John Hartford and the Birth of Newgrass

Alex sits down with New Nashvillian Carolyn Kendrick to discuss the influence of Newgrass pioneer John Hartford. He then speaks with Grand Ole Opry fiddler Matt Combs about the history of Hartford and the split between Bluegrass and Newgrass.

In this inaugural episode of Nashville Demystified, host Alex Steed talks with fiddler, singer, songwriter and New Nashvillian Carolyn Kendrick about the influence that Newgrass pioneer John Hartford has had on her.

He then talks at length with Matt Combs, a Grammy-nominated fiddler and mandolinist that’s actively on staff for the Grand Ole Opry. After arriving in Nashville in the mid-90s, Combs struck up a rich friendship and musical relationship with Hartford. He shares a number of stories about the famed fiddler, defines the history of the split between Bluegrass and Newgrass, and does an incredible impression of Bill Monroe.

More about Carolyn Kendrick:

Twitter: @carekendrick

Instagram: @carekendrick

More on Matt Combs:

Instagram: @combsmatt

Official Site: mattcombs.com

More on Nashville Demystified:

Official Site: nashvilledemystified.com

Instagram:

@nashvilledemystified

Twitter:

@NDemystified

Songs used in this episode (in order of use):

“Sally Johnson” [Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith]

“Soldier’s Joy” [Fred Cockerham + Tommy Jarrell]

“Sally Anne In Sandyland” [Doc Roberts]

“All Night Long” [Earl Johnson and his Clodhoppers]

“Wink the Other Eye” [Art Galbraith]

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