The words innovation and bluegrass haven’t always gone well together. However, there have been some players who desire to color outside of the lines. This week on the program we explore some recent bluegrass innovators and offer a review of the recording “Hell on Church Street” from Punch Brothers, today’s foremost groundbreaking acoustic ensemble. We’ll also feature music from some exciting performers – classics from Skyline and The Tony Rice Unit, recent recordings from The Yonder Mountain Stringband, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Kristin Scott Benson and others. Recent bluegrass innovators shine … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Kristin Scott Benson / “Eagle Eye Annie” / Stringworks / Mountain Home
Skyline / “Stranded in the Moonlight” / Ticket Back: A Retrospective / Flying Fish
Barbara Lamb / “Fiddle Piggy” / Fiddle Piggy / Lots of Coffee
Wood & Wire / “Kingpin” / North of Despair / Blue Corn

Tony Rice Unit / “Manzanita” / Manzanita / Rounder
Yonder Mountain String Band / “Broken Records” / Get Outside Yourself / Frog Pad
Railroad Earth / “Runnin’ Wild” / All For the Song / Self-produced
Kristin Scott Benson / “Great Waterton” / Stringworks / Mountain Home

Punch Brothers / “Church Street Blues” / Hell on Church Street / Nonesuch
Punch Brothers / “The Gold Rush” / Hell on Church Street / Nonesuch
Punch Brothers / “House Carpenter-Jerusalem Ridge” / Hell on Church Street / Nonesuch

Leftover Salmon / “Boogie Grass Band” / Brand New Good Old Days / Compass
Sam Bush & David Grisman / “Hold On, I’m Comin’” / Hold On, We’re Strummin’ / Acoustic Disc
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways