Bluegrass Unlimited's Podcast

This week we feature Fred Bartenstein and talk with him about his many contributions to bluegrass music over the years starting in the 1960s with his work with Carlton Haney's music festivals and events and the Muleskinner News.  Our September 2026 issue focuses on bluegrass in New England and when Fred was in college at Harvard, starting in 1969, he was the co-founder of the first bluegrass music association in Boston.  So, we'll also talk to Fred about his Boston years.

This week we feature musician, writer, producer and performer Jim Rooney and talk with him about the early days of bluegrass in New England.  Our September 2026 issue features the history of bluegrass in New England and Jim was involved in the bluegrass music scene in Boston starting in the 1950s and was a motive force in helping to popularize bluegrass and folk music in that area or the country.

This week we feature multi-instrumentalist Austin Scelzo. We talk with Austin about his bluegrass story and the bands he currently performs with.  We will also talk about the instructional content on his YouTube channel, his work with the Wernick Method and the work he is doing to help promote bluegrass in Connecticut.

This week we feature guitar player Tony Watt.  Our September 2026 issue features bluegrass in New England.   Tony is currently the president of the Boston Bluegrass Union and teaches at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.  We talk with Tony about everything that is currently happening in the Boston bluegrass scene.

This week we feature mandolin master Matt Flinner and talk with him about his bluegrass journey from the early days with the Pee Wee Pickers in Utah up to the various bands he performs with today.  We will also talk about his online mandolin classes.