Bluegrass BKLYN

Bluegrass BKLYN is an episodic audio program focused on the bluegrass scene in Brooklyn, NY, but also covering bluegrass events and pickers worldwide. It is hosted by Mike Willner and Liz Wolfe.

Links

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Latest Feed Items

S6E9 Master Mandolinist David Benedict!

Mike chats with David Benedict – mandolin master and well-known YouTube and Patreon personality. David delves into his musical roots, his somewhat DIY musical education, the impact of the pandemi...

2026-07-16 00:00:00

S6M8 2025 Telluride Band Contest Winner Rachel Sumner!

Liz sits down with singer / songwriter Rachel Sumner to reflect on the journey that shaped Rachel’s music and career - from volunteering at Telluride to winning its prestigious Band Contest. They...

2026-07-13 00:00:00

S6E8 Women in Bluegrass: Jen Larson!

Liz talks with bluegrass vocalist, songwriter, historian, and educator Jen Larson about her remarkable journey from New York City jam sessions to preserving bluegrass history. They discuss Jen's wo...

2026-07-09 00:09:07

S6M7 Grey Fox Artist Highlight: Kaia Kater

Liz talks with Kaia Kater about growing up in the Grey Fox community, discovering clawhammer banjo, collaborating with Trey Wellington, and building an internationally recognized music career. Then...

2026-07-06 00:00:00

S6E7 Grey Fox Headliner: Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose

Mike takes a deep dive with Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose! They chat about everything from the band’s musical influences, the ‘California’ sound, their latest album “Golden Grass”...

2026-07-01 23:48:08

S6M6 Grey Fox Headliner: Dom Flemons!

Liz chats with Don Flemons, The American Songster, and Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist. Dom is a connoisseur and curator of Black music of 19th and early 20th century America. He takes u...

2026-06-29 01:39:59

S6E6 Grey Fox Headliner: Darrell Scott!

Mike goes deep with the legendary Darrell Scott, award-winning song writer and front man of the Darrell Scott String Band. They explore the Zen of song writing, the challenges of performing, the jo...

2026-06-25 02:05:22

S6M5 Grey Fox Artist Hilight: Wilson Savoy of the Pine Leaf Boys!

Mike gets to talk with Grammy award-winning Cajun musician Wilson Savoy, front man of the Pine Leaf Boys. They get into all kinds of topics like an intro to Cajun music, the Savoy family’s musica...

2026-06-22 00:00:00

Festival Alert: American Roots Music Festival!

The American Roots Music Festival is going to be a day of awesome music, great food, and natural beauty. All at the iconic Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah NY. Mike gets to chat wi...

2026-06-19 06:02:49

S6E5 Anissa Burnett of the Burnett Sisters Band!

Liz chats with Anissa Burnett and they explore the story behind the Burnett Sisters Band—from growing up in the mountains of North Carolina to becoming one of bluegrass's exciting young touring a...

2026-06-18 00:01:00

Festival Alert: Augusta Heritage Cajun, Creole & Classic Country Week 2026!

Meet Blake Miller, one of the organizers of the Augusta Heritage Cajun, Creole & Classic Country Week. He’s a top-tier accordionist and fiddler, plays in several bands – including his passi...

2026-06-16 04:22:41

S6M4 Singer, Songwriter Bob Amos!

Liz talks with award-winning musician and songwriter Bob Amos about his journey from geologist to full-time bluegrass musician, the joy of performing with his daughter Sarah, and why teaching has b...

2026-06-15 00:01:00

S6E4 Grey Fox Emerging Artist: J.M. Clifford!

J.M. Clifford shares his views and experience with Mike on a wide range of topics from songwriting to sound engineering to use of AI in music. This Brooklyn-based songwriter / singer is a Grey Fox ...

2026-06-11 01:21:27

S6M3 Grey Fox Hilight: Erin Dube!

Liz talks with Erin Dube about teaching bluegrass jamming at Grey Fox Festival, navigating jam culture as a woman musician, and helping adult learners discover the joy of making music together. Plu...

2026-06-08 00:00:00

S6E3 The Legendary Tim O'Brien!

Liz talks with Grammy-winning songwriter, performer, and bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien about his remarkable musical journey—from accompanying folk masses as a teenager to becoming one of the mos...

2026-06-04 00:00:00

Festval Alert:: Bayou Boogie Cajun & Zydeco Festival!

