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.

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Latest Feed Items

Earl Scruggs Music Festival Highlight - Carolina Detour!

Mike chats with Lake Carver and Lyla Cherry of the dynamic North Carolina-based band Carolina Detour. These talented and accomplished young musicians (they are both 16 year old!) reflect on a broad...

2026-08-15 18:16:18

S6M12 World-Class Fiddler Bronwyn!

Our last episode of Season 6! To end on a high note, Mike sits with Bronwyn – one of our greatest fiddle players – who is about to release her first album of songs she wrote or co-wrote! She de...

2026-08-10 01:56:42

Festival Alert - Earl Scruggs Music Festival!

Festival Alert! The iconic Earl Scruggs Music Festival is coming up very soon – Friday September 4th through Sunday September 6th.  Held at the Tryon Equestrian Center, the festival features ama...

2026-08-06 22:56:22

S6E12 Scruggs Fest Highlight: Singer Brooke Aldridge!

Liz talks with award-winning singer Brooke Aldridge about the heart behind the uplifting music she and husband Darin create together. Brooke shares how they choose songs that inspire hope, balance ...

2026-08-06 00:58:32

S6M11 Bluegrass: The Next Generation - The Biscuit Eaters!

Mike gets to meet the Biscuit Eaters, a traditional bluegrass family band from North Carolina. Meredith Wilkerson (the “Band Mom”) shares her thoughts, along with guitarist Maggie (age 12), fid...

2026-08-03 01:34:59

S6E11 Soulful Songwriter Darren Nicholson!

Meet Darren Nicholson, son of Western North Carolina who brings generations of pickin’ and singin’ to his music. Join the wide-ranging conversation about the soul of bluegrass, virtuosi showcas...

2026-07-30 00:48:37

S6M10 Music Educator Harry Gambrill!

Whether you're new to bluegrass or looking to improve your jamming skills, Harry Gambrill shares practical wisdom drawn from years of teaching and performing. Learn how to build confidence, communi...

2026-07-27 01:42:05

Festival Alert: Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival!

Liz talks with Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival organizer Shanna Connor about what makes this award-winning festival such a favorite among bluegrass fans. From world-class music and late-night picki...

2026-07-24 16:46:56

S6E10 Award-winning Singer Greg Blake!

Liz talks with award-winning vocalist and guitarist Greg Blake about the lessons he's learned from decades of performing, teaching, and making music. From what creates a great singer to the importa...

2026-07-23 00:00:00

S6M9 Instant Replay - Jim Pankey!

The Man … The Banjo … The YouTube Sensation! Mike gets to chat with Jim Pankey, an award-winning, cross genre banjo master and skilled educator. Listen in on the origin story of the now-famous ...

2026-07-20 04:26:36

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