Best Flatpicking Podcasts (2025)

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Love Your Neighbor--Part 2 13:33

10d ago13:33

13:33

Support the showBy Gary Allison Furr

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Bluegrass Briefing August 18th 2025 9:43

4d ago9:43

9:43

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 Fretboard Summit Alison Brown Banjo Basecamp Bela Fleck banjo raffle Releases (The Grass is New) Infamous Stringdusters …

1
Bitesize - Gabe Witcher on first meeting Chris Thile and how Punch Brothers came together 13:27

7d ago13:27

13:27

My guest on this week's bitesize episode is Gabe Witcher. This extract comes from a longer conversation I had with Gabe in June 2023, directly after he'd played his final shows with Punch Brothers at Telluride. Gabe talks about first meeting Chris Thile at a festival when they were kids; playing football together before they even got round to jammi…

1
Bitesize - Jarrod Walker on playing with Billy Strings, plugging in and pedals 19:44

14d ago19:44

19:44

My guest for this week's Bitesize episode is Jarrod Walker, best known to most of you as the mandolin player in Billy Strings' band. This is a segment of a longer interview from 2022. In this section Jarrod talks about getting the gig with Billy, how it was both the most progressive and the most traditional gig he'd had, learning to play plugged in…

1
Bluegrass Briefing August 4th 2025 8:24

16d ago8:24

8:24

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 Joe Brent Adhyâropa Records interview JD Crowe and the New South reissue Tim Stafford JD Crowe interview episode Earl Sc…

1
Joe Brent - Adhyâropa Records : Reimagining What a Record Label Is 50:57

21d ago50:57

50:57

My guest this week is Joe Brent, founder of Adhyâropa Records. So many of the guests I've had on the podcast have released their albums through Adhyâropa and I was fascinated to find out more about the label. We talk about why Joe set up the label in the first place, the reasons why it's almost impossible for musicians to make a living today, how A…

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Bluegrass Briefing July 28th 2025 8:17

23d ago8:17

8:17

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. Releases (The Grass is New) Alison Krauss vinyl reissue from Craft Recordings The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist Other bits Sign up for emails https://bluegras…

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Bitesize - Caitlin Canty on Songwriting and Slow Processing 9:00

28d ago9:00

9:00

This week's Bitesize episode comes from one of my favourite interviews, the conversation I had with Caitlin Canty about her record Quiet Flame. The album was produced by Chris Eldridge (of Punch Brothers and Mighty Poplar) and features a fantastic band, including Paul Kowert, Brittany Haas, Sarah Jarosz, Noam Pikelny and Andrew Marlin. In this exce…

1
Love Your Neighbor--Part 1 10:30

28d ago10:30

10:30

Being like ancient Babylon rings a bit hollow, but the power movers seem to say, “Oh, you’ll be a lot happier. Just don’t be the one under the bus. Be a thrower.” Well, that’s one way to do it, I suppose. The historical record is fairly bleak about oppression, cruelty and rage as a long-term strategy. So, what else can there be? Support the show…

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Bluegrass Briefing July 24th 2025 - IBMA Music Awards nominations special 12:13

30d ago12:13

12:13

Hi, This week's briefing is slightly different - I'm running you through some of the nominees for this year's IBMA Music Awards. I'd love to hear what you think - who you think will win, who you think should win, who's missing from the lists and any other thoughts. Come and join the conversation via Instagram, Facebook or Threads and let me know! M…

1
Atkin 43

1M ago

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By TBar

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Sara Watkins - Connection and Collaboration on I'm With Her's 'Wild and Clear and Blue' 54:27

1M ago54:27

54:27

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 …

1
Bluegrass Briefing July 14th 2025 10:01

1M ago10:01

10:01

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 Concert IBMA Nominee Announcement details Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass…

1
Shelby Means on her new solo record and 4 years with Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway 40:39

1M ago40:39

40:39

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;…

1
Joe K Walsh - Less is More, Conversation and Space in Music 54:18

2M ago54:18

54:18

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…

1
Bluegrass Briefing June 30th 2025 12:08

2M ago12:08

12:08

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 Prize Noam Pikelny tour dates Jake Workman safari Ned Luberecki safari Releases (The Grass is New) …

1
Edmonds OM sample

2M ago

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By TBar

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Celebrating IBMA World of Bluegrass as it Prepares to Move to Chattanooga in 2025 1:03:24

