Here's a Christmas story you should never forget! My wife and I spent Christmas day 2006 on a pilgrimage to the banks of the Delaware River to celebrate George Washington's crossing and the historic battle with British forces in Trenton, New Jersey. That turning point battle came at a time when most felt the American Revolution was over. Washington's Continental Army had been badly beaten during the summer and fall of 1776 and the army reduced from 26,000 to just 4,000 men. Those left were tired, demoralized and their enlistments were about to expire at the end of December. All seemed lost. Listen to the story set to music of the time.

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Christmas time is comin'. Here's a variety of Christmas songs performed by old time and bluegrass bands for your holiday enjoyment. Merry Christmas to all and have a wonderful New Year.

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The Blue Mountain Boys, a Swedish hard-driving, high and lonesome bluegrass band in the tradition of Bill Monroe, is featured in this episode. I play songs from their new album "Tall och Gran" (In the Pines) and discuss the influence Sweden has, and continues to have, on America. You’re going to like the Blue Mountain Boys not only for their talent, but also for the fact they have their music for sale on CDbaby.com. Check out their website at www.bluemountainboys.com.

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Original Formula, a stimulating duet with wonderful vocals and expert guitar pickin', is featured in this episode. Alton Elliot (guitar and vocals) and Robert Perkins (lead guitar and vocals) will thrill you with music that harkens back to duets like the Blue Sky Boys, the Louvin Brothers, the Stanely Brothers and the Everly Brothers. Through my interview with Alton and Robert, you will also learn about Nick Lucas and his amazing role in the origins of guitar playing in every musical style we know today. You’re going to like Original Formula not only for their talent, but also for the fact they have their music for sale on iTunes and CDbaby.com. Check out their website at www.melodymanrecords.com.

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Songwriters, who needs them? Well just everyone who loves music and that means you and me. This episode contains a number of bluegrass and old time songs written by living songwriters. They're not real popular and you may not have heard of them, but then how many people think of who wrote the song they just heard and liked? Listen to the songs these people wrote and remember their names. Who knows, maybe ten years from now they will be famous.

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The new Blue Ridge Music Center is the subject of this 1.5 hour episode. I recently held an interview with Joe Wilson and Debbie Robinson of this fantastic mountain music show case when my band, the Oriskany Strings, and another nearby band, the Craig County Boys, played there. The Blue Ridge Music Center is a part of The Ridge Parkway National Park and is located at Mile Post 213 near Galax, Virginia and Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Joe Wilson is a magical person and I know you will enjoy listening to this educational interview about the center and mountain music. The interview is interleaved with the music of the three bands that played at the center the evening of August 19, 2006.

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The Athy (Ireland) Bluegrass Festival 2006 is the subject of this episode. I recently learned that bluegrass music is alive and well in Europe, so I contacted Tony O Brien (songwriter, vocalist and musician) who manages this festival. Tony sent me two CDs loaded with music from the festival and I was blown away with the quality of the bluegrass and old time music played at the festival. The Bluegrass Patriots from Fort Collins, Colorado was the first headline band and the No. 1 European Bluegrass Band, 4 Wheel Drive, was the second headline band. There are plenty of great Irish bluegrass and old time bands to listen to and some play original music they wrote.

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This episode is about live performances and what a band must do to insure the audience hears the band as the band wants to be heard. It's no easy task and knowing something about sound engineering will help you better enjoy a live performance. Nearly all musicians love to perform before a live audience and nearly all musicians wonder if the audience spotted all the mistakes they made. When a band's in the studio, they get to correct their mistakes before their album is released. In a live performance, all the band's mistakes are out there for the audience to hear and see. I use a live performance of the Oriskany Strings to present and discuss my points.

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The Itinerant Band is featured in this episode. This band plays music from the 18th century and uses instruments seldom heard or seen. I bought their Jefferson and Liberty album while attending a reenactment of the 1757 battle between French and British forces at Fort Ticonderoga in upper state New York. This is another of my history of old time and bluegrass music episodes and I think you will like it. You can learn more about the band at www.itinerantband.com. You can learn more about Fort Ticonderoga at www.fort-ticonderoga.org.

