The Bluegrass Ramble on KBCS 91.3

On air

Sunday · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM · PT

KBCS · 91.3 · USA

Modern;Gospel;Traditional;Progressive

About the show

Tom Voorhees is a premier voice keeping acoustic roots music alive in the Pacific Northwest. Originally a native of Michigan, Tom’s lifelong obsession with the genre was ignited in the 1970s by a Sunday afternoon bluegrass show hosted by John Morris, the iconic founder of Old Homestead Records. Through Morris's show, Tom was exposed to legends like Larry Sparks and Charlie Moore performing intimate sessions right in Morris's basement. Seeking to experience the heritage firsthand, Tom later lived in a rustic, tin-roofed cabin nestled high in the mountains outside Hot Springs, North Carolina. There, he spent a formative period embedded within a scattered community of Appalachian farmers, studying their deep-rooted connections to faith, family, and front-porch picking. After relocating to Washington, Tom discovered The Bluegrass Ramble on the radio dial and instantly found his broadcasting calling. For years, he has served as a beloved public radio personality on 91.3 KBCS, the influential community voice broadcasting from Bellevue and Seattle. Alongside his partner Tom Keeney, Tom alternate-hosts the program every other Sunday. His massive knowledge of traditional instrumentation also extends to his work hosting the classic country program Walkin' The Floor on the station. On-Air Style & Sound Soulful Singin' & Hot Pickin': True to the show's core blueprint, the playlist is an upbeat, high-fidelity three-hour block dedicated entirely to classic American bluegrass singing and top-shelf instrumentation. Story-Driven Presentation: Drawing directly from his time living in the North Carolina mountains, Tom loves to share listener stories and weave in deep historical context about Appalachian mountain culture, folklore, and the origins of the songs. The Blueprint Era: Listeners can expect a heavily curated rotation featuring foundational heritage artists, vintage vinyl tracks, and the iconic acts that defined early acoustic radio. Interactive Community Pulse: Tom treats his global audience like neighbors, actively dedicating broadcast sets to tracking fan emails, handling listener requests, and taking live phone calls.