May is NZ Music Month, and I’m playing some early NZ bluegrass from the 1960s and ‘70s. Groups include the HCBB, excerpts from the National Banjo Pickers’ conventions of 1968 and 1969, the Beale St String Stretchers, Phil Garland, and Colleen Trenwith.
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55:28
Back Porch Bluegrass - 29-04-2025
Back to my deepest shelves for much of today’s programme. Charlie Moore, Rich In Tradition, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina, the Lewis Family for a couple of gospel favourites, Merle Travis, Herschel Sizemore, and Colleen Trenwith. We also get to hear from the Gibson Brothers, Grasstowne, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, and some Uncommon Tunes from Bill Monroe via Mike Compton.
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58:37
Back Porch Bluegrass - 22-04-2025
We’ve just had Easter, this Friday we NZers and Aussies celebrate ANZAC Day. I’ve included songs, appropriate to both these occasions, in this week’s show, featuring artists such as High Fidelity, Bill Clifton, Blue Highway, John Reichmann & the Jaybirds, and Flatt & Scruggs, There’s some mandolin picking from Jean-Luc Leroux, and a special ANZAC song from NZ singer-songwriter Rosy Parsons.
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58:43
Back Porch Bluegrass - 15-04-2025
I’ve just been re-reading Neil Rosenberg’s superb book, ‘Bluegrass Generation’, chronicling the years in the early 1960’s that he spent being very involved the music programs at the Bill Monroe’s Brown County Jamboree (otherwise known as ‘the old barn’ at the Beanblossom Festival site. Fascinating. So, I’ve included some music from that era in this edition of Back Porch Bluegrass, that you might’ve heard if you’d been at one of the shows, including Bill Monroe with his ‘hot’ new banjo picker, Bill Keith.
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58:43
Back Porch Bluegrass - 08-04-2025
Lots of great bluegrass music here, from Sam Bush, Nu-Blu, Cliff Waldron, Jim Hurst and Ricky Skaggs. There’s some fine instrumental work from Bill Evans & Fletcher Bright, Jerry Douglas & friends, Ivan Rosenberg, and some live gospel music from Reno & Smiley. A veritable treasure trove of bluegrass.
Host Paul Trenwith is a founder member of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, playing banjo and occasionally singing harmony parts. From the mid-70's to the mid-90's, Paul and his fiddle-playing wife Colleen played as mostly gospel music, bluegrass-style, with a group of friends, and often featuring songs that Paul had written. He has become something of a musical 'jack-of-all-trades', playing banjo, dobro, pedal steel and rhythm guitar. He also plays double bass in the Hamilton-based Irish band.
Paul has always been an enthusiastic advocate for and promoter of bluegrass music, and the show includes tracks from the classic bands, the traditional stylists and contemporary groups as well as some 'roots' bluegrass and new-grass. NZ and Australian bluegrass gets an airing, and every show includes some of his personal favourites.
New Zealand