Woodsongs Vodcasts: Recent Episodes
The Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour Vodcast
Straight from beautiful Lexington, Kentucky, WoodSongs is an internationally syndicated radio program that celebrates the known and unknown independent musician. Heard by over 2m weekly on over 500 radio stations, American Forces Radio Network and public TV across the US. You don't have to be famous to get on Woodsongs, but you do have to be GOOD.
ABE PARTRIDGE sounds older than his chronological age, and there’s a very good reason for that – he’s packed a lot of living into his 37 years. This troubadour grew up in Alabama, moved to a rural enclave of Kentucky, and served with the Air Force in Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon his return to the states, he turned his attention to being a singer/songwriter & creator of folk art paintings. Partridge draws listeners in with a combination of southern gothic storytelling and a dark humor reminiscent of the late Townes Van Zandt – delivered in a gravelly tone that conjures up images of Tom Waits in his barstool warming days. Partridge is currently putting the finishing touches on a new album he is recording with Nashville guitarist/producer Shawn Byrne.
NORA JANE STRUTHERS has written "some of the most quietly powerful narratives within the new wave of Americana artists," says Ann Powers of NPR Music. Born in Virginia, raised in New Jersey and living now in Nashville, Strutters has built her career on these kinds of songs. There’s an honesty and energy to Nora Jane’s stage presence; a vulnerability that is part and parcel of great artistry. In one moment, she joyfully leads the audience in a dance party ... in the next, she lays her soul bare for the world to hear. Her new album ‘Bright Lights, Long Drives’ finds the poetry in the everyday and in life’s little miracles.
WoodSongs Kid: Dylan James "Boogie Boy" Shaw is an award winning twelve-year-old blues pianist from Dallas Texas.
TED YODER is a master of the hammered dulcimer and FaceBook viral sensation. His hammered dulcimer cover of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” became one of the most-watched Facebook Live posts in 2016 when the song received more than 101 million views from music fans around the world. Based in Goshen, Indiana, Yoder’s played the dulcimer for decades (check out the raves here) and even won America’s National Hammered Dulcimer Championship in 2010. He will be performing material from his new album ‘Lean In’.
THE HENHOUSE PROWLERS are bluegrass ambassadors. Founded over 15 years ago in Chicago, IL with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this quartet now finds themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy and education. The Prowlers have now been to more than 25 countries across the globe, working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors - incorporating music from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and more into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music.
WoodSongs Kids: Ashlyn Smith and Brannock McCartan are two incredible bluegrass instrumentalist from Kentucky.
BILL AND THE BELLES have captured the freewheeling, lighthearted approach to music that has endeared them to listeners of every generation. With a spirited sound that falls somewhere between old-time country and vaudeville, the group puts its own spin on a golden era of music, specifically the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The band’s latest singles mark a new chapter for the Johnson City, TN-based stringband: a bigger, moodier, more decade-ambiguous American sound.
VALERIE SMITH & LIBERTY PIKE have developed a unique style and sound that has rocked the bluegrass world for almost two decades with a string of national and international tours, critically acclaimed recordings, and Grammy, IBMA and Dove Award nominations. Originally from Missouri and now based in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Val's vocals are impressive. She has a staggeringly expansive range and the ability to portray an amazing array of emotion. Her East Coast-based band, Liberty Pike featuring legendary Hall of Famer , Tom Gray on bass, are consistent audience pleasers and skilled musicians. The band’s latest release is ‘Small Town Heroes.’
WoodSongs Kid: Grace Koch is a sixteen-year-old blues musician from Fort Collins, Colorado.
CAROLINA BLUE is a Brevard, NC based band whose roots run deep in the tradition of Bill Monroe. Band members are Bobby Powell on guitar and vocals, Timmy Jones on mandolin and vocals, Reese Combs on upright bass and vocals, James McDowell on banjo and vocals, as well as American and Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion, Aynsley Porchak on fiddle, who is recipient of the 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Instrumentalist Award. The band created a palpable buzz in bluegrass in 2020 with recently signed with Nashville's Billy Blue Records for an album due out in spring.