This Festival Alert brings you the scoop on the Bayou Boogie Festival,It is New England’s newest Cajun & Zydeco Music & Dance Festival. Mike sits with Steve Riley - world famous accordion...

2026-06-02 06:00:10

S6E3 Mary Lucey of TANASI!

Mike gets to chat with Mary Lucey, member of the “WorldGrass” band TANASI. You’ll recognize the Appalachian roots and bluegrass instrumentation in their music. But there’s so much more … ...

2026-06-01 01:39:52

S6E2 Women in Bluegrass: Brenna MacMillan!

Liz dives deep with Brenna MacMillan into the realities of being a woman on tour in the bluegrass world. From songwriting and touring life to health, burnout, and creative inspiration, Brenna share...

2026-05-28 00:00:00

S6M1 Next Generation: Leopold and Amanda Schwartz!

Liz explores one of our favorite themes: the Next Generation of Bluegrass. From festival jams to family band practice, rising mandolin player Leopold Schwartz shares his experiences growing up in m...

2026-05-25 00:16:15

S6E1 SInger, Songwriter ... Legend: Jim Lauderdale!

Liz sits down with Jim Lauderdale to reflect on a lifetime in music—from touring and songwriting to working with artists like Ralph Stanley, George Jones, and Emmylou Harris. Jim shares stories...

2026-05-21 00:00:00

BIg News! We are Podcast-in-Residence at Grey Fox!

Big News!! Bluegrass BKLYN podcast has been named ‘Podcast-in-Residence’ at the 2026 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival! We are so excited and honored to be part of this iconic and historic event. Pla...

2026-05-12 00:00:00

S5E12 Music Journalist Kira Grunenberg!

Liz sits down with Kira Grunenberg, accomplished music journalist, to explore her journey from classical training to writing about bluegrass, jazz, and beyond. They discuss improvisation, perfectio...

2026-05-04 03:09:29

S5E12 Banjo Legend Tony Trischka!

An incredible interview with banjo legend Tony Trischka to wrap up Season 5 of our podcast. Mike gets to talk with this towering figure in the world of bluegrass, banjo virtuoso, and wonderful huma...

2026-04-29 23:01:00

S5M11 Jam Jersey 2026 Recap!

Liz and Mike recap Jam Jersey, diving into what it took to bring the event to life—from planning and structure to the jams themselves. They share what worked, what they learned, and offer practic...

2026-04-27 00:59:14

S5M11 Brian Drye & BKCM's Community School of Music!

Dozens of classes, hundreds of students, scores of talented musicians teaching … the Community School of Music at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is a perfect alloy of inspiration and instruct...

2026-04-24 16:12:36

S5E11 Barrett Smith of the Steep Canyon Rangers!

Mike gets to chat with Barrett Smith, bass player and long-time member of the Steep Canyon Rangers. He shares his thoughts and feelings on a broad range of topics, including the challenges facing m...

2026-04-23 04:29:38

S5M10 Ken White: Executive Director, IBMA!

Liz talks with Ken White, Executive Director of IBMA, about his journey from lifelong bluegrass player to leading the organization at the center of the bluegrass world. They explore how the IBMA su...

2026-04-20 00:00:00

S5E10 Andy Leftwich: American Fiddler!

Mike gets to chat with the iconic American Fiddler, Andy Leftwich. They cover all kinds of topics, including Andy’s incredible musical experiences, how best to learn a musical genre, some project...

2026-04-16 00:01:00

S5M9 IBMA Foundation!

You might be as surprised as Mike was to learn about all the incredible work the IBMA Foundation does to support our favorite music. Listen in on his discussion with Cassie Wright, the Executive Di...

2026-04-13 00:00:00

S5E9 Women in Bluegrass: Amanda Cook!

Liz talks with Amanda Cook—bandleader and President of Mountain Fever Records—about what it takes to balance life on the road with running a record label. She shares her journey from artist to ...

2026-04-09 01:17:01

S5M8 Bluegrass - The Next Generation!

Who will be playing, recording, and teaching bluegrass music in the coming 20, 30 years? Meet Alani Sugar and Izaak Atlas Schwartz who represent the next generation of bluegrass music. Mike gets to...

2026-04-06 15:33:41

S5E8 Festival Hilight: AFBA Bluegrass Festival!

Liz chats with the creators and attendees of the Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association (AFBA) Bluegrass Festival. They discuss how a small backyard jam turned into on unique sold-out festi...

2026-04-02 03:05:48