Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass
For people who play bluegrass music... or want to!
Episodes
This is an update to let you know what's been happening in my world and to explain "wassup" with the podcast. In this episode I explain where I have been since the last episode in 2022, new things going on like my near death experience and I tell you about Jackson's senior project. Bear in mind that the sound samples I include are low-res, mono files and the actual vinyl and CDs are full bore stereo. You know how it is with podcast...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 203
Curtis Jones Interview
Curtis Jones is a supremely diverse musician and a world-class acoustic guitarist. Down to earth, humble and amazingly gifted. I know you will enjoy meeting my friend Curtis Jones. If you want your mind blown, go see him play live.
His interview is another in my series to try to convince the listeners that Georgia has produced an amazing number of fine bluegrass mus...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 202
Jim "Duck" Adkins Interview
Duck is many things: musician, banjo player, singer, band leader, teacher. He has been playing and entertaining crowds for fifty years and is a well-known figure in the Atlanta and N. Georgia area. Sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation with this one-of-a-kind bluegrass personality.
The segue music you hear at the start of the interview is Jim Adkins and C...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 201
Harps Jackson Interview
Everything you ever wanted to know about the harmonica brought to you by a guy who truly can play the thing. He has played in blues, gospel, country, rock and bluegrass settings and he is always tasteful and skilled. You can't say that for a lot of folks who get up on stage and blow through some pathetic, sorry attempt. Harps is the kind of player, with the kind of de...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 200
Merry Christmas
I just came in the from the yard throwing the baseball back and forth with Jackson and my wife is in the house making Christmas cookies. When I finish this episode I plan to sit down and watch "The Christmas Story" with the family.
In this episode I talk about creating a digitized version of my Flatiron mandolin and I offer up a couple of examples created by my son. I talk...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 199
Uncle Rico's Time Machine
Put the handle between your legs. Set the date on the dial. Don't forget to put the crystal in the clamp. Tell Kip to throw the switch. You will be instantly transported to another time and place. In this case, Motorhead's Bar and Grill on a Thursday night in McDonough, Georgia.
Take notes. This has everything: How to cope with 15 free shots for the band, the buzzin...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 198
A Major Award & The Ed Davis Method
In this episode I discuss an award my son received for his music composition "Run Away" and how we can learn from that. You can download his award winning composition for free right here in my online store. (In the episode I mistakenly said that his song was on his EP "Beacon". Wrong. It is on "Hands Up". But, it doesn't matter. You can download both EPs for...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 197
Chatty Light Interview
Recently I was asked to be a guest on the Chatty Light Podcast. I thought you might enjoy hearing it. Thank you, Colton, Alex and crew! It was fun.
And for my son Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 196
Mushrooms and Metronomes
This nice cool evening I simply held the recorder in my hand and talked about how you can focus and get good at one thing and it will carry over into lots of other things you have not even tried. I also talk a bit about my mushroom project and other oddities. Enjoy the show!
And for my boy Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandol...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 195
An Early Morning Rant
One of the things in life that I cherish is to rise early, to get up before the chickens, watch the stars and think about life.
This morning I got up, jotted down a few notes on a brown paper sack, and hit record. My intended subject was "Ten Ways To Play Better Bluegrass" but, as usual, I wandered a bit.
I have included actual live cricket sounds and a bug zapper...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 194
David Mathis of Gallagher Guitar
Gallagher guitars, made in Tennessee, were first brought to the attention of guitar players when the legendary Doc Watson chose a D-50 Gallagher in the late 1960's.
David has taken of the reins to keep the Gallagher legacy alive and you too can still get your hands on one! Here is a link to the Gallagher website. Enjoy the show.
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GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 193
They Said It Couldn't Be Done
Bill Monroe only made one minor mistake in the creation of Blue Grass music. That is the trying, and later elimination, of the accordion in his ensemble. Well, if you listen all the way to end of this podcast, you will hear some of the greatest music ever put on wax. Had Bill met Dominic Frontiere there is a good chance we would all have accordions in our bluegr...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 192
Harmony
Harmony is the interaction between two or more different tones or pitches. Bluegrass music is nothing without harmony. (So is humanity by the way.) In this episode I walk you through a short course in bluegrass harmony singing. How do you figure out what note to sing? I'll try to help.
In the course of this episode I refer often to a PDF document which you can get for free over on my...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 191
Host a Jam
Over the years I have been to lots of jam sessions and have organized and hosted quite few too. If you are starved for bluegrass pickin' I will explain how you "take the bull by the horns" and host your own jam session.
It can be a "one time only event" or it may turn into a regular, recurring session. Either way, it is a good way to get more bluegrass in your life and provide ...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 190
Matt Hutchinson Interview
Here's a guy who loves bluegrass. So much that he is willing to create a podcast so you have someone to pick with! What's not to love? In this episode I strike up a conversation with Matt to learn about his Bluegrass Jam Along podcast and find out how a guy in the UK became interested in bluegrass and to share what he is doing with all of you.
Enjoy the episode, c...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 189
Life Is Good
In this episode I talk about how you can dive in to your solo, play like dog squeeze, feel totally humiliated and still get a round of applause. It's one of the hidden benefits of playing live. (They aren't usually paying that much attention!)
Before I get to that, I talk about a big storm, the first post-pandemic session at Pat's Place, my "Brad's Barn Jam", and some other go...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 188
A Man's Entitled To His Opinion
200 episodes and over 100,000 downloads. Not bad!
This short episode is just to let you know I am still kicking. I have taken a little, well deserved break from the GTR Podcast and in this episode I fill you in a bit.
I have completed work on the F5 mandolin which I have been building and you can hear it in this episode. School's out, a light fixture in th...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 187
Beach Balls & Train Wrecks
In this episode I talk a bit about the "Beach Ball Effect", I get interrupted by a friendly sales call, give you a short garden update, and then dig in to the topic of Train Wrecks and how they may be avoided. Have fun!
Talk to ya next week.
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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 186
Edumacation Are Fun!
In this show I respond to a couple of emails I received and discuss education and how we learn.
Have fun and I trust you take this "in the spirit in which it is intended."
In the episode I referenced this episode with the Self-Analysis Worksheet PDF:
http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-3-show-notes.html
And this blog post concerning self-directed learni...
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 185
Cancel This!
All I am saying is listen and make up your own minds. Cancel me if you must. Or, stick with me and the bluegrass way. Enough already!
I have heard so much sub-par bluegrass singing over the years--not from the pros like IIIrd Tyme Out and Doyle Lawson--but just in general. Some pretty lame singing is often the norm with bluegrass jams and SOME bands I have heard.
All I ha...
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