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Author:   Dr Pete Ward (Durham University, UK)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions:   Width: 15.40cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   1.320kg
ISBN:  

9781350175686

ISBN 10:   1350175684
Pages:   224
Publication Date:   02 October 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: Tracing the Religious Dimensions of Bluegrass and Old Time Music 1. Down in the Holler: Bluegrass Roots 2. When Bluegrass Gets its Name: Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers and beyond 3. We’ve Drifted too Far from the Shore: Bluegrass, Rock and the Folk Revival 4. The Soggy Bottom Effect: ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou?’ 5. The Persistence of Religion: Gillian Welch, Ricky Skaggs, and Alison Krauss Part 2: A Religious Ethnography of Bluegrass and Old Time Performers, Pickers and Worshippers 6. The Gospel According to Bluegrass: Exploring the religious themes in Jam Session Standards 7. Religion and Bluegrass Performers 8. Pickers in the US and the Religious dimensions of Bluegrass Jams 9. Pickers in the UK and the Religious dimensions of Bluegrass Jams 10. I went down to the river to pray: The use of Bluegrass and Old Time in Modern Christian worship Bibliography Index

Reviews

A musician as well as a theologian who has investigated encounters with God outside of traditional churches, Ward provides unique insights on the ways we deal with religion in our music making. The chapters include close readings and critical re-examination of key bluegrass gospel texts and historical contexts, media representations and myths, and highlight the diversity of views on religion voiced by musicians. I look forward to the discussions in classrooms and around jam circles after people read and think through these pages. * Lee Bidgood, East Tennessee State University, USA * Pete Ward has undertaken an ambitious and creative approach to explicating the religious content of bluegrass and related musics. Employing tools of historical, theological, cultural, intellectual, and survey research, he illuminates important patterns and posits striking, relevant insights. For anyone interested in exploring bluegrass gospel music and its ties to unfolding patterns in modern society, I highly recommend Bluegrass and Religion. * Fred Bartenstein, Former President of the IBMA Foundation, USA * This is a wonderful example of what one might call scholarly fandom. Pete Ward is an amateur bluegrass musician who studies theology and a professional theologian who studies bluegrass. He is also a wise, painstaking and imaginative researcher. Bluegrass and Religion is a must read for anyone fascinated by the everyday entanglement of musical and religious experiences. * Simon Frith, University of Edinburgh, UK *

This is a wonderful example of what one might call scholarly fandom. Pete Ward is an amateur bluegrass musician who studies theology and a professional theologian who studies bluegrass. He is also a wise, painstaking and imaginative researcher. Bluegrass and Religion is a must read for anyone fascinated by the everyday entanglement of musical and religious experiences. * Simon Frith, University of Edinburgh, UK * Pete Ward has undertaken an ambitious and creative approach to explicating the religious content of bluegrass and related musics. Employing tools of historical, theological, cultural, intellectual, and survey research, he illuminates important patterns and posits striking, relevant insights. For anyone interested in exploring bluegrass gospel music and its ties to unfolding patterns in modern society, I highly recommend Bluegrass and Religion. * Fred Bartenstein, Former President of the IBMA Foundation, USA * A musician as well as a theologian who has investigated encounters with God outside of traditional churches, Ward provides unique insights on the ways we deal with religion in our music making. The chapters include close readings and critical re-examination of key bluegrass gospel texts and historical contexts, media representations and myths, and highlight the diversity of views on religion voiced by musicians. I look forward to the discussions in classrooms and around jam circles after people read and think through these pages. * Lee Bidgood, East Tennessee State University, USA *

Author Information

Pete Ward is Professor of Practical Theology Durham University, UK.

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