Bluegrass BKLYN

Mike gets to talk with Altlanta-born / Brooklyn’s own Michael Daves. The noted Bluegrass master vocalist, guitar virtuoso, and educator catches us up on all his latest doings – everything from recording EPs, to leading his Artistworks bluegrass vocal school … to Wild Geraniums! Also, Liz shares her wisdom on the role of singing in jams – and why you can sing just fine even if you don’t think so. Enjoy!
 
Mentions in this Episode:Michael Daves @michael.davesWild Geranium Records / @wildgeraniumrecords“Early Morning Sun”
Alex Hargreaves / @alexhargreaves.music
Eric Alvar / @erikalvarJacob Jolliff / @jacob.jolliff
Bluegrass Jams Near Me
Jalopy Theatre / @jalopybrooklyn
Artistworks School of Bluegrass Vocals
Events of Note:Flatfoot Flatbush, December 21stNew Year’s Winter Camp at the Ashokan Center, December 29th – January 1st 2026
Andy’s Ramble at Jalopy Theater, January 18th 2026
Della Mae at Jalopy Theater, January 28th 2026
 
Music in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“I’ve Endured” – Michael Daves from ‘Early Morning Sun’ “Can’t Get There From Here” – Michael Daves from the upcoming release ‘Fables’
Powered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet Radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

Join Mike on his four-day journey to Hell … Fiddle Hell. This unique musical experience offers dozens and dozens of workshops with top-tier artists, non-stop jamming, a dozen music genres. Meet the organizers, teachers, vendors, music, and players who make this event so special. Enjoy!
Mentions in this Episode:David Reiner
Fiddle Hell with information on Fiddle Hell On-LineBruce MolskyDarol Anger
Bruce & Darol’s Great Big Fiddle Hang, North Adams MA – June 14th – 16th 2026Cat SlabodaLinden Frederick and his violins
Powered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet Radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

Mike and Liz get to hear two first-hand accounts of the birth of the bluegrass movement in New York, and how it grew and evolved over the years. Bluegrass singer and guitarist Gene Yellin was right there when our favorite music took root in iconic Washington Square Park. Fiddler Alan Kaufman tells us his journey through that historic time … only this time with knishes! Enjoy this fascinating piece of our musical history, told by those who lived it. 
 
Mentions in this Episode:Gene Yellin / gyellin1@rcn.comHudson Vally Bluegrass AssociationAlan Kaufman / alanfiddler@gmail.com
“Yodeling” with Jimmy Fallon and Brad Pitt
Events of Note:Flatfoot Flatbush, December 21stNew Year’s Winter Camp at the Ashokan Center, December 29th – January 1st 2026
Andy’s Ramble at Jalopy Theater, January 18th 2026
Della Mae at Jalopy Theater, January 28th 2026
 
Music in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“Gone Home” – The Sentimentals: Gene Yellin, Phyllis Elkind, Trip Henderson“Busted” Gene Yellin & Andy Statman“I Heard the Bluebirds Sing” – Gene Yellin and Phylis ElkindPowered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet Radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

Mike sits down with Olivier Demers, fiddler  - or violineur - of Le Vent du Nord and learns about the Quebecois style of roots music. Hear about the history of musical migration, fiddle tuning, touring with life balance … and foot tapping! Enjoy this fun and fascinating episode – and maybe add a new genre of music to your play list.
Mentions in this Episode:Le Vent du Nord / @leventdunordquebec‘Voisinages’ album on SpotifyLa Bottine SourianteMusic in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“Bienvenue” – Le Vent du Nord“Salut Réjéan” – Le Vent du Nord“Fleur Radieuse” – Le Vent du Nord “Du Nord au Sud’ – Le Vent du NordPowered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet Radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

Liz sits down with bassist, vocalist, composer, and educator Nate Sabat, whose work spans bluegrass, folk, songwriting, and innovative solo bass performance. Nate shares the story behind his album Bass Fiddler—a bold project featuring only upright bass and voice. They touch on his roots in New York, his musical education at Berklee; his collaborations, and the joy of community-based jamming and national touring. Plus – we get to meet Landon, Sam, and Tom of the Brooklyn-based trio Down North Bluegrass. They are all excited about their forthcoming EP, and now we are too! Enjoy.
 
Mentions in this Episode:Nate Sabat / @natesabatBass FiddlerTray Wellington / @traywellingtonThe Foreign Landers / @theforeignlandersThe Young People’s Chorus of NYCBruce Molsky / @bruce_molskyDown North Bluegrass / @downnorthbluegrassDavid Chernack / @dchernackErik Alvar / @erikalvarConveyor Studios in BrooklynProspect Bar and GrillSaturn RoadJalopy TheaterEvents of Note:Nate Sabat with Eliza Edens - The Owl Music Parlor, December 14th
Flatfoot Flatbush – Starts at Flatbush and Carlton, December 21stJam Jersey – March 20th – 22nd 2026Music in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“Orphan Annie” – Nate Sabat on ‘Bass Fiddler’“Year of the Ox” - Nate Sabat on ‘Bass Fiddler’“I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground” – Down North BluegrassPowered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet Radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

