For those of our readers suffering from Bluegrass Junction withdrawal this week while your favorite satellite channel is preempted for holiday programming, here are a few suggestions to help scratch your bluegrass itch.
First off, Bluegrass Junction is still producing new content, it just isn’t being broadcast on channel 61. You can access this content online, which is free with all full subscriptions, and all you have to do is call up siriusxm.com and login with your user name and password. Trial online subscriptions are offered for online use for at least a week for receiver-only plans.
That may not be as convenient as simply turning on your home or vehicle receiver, but it will get you back on the train.
If you can couple your smart phone to your audio system (car or home), SiriusXM has a free app that you can use to connect to Bluegrass Junction over the cellular network. Audio systems can vary widely but most new ones include a USB connection for phones. The SiriusXM app is available for iPhone, Android, and Kindle.
But don’t forget that Bluegrass Junction is not the only source of 24/7 bluegrass music. WAMU’s Bluegrass Country has a live signal that is available online from your computer or any connected device, as does WorldWideBluegrass.com, The Bluegrass Mix, and RadioVelvet.eu. Bluegrass Country has a free downloadable app for your phone, as does The Bluegrass Mix.
There is no fee to listen to any of those live streams, though they all depend on listener contributions for their survival. Who knows… you might find one you like better than Bluegrass Junction! And they are available wherever your phone hs reception.
The TuneIn app features a number of bluegrass channels, including a few of the streams mentioned above. Their premium service runs $7.99/month and offers several bluegrass streams. You may also find some grass at IHeartRadio.
Plus, don’t forget all the syndicated and locally-produced shows across the US and Canada. You can refer to our list of programmers who report to the Bluegrass Today Weekly and Monthly Airplay charts for more information. Many of those shows are also offered online.
Bluegrass radio offers a rich variety of programming, in a number of formats. And Bluegrass Junction will be back next week.
The Change.org petition asking SiriusXM not to preempt bluegrass music is still active online if you would like to sign. There are nearly 6500 names at this point.
