in to Sirius/XM this afternoon and get yourself a little Mac & Wichita!

Wichita Rutherford has invited Sam Bush to co-host his Sirius radio show, The Grand Old Time Machine, this week. The last time this duo worked together was the year Bush hosted the IBMA Award Show with Wichita co-hosting via video.

Wichita tells me they are going to have a good time with this. Sam will have his mandolin in the studio with him as they host the show. It seems Wichita has issued a challenge to Sam concerning TV theme songs. Wichita has bet $20 that Sam won’t be able to play more than three TV show theme songs off the cuff with Wichita calling them out as they go. I love ya Wichita but I think my money may be on Sam for this one!

They also have plans to discuss the history of Bluegrass, and specifically the era of the 60’s and 70’s. They’ll also discuss the viability of Satellite Radio and the similarities between the situation now and the old days of terrestrial radio when Bluegrass was just getting started.

Another topic of discussion with the recently proposed “More Bluegrass Law” and its import for the citizens of The City of Bluegrass.

Sam will be hosting a contest as well. It’s a “Sound Like Wichita” contest with the winner receiving a guitar shaped commode seat with Wichita’s picture on it! Details here.

Each episode of The Grand Old Time Machine airs Fridays at 9pm Eastern and Saturday night at 12, then the following Tuesday at 3PM Eastern. So tune in tonight to hear Sam co-hosting with Wichita. It should be a good show!

As most of you are already aware, our fine city (The City of Bluegrass) has experienced a bit of unrest for the last several months. Folks just aren’t getting enough bluegrass to satisfy them.

Our intrepid Mayor of Bluegrass, Wichita Rutherford, has come up with a solution, the More Bluegrass Law.

As Mayor of Bluegrass it is my goal to keep each citizen as happy as possible by providing them with the most Bluegrass music a human can possibly listen to each and every minute of every hour of every day.

I will do everything in my power to make this, the More Bluegrass Law, pass for our great City.

The Law stipulates required instrumentation for all music played in public spaces with the City. It also requires appropriate levels of nasality in the vocals of male bluegrass singers, as well as placing restrictions on hair styling, or appropriate hat, for all male vocalists. Female vocalists are given much greater freedom in both hair style and vocal technique under this law.

Citizens of the City of Bluegrass may read the full text of the Law here, and then cast their vote.

Wichita tells me that many citizens have already contacted him offering suggested amendments to the law. He plans to discuss these ideas, and even play some of the phone calls, during his weekly radio address, The Grand Old Time Machine, beginning this Friday.