Smokin Grass Music

Over the past year I have met some EXTREMELY talented and gracious people. I am fortunate to have been able to fulfill a lifelong dream to broadcast and meet fine people such as this weeks interview. John Martin Sommers is a member of the Defiance String Band (Defiance was the name of Glenwood Springs Co.) and even more he has had a prestigious career spanning over 40 years. John has been a part of the Aspen (Co.) music scene since the late 1960s. He has met a number of artists who have “made it” and been a part of the movement that put them there. John Sommers was in John Denver's band for a bit and John Denver recorded a few of John Sommers' songs. Listen to the podcast to find out which ones. Thank you Don Kaufman and Defiance String Band for allowing me to share your friend and your music with the world. This will be the final episode of Smokin' Grass Music. What a way to go out

This week I have created my Podcast around something you can't live without. Water. All the songs have some reference to water. Even a few of the band names have water in them. Feel free to subscribe via the buttons to the right of this page. Comment and rate the Episodes and if you haven't already, collect them all. Thanks for listening. Tell your friends. Here is the playlist: 01 Packway Handle Band-Wade in the Water 02 Slim Pickin's-Salt Creek 03 Spring Creek Bluegrass Band-Waterline Blues 04 Stranger Creek Band-Lonesome River Road 05 The Blue Canyon Boys-Stormy Waters 06 Boogertown Gap-Cripple Creek 07 Don Sumers-Over the Waterfall 08 Lonesome Travelers-All My Tears (Washed Away) 09 Sons and Brothers-Wave the Ocean 10 Spring Creek-Pathway of Teardrops 11 The Fall Creek Band-Sea of Heartbreak 12 Frank Sollivan II-Selfish Tears 13 The Punches Family-Sea of Life 14 Lynne Ferguson-Tears to Gold 15 The Farewell Drifters-River Song 16 Roller Mills String Band-New River Train 17 Earache-Where the Deep River Bends 18 Frank Sollivan II-This Old River

The duet that I interviewed this week seem to lived a charmed life. They are a very nice couple (married), with a beautiful daughter, living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. No wonder the music they make is as fine and emotion filled as it is. These young folks have an interesting story and an interesting career ahead of them. They have four CDs out (including a Christmas CD) that are available on CD Baby and Itunes. Check out their website and blog at www.anneandpetesibley.com . You can also find them on Facebook. The only other thing I can think to say is listen to this podcast to get the whole story. If you would like to subscribe to this podcast, you may do so at the right side of this page or in the Itunes store. Here is the playlist (since I didn't do any voice breaks to announce songs): 01 Tell Me Darling 02 Coming Home 03 Just the Right Moment 04 Sow Em on the Mountain 05 Pick Up These Chains 06 Salted Spring 07 My Love is There 08 Past the Point of Rescue 09 Keep These Walls From Falling 10 Someone to Save Me 11 Up Down-Waiting for Turtle 12 All I Wanted 13 Come a Long Way 14 Wayfaring Stranger

This week I am featuring a “GREEN” band. No, they are not new to the biz. Lonesome Traveler is trying to reduce their carbon footprint. They use a bus that runs on alternative fuel and the products they have for sale are made of organic cotton and recycled materials. Along with being friendly to the Earth, they are a joy to the ears. These folks have been together five years and they still like each other well enough to be able to practice together twice a week and play over one hundred fifty gigs a year. There are some family connections that you will hear in the interview. Jodi was kind enough to spend her time to tell me about her feelings on the Bluegrass industry in general and how she feels about the Indie scene in Colorado. I was fortunate enough to get out to Bar Double S a couple of nights later and see Lonesome Traveler live. The whole band was cordial and gracious. They are so tight. It is obvious that they are more than a band. They are a family

This week I had the PLEASURE of interviewing a band from a REAL mountain town. A Colorado mountain town. Mountian Holler is from Bailey Colorado. They started out as a pickup band to help out a venue owner/friend and ended up the superb band that you will hear in this podcast. They are tight and they keep their breaks clean. I love the harmonies. The senior member of the band (Warren the banjo player) is quiet or interview shy but, when he opens up, look out. When Warren spoke about the history of the Indie movement in Colorado and his latest influences, I was glad I called him out to answer that question. To top it all off, Emily (mandolin), the youngest member of the band was comic relief and quirky. The whole package made the interview easy to do. I want to really THANK this band for taking the time to speak to me. I didn't get all of their available music into this Podcast but, don't fret. The music is available for free download or streaming at the band website www.moutainhollerbluegrass.com . Here is the short playlist: 1.Big Mon 2.East Virginia Blues 3.I Still Miss Someone 4.Jerusalem Ridge 5.Memories of Mother and Dad 6.More Than A Name On The Wall 7.Old Home Place 8.Talk It All Over with Him

