The Bluegrass Review

Series produced by Philip Nusbaum

Series image
Image by: Shutterstock 

Bluegrass music's authoritative radio home.

The Bluegrass Review is a weekly 1-hour show which presents bluegrass music in a lively and informative format. Produced in two segments approximately 30 minutes apiece, each complete show is programmed in thematic bursts. For example the sample show #321 includes songs about hard work, guitarists who emphasize the bass end of the guitar's range in their soloing, and an interview with nationally-recognized autoharp player, Karen Mueller. The program includes frequent interviews and produced segments on topics that parallel concerns and interests of Bluegrass musicians and fans.

(PRX Feature Series image from Shutterstock.)


Additional Files

361 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Phil with Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
We open the show with new selections. Then, the Gem of Bluegrass focuses on Tom Dooley, an American ballad that was given new life by a pop recordi...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM 1020/FM 91.9-WLHV FM 88.1 /WGHQ AM 920, KUCB, KRZA and more


  • Added: Mar 27, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Phil at a radio conference, Credit: Karen Van Norman
How does a songwriter catch a listener’s ear? Frequently it’s a good song hook, a telling phrase that references more than the action of a given so...

Bought by KKRN, KUCB, KRZA, KTRL, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 14, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 11
Piece image
Today’s show is concerned mostly with the Celtic-Bluegrass connection. The original Scots-Irish immigrants to the Appalachians formed the overall s...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM 1020/FM 91.9-WLHV FM 88.1 /WGHQ AM 920, KRZA, KUCB and more


  • Added: Mar 14, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Today’s show opens with a little “goodbye, so long farewell.” But then the Gem of Bluegrass switches to a consideration of Twin fiddling. Following...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KRZA, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University, KUCB and more


  • Added: Feb 28, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Today’s show opens with a little “goodbye, so long farewell.” But then the Gem of Bluegrass switches to a consideration of Twin fiddling. Following...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM 1020/FM 91.9-WLHV FM 88.1 /WGHQ AM 920, KRZA, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio and more


  • Added: Feb 25, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 11
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
At the beginning of the show, we spin a couple of songs by artists who are learning all about the blues. Then, on our Gem of Bluegrass, we investig...

Bought by KKRN, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KRZA, KUCB, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio and more


  • Added: Feb 05, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
There are several great new Civil War songs released lately and we play the cream of the crop. Then, our Gem of Bluegrass addresses bluegrass “puri...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WAMU, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University and more


  • Added: Feb 05, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
four segments totaling about forty minutes

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jan 26, 2012
  • Length: 39:31
  • Purchases: 1

  • Added: Jan 26, 2012
  • Length: 39:54
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Early in the show, we play a couple of “second choice” bluegrass songs. One is ironic, the other a good old-fashioned broken hearted melody. Our Ge...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KRZA, KUCB and more


  • Added: Jan 25, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
We open the show with a favorite type of song: the telephone bluegrass song. Funny how the telephone symbolizes a close connection, even closer tha...

Bought by KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KUCB, KRZA, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio and more


  • Added: Jan 16, 2012
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The show starts out with some recent songs about farmers. On the Gem of Bluegrass, we survey bluegrass songs where instruments imitate a usually no...

Bought by Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM 1020/FM 91.9-WLHV FM 88.1 /WGHQ AM 920, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Jan 02, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Phil at wo9rk, Credit: Sejan Yun
We play some recent country-influenced bluegrass at the beginning. Then, our Gem of Bluegrass takes a look at “crazy” people in bluegrass songs. La...

Bought by WSLR, KRZA, KUCB, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, KKRN and more


  • Added: Dec 31, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 11
Piece image
promotes "Out in the Country" series on the Bluegrass Review shows of January 2012

Bought by WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University and KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 27, 2011
  • Length: :30
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
On our Gem of Bluegrass, we investigate the difference between bluegrass lonesome and bluegrass lonely. That discussion is the springboard to playi...

Bought by WEZU, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KRZA, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University and more


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
On today's show, we focus on important trends n bluegrass, and play the cream of the crop.

Bought by KFOK-LPFM, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WXXI Rochester and more


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 13

  • Added: Dec 08, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The show opens with current wave bluegrass. Then our Gem of Bluegrass considers modernistic bluegrass takes on booze. These viewpoints are not as m...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University, KUCB, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, KKRN and more


  • Added: Dec 31, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
A disproportionate number of bluegrass songs about money have a $40 price tag. We open with two. On our Gem of Bluegrass, it is "Romance, Fantasy a...

Bought by KUCB, KRZA, WXXI Rochester, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 30, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Our program opens with bluegrass takes on poverty. Three of the four or actually positive spins. Then, the fourth is an angry one….it’s a song comp...

Bought by KRZA, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM 1020/FM 91.9-WLHV FM 88.1 /WGHQ AM 920 and more


  • Added: Nov 25, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9