Show Notes
This week we feature clawgrass banjo player Mark Johnson who was one of this year's inductees to the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame. Mark talks to us about his clawgrass style of banjo, his relationship with Tony Rice and the Rice Brothers, winning the Steve Martin Banjo Prize and his work with Emory Lester.
More from Bluegrass Unlimited's Podcast
This week we are once again featuring guitar master and recording engineer Jake Stargel. This will be part two of the podcast with Jake. In this continuation of last week's conversation, we talk with Jake about his time performing with Sierra Hull, his work as a recording engineer, his newest job with Bela Fleck and his work with the all-star bluegrass band Section House. We'll also hear some cuts from Section House's new CD.
This week we feature guitar master and recording engineer Jake Stargel. This will be part one of the podcast with Jake where we will talk about his career playing with bands like the Lovell Sisters, the Green Cards and Mountain Heart. We'll also talk about his experience playing on stage with Mountain Heart with Tony Rice as part of the band and the influence of Tony's rhythm playing.
This week we feature another New England bluegrass musician, Dobro player Roger Williams. Our September 2026 issue focuses on bluegrass in New England and Roger grew up playing bluegrass from a young age, in fact, he was on stage with the Lilly Brothers and Don Stover when he was just fourteen. He is one of New England's first Dobro players and he tells us about the early day of bluegrass in New England.
This week we are featuring Dick Bowden. Our September 2026 issue focuses on bluegrass in New England and Dick grew up playing bluegrass in his family's band in Maine. He tells us all about the bluegrass music scene in Maine from its earliest days.
This week we feature Fred Bartenstein and talk with him about his many contributions to bluegrass music over the years starting in the 1960s with his work with Carlton Haney's music festivals and events and the Muleskinner News. Our September 2026 issue focuses on bluegrass in New England and when Fred was in college at Harvard, starting in 1969, he was the co-founder of the first bluegrass music association in Boston. So, we'll also talk to Fred about his Boston years.