JD Simo Brings It To Madison And Beyond

On his new and first solo record, the soon to be released, “OFF AT 11”, recording artist and Chicago native now Nashvillian, JD SIMO wants you to know that above all things, what matters most to him is that music should be honest. The gifted artist more than offers this in a psychedelic, free-flowing, dynamic soundscape that exemplifies just that… Honesty. This album spreads out with acid rock, traditional blues, folk, soul, free form jazz, and the never-ceasing desire to improvise pulses from this collection in a mind bending, kaleidoscope of sound, energy and vibe. With influences as diverse as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Captain Beefheart, Miles Davis and The Allman Brothers to blues guitarists such as Lightnin’ Hopkins and BB King, this young artist, is taking the listener on a musical journey using LOVE as the guideposts. The recording of this rocking, blues driven, electric tour de force, was recorded over a three day period in the summer of 2018. Recording during a brief break in touring including JD’s first shows as a newly cultivated member of Phil Lesh and Friends, JD and his band recorded these musically dense and inspiring tracks in a “groovy space” to lay down something authentic, filled with fun and NO edits, NO tricks.

I had the complete pleasure of talking with JD ahead of his February 6th show at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. We dive into the creation of his first solo album and how he feels he has grown and adapted as an artist in this wacky world. We talk about how the time spent with such real people, real artists as friends of the proGram, Mr. Tommy Emmanuel, Warren Haynes and of course his time working with Phil Lesh. We get into how the opportunity to work with Phil went down and maybe even lead you to the possibility of another collaboration with this infamous bass player of the legendary Grateful Dead. We really touch a special spot to both of us I think when we tap into how JD picture love as a benchmark in 2019. Cool Cat, great new album and a live event to back it all up. Check this chat out.

JD Simo at Daryl’s House – Photo by Rick Pauline

Top Of The Candle To Ya

The second portion of the proGram was the top of the light and heater…take as directed during the Winter:

Music Matador- Eric Dolphy
Jackie~ing- Frank Kimbrough with Scott Robinson, Rufus Reid & Billy Drummond

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Confluencias- Pablo Aslan
And Now The Queen- Haarla, Krokfors & Altschul
Imagine Meeting You Here 2 (Meeting)- Alister Spence & Satoko Fujii’s Orchestra Kobe

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Stable Manifold- Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte
Asa no Yume- Mark de Clive Lowe
The Detective’s Wife- Michael Wolff (live)

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Dance Of Shiva- Billy Childs
***Excerpt of pre-recorded conversation with Mr. Billy Childs***
Backwards Bop- Billy Childs
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I’m Your Biggest Fan- Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Corning, NY- Paris Monster
Hot Canyon Air- Paris Monster

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Dawan- Apparat
Leave Room 2 Breathe- Jayda G & Alexa Dash

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Beats Of Zion- Rocky Dawuni
Pressure Drop- Andy Bassford Ft. Soul Sisters Six
Class War- Lateef the Truth Speaker/Jah Yzer/Winstrong Ft. Lyrics Born & Gift of Gab
*Excerpt of pre-recorded conversation with Lateef the Truth Speaker/Jah Yzer/Winstrong *
All This- Lateef the Truth Speaker/Jah Yzer/Winstrong Ft. ft. Vursatyl

Whatcha Got In There?

The first portion of the proGram has a screw loose….. errrr…… tight:

King Of Keelboat Men- Eric Brace, Peter Cooper & Thomm Jutz
Old Tom T. And Brother Will- Eric Brace, Peter Cooper & Thomm Jutz

An Army of One (solo Acoustic)- pat mAcdonald
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It’s A Man Down There- Benny Turner & Cash McCall
The Dirty Dozen- Benny Turner & Cash McCall
I’ll Go To My Cottage- Tomislav Goluban
You Ain’t Acting Right- The Trevor B. Power Band
Whistlin’ by the Graveyard- Vin Mott

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Happy Together- Weezer
Heartbreakers- Rod Melancon
Manic Depression- Rod Melancon

