Grant Gordy and Joe K. Walsh: “Flop-Eared Mule”
Peghead Nation guitar and mandolin instructors play a fun old-time tune in the Peghead Parlor at Wintergrass 2026.
The Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue, Washington, took place in February, and Peghead Nation sponsored the extensive Workshop program and enjoyed a weekend of great performances, workshops, and musical hangs. We hosted the Peghead Parlor on Friday and Saturday nights in the Peghead Nation suite, where we had some magical showcase performances by some of the Peghead Nation instructors who performed at Wintergrass throughout the weekend.
In this video, Peghead Nation guitar and mandolin instructors and bandmates in Mr Sun, Grant Gordy, play the traditional tune “Flop-Eared Mule,” which has origins in the late 1890’s under the name “Detroit Schottische,” morphing into its current title in the 20th century recordings and publications. Grant and Joe have fun with this, like they do whenever they play together, and that’s a joy to witness up close like we did in the Peghead Parlor showcases.
This year’s Wintergrass festival included Peghead Nation instructors performing and teaching throughout the weekend, among them John Reischman, Bruce Molsky, Joe K. Walsh, Grant Gordy, and Brittany Haas. Also on the jam-packed performance schedule were New Dangerfield, Missy Raines & Allegheny, The Fretless, Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, Väsen, Jordan Tice Trio, Squirrel Butter, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Same Street Band with Darol Anger, and many more artists. Put it on your schedule for next year!
We’ll have more Peghead Parlor moments in a bit, from Grant and Joe, John Reischman and Joe, Bruce Molsky, who played a great set on fiddle, banjo, and guitar. And Never Come Down, who teach a new Three-Part Vocal Harmony Session on Peghead Nation, joined us in the suite for a great late-night set as well, and we’ll share some songs from that. Stay tuned!
To learn mandolin from Joe, enroll in his Advancing Mandolinist, Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites, Octave Mandolin, Swing and Jazz Mandolin, or Improvising for Mandolin and Fiddle courses today! Use promo code JoeLand to get your first month free!
And join Grant in his Contemporary Flatpicking Guitar course on Peghead Nation. Use code GrantLand to get your first month free!
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