Liz sits down with Greg Kotis - playwright behind Urinetown - discuss his unexpected journey into bluegrass and how it became a defining creative force. From picking up a banjo during the pandemic to weaving old-time tunes into original theatrical work, he shares how bluegrass reshaped his artistic life and inspired productions like The End of All Flesh and the fully improvised musical The Wayfaring Strangers. It’s a conversation about creativity, community, and the surprising places a single instrument can lead—and how a chance jam session forged a whole new chapter in his work. Enjoy!Mentions in this Episode:UrinetownEnd of All FleshWayfaring StrangersMusic in this Episode (in order of Appearance):"The Beseechments"
AYUN HALLIDAY as Ma
GREG KOTIS as Pa
SAMMY PIGNALOSA as BoyMAITHILI GINDE as Girl
MELODY ALLEGRA BERGER - Music Direction, Bluegrass Music Arrangements, Fiddle, VocalsSTEPHEN ANTHONY ELKINS - Guitar, VocalsMARTY ISENBERG - Bass, Vocals
"My Love"SAMMY PIGNALOSA as BoyMAITHILI GINDE as Girl
MELODY ALLEGRA BERGER - Music Direction, Bluegrass Music Arrangements, FiddleSTEPHEN ANTHONY ELKINS – GuitarMARTY ISENBERG - Bass
Music from The End of All Flesh was recorded on July 25th at The Creamery Studio, NYCEdited and Mixed by Quinn McCarthy and Jonathan Awad
 
We are powered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved
 

Ready for some musical inspiration? Listen to bluegrass legend Andy Statman's story on mastering multiple instruments and crossing musical borders. Andy also shares his philosophy on mastering a musical an achieving self-expression in your music. Also, we check in with the talented young musician Riyae Park to find out what this Bluegrass Brooklynite has been up to. Enjoy!
Mentions in this Episode:Andy Statman Trio / @statmanandyBarbes / @barbesbrooklyn ‘Bluegrass Tracks’ by Andy StatmanRiyae Park @riyae_music11th Annual Roots ‘n’ Ruckus Festival – December 3 - 6Jalopy Theater and School of MusicBluegrass Jams Near MeMusic in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“Stoney Lonesome” – Andy Statman and Ricky Skaggs“Brown County Breakdown” – Andy StatmanPowered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved
 

Mike dives into the interesting and surprising world of … microphones! Philip Graham, proprietor of Ear Trumpet Labs provides a fascinating insight into the design, construction, and proper use of this essential part of our musical lives. Find out the inspiration for the classic iconic look of Ear Trumpet mics, and meet Dephina, Wanda, Nadine … all mics in the Ear Trumpet line up. Enjoy!
Mentions in this Episode:Ear Trumpet Labs / @eartrumpetlabsMusic in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“Big Ball in Brooklyn” – Damn Tall Buildings“Another Empty Bottle” – Raven and RedPowered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com / follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

Join Liz in an amazing conversation with bluegrass legend Missy Raines - the first woman to be awarded IBMA’s Bass Player of the Year, winning it a total of ten times. She shares openly about growing up bluegrass, making it in the music industry … and learning to cuss! Then, Mike and Liz have a Jam Talk about their favorite songs to call in jams. Enjoy!
Mentions in this Episode:Missy Raines / @missyraines‘Love & Trouble’ by Missy Raines & Allegheny‘Easy Standards Songbook’ downloadBluegrass BKLYN on FaceBookUpcoming Events of Note:AJ Lee & Blue Summit and East Nash Grass – Music Hall of Williamsburg, Sunday 11/23Jam Jersey – Mawah NJ, March 20 – 22Music in this Episode (in order of Appearance):‘Coal Black Water’ – Missy Raines & Allegheny‘Yanceyville Jail’ – Missy Raines & AlleghenyPowered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com / follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved

In this episode, Liz sits down with two standout voices in today’s acoustic music scene. First up is Shelby Means, whose soulful songwriting and unmistakable bass groove shines on her new album. They discuss stories behind the songs, her upcoming tour … and an alternative use for the banjo!
Next, Liz chats with Chris Coole of the Lonesome Ace String Band, one of today’s most respected old-time and bluegrass groups. Chris gives us a preview of the band’s upcoming show at the Westchester Bluegrass Club on November 21, and they cover everything from what makes their sound so rich, to his John Hartford encounter. Enjoy!Mentions in this Episode:Shelby Means / @shelbass“Shelby Means” album on SpotifyChris Coole / @coole.chrisLonesome Ace String BandUpcoming Events of Note:Lonesome Ace Stringband @ Westchester Bluegrass Club, Nov 21stWinter Clothing Drive Jam – Strong Rope Brewery (Red Hook), November 20thJam Jersey – Mawah NJ, March 20 – 22Music in this Episode (in order of Appearance):“5 String Wake-Up Call” – Shelby Means“Streets of Boulder” – Shelby Means“The Moon is Down” – Lonesome Ace String BandWe are powered by Ear Trumpet Labs microphonesListen to Bluegrass BKLYN on The Sonic Planet radio Saturday @ 9AM Eastern Bluegrass BKLYN is a Professional Member of the IBMAcontact mike@bluegrassbklyn.com / follow @bluegrassbklyn / Bluegrass BKLYN group © Copyright 2025 Bluegrass BKLYN LLC, all rights reserved