Sara Watkins - Connection and Collaboration on I'm With Her's 'Wild and Clear and Blue'
My guest this week is Sara Watkins, with a deep dive into I'm With Her's latest record, 'Wild and Clear and Blue', which has already become one of my favourite records of recent years.We talk about the album’s first writing sessions in 2021, just as the world was starting to reconnect post-pandemic and how that theme of connection eventually grew to run through the whole record. We also talk about collaboration and how essential that is to I’m With Her; the joy of cover versions and getting to know someone through music; how that shared love provided the seed for the album’s title track and why playing these songs with Aoife and Sarah at this point feels so special.I also ask Sara about her own journey as a songwriter, stepping out of the shadows of her bandmates in Nickel Creek and we discuss the idea that albums are like puppies (you’ll just need to listen!)This was one of my absolute favourite interviews to record. I hope you enjoy it.For more info on I’m With Her, including tour dates and to buy I’m With Her vinyl, CDs and merch, visit imwithherband.comFor regular updates follow Sara on Instagram and FacebookHappy picking,MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!) Support the show===Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!) Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins- Sign up to get updates on new episodes - Free fiddle tune chord sheets- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates: Instagram Facebook - Review us on Apple Podcasts
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Bluegrass Briefing July 14th 2025
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and Announcements (Church Street News)Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Tiny Desk ConcertIBMA Nominee Announcement detailsReleases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlistScroll on BuddyIBMA Grammy’s Zoom webinar infoIn My EarsMartin Simpson & Thomm Jutz interviewOther bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlistFull list of interviewsCollings GuitarsHappy picking.MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!) Support the show===Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!) Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins- Sign up to get updates on new episodes - Free fiddle tune chord sheets- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates: Instagram Facebook - Review us on Apple Podcasts
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Shelby Means on her new solo record and 4 years with Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
My guest this week is Shelby Means. Lots of you will know Shelby from her time with Della Mae and, more recently, from her time as the bass player in Molly Tuttle's band Golden Highway, who she won a Grammy with. She now has a new solo record out called Shelby Means.We talk about making the record, including the people she assembled to play on it; the songs, which were written over a long period of time; co-writing and the joy of songs you know so well they feel like vintage clothes.We also chat about her time with Molly Tuttle and the extraordinary journey the band went on over 4 years.This was a fun conversation about a great record.You can buy a copy at www.shelbyleemeans.com, where you'll also find info and tour dates. Follow Shelby on Instagram and Facebook for news and updates.Happy picking,MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!) Support the show===Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!) Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins- Sign up to get updates on new episodes - Free fiddle tune chord sheets- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates: Instagram Facebook - Review us on Apple Podcasts
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Joe K Walsh - Less is More, Conversation and Space in Music
My guest this week is Joe K Walsh.Joe plays mandolin with several projects, including Mr Sun (featuring Darol Anger, Grant Gordy and Aidan O’Donnell); the Mike Block Trio; a duo with Matt Flinner and a trio with Ella Jordan and Jed Wilson. He joins me this week to chat about his most recent solo record “Trust and Love” and also his previous record ”If Not Now, Who?”Both records have a quiet, conversational feel and feature some wonderful musicians. Joe describes his approach to "Trust and Love":"It's a collection of instrumental love songs of a sort, an understated record for an over-stimulating time. I think of it as gently making the case for a "less is more" approach to the string band sound."We chat about that philosophy; why the record started with the people, rather than the songs; how Joe's quietest record to date ended up with drums on it and what conversation means in music.It was a fascinating conversation about what it means to make music and be true to yourself as a musician. I hope you enjoy it.For more info on Joe visit https://joekwalsh.comYou can buy "Trust and Love" at Joe's Bandcamp pageAlso check out Joe's Peghead Nation courseHappy picking!MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!) Support the show===Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!) Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins- Sign up to get updates on new episodes - Free fiddle tune chord sheets- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates: Instagram Facebook - Review us on Apple Podcasts
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Bluegrass Briefing June 30th 2025
Welcome to this week’s Bluegrass Briefing, a weekly series of episodes taking a look at what’s going on in the world of bluegrass.Here are the links to stuff mentioned in this episode.News and Announcements (Church Street News)IBMA Picking For the PrizeNoam Pikelny tour datesJake Workman safariNed Luberecki safariReleases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlistIn My EarsI’m With Her - Ancient Light live at Sunset SoundOther bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlistFull list of interviewsCollings GuitarsHappy picking.MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! (Don't forget to include your name so I know who you are!) Support the show===Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!) Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins- Sign up to get updates on new episodes - Free fiddle tune chord sheets- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates: Instagram Facebook - Review us on Apple Podcasts
The IBMA Award winning podcast for anyone and everyone who loves bluegrass. Free fiddle tune backing tracks and interviews with amazing people from the world of bluegrass. For every tune we give you four brand new tracks: - Backup 4 times through (you play the tune or improvise breaks)- Tune 4 times through (you play backup)- ‘Jam Along’ (4 complete run throughs, alternating backup and tune)- Full performanceFor more info and chord charts, visit https://bluegrassjamalong.com. Hope you find these tracks useful (and thanks for listening!) - Matt
UK