David Holt's State of Music

Celtic folk music thrives in America as well as on its home turf. David visits with masters of Celtic music John Doyle, Will MacMorran, and Andrew Finn Magill.

Masters of Celtic music John Doyle, Andrew Finn Magill, and Will MacMorran play the traditional ballad “Willie Taylor.”

David visits with renowned singer-songwriter Darrell Scott, whose music is intensely personal but also universal.

Renowned singer-songwriter Darrell Scott plays an excerpt from one of his best-known songs, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”

Blues artist Ruthie Foster has a voice like liquid gold and a distinctive way with old songs that makes you think you’re hearing them for the first time.

Blues vocalist Ruthie Foster, known for fresh arrangements of vintage songs, performs “Ring of Fire.”

Becky Buller is a powerhouse fiddler and bluegrass vocalist with impressive songwriting chops. Find out why she’s an enthusiastic songwriter but a reluctant band leader.

Host David Holt talks to Becky Buller about teaching music, and her band plays an original bluegrass tune called “Inglewood Upon Stratford.”

Host David Holt talks about country blues artist Jontavious Willis and joins him in one of his original songs, “The World Is In a Tangle.”

David visits with Jontavious Willis, a young guitarist and singer from Georgia who embodies the rhythms and feeling of traditional country blues.

Homemade music gets taken to the next level by modern masters who learned the old-time way. Host David welcomes Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Paul Brown, and Terri McMurray.

Host David Holt talks to Paul Brown and Terri McMurray about their mentor Tommy Jarrell, and they play the old fiddle tune “Sally Ann.”