Archives: Videos

WATCH: Queen Esther Unpacks the True Origins of American Roots Music

“Twang is the essence of that Blackness…” — Queen Esther

BGS stands in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and Folks of Color. While we have always done our best to amplify a spectrum of artists — especially in an industry that has all too often co-opted, appropriated, ignored, and undervalued Black creators — we know we must do better. Now more than ever, we are committed to the work of being allies and advocates.

The simplest act of protest you can participate in is listening. We encourage you to start with this powerful 2018 TED Talk from musician and activist Queen Esther, where she addresses how American roots music — including country, bluegrass, and Americana — is all rooted in blues and African instrumentation and tradition.

There is much work to do and we are just getting started.

More resources for learning, giving, and support here.

Amy Reitnouer Jacobs is the co-founder and executive director of BGS.

WATCH: Sarah Jarosz, “Orange and Blue” (From Whiskey Sour Happy Hour)

During her appearance on our online variety show, Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, our June 2020 Artist of the Month Sarah Jarosz, joined by bassist Jeff Picker, performed an exclusive duo version of “Orange and Blue,” a track off the Grammy-winning artist’s just-released album, World on the Ground. 

Produced by John Leventhal, the project captures ethereal, fleeting moments of musical magic direct from the creative mind of Jarosz, as she unspools intricate details and evocative narratives in her writing and playing.

Watch Jarosz and Picker perform “Orange and Blue” on Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, and don’t forget to spend some time with our AOTM Essentials Playlist, too.

 

WATCH: Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, Bonus Episode

Welcome to an extra special, bonus episode of Whiskey Hour Happy Hour presented by Ed Helms and the Bluegrass Situation and benefiting MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief.

Thank you for your generosity! No donation is too small in making a difference. Please DONATE HERE:

Our bonus episode features bonus performances from past guests of Whiskey Sour Happy Hour including: Watkins Family Hour, Madison Cunningham, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Davíd Garza, Matt the Electrician, Valerie June, Ben Harper, Billy Strings, and Rodney Crowell.

Thank you to our audience for being so supportive of this series and this cause — and for wanting more! And, as always, extra special, above-and-beyond thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

WATCH: Kenny G, Ed Helms Jam on “Billy in the Lowground”

With Ed Helms running the show, it’s nearly impossible to predict who might pop up on screen next. During our weekly online variety show, Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, a cavalcade of musicians, actors, and comedians made appearances performing, visiting, and laughing it up for Ed and the BGS audience.

On our final episode, aired May 13, Bryan Sutton, Gabe Witcher, and Ed began a simple, cozy jam on a bluegrass and flatpicking standard, “Billy in the Lowground.” Who should pop up three-quarters of the way in to blaze through a soprano sax solo? Kenny G himself! If your mind hasn’t exploded yet, it will.

Kenny joined in with his signature sultry sound, trading bars with Witcher and the band, before settling in for a WSHH visit, some reminiscing with Ed, and a solo performance of “Loving You,” too. Watch the full episode and that performance here.

Whiskey Sour Happy Hour benefits MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief. You can watch all four episodes in full before May 25.

No donation is too small to make a difference! DONATE HERE:

 

Thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

 

WATCH: Whiskey Sour Happy Hour Superjam Performance of “The Weight”

It wouldn’t be a BGS + Ed Helms event without a superjam! A superlative cast of musicians from across all four episodes of Whiskey Sour Happy Hour joined in on this special finale rendition of “The Weight.”

The online variety show benefits MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief. You can watch all four episodes in full here.

No donation is too small to make a difference! DONATE AT ANY TIME BEFORE MAY 25:

“The Weight” features (in approximate order of appearance): Chris Eldridge, Ed Helms, Sean Watkins, Ted Poor, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Noam Pikelny, Jeff Picker, Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins, Robert Ellis, Aoife O’Donovan, Madison Cunningham, Matt the Electrician, Caitlin Canty, Molly Tuttle, and I’m With Her.

Thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

 

WATCH: Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, Episode 4

Welcome to the fourth and final episode of Whiskey Hour Happy Hour, presented by Ed Helms and the Bluegrass Situation and benefiting MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief.

Thank you for your generosity! No donation is too small in making a difference. Please DONATE HERE:

This week’s episode will feature music and comedy from: Molly Tuttle, Valerie June, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Indigo Girls, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Chris Eldridge, Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith, Langhorne Slim, Chris Thile, Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, Matt Diffee, and Stephen Colbert!

