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: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk , Credit: Karen Van Norman
We open today with a couple of truckin’ songs not heard previously. Then it’s a couple of songs about dogs. The first is a recent recording by Big ...

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


  • Added: Sep 16, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 18
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Songwriters often say that their songs tell stories. It’s usually done by telling what happens to whoever is depicted in a song. But there is a na...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., WOUB, KKRN, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA and more


  • Added: Sep 09, 2015
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 18
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The word moonshine can mean more than one thing, and that’s the way it is in bluegrass songs. We play two where the reference is definite, and one ...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., WOUB, KSKQ, KRZA, KBRP Community Radio and more


  • Added: Aug 27, 2015
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 18
Piece image
first of 2 Fall 2015 fund raising editions

Bought by KALH and WDSE


  • Added: Aug 26, 2015
  • Length: 38:29
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The show opens with recent bluegrass by the Gibson Brothers. Then, a couple of songs that reflect the American obsession with automobiles. Work is ...

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KPVL, KSKQ, WOUB, RadioFreePalmer and more


  • Added: Aug 14, 2015
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 18
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass concerns itself to a large degree with personal disconnections. We open with two striking recent examples, and a third example taken from...

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KSKQ, WOUB, KPVL, KBRP Community Radio and more


  • Added: Jul 29, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 19
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Early on we feature a couple of songs with the “Georgia Rose” as part of the title. Then we consider the influence of traditional balladry on the s...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, KPVL and more


  • Added: Jul 24, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Our show opens up with a couple of surprising songs about strangers. In the new one by Dale Ann Bradley, everybody is a stranger, including listene...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, WAMU, WEZU and more


  • Added: Jul 21, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
We have a little more honky tonk bluegrass towards the beginning of the show. Old time fiddle dance music is a key reference point in both old-tim...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, KSJD and more


  • Added: Jul 16, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 18
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Our show today begins with Americana-influenced bluegrass. Or is it Bluegrass-influenced Americana? Out Gem of Bluegrass features the fiddle as the...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, KPVL, KBRP Community Radio, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jul 03, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 18
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Early in the broadcast, we air a couple of old-time “attitude” songs where the singer speaks his mind regarding his former beloved and former relat...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, KPVL, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jun 30, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The show opens by playing new and recent bluegrass music. Then, the Gem of Bluegrass considers rounders who appear in bluegrass songs. Rounders are...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, KRZA, RadioFreePalmer, KBRP Community Radio and more


  • Added: Jun 18, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 18
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Today’s show has a Fourth of July motif, but it opens with a couple of songs about relationship troubles. In each of these songs, the male singer f...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, KBRP Community Radio and more


  • Added: Jun 11, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 19
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The American Dream and Bluegrass music. Most bluegrass songs that touch on the subject tell how the dream is yet to be fulfilled for the singers. T...

Bought by KSKQ, WOUB, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, KBRP Community Radio and more


  • Added: May 31, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Love and money: Is there a connection? Not for the two lucky guys in the first two songs, whose sweethearts don’t care a whit about money. Then we ...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, WEZU, KRZA and more


  • Added: May 12, 2015
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 18
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Early on, we play a couple of scary prison songs, where moments of anger lead to violence and long prison sentences. The Gem of Bluegrass features ...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, WEZU, KRZA and more


  • Added: May 12, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The broadcast opens with songs reflecting various visions of what Sunday is like. The Gem of Bluegrass focuses on many ways emotion is expressed in...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, WAMU and more


  • Added: May 03, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 17
Caption: Philip Nusbaum , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass music uses mountains and wind to symbolize a feeling known as “lonesome.” We play 2 recent songs embodying this mood, and one classic. So...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA, WEZU and more


  • Added: Apr 22, 2015
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 16
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
Ralph Stanley is perhaps the greatest living bluegrass icon representing the past of bluegrass. Lately, Ralph’s grandson seems to be following in R...

Bought by WOUB, KSKQ, KPVL, RadioFreePalmer, KRZA and more


  • Added: Apr 09, 2015
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 16
Caption: Philip Nusbaum w/ 2012 Zeitfunk           , Credit: Karen Van Norman
A couple of “hillbilly wedding” songs lead off the show. Then we turn our attention to sung duets. Over time, this type of song treatment has serve...

Bought by WOUB, KKRN, KPVL, KSKQ, RadioFreePalmer and more


  • Added: Apr 20, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 15