Down Yonder

08/19/2025

On January 31st, an email informed me that I had been dismissed as a volunteer at KDHX, along with all the other volunteers. (This was a cold and calculated move by the board of directors to prevent associate members from blocking the sale of the station they intended -- and later executed.) It hurt. I had been involved with KDHX for 34 years, 30 of them as host of my show, Down Yonder.

On March 1st, I did my first on my new home, TheRootsFM, an all-volunteer web station committed to sharing great music with the world. It was good to be back on the air again. Today came word the voters in St. Louis Magazine's A-List poll had named TheRootsFM the best radio station in St. Louis. I thank everyone who voted for us, and I'm honored that my little two-hour show is a small part of the station's success.

I promise to do everything I can to make Down Yonder a show worth your time, your attention, and -- hopefully -- your support. Thank you again. I appreciate you.

08/18/2025

Yonder Calendar

Thu 8.21 ~ Colin Blair, Nick Pence, and Joey Glynn at The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Fri 8.22
~ The Midwest Harvesters (Fred Campeau, Jim Nelson, Chirps Smith) at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 8 pm
~ Silver Creek Bluegrass at Samm's Last Chance Saloon, Edwardsville IL, 8-11 pm
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Sat 8.23
~ Lukas Simpson & Blake Korte play on the porch of the Peers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
​~ Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 8 pm

Sun 8.24
~ The Riverside Wanderers play on the porch of the Peers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
~ Possum Consume plays for the Childgrove contra dance at the Monday Club, 37 South Maple, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Listen to Down Yonder on Saturday mornings from 11 to 1 pm Central onTheRootsFM.org, a volunteer-operated web station based in St. Louis.​CONCERT EVENTS, CLUB SHOWS, AND FESTIVALS AROUND ST. LOUISAUGUST

08/14/2025

This Saturday on Down Yonder : 8.16.2025
TheRootsFM

It's the third Saturday of the month, so this week's show will be a Triple Play Saturday featuring three cuts from each artist. Last week, my son and I travelled to my home state of Minnesota for the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, where we enjoyed performances by Sister Sadie, The Henhouse Prowlers, The Dry Branch Fire Squad, Sammy Lind & Nadine Landry, Steam Machine, and others. I also got to visit with some of the performers. So this week's show will three-peats from the musicians I visited with at the MBOTMA Fall Festival. I'll close out the show with three-song sweeps from artists who will be performing in St. Louis this month: Darren Nicholson (Focal Point, Sun 8.17). The Midwest Harvesters (Fri 8.22), and The Blue Canyon Boys. Listen live at 11:00 am on TheRootsFM, on TheRoots app, or on the TuneIn Radio app. See you yonder.

08/12/2025

Yonder Calendar

Tue 8.12 ~ Three Crooked Men play for the StL Q***r contra at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 7-9 pm

Sat 8.16
~ River Ghost R***e plays on the porch of the Peers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
~ The Shrubs play The Stagger Inn, Edwardsville IL, 5-8 pm
~ The Big River Trio at The Grubville Opry House, Dittmer MO, 7-10 pm
~ The Stones River Reelers at The Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 8 pm

​Sun 8.17
~ The Oak Hill String plays on the porch of the Peers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
~ The Darren Nicholson Band plays the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 7 pm
~ Chris Talley & Friends play for the Childgrove contra dance at the Monday Club, 37 South Maple, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Listen to Down Yonder on Saturday mornings from 11 to 1 pm Central onTheRootsFM.org, a volunteer-operated web station based in St. Louis.​CONCERT EVENTS, CLUB SHOWS, AND FESTIVALS AROUND ST. LOUISJULY 

08/05/2025

This Saturday on Down Yonder : 8.9.2025

This Saturday, August 9th, is the 30th anniversary of the death of Jerry Garcia. Best known as lead guitarist, singer, on songwriter for the Grateful Dead, Garcia had a lifelong love of bluegrass. In his pre-Dead days, he played banjo in a variety of bands. In the early '70s, he joined with Vassar Clements. David Grisman, John Kahn, and Peter Rowan to form Old & In The Way. Their first album that, due to Garcia's presence, served as a gateway album for a generation of Deadheads, leading many to follow the high lonesome sound of bluegrass.

This morning we will remember the music of Jerry Garcia, from his early days as a bluegrasser, to Old & In The Way, to his work with David Grisman and Tony Rice. We'll also feature bluegrass covers of Grateful Dead songs. Listen live at 11:00 am on TheRootsFM.org, on The Radio app, or on the TuneIn radio app. See you yonder.

AUGUST 1 Jerome John Garcia is born in San Francisco, CA. to Jose Ramon “Joe” Garcia and Ruth Marie “Bobbie” Garcia, joining older brother Clifford "Tiff" Ramon.

08/05/2025

Yonder Calendar

at 8.9 ~ Cherry & Jerry play on the porch of the Peers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm

Sun 8.10
~ The Rowdy Wranglers play for the Treloar Elevator Party at Treloar MO, 12-3 pm
~ Michael & Gloria Bauermeister play on the porch of the Peers Store outside Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
~ Cambia plays for the Childgrove contra dance at the Monday Club, 37 South Maple, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Tue 8.12 ~ Three Crooked Men play for the StL Q***r contra at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 7-9 pm

08/01/2025

This Saturday on Down Yonder : 8.2.2025

Yes, it's the first show of the month, and normally we focus on recent releases, new music you might not have heard yet ... but this ain't normal. Last week's show, featuring music that was nominated for an IBMA Awards this year, was heavy with recent releases, as all of the songs I played had been released in the last year. So, to present a show whose music mix is fair and balancer (just like my news), I decided to "go halv-zies" on this week's show.

