Relax Your Grid

Matt Brown

Musician, teacher & producer Matt Brown chats with his clients, colleagues, mentors, and heroes in the music industry about their projects, their philosophy, how they "relax their grid," and what that even means. Brown has toured the nation, performed on the Grand Ole Opry twice, produced 10 albums, and was for 7 years a teaching artist at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. For the past 20 years, Matt has taught fiddle, banjo, and guitar to beginners & intermediate students of all ages, as well as professional musicians (including a GRAMMY nominee). In addition to teaching weekly, online lessons to students around the world, Matt also runs the free instructional website twofingerbanjo.com, makes YouTube and Patreon content, and works as a freelance musician and producer. read less
MusicMusic

Episodes

Olov Johansson: "And Then It Immediately Was Fun"
May 2 2022
Olov Johansson: "And Then It Immediately Was Fun"
Many regard Olov Johannson as Sweden's greatest craftsman on the nyckelharpa. With his brilliant solo playing and as a member of the group Väsen, he has been largely responsible for the explosion of nyckelharpa playing that has been witnessed recently in Sweden. Olov grew up in Tärnsjö in northern Uppland and began to play the nyckelharpa at age 14. About a year later he began to study with Curt Tallroth, a well-known bearer of the tradition from Harbo. Through Curt, Olov has learned tunes that have been played in northern Uppland for centuries, passed on from musician to musician. Olov has also played with Eric Sahlström, the most prominent nyckelharpa player of the 20th century. Since 1989, Olov has worked exclusively as a musician, principally with Väsen. But he also plays with Anders Bromander, Nyckelharpsorkestern, Björn Ståbi, Mats Berglund, Kalle Almlöf and as a solo artist. The popularity of the folk-rock group Nordman has brought the sound of Olov's harpa to the ears of more than one million record buyers. In 1997 he was honored to be the first Swedish folk musician to work with the world renowned American ensemble, the Kronos Quartet. Olov has toured in the U.S.A., Canada, India, Libya, Slovenia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Luxembourg, Italy, Japan and elsewhere. Olov works actively to pass on his musical inheritance, and has become a role model for many young nyckelharpa players. He gives instruction both at The Eric Sahlström-Institute and through the Royal Music College in Stockholm. Olov has received many awards and scholarships for his achievements as a musician. In 1984 he was selected as a National Musician, in 1989 he was awarded the Viksta-Lasse Scholarship, and in 1990 he was chosen as World's Master of both the modern and older type of nyckelharpa. In 1992 he received the Ceylon Wallin Scholarship and in 1995 the Vuxenskolan's Artist Stipendium. 2013 he received the Zorn Medal in gold, possibly the finest reward a traditional musician can get in Sweden.
Patrik Ahlberg: “The Un-Techno”
Mar 1 2021
Patrik Ahlberg: “The Un-Techno”
To support this podcast so I don't ever have to bore you with CBD underwear ads from sponsors, please become one of my Patreon donors. My Patreon tiers range from $2/month to $50/month with various rewards and features at each level. You can save 15% if you donate annually rather than monthly. Music in this episode: "The Big Scioty" [theme music] - Matt Brown & Greg Reish "Polska efter Monis Olle" - Patrik Ahlberg "Werther's Dream" - Patrik Ahlberg "Polska av Karl Stenberg" - Patrik Ahlberg "Deer Walk" - Matt Brown & Greg Reish "Soldier's Joy" - Matt Brown & Matt Brown "Gamlestovslåtten" - Patrik Ahlberg "The Big Scioty" [more theme music] - Matt Brown & Greg Reish In the episode, Patrik mentions The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. We talk about Simon Stålspets , one of Patrik's teachers who plays cittern and guitar. One of Simon's bands is the Stockholm Lisboa Project with Patrik's first fiddle teacher Sergio Crisostomo. Patrik also mentions Sven Ahlbäck from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH). Sven wrote the folk music theory textbooks they used at Sjöviks Folkhögskola, the folk music school Patrik attended. I also mention: * Brittany Haas * Seman Violins in Skokie, IL * The Lonesome Touch - Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill * Jacob Collier * Greg Reish and the album we made together, Speed of the Plow * Bruce Molsky * Ginny Hawker * Jayme Stone * Dave Sinko Relax Your Grid is produced, edited & mixed by Matt Brown. This episode was recorded by Matt Brown and Patrik Ahlberg. Tim Brown and Dave Sinko provided essential post-production assistance. The Relax Your Grid logo was designed by Otto Allard.