The Yolo County Breakdown

Bluegrass, newgrass and beyond. From Bill Monroe to Billy Strings, the Yolo County Breakdown is a journey through acoustic string music ranging from the traditional to the cutting edge.

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The Yolo County Breakdown for Apr 17, 2026

Some of the bluegrass purists out there revile at the sound of drums in their bluegrass. Rocky tries to remedy this by playing a set of tunes that use drums effectively. Ickes & Hensley, John Hartford, the Osborne Brothers, and Doc, Earl & Ricky all take part. What's your take? Is this bluegrass if it includes a stick on a snare?

The Yolo County Breakdown for Apr 10, 2026

This week Rocky has a chat with bluegrass and Americana/country icon, Jim Lauderdale. Jim is a 2-time Grammy winner and is set to release his 39th album. They chat about Jim's work with Ralph Stanley, Roland White, Robert Hunter and more. Jim's love of bluegrass is inspiring, and he surely knows how to spin a good yarn. Plus, he gives Rocky permission to give listeners a world premiere listen to the title track from his upcoming album, The Birds Know!

The Yolo County Breakdown for Apr 03, 2026

We all know what a fantastic mandolin player Sierra Hull is, but if you don't know how great she is at guitar, well then listen to the duet she does with Bryan Sutton on this week's Yolo County Breakdown. Plus a set that features 4 of Rocky's all-time favorite banjo players not named Earl (Bela Fleck JD Crowe, Tony Trischka, and Craig Smith). Also a David Grier version of Black Mountain Rag and Bill Keith's take on a Duke Ellington standard. Enjoy!

The Yolo County Breakdown for Mar 20, 2026

This week Rocky spins new stuff from Becky Buller and Megan McKamey, old stuff from Flatt & Scruggs and Ralph Stanley, and a whole lotta stuff from those in-between years too - including a beautifully drawn-out cover of a Townes Van Zandt classic done by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Enjoy!

The Yolo County Breakdown for Mar 06, 2026

This week saw the birthday of bluegrass legend Doc Watson so Rocky spins a few in his honor - including a duet performance with Clarence White that pairs two of the all-time great flatpickers. Plus an amazing Bob Dylan cover courtesy of Sarah Jarosz and a flash back to a 50 year old recording from the Kissimmee Kid himself (Vassar Clements).

The Yolo County Breakdown for Feb 27, 2026

This week Rocky has new stuff from the Kody Norris Show, Billy Strings, and EZRA and some old things from Bill, Ralph, Lester, Earl and Doc. If you don't know those names, then you should surely listen. If you do know those names, then you too should surely listen. Either way, Rocky should stop calling you surely.

The Yolo County Breakdown for Feb 20, 2026

On the heels of the release of her critically acclaimed collaboration with Steve Martin, Safe, Sensible and Sane, Alison Brown is heading out to play some gigs here in her native California. Rocky Outcrop can't let a Grammy-winning banjo player swing through the region without asking her to stop by for a chat, and Alison did exactly that. On this installment of the Yolo County Breakdown, Rocky and Alison talk about the new album, her recent honor from the Country Music Hall of Fame, her new SiriusXM show Pick Like A Girl and more.

The Yolo County Breakdown for Feb 13, 2026

Rocky debuts a brand new single from Wyatt Ellis called West Dakota Rose. Plus an ornery and mean fiddle tune from Jeremy Garrett, a beautiful cover of a Norman Blake song from the Tim O'Brien Band, and a sonically astounding cut from Tony Rice and David Grisman that'll leave you searching for bodies around the Banks of the Ohio with a smile on your face.

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