John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project: “Tennessee Politics”

Sharon Gilchrist, Rachel Baiman, and Ella Korth play a John Hartford fiddle tune during their workshop at the Grey Fox Festival.

By: Dan Gabel

September 3, 2026

John Hartford left behind a powerful legacy for the bluegrass, old-time, and modern acoustic music communities. He also left behind more than 2,000 fiddle tune charts in file cabinets under his desk, which his family began sifting through. In 2020, the John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Volume 1 was released, followed by Volume 2, which Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Sharon Gilchrist co-produced with Megan Lynch Chowning, and Katie Harford Hogue, in 2025. That release includes some of the most creative and sought-after artists on today’s roots music landscape: Alison Brown, Kathy Mattea, Della Mae, Rachel Baiman, Phoebe Hunt, Missy Raines, Ginger Boatwright, Natalie & Brittany Haas, Allison de Groot, The Price Sisters, Uncle Earl, Deanie Richardson, and many more. This stellar group of musicians has created a collection of previously unreleased fiddle tunes and a handful of beloved Hartford songs, and the Project is playing some live dates over the next several months.

Sharon, Rachel Baiman, and Ella Korth brought the excellent John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project to Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY, for a few sets this year. In this video from their interactive set at the Grass Roots Stage, which Peghead Nation sponsored, Sharon, Rachel, and Ella play “Tennessee Politics,” which was part of the The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1 recording. Sharon teaches the tune in her Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin course on Peghead Nation. More from this session later!

Learn mandolin with Sharon on Peghead Nation in her courses Beginning Mandolin, Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin, Bluegrass Mandolin Fingerboard Method, Melodic Embellishment, and Creative Mandolin Backup