Host Paul Trenwith is a founding member of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band in NZ, playing banjo and occasionally singing harmony parts. Paul has always been an enthusiastic advocate for and promoter of bluegrass music, and the show includes tracks from classic bands, traditional stylists, and contemporary groups as well as some ‘roots’ bluegrass and newgrass. The show originally airs on FREE-FM in New Zealand and we rebroadcast it every Sunday at 5pm.
Back Porch Bluegrass - 18-03-2025
Seldom Scene, Traveling McCourys, Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, Rhonda Vincent, lots of variety in this week's bluegrass performers. There's also tracks from the Lonesome River Band, the Petersens, and some fine fiddle playing from Ralph Blizzard. The HC...
Mar 18, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 04-03-2025
I went to see the Bob Dylan movie "A Complete Unknown" the other day, and it reminded me of how many great songs Bob Dylan wrote, that were covered by bluegrass bands. I've included a few on this show, from bands such as the Dillards, Marion Arts, Hami...
Mar 04, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 25-02-2025
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing two members of the Petersen Family, who are presently touring the North Island of NZ. Ellen (banjo player) and Matt (guitar player) kindly consented to be interviewed in my home studio, and we talked about lots...
Feb 25, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 18-02-2025
I'm playing tracks from some of my collection of 'compilation' albums today, because that gives me an opportunity to feature artists who we might not otherwise hear on the show. Although reasonably extensive, my LP and CD collection has large 'gaps' in...
Feb 18, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 11-02-2025
The opening tune is my first self-composed instrumental, from 1969, played on my RB100 banjo, with it's rosewood fingerboard, hence the title of 'Rosewood Ramble'. We then hear from Mark Newton, master song-writer Larry Cordle, the dynamic young band F...
Feb 11, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 04-02-2025
The legendary Johnson Mountain Boys, Live At The Birchmere, kick off this episode, and we've got some great bluegrass from my vinyl collection, including Del McCoury and Alison Krauss. Some contemporary music sneaks in, too, from the Kody Norris Show, ...
Feb 04, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 28-01-2025
Lots of straight-forward bluegrass music on this episode, from the Bluegrass Album Band, Mac Wiseman, Lynn Morris, Emerson & Waldron, and Laurie Lewis. There's a double-banjo offering from Australian bluegrass icons, John Kane & Ian Simpson, and a two-...
Jan 28, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 21-01-2025
This show remembers the huge contribution Buck White, who died on January 13th, has made to both bluegrass and country music. He, together with two daughters, has played memorable music since the early 1970's, and I have several tracks featuring him. W...
Jan 21, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 14-01-2025
I've featured some top bluegrass here, both old and new (well, newer!) including the Kathy Kallick Band, the Sonoran Dogs, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, High Fidelity, Balsam Range, and even the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. Earl Taylor and the Stone...
Jan 14, 2025
Back Porch Bluegrass - 07-01-2025
The first show for 2025, featuring a wide variety of bluegrass performers. You'll hear the Hagar's Mountain Boys, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Snuffy Jenkins, Joe Newberry and Larry Cordle, and that's in the first 20 minutes! New Vintage Bluegrass Band ...
Jan 07, 2025