The BuckVillians have their own unique twist on Bluegrass. They call it Black and Bluegrass. I will let the band explain that to you in the interview. What a great group of Colorado Indie musicians. They expect to have a CD out in the late fall or early winter. Keep an eye of their page for that debut CD and new merchandise. Meanwhile; come out and support the Northern Colorado Bluegrass Festival at LaPorte Colorado, just north and west of Ft. Collins on highway 287, September 5,2010 from 12n-8p Mtn time. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 when purchased in advance at www.buckvillians.com or nocobluegrass.eventbrite.com . There will be vendors, food, libations and most of all GREAT Colorado Indie Bluegrass music. Four bands $12, you can't beat that with a big stick. The bonus tracks on this Podcast are by previously featured band, The Hartmans. These young musicians are advanced for their young years. I really enjoy their sound and look forward to meeting them at the Northern Colorado Bluegrass Festival. Check both these bands websites, www.buckvillians.com and www.thehartmanfamilyband.com . Here is the playlist: The Buckvillians 01 Old Home Place 02 Texas Eagle 03 Midnight Moonlight 04 Gentle on my Mind 05 Ring of Fire 06 Barefoot Nellie 07 Nobody Home 08 White Freightliner 09 Blackberry Blossom The Hartmans 01 Simple Gifts 02 Just as it Seems 03 Come to Me 04 Borrowed Time You may subscribe to this Podcast at the right side of this page or in the Itunes store. Check back next week for something new and Tell Your Friends.

There is so much to be said of these young men (ages 24 to early 30s) that I barely know where to begin. Let's start with their musical talents. I believe that each of these men are so intent on being the very best musician that they can be that they have practiced and gigged themselves into a level of playing that is well beyond their time spent practicing. Each is a dedicated and professional player. Their harmonies are those of singers that have been together for much longer than this group has existed. Their stage presence is HIGH ENERGY. The music and lyrics that they have written hit their intended target (feelings) and the best part is they each tell a story that make sense. I am so pleased to have met this band and watched them in person. I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did creating it. Check out their web page www.farewelldrifters.com and get their latest album Yellow Tag Mondays. You will get more than your money's worth from this 14 song CD, for sure. Here is the Playlist: 01 Love We Left Behind 02 Everyone is Talking 03 For No One 04 Sunnyside Drive 05 All We Need 06 Virginia Bell 07 Love Me Good Plain 08 River Song 09 Please Dream of Me Tonight 10 I've Got Your Heart in My Hand, and I'm Going to Squeez. 11 Old Friends 12 Wake Up 13 Fight to Find Your Way 14 Somewhere Down the Road

The Henhouse Prowlers (Chicago Il.) are a city dwelling Bluegrass band. While their content may not always be traditional in nature their style and form are PURE Bluegrass. They have great harmonies and the instrumentation is next to none. At least that is what the folks in Lyons Colorado are saying. This fine group of musicians came to Colorado this year to make a presence and participate in competitions at festivals. They (rightfully) won the competition at Rockygrass in Lyons Colorado. For those of you that heard my previous feature of the music on “A Dark Rumor” I have added an interview with the bands Banjo player, Ben Wright and some music from a previous release. Enjoy the interview and make sure you get around to their website www.henhouseprowlers.com or check them out on Facebook and Reverbnation. Their two releases (self titled) “Henhouse Prowlers” and the latest “A Dark Rumor” are for sale at CD Baby and in the Itunes Store. If you get a chance to see this great group live, their energetic “Old Style” stage presence is quite the treat. Here is the playlist: A Dark Rumor 01 Turn Me Loose 02 Uncle Bubba 03 Simplify 04 Trouble 05 The Ballad of Davey Robinson 06 Angeline Malone 07 10 Miles More 08 Drifter 09 Shadow of a Man 10 Silver Lining 11 Walking Around in the Snow 12 Hadley's Lament Two Bonus Tracks: California Cotton Fields Mountain Girls Hope you enjoy the Podcast this week. If you really like the show, there are more just like it coming up. So subscribe. You can subscribe on the right side of this page or in the Itunes store. Thanks for checking out my work. Tell your friends

