We’ve got a disparate selection of songs from the very broad ‘bluegrass’ genre; with some classic bluegrass, some songs from Arizona, songs about home towns, great instrumentals, and sad love songs. Bluegrass Album Band, Peter McLaughlin, Iris DeMent, the Kathy Kallick Band, the ‘classic’ Country Gentlemen, NZ’s own Hamilton County Bluegrass Band and Patty Loveless.
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Back Porch Bluegrass - 04-11-2025
While on my weekend away in Wellington for the Wellington Folk Festival 60th Anniversary, I visited Slow Boat Records in Cuba St, and found some bluegrass CDs there that I considered necessary to add to my collection. Consequently, I’ve featured some music ‘new’ to Back Porch Bluegrass, as well as a few more familiar performers.
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Back Porch Bluegrass - 21-10-2025
Another deep dig into my shelves, and I’ve found some lesser-known bluegrass artists for your enjoyment. I’ve also featured a brand-new album from the master, Larry Sparks. The Osborne Brothers, Louie Setzer, Leon Morris all feature, as does Dailey & Vincent, Laurie Lewis & Friends, and NZ’s own Hamilton County Bluegrass Band.
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Back Porch Bluegrass - 14-10-2025
Special Consensus are first up (after the opening track by Colleen Trenwith & myself), followed by the Bluegrass Album Band, the Kruger Brothers and the Brombies. We’ve also got the Price Sisters, Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys from the 1960’s, and Roy Acuff playing some fine ‘pre-bluegrass’. Old South Bluegrass Band from Adelaide play a tune, and Missy Werner sings for us. The Trenwiths take us out with some driving contemporary bluegrass. Lots to like here.
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Back Porch Bluegrass - 07-10-2025
Some familiar artists this week, with maybe a few you’ve missed. Longview play some driving bluegrass to get us started, then it’s the Skaggs & Rice duet, fiddling Kenny Baker, old-timer Clyde Moody, and Cliff Waldron. The Country Gentlemen get a couple of tunes, the Kruger Brothers play a classic, and Aussie Kay Armstrong sings a song she wrote. The HCBB and Scott Vestal & Friends round out the programme.
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