We’d like to thank all of the artists, musicians, comedians, creators, and the entire Whiskey Sour Happy Hour team for making this happen! As always, extra special, above-and-beyond thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

WATCH: Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, Episode 3

Welcome to episode three of Whiskey Hour Happy Hour, presented by Ed Helms and the Bluegrass Situation and benefiting MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief.

Thank you for your generosity! No donation is too small in making a difference. Please DONATE HERE:

This week’s guests: Caitlin Canty & Noam Pikelny, Avi Kaplan, Shakey Graves, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, Jerry Douglas, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, and Jim Gaffigan! With a surprise or two in store as well.

Tune in next Wednesday, May 13 at 5pm PDT for the final episode of the Whiskey Sour Happy Hour. 

Special thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

WATCH: Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, Episode 2

Welcome to episode two of Whiskey Hour Happy Hour, presented by Ed Helms and the Bluegrass Situation and benefiting MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief.

Thank you for your generosity! No donation is too small in making a difference. Please DONATE HERE:

This week’s guests: Matt the Electrician, Robert Ellis, Julian Lage & Margaret Glaspy, Sierra Hull, Rodney Crowell, and Ben Harper — with a couple of surprises in store, too!

Tune in next Wednesday, May 6 at 5pm PDT for another edition of the Whiskey Sour Happy Hour! 

Special thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

WATCH: Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, Episode 1

Welcome to episode one of Whiskey Hour Happy Hour, presented by Ed Helms and the Bluegrass Situation and benefiting MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and personal protective equipment and supplies through Direct Relief.

Thank you for your generosity! No donation is too small in making a difference. Please DONATE HERE:

This week’s guests: Madison Cunningham, Davíd Garza, Watkins Family Hour, Yola, Aubrie Sellers and Lee Ann Womack, and Billy Strings as well as New Yorker cartoonist and humorist Matt Diffee.

Tune in next Wednesday, April 29 at 5pm PDT for another edition of the Whiskey Sour Happy Hour! 

Special thanks to the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds for their support!

 

 

BGS and Ed Helms Announce Whiskey Sour Happy Hour

The BGS team and our co-founder Ed Helms are excited to announce Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, a 21st-century online variety show to benefit MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and Direct Relief.  Debuting on April 22 and presented in partnership with the Americana Music Association, TX Whiskey, and Allbirds, new editions of the event will be broadcast each Wednesday for the following three weeks — April 29, May 6, and May 13. The shows begin at 5 pm PT/8pm ET.

With Helms serving as host of the series, Whiskey Sour Happy Hour will draw on his long-running Whiskey Sour Radio Hour shows at LA’s Largo to bring world-class music, comedy, and interviews directly into homes across the country and world.

Whiskey Sour Happy Hour can be streamed right here on The Bluegrass Situation, as well as on our YouTube channel. Other confirmed guests for the series include Chris Thile, Yola, Billy Strings, Sarah Jarosz, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, Rodney Crowell, Aoife O’Donovan, Robert Ellis, and our current Artist of the Month, Watkins Family Hour. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

“As soon as we realized the severity of the current crisis, Ed and I both knew we had to do something to support both our musical and medical community—and not just a one-time thing, but something that could promote more sustained giving through multiple shows,” says BGS co-founder Amy Reitnouer Jacobs. “In a short amount of time, our BGS family of artists has come together in such a big way to make this happen. It makes us feel like even though we’re all separated right now, we’re closer than ever before.” Fans will be able to donate to MusiCares and Direct Relief here, as well as via links provided wherever viewers watch the show.

BGS and Ed Helms Announce Whiskey Sour Happy Hour

In addition to supporting Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, TX Whiskey has already stepped up their efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting 100% of their production to making hand sanitizer. As of March 31, the TX team has produced 800 gallons of hand sanitizer for government agencies. With more raw materials inbound, TX Whiskey is currently positioned to make and bottle 5000 more gallons of sanitizer. On top of that, TX Whiskey continues to support local musicians by giving them an online stage and revenue generator through their Straight From the Couch Sessions — streaming every Friday night in April on IGTV.

Also a presenting sponsor for Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, Allbirds have been working hard to lift up the healthcare community responding to COVID-19, having already donated $500,000 dollars worth of shoes to healthcare workers nationwide. While supplies last, customers are able to bundle any shoe purchase with a donation to immediately supply a pair of Wool Runners to a healthcare professional who’s already reached out to Allbirds for support. Don’t need a new pair yourself, but still want to help? That’s an option, too.

Special thanks to the Americana Music Association for their partnership and support!