JESSIE CLEMENT distinct sonic style reflects her heavy James Taylor and John Mayer influences. The Murfreesboro, TN,20-year-old's grew up in a family completely immersed in music. Now, she dives deep into her musical roots in her introspective, coming-of-age record ‘Slow Motion Philosophies,’ out via Corum Hill Records. The album is a collection of poetry that chronicles a young woman’s journey into adulthood as she experiences heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery — all set to the tone of vintage R&B grooves, loose Jazz swagger, and crystalline vocals.
WoodSongs Kids: The Roberts Sisters hail from Lafollette, Tennessee and love to sing. They are joined by the Birdsongs.
HAWKTAIL is the instrumental acoustic quartet of fiddler Brittany Haas, bassist Paul Kowert, guitarist Jordan Tice, and mandolinist Dominick Leslie. Though at first glance it looks like an acoustic superpicker side-project, their all-original music is cohesive and unique, distinguishing them as an ensemble with a sound built from the ground up. Each member of Hawktail brings a strong individuality to the project. Haas, whose 2004 self-titled release instantly became the touchstone for a generation of old-time fiddlers, has since lent her sound to Crooked Still, Live From Here, Steve Martin, and David Rawlings, where she played alongside Kowert, well known as the Grammy-winning Punch Brothers’ virtuosic bass player. Tice is a rare guitar player whose music showcases his unique identity and a particular knack for song and tune-writing, and Leslie is a versatile mandolinist whose rhythmic sensibility has made him ubiquitous on the acoustic music scene for over a decade. Their monstrous compositional and instrumental forces are on full display on their much-anticipated sophomore album, ‘Formations.’
APPALACHIAN ROAD SHOW is a visionary acoustic ensemble, bringing new-generation interpretations of traditional Americana, bluegrass and folk songs, as well as offering innovative original music, all presented with a common thread tied directly to the heart of the Appalachian regions of the United States. GRAMMY-nominated banjoist Barry Abernathy, joins forces with GRAMMY-winning fiddler Jim VanCleve, fresh off of his recent stint touring with multi-platinum country artist Josh Turner, as well as esteemed vocalist and mandolinist Darrell Webb, who has recorded and toured with Dolly Parton and Rhonda Vincent, among many others. The group also includes bassist Todd Phillips, an acknowledged legend in bluegrass music circles, with two GRAMMY wins and four GRAMMY nominations under his belt, along with 23-year-old “old soul” guitarist Zeb Snyder, whose fierce and versatile playing recalls Doc Watson and Norman Blake as readily as it does Duane Allman and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Appalachian Roadshow released its debut album last year, and the band is back in the studio working on its second offering due out early 2020.
WoodSongs Kid: Beth Davis is sixteen-year-old fiddler and vocalist from Carbondale, Illinois.
MICHAEL LEE is a Fort Worth based Blues artist. He was featured as a contestant for the 2018 Season of The Voice and has been the featured artist w/ The BB King’s Blues Band this past year including their WoodSongs appearance. Raised around blues music his entire life, Michael spent the majority of his young life in blues clubs receiving an ivy league education from watching and playing with blues legends such as Andrew "Jr Boy" Jones (Freddie King), Buddy Whittington (John Mayall), Lucky Peterson (Willie Dixon). On nights he was not in the blues clubs he was down in the stockyards soaking in the Country sounds which emanated from those honky tonks. Like Delbert McClinton and many Fort Worth musicians before him, Michael’s style of music has the perfect blend of Blues and Country. Lee's released his sophomore album 'Heart of Stone' early this year.
THE RESONANT ROGUES craft fresh songs from a variety of vintage styles, featuring vocal harmonies accompanied by accordion, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and upright bass. Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina with a passion for folk music that spans continents and oceans, The Rogues weave the threads of Appalachian folk, Swing Manouche, Vintage Country, and Euro folk together into a beautiful tapestry that simultaneously showcases tradition and innovation. The Rogues’ third studio album, 'Autumn of the World', is available now.
