The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

Mulit-instrumentalists and music historian Dom Flemons (Carolina Chocolate Drops) joins us to talk about his new record 'Black Cowboys' (Smithsonian Folkways) and a lot more. The record documents the music that black cowboys would have performed in the Old West, alongside some tracks inspired by that chapter of America's histroy. We also talk gear - and learn about Flemons' unique vintage banjo and Fraulini guitars - and a lot more. This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music. Links: https://theamericansongster.com https://folkways.si.edu/dom-flemons/black-cowboys https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Greg and Janet Deering (Deering Banjos) join us on this week's podcast. Over the course of four decades, this husband-and-wife team has created one of the musical instrument world's true success stories. Their company has produced over 100,000 instruments and continues to make around 30 banjos a day (all made in the USA). We talk about their early days at American Dream (the same cooperative that launched Taylor Guitars); how they grew their company; the banjo in popular culture; their array of instruments – from starter to collector-grade – and more. https://www.deeringbanjos.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com This episode's sponsor is Mass Street Music.

On today's podcast, we talk to guitar god Eric Johnson! We chat about using meditation to live in the present, Eric's new Fender signature model thinline Stratocaster, his new pedal board, re-creating the Ah Via Musicom album today and much more. https://www.ericjohnson.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Chris Smither joins us on this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his new double-album, Call Me Lucky. We chat about his unique interpretations of well-trodden covers such as "Sittin' On Top of the World" and "Maybellene," learn about his guitar of choice – a custom Collings 000 with a 12-fret, short scale neck, a cutaway and a solid peghead that he purchased from the Music Emporium - plus a lot more. This episode is brought to you by Carter Vintage.

Guitar legend Duck Baker joins us this week to talk about his new compilation, Les Blues du Richmond: Demos & Outtakes, 1973-1979 (out this month on Tompkins Square Records). The album features both the early instrumental demo recordings that landed him on Kicking Mule Records as well as some lesser-heard tracks that he recorded in London in the late '70s. Beyond that, we chat about why so many guitarists in the early '70s were arranging ragtime music, learn about Duck's forays into avant-garde music and jazz, plus a lot more. It's a fun chat with one of the music world's most versatile players.

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams join us on the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about their latest recording; the challenges of being working musicians who happen to be married, guitars and much more!

On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're talking to singer-songwriter Caitlin Canty and banjo wizard-turned-producer Noam Pikelny (Punch Brothers). We chat about the making of Cantry's forthcoming album, Motel Bouquet (out 3/30), the great group of Nashville musicians that ended up on the finished record and more. We also cover their gear of choice – including Canty's vintage Recording King acoustic guitar and Pikelny's National Tricone plectrum guitar. This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music. Remember: Order a subscription to the Fretboard Journal and use the coupon code PODCAST and we'll take $5 off your order.

On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to guitarist Glenn Jones (Cul de Sac). Glenn will be participating in the forthcoming The 1000 Incarnations of the Rose festival taking place April 13-15, 2018 in Takoma Park, Maryland. The festival is a three-day long celebration of the American Primitive guitar movement, as pioneered by John Fahey and Robbie Basho. Over the course of our talk, Jones describes his lengthy relationship with Fahey (and Basho), why you probably shouldn't befriend your music heroes, his guitars of choice for this style of music and the origin of the unique, one-off festival taking place in Fahey's old hometown. To learn more about the festival, go here: https://1000rose.org Glenn Jones' liner notes for The Epiphany of Glenn Jones, mentioned during this podcast, can be found here: http://www.johnfahey.com/pages/epiphany.html Glenn Jones official website: http://www.thrilljockey.com/artists/glenn-jones

Today we're talking to accomplished studio guitarist and composer Mark Leggett. Mark has led a fascinating life with credits that include the guitar solo from Martika's "Toy Soldiers" to the playing with Dolly Parton, to doing music for My Name Is Earl. During our chat, we get the inside story on Leggett's viral guitar videos – yes, he has a solo album brewing – as well as the guitars he loves and what it's like to make a living scoring music for films and TV. This week's episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music. Reminder: Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes. And, if you're anywhere near Texas, the Fretboard Journal will be hitting the road and throwing a gathering in Austin on March 27, 2018. Details here. Link: Mark Leggett's Facebook page

On this week's podcast, we catch up with longtime friends and music collaborators David Grisman and Del McCoury at Wintergrass 2018. We talk about the early days of bluegrass festivals, some of the larger-than-life personalities they worked alongside (including Bill Keith, Jerry Garcia and Mac Wiseman), Grisman's amazing work at Acoustic Disc, McCoury's DelFest and much more. http://acousticdisc.com http://www.delmccouryband.com The new Fretboard Journal #41 is out now, featuring David Rawlings, Jason Isbell, Red Diamond Mandolins and much more. Order it at fretboardjournal.com and use the coupon code PODCAST to save $5.