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This new Octolindo octave mandolin from KR Strings has helped bring some new life to a bunch of old tunes I play like this classic bluegrass number "Shady Grove." Hope you folks enjoy!



For folks interested, I'm playing with the tuning GDAD down tuned a half step and capoed up one fret--a trick I've picked up from some tenor banjo players who do this for a slightly smaller scale length and tonal nuance.
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This week on Mandolin Mondays we have Virginia singer-songwriter and mandolinist Lorraine Duisit with us to perform her original song "Diamond Willow" on her 1924 H4 Gibson Mandola.



Lorraine is a former member of the band Trapezoid, and over the years has made appearances on Prairie Home Companion, Voice of America, All Things Considered
and more. Washington Post writes of Lorraine, “an enchanting singer ...

This week on Mandolin Mondays we're joined by Polish mandolinist Karolina Jastrzębska of the bands Caroline & the Lucky Ones and Stacja Folk to play this compelling original composition "The Ant's Path" on her powerhouse Polish-made Bulas mandolin.



Karolina encountered music at an early age in Poland. Growing up the group T. Band would often rehearse in her home--her father, Paweł Jastrzębski, played ...

Returning to Mandolin Mondays this week we have classical mandolinist Alon Sariel with us to play this gorgeous original prelude from a recent partita he composed for mandolin. Joined by his cat and his Mintu Biswas mandolin, Alon's video is one you'll not want to miss.



If you're new to Alon's music, he's an award-winning mandolinist and lutenist originally from Beersheba, at the southern part of Israel. Now living in Hanover, ...

Returning to Mandolin Mondays this week we have 13 year old Wyatt Ellis from Maryville, TN near the foothills of the Smokey Mountains playing an original tune called "Whites Creek" on his Gibson mandolin.



Bluegrass music is known for nurturing young musicians, so it is relatively common to spot the early rising stars of the genre. However, the sudden success of Wyatt Ellis, during the pandemic, was quite unexpected. ...

I just recently became an uncle 3 times over, and it reminded me of this tune I wrote and recorded a while back from my niece. Had fun dusting this off again--hope ya'll enjoy!



I first recorded this tune on a duo record with a guitarist friend called Each by Side--you can check out the original recording here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7taWw...Su6YXccVSsYHmQ

And for those out there interested ...

This week on Mandolin Mondays we have the Appalachian Mandolin Trio with us to play their entertaining rendition of the Cannonball Adderley tune "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" from their forthcoming new record Let's Swaaaaaaang!



The Appalachian Mandolin Trio is an ensemble based in North Carolina. After releasing their debut album Live in Blowing Rock, the Trio is now tackling swing style with mandolin family instruments ...

This week on Mandolin Mondays we have Irish mandolinist Seán Keegan with us fresh off his debut album release, playing a beautifully ornamented reel called "Sailor on the Rock" with his 2016 Ellis A4 Special.



Seán Keegan is a mandolin, tenor banjo and fiddle player of Irish Traditional Music. A noted performer, engineer and producer, Seán has worked with many of the most prestigious exponents within ITM, and has ...

This week on Mandolin Mondays we're joined by lefty South Carolina mandolinist Milom Williams II of the band Backline. Check out his rendition of the Wayne Benson tune "Wintergrass" played on his Gray Fern F-5 mandolin.



After starting guitar lessons at 8, Milom picked up the mandolin around 12. When he was 17 he started taking lessons from Wayne Benson, and joined his first full-time band at 18. Kevin Richardson ...

This week on Mandolin Monday Justin Harrison of the band Nu-Blu joins us to play a rendition of Jesse McReynolds "Okeechobee Wind" played on this 1957 Gibson F5 mandolin that was previously owned by Jesse.



Justin Harrison is primarily a mandolin picker from, and still residing in, Williamston, North Carolina. He began playing at the age of 8. Around the age of 16 he started to play in various local bands with his ...