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Swamp Romp- Johnette Downing & Scott Billington Ft. CR Gruver/James Singleton/Doug Belote
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The City- Holiday Gunfire
~~~
I Made A Deal With Myself- Alexis Evans
Invisible- Flevans Ft. Laura Vane
That’s Nice- Lance Ferguson
Issac Washington- Cotonete

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Inner Being- Joey DeFrancesco
Jazz Cigarette- Jimmy Layton and His All American “Not Your Daddy’s” Jazz Band
Love Hurts- Julian Lage

Roots & Tings

Quannum and Solesides co-founder, and Grammy nominated MC, Lateef the Truth Speaker has joined forces with acclaimed Bay Area DJ and producer Jah Yzer and the multi-talented musician and reggae artist Winstrong, to showcase the cross roads of reggae and hip-hop on their newest project “Roots & Tings”. The new music draws deeply and respectfully from the history of both genres while pushing a new vibe to create powerful and provocative tracks. Roots & Tings will roll out singles monthly throughout 2019 with Quannum Records. Each release will be accompanied by original artwork, limited edition t-shirts from aspiring designers and will be available on both vinyl 45’s and digitally, everywhere you can stream. Until embarking on the “Roots & Tings” project, the Bay Area based artists, Lateef, Jah Yzer and Winstrong have known each other separately for more than ten years. Coming together for this project a collaboration was immediately born as they clicked effortlessly over a relatively unstructured creative process on the new project.

I had the opportunity to take a conference call with all three artists about this latest sonic blend and we get into the process of how this collaboration came toGether, how each artists found their place to add their own skillz to the project and how social justice is a big part of the give back that this AND all music can provide. The way they are rolling this project out gives each chunk of the album it’s own personality and visual effects to provide every note an opportunity to reach each listener. Featuring artwork from incarcerated artists and youth apprentices making the clothing, this music provides a chance for each, every and all. They have taken the stories of the past, mixed them with the voice of today and taken what was back to what it is.

Sharing A Moment With Billy Childs

Billy Childs is a versatile improvisational jazz pianist and composer whose talents have been recognized with over ten Grammy nominations and a Guggenheim Fellowship award. Mr. Childs has performed with several influential jazz artists including J.J. Johnson and Joe Henderson before landing a deal with Wyndam Records in 1988. He subsequently released Take For Example, This…, the first of four critically-acclaimed albums for the label. Mr. Childs acknowledges legends like Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock as his early jazz influences, and attributes his love of composition to classical composers such as Paul Hindemith and Igor Stravinsky. This broad range of influences results in his own “neoclassical” style which crosses musical boundaries. Over the course of his versatile career, Childs has collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, and the Kronos Quartet. He oversaw the Grammy-winning project The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan by Diane Reeves in 2000.

I had the honor of spending a little time with Mr. Childs ahead of his upcoming performance as The Wisconsin Union Theater welcomes Billy Childs and the UW Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, February 9th at 8:00pm at the Play Circle. Mr. Childs will join the UW Jazz Orchestra on stage for an exciting opening act. We discuss what can be expected from the event, including this unique opening appearance with our local jazz orchestra. We get into how the the 2018 Grammy Award winning Best Jazz Instrumental Album, “Rebirth” came together and how he finds his place in the space of artists like Sting and the Kronos Quartet. This week, he has been taking part in yet another musical exploration with students as he is in residence at Manhattan School of Music, so we make sure to find out what has been going into the week working as/on several projects, with fresh new artists.

Snail Male Trail

The bonus portion of the proGram might have been a little slow, but it was not too slimy.

Write On- Yo Flaco!
Corn Maze- Malibu Ken
Churro- Malibu Ken
Kissing Pavements- Marques Martin

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Stardust- Gentleman’s Dub Club
Intergalactic- Gentleman’s Dub Club
Midnight Healing- Gentleman’s Dub Club
Ki’lgba- Jimi Tenor

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Fried Grease- Cotonete
Last Drink- Cotonete

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Haftrang- Arashka
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Please No Squeeza Da Banana- Lena Prima
See That You’re Born An Italian- Lena Prima
Que Te Pedi- Magela Herrera

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Wired Up- Travellin’ Blue Kings

Photo by Janet Schiff

Leaf Print Cemented

The second portion of the proGram has it all driven in:

Major’s Groove- Bob Corbit Trio
Booty Ooty- Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
