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 w/2012 Zeitfunk award, Credit: Karen Van Norman
It’s Christmas Time on the Bluegrass Review. We play songs of the season, and mix in reminiscences by bluegrass performers.

Bought by KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, KRPS, KSJD, WRGY, WOUB and more


  • Added: Dec 01, 2012
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 15
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
It was a great year for bluegrass music and we play the highlights on this program.

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KUCB and more


  • Added: Dec 07, 2012
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk , Credit: Karen Van Norman
The show opens with songs about money. On the Gem of Bluegrass, we present some new thoughts about duet singing, and its crucial role in bluegrass....

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, KUCB, KRZA, WOUB and more


  • Added: Dec 17, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Karen Van Norman
In recent bluegrass, there’s been a little bump in the number of songs about war and songs in which war is a metaphor. We play a few as the show op...

Bought by WRGY, KKRN, WOUB, KPVL, WNTI.ORG-Internet Radio from Centenary University and more


  • Added: Dec 26, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 11
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Early in the show, bluegrass nostalgia songs. But it’s always nostalgia for a lost world, or a lifestyle that has disappeared. Then, the Gem of Blu...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio and more


  • Added: Dec 29, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
There is a lot of swing-influenced bluegrass on today’s show. The Gem of Bluegrass focuses on the connection between the two idioms, and then we pl...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, KPVL and more


  • Added: Jan 15, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
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Towards the beginning, the show plays some philosophical songs. Then, the Gem fo Bluegrass presents the evolution of the song “Take the Hammer.” It...

Bought by WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio, KPVL and more


  • Added: Jan 15, 2013
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 10
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The banjo is a bluegrass iconic instrument. But what about two banjos? Well, that’ll double your pleasure! On the show today, we play some early 19...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
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Whatever goes around comes around you might say. One of the great things about bluegrass is how groups reference the history of bluegrass in their ...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, WTIP and more


  • Added: Jan 26, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Phil w/ 2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
In bluegrass, songs about relationship tend to focus on the exit point of the relationship. So, to buck the trend, we present positive relationship...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, WTIP and more


  • Added: Feb 04, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass Lonesome has many dimensions. Among them are songs where lovers are separated forever by fate or acts of God. We open the show with a few...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WTIP, KKRN, WOUB and more


  • Added: Feb 11, 2013
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 13

  • Added: Feb 12, 2013
  • Length: 40:16
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil w/1012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Nnorman
This show’s Gem of Bluegrass addresses how bluegrass music honors its own heritage. We play a couple of songs relating to old lovers. Later, we tal...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, WTIP and more


  • Added: Feb 18, 2013
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Right at the show’s beginning, we play new bluegrass. Then we consider the Celtic / bluegrass connection. Accordionist Paddy O’Brien and singer Eri...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, KPVL, WOUB, KKRN and more


  • Added: Feb 24, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
We break out of the gates with new bluegrass by Dale Ann Bradley, Tina Adair and the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys. Then, on our Gem of Bluegrass, we note ...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WTIP, WOUB, KKRN and more


  • Added: Mar 04, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Piece image
Our program opens with new bluegrass. Many say that bluegrass is in a period of change, with a new generation taking over. There are conflicting ve...

Bought by WOUB, KKRN, WTIP, KPVL, Sun Radio - KDRP Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 08, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The program opens up with recent bluegrass. Then the Gem of Bluegrass considers the ways children have been depicted over the years in bluegrass so...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN, WTIP and more


  • Added: Mar 15, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The program opens with recent blues-tinged bluegrass. Then the Gem of Bluegrass considers the somewhat romantic image of the hobo in older bluegras...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, WTIP, KKRN and more


  • Added: Mar 28, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
We open the show with a current ‘grass selection, and then proceed to play three bluegrass songs that use the name John Deere Tractors symbolically...

Bought by WTIP, KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, KKRN and more


  • Added: Apr 10, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Today’s program opens with new bluegrass. Then we introduce a running thread on today’s show: We’re declaring Spring. This sort of pronouncement ma...

Bought by KSJD, WRGY, WOUB, WTIP, KKRN and more


  • Added: Apr 16, 2013
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 14