Let's face it; We ain't getting any younger. I am so pleased to see that young people are embracing Bluegrass and Traditional music. I would hate to see it die because Boomers and Gen Xers are falling by the wayside. There are a number of teenagers and twenty somethings getting into Bluegrass. This week I am featuring some extremely talented young people. Please listen to the Podcast, look at the playlist and check out some of these musician's websites. Thanks for listening this week. Check back next week and tell your friends. Here is the playlist: The Fall Creek Band www.thefallcreekband.com I Might Take You Back Again Anderson Family Bluegrass www.andersonfamilybluegrass.com Harbor of Love April Verch www.aprilverch.com Reg and Irma's Waltz Crooked Still www.crookedstill.com Locust in the Willow Finders and Youngberg www.findersandyoungberg.com Old Shine Crow Green on the Vyne www.myspace.com/greenonthevyne Look What You've Done to Me Kristin Andreassen www.myspace.com/kristinandreassen Pale Moon Sarah Jarosz www.sarahjarosz.com Come on Up to the House Sierra Hull www.sierrahull.com Hullarious The Church Sisters www.thechurchsisters.com Homecoming Day The Fall Creek Band Our Love is Gone The Hartmans www.hartmansfamilyband.com Borrowed Time The Punches www.thepunchesfamily.com Ruby The Wells Family Band wellsfamilyband.com Lonely Tonight The Wilson Family Band www.thewilsonfamilyband.com Family Ties Anderson Family Band You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive April Verch William Gagnon

This weeks episode is all about trains. Not all of the artists are Indie or Bluegrass but, all of the songs are about trains or train related. It is guaranteed to please. Here is the playlist: Blue Moon Rising- Freight Train Boogertown Gap- Train 45 Crooked Still-New Railroad Defiance String Band- Train on the Island Don Summers- Georgia Railroad Just Desserts- Glendale Train Palmer Divide- Shenandoah Train Quickdraw Homegrown Music- Grand County Train Crooked Still- Railroad Bill Slim Pickin's- Bluegrass Train Son's and Brothers- Last Train to Nashville Southwater- Train Song #2 The Fall Creek Band-Train Train Dean Station- Train Rolls off the Tracks Donovan Howard- Lone and Lonesome Track Harlem Parlor Music Club- Run Away Train Bill Monroe- Bluegrass Special Foghorn Duo- Little Black Train Nitty Gritty Dirt Band- Orange blossom Special Make sure you also check out my Bluegrass broadcast on www.party934.com Tue. 1A 4P Thur. 12N Eastern time.

This week I am featuring a group that is more Newgrass but, Bluegrass all the same. I love the sounds that come from Joy Kills Sorrow. The traditional sound comes from the Banjo of Wesley Corbett and the Mandolin of Jacob Jolliff. The harmonization with the lead vocal excellence of Emma Baton makes this a delectable desert to the ears. Check them out at their website www.joykillssorrw.com . I am adding something a little different this week, too. To wrap up this episode, I am also featuring Eilen Jewell on her album Butcher Holler. Eilen does a commendable job of covering Loretta Lynn songs. Not Bluegrass but, some REALLY COOL country music. What a voice! Check out Eilen's website www.eilenjewell.com . I would like to thank Signature Sounds for bringing these great artists to my attention. If you would like to find out more about their other artists, check out their website; www.signaturesounds.com . Thanks for checking into this weeks episode. You may subscribe to this podcast at the right side of the page or do it right in the Itunes store. Tell your friends about me.   Here is the playlist:   Joy Kills Sorrow   Darkness Sure Becomes This City   01 Kill My Sorrow 02 Books 03 New Shoes04 Send Me A Letter 05 Thinking of You and Such 06 Get Up and Go 07 We Will Have Our Day 08 All the Buildings 09 You Will Change Me 10 If It's Rainin' 11 You Make Me Feel Drunk   Butcher Holler (featuring Eilen Jewell)   01 Fist City 02 A Man I Hardly Know 03 I'm A Honky Tonk Girl 04 Whispering Sea 05 You Wanna Give Me A Lift 06 Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (with lovin' on your mind) 07 Who Says God Is Dea