2M ago1:03:24

1:03:24

This week we're celebrating IBMA World of Bluegrass as it prepares to make the move to Chattanooga after a successful decade in Raleigh. First I'll be talking to former IBMA Executive Director, and current board member, Paul Schiminger about the history of World of Bluegrass, how it started, the various cities it's been hosted in over the years and…

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Celebrating 50 years of the David Grisman Quintet - part 3 David Grisman 1:23:34

2M ago1:23:34

1:23:34

We're celebrating 50 years of the David Grisman Quintet with a special set of 3 episodes. This week is part 3, featuring the man himself, David Grisman. I chat to David about how the Quintet came together and developed over those early years, how it built on the work he'd already done with The Great American Music Band, how Tony Rice joined the ban…

1
Bluegrass Briefing June 16th 2025 13:32

2M ago13:32

13:32

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) Tony Rice Backwaters re-release Del McCoury Pickin’ Party Bluegrass at the Ryman Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass i…

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Celebrating 50 years of the David Grisman Quintet - part 2 Todd Phillips 43:37

2M ago43:37

43:37

We're celebrating 50 years of the David Grisman Quintet with a special set of 3 episodes. This week is part 2, featuring Todd Phillips, who was in the band before it was even a band! We chat about how he got to know David Grisman and how, through taking mandolin lessons from him, they started developing a duet that eventually grew into the Quintet.…

1
The Gift of Doubt 15:38

2M ago15:38

15:38

It may surprise you to know this is quite common. Among every writing by the most important and influential Christian thinkers and theologians and leaders, there are stories and journals of paralyzing doubts and fears. It's part of the whole journey to spiritual maturity. Support the showBy Gary Allison Furr

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Celebrating 50 years of the David Grisman Quintet - part 1 Darol Anger & Mike Marshall 1:17:56

3M ago1:17:56

1:17:56

2025 marks 50 years since The David Grisman Quintet first got together, an event that changed string band music forever. The DGQ played a huge part in the careers of some incredible musicians, including Tony Rice, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Todd Phillips, as well as including collaborations with Stéphane Grappelli. Their first record, The David…

1
Bluegrass Briefing June 2nd 2025 10:28

3M ago10:28

10:28

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 Bluegrass Live - lineup and tickets Releases (The Grass is New) Acoustic Disc Frank Wakefield album The Grass is (m…

1
Celebrating Norman Blake's 'Whiskey Before Breakfast' with Bob Minner 1:21:45

3M ago1:21:45

1:21:45

My guest this week is Bob Minner and we're celebrating one of the most iconic flatpicking records of all time - Norman Blake's 'Whiskey Before Breakfast'. We chat about Bob first hearing this record and why he loves it so much; its place in the flatpicking repertoire; the gear Norman used (including guitars, picks and even string gauges!) and we go…

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Bluegrass Briefing May 26th 2025 12:42

3M ago12:42

12:42

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) Romp Festival lineup and tickets Bluegrass Hall of Fame gigs Green Mountain Lineup Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Carolina Ch…

1
1964 D-18

3M ago

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By TBar

1
Wayne Erbsen on 50 Years of Writing About Southern Mountain Music 36:07

3M ago36:07

36:07

My guest this week is Wayne Erbsen, professor of old-time and bluegrass music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Wayne joins me to talk about half a century of writing about old-time and bluegrass music, including his latest book Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen. Over the past 50 years Wayne has intervi…

1
Bluegrass Briefing May 14th 2025 12:55

3M ago12:55

12:55

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) Bluegrass on Hudson lineup and tickets IBMA WOB tickets IBMA International Stage applications Note - the deadline is bei…

1
Jason Carter on his 33 Years With the Del McCoury Band 51:38

3M ago51:38

51:38

My guest on the podcast this week is six time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Jason Carter. Jason recently ended his 33 year run with the Del McCoury Band and we talk about that extraordinary journey, from the fascinating story about how he got the job in the first place, to the decision to move on and what comes next. We also talk about the huge ch…

1
1957 J-45

4M ago

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By TBar

1
Easter 9:39

4M ago9:39

9:39

The pastor preached a gospel sermon of hope and resurrection. The worship was inspiring. AsI left, I felt something in my chest, a familiar and indescribable twinge, as though I had accidentally walked into a beautiful hidden room full of old treasures from an earlier life. It was hope. Support the show…

1
2021 Gibson J-45 Banner

4M ago

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By TBar

1
2021 'Early 40's J-45 Banner'

4M ago

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2021 'Early 40's J-45 Banner'By TBar

