In anticipation of the upcoming Ken Burns’ docuseries Country Music, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) is airing a new special, Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music.
Airing at 8 p.m., Aug. 30, Big Family is the perfect bluegrass primer. This two-hour special traces the genre’s history ― outlining how Scots-Irish and African-American influences led Bill Monroe to develop the distinct musical genre to its foothold in popular culture through television and movies.
Big Family features recordings and performance footage that celebrate bluegrass’ unique sound. The film also features more than 50 musicians including Alison Brown, JD Crowe, Bela Fleck, Bobby Osborne and many more. The film chronicles how bluegrass has evolved as American culture and politics played out ― revealing that the story of America can be heard in every note of bluegrass music.
Big Family also explores the role of women in bluegrass and shares stories from some of the genre’s most celebrated musicians, who discuss how they work together to create what the film calls a, “magical, huge, powerful sound.”
OETA provides essential educational content and services that inform, inspire and connect Oklahomans to ideas and information that enrich our quality of life. We do this by consistently engaging Oklahomans with educational and public television programming, providing educational training and curriculum, outreach initiatives and online features that collectively encourage lifelong learning. For more information about education curriculum and programs, local productions, digital television, community resources and show schedules explore OETA.tv or visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.