Taxman- Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
Body In The Lake- The Codetalkers w/Col. Bruce Hampton
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It Rains Love- Lee Fields & The Expressions
Musicawai Silt- The Daktaris
Quiet Man Is Dead Man- The Daktaris

Rent Party- Booker T. Jones
~
Theme from Ali And His Gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay- Muhammad Ali & The Ali Gang
Nothing Doing But Waiting On Leon- WQLJ
Answer Me Softly Part 1.- The Fabulous Three
Rampage- The Whitefield Brothers
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Noches De Viaje- Lance Ferguson
A Love I Believe In- Lance Ferguson

Investigator’s Groove- Calypso King & The Soul Investigators
Ahh Soul!- Calypso King & The Soul Investigators
Bubblehouse- Medeski, Martin & Wood
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Dig It- D Tent Boys
Everybody Pass Me By- Pepe Deluxé
Let’s Make A Better World- Dr. John

Growing A Tire Triangle

The first portion of the proGram was probably producing some weird kind of fruit.

Southbound- The Travelin’ McCourys
Loser- The Travelin’ McCourys
Ain’t That Something- Clint Alphin
Bless Your Heart- Clint Alphin

~
Simple Man- Matt Marshak
Tell Me Something Good- Matt Marshak

Cabbage Man- Sam Frazier Jr.
I Wanna Boogie- Boot Hanks w/Dom Flemons
~
Got To Find A Way- Benny Turner & Cash McCall Ft. Carla Davis
Circus Just Left Town- Chris O’Leary
New Orleans- Brooks Mason
36th And Main- Brooks Mason

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greenarrowradio promo- Trevor B. Power
I Wrote It All Down- The Trevor B. Power Band
I Can’t Help It- Seth Rosenbloom
Midnight In Harlem- Dee Miller band
Rogue Hunter- Vin Mott

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Whatcha Gonna Do- Ina Forsman
Heroes- David Bowie (live at The Bridge School Concerts)
Under My Thumb- pat mAcdonald

Beach Speed

The extra portion of the proGram didn’t move too quickly…and why would it?

Ketero (Let’s Meet)- Idan Raichel Ft. The Idan Raichel Project
Imidiwanine (My Friends)- Idan Raichel Ft. Bombino
Bah Poulo- Salif Keita
Were Were- Salif Keita

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One Big Road- Nimroy Hendricks Ft. Nimroy Junior
Many Rivers To Cross- Andy Bassford
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Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)- Antonio Sanchez
Getting Better- Wildflower

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Live Prelude- Sam Irl & Dusty
Relatively Unexplored- Monta At Odds
Slwpoki- Monta At Odds
Disappointment (Rogg Agent Rerub)- Monta At Odds

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Class War- Lateef The Truthspeaker Ft. Gift Of Gab/Lyrics Born
Glitches (The Skin You’re In)- Amel Larrieux + The Roots
A Long Walk (a touch of Jazz remix)- Jill Scott

Photo by: J. Schiff

The Light That Sees You

The second portion of the proGram had a light that can see through…..you:

Walk Into The Wind- Dangermuffin (live at Stage One)
Waves- Dangermuffin (live at Stage One)

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I Call Your Name- Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita
All My Relations- Cochemea

Afropusherman- Psyco On da Bus
Never Satisfied- Psyco On da Bus
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The Panther- Lance Ferguson
Joyous- Lance Ferguson
These Are The Days- Neal Francis
Give It Up Turn It Loose- The Daktaris
Super Afrobeat- The Daktaris

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Jab Molassie- Etienne Charles
Dame Lorraine- Etienne Charles
Moko Jumbie- Etienne Charles
Ode To A Green Frisbee- Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte
Re: Person I Know- Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte

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Disco Demolition Night- At Pavillon

Honey Holes

The first portion of the proGram found that there was plenty of honey in them there holes:

If You Like Fishing You Better Know Your Hole From Mine- Sterling Williams
Y’all Know How To Party- Barbara Carr
Get Mine- Ina Forsman
~
Imagine- Merl Saunders & Friends
Save Mother Earth- Merl Saunders & Friends
Hard Case- Tedeschi Trucks Band
Hot and Sweaty- Dee Miller Band Ft. Toby Marshall
Strongest Weakness- Dee Miller Band

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Hambone- John Dee Holeman
I Am The Lightning- Willie Farmer
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Look Over Yonder Wall- Seth Rosenbloom
greenarrowradio promo- Tomislav Goluban
Pigeon Swing- Tomislav Goluban
Do The Right Thing- Tomislav Goluban

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The Race Is On- Charley Crockett
Every Other Sunday- Terry Klein
Straw Hat- Terry Klein

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Borderline- The Travelin’ McCourys
**Pre-recorded Conversation with Rob McCoury of The Travelin’ McCourys**
Freedome Blues- The Travelin’ McCourys
Cumberland Blues- The Travelin’ McCourys

Rob McCoury Talks Grateful Ball And More

