Bruce Molsky: “Through the Gates”

Peghead Nation fiddle and banjo instructor plays a Russ Barenberg tune on guitar at the Peghead Parlor, Wintergrass 2025.

Listening to Old-Time Fiddle and Old-Time Banjo instructor Bruce Molsky play and then casually talk about his process was a highlight of our late night Peghead Parlor at Wintergrass earlier this year.  In addition to playing fiddle, Bruce treated us to this great take on the Russ Barenberg tune, “Through the Gates,” on guitar. He’s playing a 1938 Washburn guitar loaned to Bruce by Mark Demaray, because Bruce’s trusty Santa Cruz guitar was damaged while traveling.

Russ Barenberg recorded this tune on Transatlantic Sessions 3 with Aly Bain on fiddle and Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Bruce was also on Transatlantic Sessions 3, playing fiddle and singing on several recordings, all worth checking out!

For more guitar from Bruce Molsky, check out his album  Everywhere You Go (Tiki Parlour Recordings), released a few years ago. The recording is a musical tour of the globe, with tunes from Africa, Scandinavia, Scotland, Ireland, and America.

To learn old-time fiddle from Bruce, enroll in his Old-Time Fiddle course on Peghead Nation today. And learn clawhammer banjo from Bruce in his Old-Time Banjo course. Sign up for either course now and get your first month free with promo code “BruceLand” at checkout.

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