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The Wolfe Brothers String Band is featured in this episode. This wonderful old time band has a smooth sound and great rhythm. The Wolfe Brothers have been around since the early 1970’s and have opened for professional bands like Mountain Heart and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. You’re going to like this band and want to check out their website and collection of four CDs at www.geocities.com/wolfebrothers.

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Here's the 3rd installment of the history of old-time and bluegrass music. Listen to Episodes 9 and 14 for the 1st and 2nd installments. In this episode I discuss the major contributions the Monroe Brothers and Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys to the music style now called bluegrass. If you like bluegrass music, you will not want to miss this episode.

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The state of West Virginia was a part of the state of Virginia prior to the American Civil War. So no wonder oldtime and bluegrass music is as alive in West Virginia as it is in the mountain regions of Virgina. In this episode you'll visit the Vanadalia, a festival hosted by the Division of Culture and History, located in the state capital of Charleston, West Virgina. Listen in to some fantastic oldtime music from the "mountain" state. Its going on right now, this Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28 just as it has been for the last 30 years.

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Here is a 2nd installment of the history of old-time and bluegrass music. Please listen to Episode 9 for the 1st installment. In this episode I discuss the major contributions The Carter Family made to the playing style of old-time, bluegrass and current country music. The Carter Family immortalized over 300 songs during their career. Many of these songs continue to be played by today's band.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays cajun country music from a live concert he attended at Mulates' restaurant in Breaux Bridge, Louisianna. Jack listened to Jay Cormier and Cajun Country band and plays some songs from their album "Two Lives To Give You."

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays songs from a new album by James Christian and the Oriskany Strings entitled "The Train Don't Run Here Anymore." Using individual band member tracks taken during the recording session, Jack analyzes one song so the listener can appreciate the contribution of each member to entire sound of the band.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays the entire Christmas concert of the Oriskany Strings (www.oriskanystrings.com) when they performed at the historic Buchanan Theatre (www.buchanantheatre.com) in Buchanan, VA on December 1, 2005.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays songs from four bands who have recently submitted albums for play on Olde Surber Station Radio. Jack asks the audience to help decide which albums should be played on his radio station.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) describes the history of old time mountain music and plays songs that correspond to this history. Main emphasis is on the work of Wayne Erbsen and his selected songs. Original songs by Ernest V. Stoneman and The Carter Family are included.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays songs by three bluegrass bands comprised only of kids. These kids range from 8 to 14 years of age and they sound terrific. The bands are Galax Little Leaves, The Wright Kids and The Puny Pickers. All bands are from Virginia.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays songs by bands that only have a wash tub bass in their band and explains some washtub designs and playing styles. The bands include Hoot 'n Holler, Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, Alexander Whizzbang and Oriskany Strings.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays songs by the bands that opened the fall season at the James River Music Hall in Eagle Rock, Virginia on Saturday 10 September. The bands include Oriskany Strings, Orchard Grass, Love Buzzards and Little Mountain Boys.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays an old time country gospel song by each band he plays on his station that also plays this type of music. He provides comments on each band and their playing style.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) plays one song by each band he plays on his station and provides name and instruments of band members and the band's web site address.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) introduces the James River Music Hall in Eagle Rock, Virginia - a popular venue where you can go every 2nd and 4th Saturday night and listen to live bluegrass and old time bands perform on stage. Listen to music by Bluegrass Trail, Love Buzzards and an ad-hoc band.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) introduces the Rex Theater in Galax, Virginia - a popular venue where you can go every Friday night and watch and hear live bluegrass and old time bands perform on stage at the WBRF 98.1 FM Blue Ridge Backroads Live Radio Show. Take a virtual tour of the theater and listen in on parts of four shows when the bands: Oriskany Strings, Jugbusters, Heather Berry and Virginia Carolina, and Rush Hour Bluegrass performed on stage at this historic theater.

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Jack Lewis (Live365.com - oldesurberstation) describes the differences between the playing styles of bluegrass and old time bands and introduces the Craig County Boys, Orchard Grass, Oriskany Strings, and Todd Taylor - Banjoman bluegrass and old time bands.

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