The McCoury brothers- Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo) – were born into the bluegrass tradition. Talk about a source abundant and pure: their father, friend of the proGram, Del McCoury, is among the most influential and successful musicians in the history of the genre. Years on the road in the Del McCoury Band honed their knife-edge chops, and encouraged the duo to imagine how traditional bluegrass could cut innovative pathways into 21st century music. With fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram, and latest recruit Cody Kilby on guitar, they assembled a group that could take what they had in their DNA, take what traditions they learned and heard, and push the music forward. In fact, the band became the only group to have each of its members recognized with an International Bluegrass Music Association Award for their instrument at least once. There were peers, too, that could see bluegrass as both historic and progressive. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Allman Brothers Band, improv-rock kings Phish, and jamband contemporary Keller Williams were just a few that formed a mutual admiration society with the ensemble. Their concerts became can’t-miss events, whether headlining historic venues or as festival favorites, drawing the love and respect of a growing fanbase craving their eclectic repertoire. At the 2016 edition of DelFest, an annual gathering of the genre’s best aptly named for the McCoury patriarch, the band delivered the take-away highlight. So arrives the long-awaited, self-titled debut album from the quintet. A brilliantly executed set overflowing with inventive style, stellar musicianship, and, of course, plenty of burnin’ grass, the 14-song collection is a true culmination of their decades-long journey. From the headwaters of Bill Monroe and the waves of Jerry Garcia to a sound both rooted and revolutionary, soulful and transcending that belongs only to the Travelin’ McCourys.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Rob McCoury ahead of the Travlin’ McCoury‘s show on the 25th of January at the Barrymore Theater in Madison with the Jeff Austin Band. Together, they are calling this event, Grateful Ball. We spend a little time getting into what attendees can expect from that show. We talk about the creation process of the new album, shall I say the new Grammy nominated album….yes, I shall. We talk about how the Grateful Dead became a part of the lives of the McCoury brother’s lives including how the met and hung with Jerry Garcia after their father introduced them. The big take away for me was how the music of it all, the scenes they have been exposed to, the then and the now of Bluegrass music and the future path that they are at many times, in the front of the line leading the way. Rob lets us know if he was ever surprised by another band members song call out in the moment and what song he wouldn’t mind being stuck in a room with and why.

Cow Eye Mooed Ring

The second portion of the Sunday open schedule proGram took a peek around the land with a cow’s eye view:

Dick Dogs- Scott Sharrock (live at the Knitting Factory)
Freight Train- Universal Congress Of (live at The Knitting Factory 8/1/90)
Heaven- Pere Ubu (live at The Knitting Factory 9/21/90)
Co Rage Us- Electric Owthaus (live at The Knitting Factory 9/9/91)
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Zombie Brew- Razl Ft. Bryan Beller
Guachi Cola- Razl
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Freedom Jazz Dance- Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra
Some Skunk Funk- Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra
Fire- Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra
Light My Fire- Bernard Purdie/Reuben Wilson/Grant Green Jr.
~
Steady Freddie (Reprise)- Mike Clark & Paul Jackson
Funk Is… Bill Doggett- Mike Clark & Paul Jackson
Run For Cover- Marcus Miller (live)
Season Of The Witch- Brian Auger & The Trinity
~
A Day In The Life- Brian Auger
Tropic Of Capricorn- Oblivion Express
Barry’s Theme- Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra

Photo by: MOO-stapha

Which Side Is Side Which

The first portion of the Sunday open schedule fill in proGram couldn’t decide which way:

Bloom I- Elliot Cole
Bloom II- Elliot Cole
Unity- Iris Ornig

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An Idea (Or The Horns)- Wing Walker Orchestra
Backbone (Or The Wings)- Wing Walker Orchestra
Bye Ya- Frank Kimbrough w/Scott Robinson, Rufus Reid & Billy Drummond
Blue Sphere- Frank Kimbrough w/Scott Robinson, Rufus Reid & Billy Drummond
Daasa!- Itamar Borochov

~~
Otoño (Autumn)- Gary Burton
Hot House- Gary Burton
Daphne- Gary Burton

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Abarriba Cumbiaremos- Eddie Palmieri Ft. Herman Olivera
Sun Sun Babaé- Eddie Palmieri Ft. Gilberto Santa Rosa

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Within You Without You- The Onyx Collective
Fixing A Hole- Cameron Graves
Lovely Rita- Miles Mosley

The B Works

The final portion of the reGularly scheduled program was the honey in the pot….the sweet reward of extra time:

Black Magic Woman- Lila Downs Ft. Raul Midón
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Printa Riddim- Rumble Ft. Liondub & Marcus Visionary
Last Light- The Beekeepers
~
Southern Gul- Erykah Badu & Rahzel
Be On Fire-Chrome Sparks
Continuum- Gabriel Teodros Ft. Meklit
Process- Gabriel Teodros Ft. Shakiah

The Big Sleep- Tosca
~~~
All That You Have Is Your Soul- Tracy Chapman (live, Bridge School Concert)
Sense Of Purpose- Pretenders w/The Duke String Quartet (live, Bridge School Concert)
People Have The Power- Patti Smith (Live, Bridge School Concert)