Well this week I am bringing back the more traditional sound. The Lonesome River Band will be performing in Morganton N.C. for the Red White and Bluegrass Festival. They will be on stage Friday July 2, 2010 in the evening. Finding the Way is a 1998 composition and there have been a few since. Go on over to www.lonesomeriverband.com to hear their more recent music and to see where their next gig is going to be. Spring Creek is a band that I have featured on my radio show and I wanted you to hear music from their Lonesome Way to go album. Read more about them at www.springcreekbluegrassband.com . This is just a short featurette and I will be doing a full blown feature , on this Podcast, soon. Thanks for listening and tell your friends. Subscribe to my Podcast in the Itunes store or to the right of this page. Here is the playlist: The Lonesome River Band Finding The Way 01 - Am I A Fool 02 - Love's Come Over Me 03 - Let It Go 04 - Cardboard Mansion 05 - Perfume, Powder And Lead 06 - Baby Come Home 07 - Another By My Side 08 - Don't Worry 'Bout Daddy 09 - Finding Your Way 10 - Up On The Shelf 11 - Better Days To Come 12 - Sweet Sally Brown 13 - Devil Chased Me Around the Stump Spring Creek Bluegrass Band Lonesome Way to Go 01 Done This to Yourself 02 Pathway of Teardrops 03 Fiddler's Banjo 04 The One I Love Is Gone 05 Sleepin' Like a Baby 06 Pretty Little Peace of Mind

I am sorry that this episode is late. I assure you that it will be well worth the wait. This band may not be considered as much a Bluegrass band as much as... I am not even sure there is a genre for this one. They have such a great Blues/Jazz sound. Needless to say they are less than traditional. If you are a traditionalist, listen for the lead female vocal. Aoife O'Donovan has one the most controlled, sweet voices in the industry. My regular listeners have heard it before. I featured Aoife as part of the Beautiful Female Vocals episode over ten weeks back. I read somewhere that here voice tends to be so quiet that when they record that she has to record from a hallway so as not to be overpowered by the strong work of the other members of the group. I could go on and on but you would think that she was the only member of the band and that is just not so. This is such a talented group of musicians. I hear deliberation in their music. The use of a Cello adds a warmth that makes me want to hear more. This episode is a “Must Hear”. Once you have heard this, get on over to www.crookedstill.com and read more about their latest recordings and gigs. I want to thank the band for their music and would also like to thank Signature Sounds Recordings for permission to use this music. If you would like to read more about Signature Sounds or their other artists check them out on the web www.signaturesounds.com . Here is the playlist: Shaken by a Low Sound 1.Can't You Hear Me Calling 2.Little Sadie 3.New Railroad 4.Oxford Town Cumberland Gap 5.Lone Pilgrim 6.Come on In My Kitchen 7.Ain't No Grave 8.Ecstasy 9.Mountain Jumper 10.Railroad Bill 11.Wind and Rain Still Crooked 1.Undone In Sorrow 2.The Absentee 4.Tell Her to Come Home 9.Did You Sleep Well 11.The Absentee (Theme

Sorry I am up in Telluride and don't have my playlist with me but, I promise to put it up this weekend.  I want to give you the chance to hear this.  Check back for the playlist.  Thanks Red

Chris Stuart and Backcountry are an award winning group where each of the members seems to have as many awards as the band as a whole. It shows in their work. What a great Group! There are even some young men in the group that appear to be teenagers. Backcountry is: Janet Beazley-Banjo Vocals, Eric Uglum-Lead Guitar and Mandolin Austin Ward- Acoustic Bass (one of the young men, I spoke of) and the youngest Christian Ward-fiddle. Of course the frontman Chris Stuart-Lead Singer and Rhythm Guitar. They have several albums for sale at their website www.chrisstuart.com and on CD Baby. Check out their website as you listen to this episode. If you would like to hear this episode right now, you can use the player at the bottom of the page or download right from here. If you like my podcast, you may subscribe at the right side of the page or subscribe right at the Itunes store. Here is the playlist: Crooked Man 1.Crooked Man 2.The Streets of Charlottetown 3.Lantern Bay Inn 4.Sojourner 5.I Remember Memphis 6.When We Come Home 7.Silverton 8.The Crime at Quiet Dell 9.These Tears 10.Ofer And Yesbuddy 11.Burnswick Stew 12.Thirteen Steps 13.I See God Coming Down the Road Saints and Strangers 4.Saints and Strangers 2.Jimmie Brown Revisited