The first hour will focus on recent releases, featuring new music from Rick Faris, Larry Sparks, Special Consensus, and a bunch of others. The second will be a grab bag of stuff I just wanted to share with you. Listen live at 11:00 am on TheRootsFM.org, also available on TheRoots app and on the TuneIn Radio app. See you yonder!

07/30/2025

Yonder Calendar

Fri 8.1 ~ Mean Mary at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton in Maplewood MO, 8 pm

Sat 8.2
~ Dusty James & Abalone Pearl play on the porch of thePeers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
~ One Way Traffic plays The Shed at Eckert's Orchards, 951 Green Mount Round, Belleville IL, 6 pm

Sun 8.3
~ The Shrubs play on the porch of the Peers Store outside of Marthasville MO, 12-3 pm
~ George Portz's Friends of Bluegrass play The Shed at Eckert's Orchards, 951 Green Mount Road, Belleville IL, 1 pm
~ As The Crowe Flies play a house concert at 737 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis 5-7 pm
~ Silver Creek Bluegrass at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 5838 Staunton Road, Hamel IL, 5:30-7:30 pm
Sun 8.3 ~ The Mound City Slickers play for the Childgrove contra dance at the Monday Club, 37 South Maple, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Listen to Down Yonder on Saturday mornings from 11 to 1 pm Central onTheRootsFM.org, a volunteer-operated web station based in St. Louis.​CONCERT EVENTS, CLUB SHOWS, AND FESTIVALS AROUND ST. LOUISJULY 

07/23/2025

This Saturday on Down Yonder : 7.26.2025

Last week, the International Bluegrass Music Association announced its nominees for the 2025 IBMA Awards. The recipients (aka "Winners," but we don't call them that) will be announced at the World of Bluegrass Conference in Chattanooga, Tenn., in September. This week's show will feature the nominated performances and artists. Hour 1 will feature songs nominated for Song of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year, and Instrumental Recording of the Year. Hour 2 will feature recordings nominated for Album of the Year and artists nominated for New Artist of the Year. (For a complete list of nominees, see the link below.) Listen live at 11:00 am on TheRootsFM.org, on the TheRoots app, or on the TuneIn Radio app. See you yonder.

2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees, Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients, and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Alison Krauss & Union Station nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year; Krauss nominated for Female Vocalist of the...

07/23/2025

Yonder Calendar ~ Go hear some live music!

​Thu 7.24 ~ The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "All The Good Times" Farewell tour comes to the Chesterfield Amphitheater, Chesterfield MO

Fri 7.25 ~ Silver Creek Bluegrass at Gudgel Ranch Saloon, Litchfield IL, 7-10 pm

Sat 7.26 ~ Joel Ferber, Gary Hunt, and Dade Farrar at the Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Listen to Down Yonder on Saturday mornings from 11 to 1 pm Central onTheRootsFM.org, a volunteer-operated web station based in St. Louis.​CONCERT EVENTS, CLUB SHOWS, AND FESTIVALS AROUND ST. LOUISJULY 

07/16/2025

This Saturday on Down Yonder : 7.19.2025

The third Saturday of the month means another Triple Play Saturday, featuring three cuts by each artists. Two of them will have just performed in our area on Friday night: David Grier at the Peaceful Bend Winery in Steelville, The Po' Ramblin' Boys at The Shed at Eckert's in Belleville. Also, I'll play my visit with CJ Lewandowski of The Po' Ramblin' Boys.

And I've still got a McCoury-induced hangover from last weekend's Pickin' On Picknic. You'll get three-song sweeps from the the Del McCoury Band and The Travelin' McCoury. You'll also hear Part 2 of my visit with Del McCoury.

Listen live at 11:00 am on TheRootsFM.org, also available on TheRoots app and on the TuneIn Radio app. See you yonder.

07/14/2025

Yonder Calendar

Thu 7.17 ~ Jamo presents Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country at Atomic Pavilion in The Grove on Manchester Road, St. Louis. Doors 5:30 pm. Show 6:30 pm

Fri 7.18
~ The Po' Ramblin' Boys play The Shed at Eckert's Orchards, 951 Green Mount Road, Belleville IL, 6 pm
~ The New Missouri Fox Hunters at Yaquis on Cherokee, St. Louis MO, 7-9 pm
~ David Grier at Peaceful Bend Winery, 1942 Highway T, Steelville MO
~ Barnum Jack at The Frisco Barroom, 8110 Big Bend, Webster Groves MO, 7-9:30 pm

Sat 7.19
~ The Texas Giants at The Grubville Opry House, Dittmer MO, 7-10 pm
~ One More Dollar at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, Maplewood MO, 8 pm
~ Michael Prewitt and Brian McCarty at Jammin at Johnboy's, 3402 Genessee, Kansas City MO, $20 donation

Listen to Down Yonder on Saturday mornings from 11 to 1 pm Central onTheRootsFM.org, a volunteer-operated web station based in St. Louis.​CONCERT EVENTS, CLUB SHOWS, AND FESTIVALS AROUND ST. LOUISJUNE