Food For Thought - Dolly Parton and Being Yourself on Purpose

My guest this week is Sierra Hull.Since I spoke to Sierra for the podcast back in January 2023 she's been ridiculously busy touring and recording. We chat about the extended tour she's been on for Bela Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart (which she describes as one of the highlights of her musical life), her current and ongoing tour with her own band (which has been chaotic to say the least!) and why she chose to have a drummer in her band, even though she confesses she's not generally a fan of drums in bluegrass.We talk about the wonderful band she's assembled and what they've been up to in  the studio, including recording a new album (due in the first quarter of 2025), two great covers (Tears For Fears' Mad World and The Grateful Dead's Black Muddy River), not one but two holiday songs (the first of which,The First Snowfall, is out this week) and her Freshgrass Concerto commission.Lots to look forward to if (like me) you're a Sierra Hull fan!This conversation was a lot of fun - I hope you enjoy it!For info and tour dates head to Sierra's website sierrahull.comFor regular updates follow Sierra on Facebook and InstagramIf you missed it, check out my previous interview with Sierra.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!)- 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

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.Podcast newsBryan Sutton IBMA fundraiser interviewDonate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane HeleneNews and Announcements (Church Street News)Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza JaneReleases (The Grass is New)The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistScroll on BuddyBilly Strings - O Billy Where Art Thou clips:Down To The River and Pray - Sierra Hull, Rachael Davis, Lindsay LouBilly Strings & Tim Blake Nelson - In The Jailhouse NowBilly Strings 10/31/2024 Baltimore, MD (Complete Show)Other bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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!)- 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

This week I'm joined by bluegrass legend Bryan Sutton for a very special episode to benefit the IBMA Trust Fund and help people suffering the devastation of Hurricane Helene.In the run up to recording the episode we asked for questions for Bryan for Bluegrass Jam Along listeners - in this interview you'll hear me put those questions to him. We talk about growing up in Asheville and how important that community was to Bryan's musical development; about his relationship with Doc Watson and the time he got to spend with him; about how he goes about learning complex music and his thoughts on practice; why learning more than one instrument is a good thing...and his admiration for Metallica's James Hetfield. We cover a lot of ground!Everyone who asked a question donated to our GoFundMe fundraiser, which remains open after the episode goes out. If you're able to, please do consider donating whatever you can. As you'll hear from Bryan in the interview, there are people in desperate need of help as they rebuild their homes, lives and communities.Having grown up in Asheville, one of the areas hit hardest by the hurricane, Bryan knows just how important community is at times like this. The relief effort will take months or, in some cases, over a year, so every penny donated will be incredibly important to the ongoing efforts.All the proceeds from this episode will go to the IBMA Trust Fund so please do donate what you can via the GoFundMe campaign.If you can't donate, or have already donated to other fundraisers, please do share this episode with anyone you think would enjoy it and help spread the word.Thanks to the team at IBMA for all their help putting this together and getting the word out and thanks to the team at ArtistWorks for an incredibly generous donation to get things moving. Thank you to everyone who submitted a question and everyone who's donated already (and thanks in advance to those of you who donate after hearing this!)Here's the link again - https://www.gofundme.com/f/bluegrass-jam-along-helene-fundraiserAnd thanks, of course, to Bryan for taking part in this very special episode of Bluegrass Jam Along.Enjoy the interview and 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!)- 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

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)Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.Biscuits and BanjosEuropean Bluegrass SummitRestring AppalachiaReleases (The Grass is New)Chris Eaton & Flint County - Pheasant PieThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistScroll on BuddyNew Acoustic Facebook groupOther bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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!)- 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

My guest this week is Daniel Patrick, host of the excellent Mandolins and Beer podcast.Daniel has interviewed dozens of great mandolin players for his podcast, but today we're going to talk about his new record Around the Clock, which features him playing with eleven of his heroes, including Tim O'Brien, Ronnie McCoury and Sam Bush, as well as some of the top players on the scene today, including Jarrod Walker, Jacob Jolliff and Harry Clark.We chat about how the record came together and how it was recorded, as well as how Daniel chose the musicians he wanted to include. We also, of course, talk about Mandolins and Beer, the rise of podcasting in general and so much more, including our shared love for CD liner notes!You can buy Around the Clock on Bandcamp and listen on SpotifyCheck out mandolinsandbeer.com for info on the podcast and more.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!)- 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

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 episodeNews and Announcements (Church Street News)Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.Celtic Connections 2025Blue Ridge Guitar Camp 2025Michael Daves’ Clarence White Muleskinner zoom classNew Acoustic Facebook groupReleases (The Grass is New)I’m With Her - EspressoCharlotte Carrivick - Red Riding HoodThe Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistOther bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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!)- 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

This week's episode is about a very special fundraiser I'm putting together.I’m working with Bryan Sutton to raise funds to help people suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. Bryan is from Asheville, NC, one of the cities hit hardest by the hurricane, so this cause is very close to his heart.We’re putting together a one off episode of Bluegrass Jam Along where you, the podcast's listeners, get to interview Bryan! Here's how it works...When you donate, you get to send me a question to ask Bryan in the episode, then I'll put as many questions as I can to Bryan over the course of the interview. What do you want to ask him?(Don’t worry, you don’t have to have a question, you can just donate too!). All proceeds will go to the IBMA Trust Fund to help those in need. All donations, big or small, are very welcome. This is the link to donate (and ask your question). Please do share this with as many people as you can.https://www.gofundme.com/f/bluegrass-jam-along-helene-fundraiserThanks in advance!Matt and BryanSend 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!)- 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

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)Donate to the Bluegrass Jam Along/Bryan Sutton fundraiser to help people and communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.Appalachian Allies benefit concertEnergy Curfew Music HourYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyReleases (The Grass is New)The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistOther bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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!)- 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

My guests on the podcast this week are Lillian Werbin and Kristina Gaddy. I caught up with them at IBMA to chat about Roots Revival : A Black Stringband Symposium, a collaboration between IBMA and The Banjo Gathering.Hosted at IBMA's World of Bluegrass, the symposium celebrated and explored Black contributions to Bluegrass and other traditional music, both historic and continuing, featuring contemporary conversations about diversity and inclusion in traditional music and the ways in which Black musicians, builders, and researchers navigate bluegrass and traditional music spaces.We talk about how the event came together, some of the themes it explores and how discussions and events like this can become part of the continuing conversation about traditional music.For more information on The Banjo Gathering, and to sign up for the 2024 event, which is happening this month, head to The Banjo Gathering website.If you missed it, check out my interview with Kristina about her fabulous book Well of Souls : Uncovering the Banjo's Hidden History. You can buy Well of Souls at Elderly Instruments (which Lillian is also CEO and co-owner of!).I really enjoyed this conversation and it helped me think about some of the issues we touched on with fresh insight and understanding. I hope you enjoy it.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!)- 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

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 episodeNews and Announcements (Church Street News)Donate to help those devastated by hurricane HeleneJohn Hartford tune marathonReleases (The Grass is New)The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistOther bitsSign up for emails https://bluegrassjamalong.com/contact/The Grass is (mostly) New 2024 playlistFull list of interviewsPeghead NationUse the code ‘jamalong’ for a free month of any 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!)- 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