Frozen Drips

The second portion of this week’s open schedule proGram deflected those dropping drips:

Bo Diddley Is Crazy- Bo Diddley
Say Man- Bo Diddley
Palace Of The King- Freddie King
Ain’t Nothing Shakin’- Lisa Bourne
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When I Left The Room- Dan Auerbach
Xixizinho No Oceano- Mosquitos
The Great Intoxication- David Byrne
Broken Things- David Byrne
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Can’t Stand Losing You- The Police (live)
Pretty Pink Rose- Adrian Belew Ft. David Bowie
Satisfaction- Devo (live 1977)
Space Junk- Devo (live 1976)
Cape- Jon Spencer
~~~
The Joint- The RH Factor
Forget Regret- The RH Factor Ft. Stephanie McKay
Chill-Out! (12″ Version)- Free Expression
Voodoo Soul Stew- The Daktaris
Upside Down- The Daktaris

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The Getaway- Tuatara
Angel And The Ass- Tuatara
Smugglerõs Cove- Tuatara
Later- Dr. Didg

Blue Ice Dream

The first portion of this week’s open schedule proGram was not as cold as it looked:

Meadow Green- Old & In the Gray
Honky Tonk Women- Old & In the Gray
Your Mind Is On Vacation- Vassar Clements
All Night Long- Dan Zanes
~~
The City is A Desert- Lonesome Shack
Past The Ditch- Lonesome Shack

Piece Of My Heart- Erma Franklin
This Room For Rent- Sammi Smith
Hot Blood- Lucinda Williams
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Million Miles- Bob Dylan
‘Til I Fell In Love With You- Bob Dylan
Chinatown Shuffle- Grateful Dead (Live In Rotterdam, May 11, 1972)
The Music Never Stopped- Grateful Dead (Live In San Francisco, October 14, 1980)
Kind Of Bird- The Allman Brothers
~~
Rumble Strip- moe.
Bend Sinister-moe.
Not Coming Down- moe.
Dime A Dance Romance- Steve Miller Band
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The Way It Used To Be- Travellin’ Blue Kings
Into The Night- Travellin’ Blue Kings

Freedom Highway- North Mississippi Allstars

The Stars Before The Snows

The second portion of the twangin’ proGram was just a reminder of what lies ahead:

Celebrate- Sam Bush (live)
Stingray- Sam Bush (live)
Ask The Fish- Leftover Salmon (live)
When The Levee Breaks- Leftover Salmon (live)
Midnight- Cornmeal
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You Are My Flower- Jerry Douglas
Swing Blues #1- Jerry Douglas Ft. John Fogerty
Flux- The Jazz Mandolin Project
Eat You- Caravan Of Thieves
~~
Saint Behind The Glass- Los Lobos (Acoustic, Live)
Sittin’ On Top Of The World- Taj Mahal (Acoustic, Live)
There You Go- Johnny Cash
Skitzo- Keller Williams
~
Hallelujah I’m a Bum- Dan Zanes
Railroad Bill- Dan Zanes
Willy The Weeper-Dan Zanes
Don’t Think Twice- Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (Live: SEVA Foundation Benefit)
Can’t Help Falling In Love- Arlo Guthrie (Live: SEVA Foundation Benefit)
Wooden Ships- David Crosby/Graham Nash (Live: SEVA Foundation Benefit)

Mic One Two

The first portion of the Sunday open schedule twanGer program was on air:

Tin Roof Shack- Peter Rowan & Tony Rice
Seventh Heaven- The Del McCoury Band
Mountain Song- The Del McCoury Band
I’ll Love Nobody But You- David Grisman/Herb Pedersen/Vince Gill/Jim Buchanan/Emory Gordy, Jr.
My Walking Shoes- David Grisman/Herb Pedersen/Vince Gill/Jim Buchanan/Emory Gordy, Jr.
~~
Tico Tico- David Grisman Quintet
Water Is Life- Stephane Wrembel
Daya’s Spin- Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Music for a Found Harmonium/The Cat Cow Reel- Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
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Growling Old Man & The Grumbling Old Woman- Béla Fleck
Crossing The Tracks- Béla Fleck
Frosty Morning- Béla Fleck
Big Ice- Drew Emmitt
Silvanite- Drew Emmitt
This House- Drew Emmitt
~~
Death By Triple Fiddle- Edgar Meyer/Joshua Bell/Sam Bush/Mike Marshall
Woodsheddin’- Vassar Clements
Swing Street- Vassar Clements
~
Backfire- 30db
Rebel Rouser- Joe Weed & The Vultures Ft. Norton Buffalo/David Grisman