1
Bitesize - Wyatt Rice on recording Church Street Blues with Tony Rice 23:12

4M ago23:12

23:12

This Bitesize episode features a conversation I had with Wyatt Rice for a set of episodes in 2023 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tony Rice's 'Church Street Blues' album. Wyatt talks about his experience of playing on the sessions aged just 17, hanging out with Tony, the first time he saw an Ovation guitar at Tony's house and the track from 'C…

1
Bluegrass Briefing - April 21st 2025 11:01

4M ago11:01

11:01

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) Tony Rice Memorial Day Music Fest Banjo in Sicily with Tony Trischka Releases (The Grass is New) Daniel Kimbro album - b…

1
Katie Harford Hogue - Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2 45:17

4M ago45:17

45:17

My guest this week is Katie Harford Hogue, who joins me to chat about the wonderful album 'Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2' We discuss how the project came about, following the discovery of dozens of John Hartford's notebooks, kept between 1983 and 2001, full of as many as 4,000 original fiddle tunes he'd composed. That l…

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Bluegrass Briefing - April 14th 2025 10:52

4M ago10:52

10:52

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) Darol Anger’s Big Book of Tunes vol 3 Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) New 2025 playlist Scroll on Budd…

1
Bitesize - Rachel Baiman on Connection, Conversation and Community in Music 24:36

4M ago24:36

24:36

This Bitesize episode comes from an interview I did in April 2023 with Rachel Baiman about her wonderful record Common Nation of Sorrow I re-listened to the episode (and the album) recently and this section really stood out. We chat about storytelling in music; the power of infusing a song with emotion; the importance of connection and conversation…

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Bluegrass Briefing - April 7th 2025 8:29

4M ago8:29

8:29

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) Earl Scruggs Music Festival Rhiannon Giddens and Kristina Gaddy book Releases (The Grass is New) The Grass is (mostly) N…

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Bluegrass Briefing - March 31st 2025 10:56

5M ago10:56

10:56

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) North Carolina Guitar Celebration Releases (The Grass is New) Darol Anger & Mike Marshall with the WDR Big Band Spotify …

1
1953 J-45

5M ago

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By TBar

1
Glimmers of Hope 10:34

5M ago10:34

10:34

We are in a profoundly toxic public moment. But I will remind us that down on the ground, there is far more hope and light than you’d think from watching your preferred media. I’d suggest we let our children and teachers remind us again of who we are. Support the showBy Gary Allison Furr

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Sierra Hull - A Tiptoe High Wire 44:38

5M ago44:38

44:38

My guest this week is Sierra Hull. Sierra has been a guest on the podcast twice before and both times we chatted about an ongoing project she's been working on since her last record 25 Trips. That project eventually became her new album, the wonderful A Tiptoe High Wire, which we talk about in this episode. Recorded over four sets of sessions over …

1
David Grisman - Celebrating 35 Years of Acoustic Disc 57:36

5M ago57:36

57:36

My guest this week is a legend of American string band music. When David Grisman raised his middle finger to MCA Records, after being dropped for failing to meet arbitrary sales targets, he couldn't have known it would spark a 35-year musical revolution. As one of America's foremost, and best loved, mandolin virtuosos turns 80 this year, he offers …

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Bluegrass Briefing - March 10th 2025 10:38

5M ago10:38

10:38

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. Pod News Bluegrass Jam Along guests on mandolins and Beer Apple Spotify Bluegrass Standard article on Bluegrass Jam Along! News and Announcements (Church Street New…

1
2023 'Early 40's J-45 Banner'

6M ago

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By TBar

1
Thoughts in Solitude 19:04

6M ago19:04

19:04

As Lent begins today, reflections on the life and words of Thomas Merton. Amid the chaos of ultranationalism and disruption, we need to grow deeper, not more distracted. Elton Trueblood told us, "We shall never have a better world until we have better persons in it." In the insanity of this present moment, finding inner peace is not an escape, nor …

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Bitesize - Bluegrass Jam Along guests on the Mandolins and Beer podcast 12:51

6M ago12:51

12:51

This week's episode is a Bitesize episode, which is a short section highlighting a previous episode you may have missed, which feels apt, given that this is episode #450, so the back catalogue is getting pretty big! But, it's not a previous episode of Bluegrass Jam Along. This week I'm sharing part of an episode on mandolins and Beer, because the g…

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Bluegrass Briefing - March 3rd 2025 9:58

6M ago9:58

9:58

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. Pod News Doc Watson 100th birthday episodes Part 1 Apple Spotify YouTube Part 2 Apple Spotify YouTube Bluegrass Jam Along guests on mandolins and Beer Apple Spotify…

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