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

133 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
On today's show, we focus on important trends n bluegrass, and play the cream of the crop.

Bought by WNTI-FM, KDRP Community Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WXXI, KUCB and more


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 12

  • Added: Dec 08, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The show opens with current wave bluegrass. Then our Gem of Bluegrass considers modernistic bluegrass takes on booze. These viewpoints are not as m...

Bought by WXXI, WNTI-FM, KUCB, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, KKRN and more


  • Added: Dec 31, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
A disproportionate number of bluegrass songs about money have a $40 price tag. We open with two. On our Gem of Bluegrass, it is "Romance, Fantasy a...

Bought by KUCB, KRZA, WXXI, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 30, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Our program opens with bluegrass takes on poverty. Three of the four or actually positive spins. Then, the fourth is an angry one….it’s a song comp...

Bought by KRZA, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM and more


  • Added: Nov 25, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Many Appalachian people have headed north for work. But they give up something in the process. The show starts with Detroit and Bluegrass. On the G...

Bought by KRZA, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Nov 16, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass to Be Thankful For. It is a show of listener requests of especially meaningful bluegrass, and listeners tell us why the songs are meaning...

Bought by KRZA, KUCB, KHNS, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 16, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Early in the show, it’s songs of the Midwest. Few songs are written about the Midwest, but it’s definitely part of bluegrass country! The Gem of Bl...

Bought by KRZA, KUCB, WSLR, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 06, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Philip Nusbaum at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Sometimes, things don’t quite work aut as intended. That’s the case for the homeless men depicted in our first two songs today. Then, the Gem of Bl...

Bought by WSLR, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, KRZA, KKRN, WAMU and more


  • Added: Nov 02, 2011
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Today’s show opens with a few redone classics, leading to the Gem of Bluegrass which displays different orientations to the blues. Later on the sho...

Bought by KRZA, KUCB, WXXI, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 21, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass is nothing if not realistic, and our first few selections are a case in point. Each is a modern love song, where the romance is wrapped a...

Bought by KUCB, KKRN, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, Prairie Public, WXXI and more


  • Added: Oct 14, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Our program begins with some songs reflecting odd notions of the concept “justice.” The its time for the Gem of Bluegrass, which reflects on bluegr...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, WXXI, KUCB, KKRN, WAMU and more


  • Added: Oct 11, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 7
Piece image
We lead off with a couple of recent “coal” songs. Then, our Gem of Bluegrass focuses on a subtle change in bluegrass band approaches over the last ...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Oct 06, 2011
  • Length: 58:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Our show begins with songs about kids. In bluegrass there are a lot of tragic songs about kids, but this time we mix in a lot of cute and uplifting...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, KUCB, WAMU, KKRN, WXXI and more


  • Added: Sep 30, 2011
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
This week, after a new Blue Highway song, we play a new bluegrass follow up song…it follows up Dolly Parton’s Jolene,” massive country hit from yea...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, WXXI, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Sep 18, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The show opens up with a couple of new Bill Monroe tributes, including a Frank Wakefield interpretation of Monroe’s Bluegrass Stomp. Wakefield is a...

Bought by WXXI, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM and more


  • Added: Sep 13, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Sejan Yun
1st of 2 fund raising editions for Fall 2011

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Sep 13, 2011
  • Length: 38:46
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Program for Sept 17-23, 2011. The program starts with new bluegrass by Blue Highway. Then, two views of romance. One is full of excitement, the oth...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, KUCB, KKRN, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Sep 01, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Sept 13 is 100th anniversary of the birth of the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe’s. Today’s show tells of the great contributions of Monroe,...

Bought by Robin Hood Radio/ WHDD AM/FM-WLHV FM, KUCB, WAMU, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, KKRN and more


  • Added: Aug 29, 2011
  • Length: 58:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The program opens with recent bluegrass, including a brand new recording by April Verch, the Canadian fiddling virtuoso. With fall approaching, the...

Bought by WSLR, WAMU, WXXI, KUCB, KKRN and more


  • Added: Aug 24, 2011
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 8