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Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails

Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina features Laura Boosinger, celebrated musician, folklorist and storyteller, as host. In each segment, she highlights bluegrass and old-time music stories, performers and musical traditions across the 29 mountain and foothills counties included in the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina footprint. Learn more at BlueRidgeMusicNC.com .

Episodes air every other week on at about 8:50 am on Tuesday mornings (at the end of NPR's Morning Edition).

  • The Birth of the Banjo
    Laura Boosinger talks with banjoist, producer, and author Bob Carlin on the origins of the banjo, from its origins in West Africa to the instrument we know today.
  • Music From the Land of Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions (Part Two)
    In this episode, we dive into the backgrounds of some participants from the original sessions. It was reported that out of 300 applications, only 25 musicians were chosen for the original Asheville Sessions. Listen to learn about two of those musicians: James Dedrick Harris (fiddle) and Ernest Helton (banjo).
  • Music From the Land of Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions (Part One)
    Something big happened in Asheville music in 1925.A two-week recording session was held at the Vanderbilt Hotel. Musicians and groups performed traditional Southern Appalachian music. Afterwards, OKeh Records pressed and released a catalogue of records documenting a sound that many folks outside the region had never heard. The Asheville Sessions were revived in 2025 through a remastering and concert project.
  • The Helene Guitar: Luthiers and LEAF Unite
    Three luthiers have collaborated to create a guitar, which will be raffled off through LEAF Global Arts at the annual LEAF Festival, taking place from October 16 to 19, 2025. The guitar was crafted from wood harvested from trees that fell during Hurricane Helene.The luthiers:Jayne HendersonKyle Landers Judson RiviereAll proceeds will support the Local Artist ReLEAF Fund, aiding Western North Carolina artists impacted by Hurricane Helene. Learn more at LEAF.org.
  • 100 Years of John C Campbell Folk School – Part Two
    Part two of this special podcast delves into the evolution of the Folk School’s programming with Bethany Chaney, the school’s executive director. She explains the significance of its gradual shift in focus, encompassing music, dance, and craft.
  • 100 Years of John C Campbell Folk School – Part One
    John C Campbell Folk School is celebrating its 100th anniversary of music, dance, craft, agriculture, and foodways. Located in Brasstown, North Carolina, in Clay County in the Far West region of the state. Known for its exemplary selection of courses in handicraft skills, music, agriculture, and more, it is one of the most established folk schools in the United States. Dive into the history of the founder, Olive Dame Campbell, and JCCFS.
  • Memories of a Fiddler: Jim Shumate
    Jim Shumate was a fiddler who gained his notoriety in the 1940s when he played with some of the great musicians of bluegrass, including Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys, Lester Flatt, and Earl Scruggs. He added his flair to the songs of the time, emphasizing ‘long-bow’ fiddling, a style which he discovered listening to Arthur Smith from the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Storytelling in the Blue Ridge with Connie Regan-Blake - Part Two
    In 1975, Connie Regan-Blake teamed up with Barbara Freeman to travel and tell stories across the country. The women made a marvelous duo, strategically and creatively sharing stories from the past and present. Many Appalachian tales have roots in Irish, Scottish, and English history, dating back hundreds of years, while others were developed and shared in more recent times.
  • Storytelling in the Blue Ridge with Connie Regan-Blake
    Connie Regan-Blake is an award-winning storyteller, coach, and workshop facilitator. Among her many awards and accolades, she has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Storytelling Network. Connie has also been honored by the NC Arts Council and the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. She served on the board of directors for the National Storytelling Association at varying intervals between 1974 and 1984.
  • The Bluff Mountain Festival
    In this Down the Road episode, host Laura Boosinger interviews Brandon Johnson, the Executive Director of the Madison County Arts Council and the director of The Bluff Mountain Festival. Johnson explains how the annual festival began, when he became involved, and the importance of the music and community.