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
Piece image
A vein of Bluegrass and Old-Time songs are set by bodies of water. We play a couple of these songs. One has the singer feeling further removed from...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, and Prairie Public


  • Added: Apr 13, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil Nusabaum, Credit: Karen Van Norman
We open the show with new bluegrass, and throughout the show, spin some great new banjo music. On the Gem of Bluegrass we track the evolution of th...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, and Prairie Public


  • Added: Mar 23, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Early on the show we play a couple of songs whose subject matter is coal, one of the compelling bluegrass stories in the history of the genre. The ...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, and Prairie Public


  • Added: Mar 16, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
So many ways to feel unbalanced mentally; and so many ways to sing about it. We play some recent songs depicting the condition, and one representin...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, and Prairie Public


  • Added: Mar 09, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
4 programming segments adding up to about 40 minutes

  • Added: Feb 18, 2017
  • Length: 38:28

  • Added: Feb 18, 2017
  • Length: 40:25
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Our show opens with spins of recent broken hearted melodies. There have always been bluegrass songs that depict work. But does anyone enjoy the wor...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, Prairie Public, WTIP, WVRU, and KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 09, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
What does it mean to drift? We open with a few “drifting” songs. On our Gem of Bluegrass feature, we address work and song depictions of drudgery. ...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, and Prairie Public


  • Added: Feb 06, 2017
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Over the course of bluegrass and old-time music history, there is a strain of songs about strong drink. Recently, there have been some songs about ...

Bought by KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, WTIP, RadioFreePalmer, and Prairie Public


  • Added: Jan 23, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
We open with a couple of songs about hard work. In the first, the singer wishes he could get away from it. In the second, the prospect of always ha...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Prairie Public, and WVRU


  • Added: Jan 11, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
There are plenty of songs about coal, and plenty of them about guns. But there are not many sung from the point of view or either, and that is how ...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Prairie Public, and WVRU


  • Added: Jan 09, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Our program opens up with new bluegrass. Then, it’s our Gem of Bluegrass. Most Americans, whether or not they like bluegrass, have heard the tune O...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KRZA, WSAJ, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Dec 31, 2016
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
Piece image
Bluegrass lyrics frequently reside in small towns. Our show today opens with some songs about small towns. Some celebrate them, while others offer ...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WTIP, KRZA, WSAJ, WVRU and more


  • Added: Dec 22, 2016
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Poverty is a common motivator of bluegrass song lyrics, and early on, we play some great examples. You might think that the slew of pop songs known...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, WTIP, WSAJ, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Dec 21, 2016
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7

  • Added: Dec 15, 2016
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Becky Schlegel plays and talks about the songs she writes that are given as gifts. Other bluegrass artists share their Christmas thoughts.

Bought by WEZU, KKRN, WOUB, KRZA, KBRP Community Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 29, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
At close to year’s end, we’ve got a lot of new bluegrass, so we spin some of the highlights of the wave of new releases, While old-time music has a...

Bought by WEZU, WTIP, RadioFreePalmer, KKRN, WOUB and more


  • Added: Nov 26, 2016
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 20
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Broken-hearted melodies are commonplace in bluegrass songs. But the stories in the Carolina Blue and Honi Deaton songs presented early are especial...

Bought by WTIP, RadioFreePalmer, KKRN, WOUB, KRZA and more


  • Added: Nov 18, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 16
Piece image
A couple of songs depicting personal trouble open the show. One is about a missed connection, the other about settling long-standing anger. The Gem...

Bought by WEZU, WVRU, RadioFreePalmer, KKRN, WOUB and more


  • Added: Nov 12, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: k
The way the world is going, small towns and small town downtowns are really taking a beating. We present a group of songs on this issue. The Gem of...

Bought by WTIP, KKRN, RadioFreePalmer, WOUB, KRZA and more


  • Added: Nov 07, 2016
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 17