KYLE DILLINGHAM, of Oklahoma City, started playing the violin when he was nine. While still in high school, Dillingham was featured twice on Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and had performed with legends Roy Clark and Hank Thompson. Dillingham has taken his music to 37 countries earning him the title of “Oklahoma’s Musical Ambassador” and wrapped up his 2019 Silk Road and The Fiddle Sister State Tour through China marking his 13th trip there. He also made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July.
FAST TRACK is new bluegrass super group following the recent announcement of the retirement of long time Cardinal Tradition band leader, David Parmley. The five members of Fast Track are not only all highly decorated in awards from the IBMA and SPBGMA organizations, but are also veteran players on the Grand Ole Opry stage, across the United States, up through Canada, and throughout Europe. Between all of the gentlemen, they have performed with, recorded on and participated in countless projects with bluegrass and country music royalty throughout their most impressive careers. The Fast Track members are: Dale Perry (banjo, bass vocals), Steve Day (fiddle, vocals), Ron Spears (bass, vocals), Jesse Brock (mandolin, vocals), and Duane Sparks (guitar, vocals). The band’s debut EP is set to be released after the first of the year. Their WoodSongs performance will be their first official show as an ensemble.
WoodSongs Kids: Kentucky Just Us is a family bluegrass band from Greensburg, Kentucky..
RIDERS IN THE SKY have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing the genre for over thirty years. And while remaining true to the integrity of Western music, they have themselves become modern-day icons by branding the genre with their own legendary wacky humor and way-out Western wit, and all along encouraging buckaroos and buckarettes to live life "The Cowboy Way!" Riders In The Sky are stars of the stage, screen, the Grand Ol' Opry, National Public Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Saturday morning TV, and are the only exclusively Western artist to have won a Grammy Award. They truly are "America's Favorite Cowboys!
WoodSongs Kid: Phoebe White is an award winning 8-year-old singer from London, Kentucky.
JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS are at the top of their game. Celebrating their 10th year as a professional touring band, JMRR won the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” Award at the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards; this is the band’s first win – and first nomination – in this category. In addition, JMRR won "Collaborative Recording of the Year" for "The Guitar Song" with special guest, Del McCoury. They have been seen by thousands of fans across the continent through performances at a vast array of venues including the National Folk Festival, Bluegrass Underground, Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman, and regular guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Their latest is release is 'For The Record' on Billy Blue Records.
GUMBO, GRITS & GRAVY is a ‘gathering’ featuring three brilliant musicians with culturally and musically diverse backgrounds. The new musical roots collaboration are mystic violinist Anne Harris, Creole torchbearer Marcella Simien, and renaissance blueman Guy Davis. As the name implies, Gumbo, Grits & Gravy is grounded in the roots of a hearty, home-cooked meal, the foundation of family and tradition, which is more often guided by maternal inspirations. Through this understanding, it is a celebration of a musical and cultural diversity that this trio hopes to document and spread to the world in 2019 and beyond.
WoodSongs Kids: Skyline Drive is youth bluegrass band from Kentucky.
ROB ICKES AND TREY HENSLEY are a powerhouse acoustic duo that has electrified the acoustic music scene. Rob is a 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Dobro Player of the Year and Trey a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy who made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 11. White-hot picking and stone country vocals are still the driving force of the duo, but now with added grit and a nod to the rootsier side of Americana. Their new Compass Records album is ‘World Full of Blues’.
LARRY CAMPBELL & TERESA WILLIAMS have been called “The First Couple of Americana” (Mojo). Multi-instrumentalist-singer-songwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams’ acclaimed eponymous 2015 debut, released after seven years of playing in Levon Helm’s band – and frequent guesting with Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Phil Lesh, Little Feat, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassady, brought to the stage the crackling creative energy of a decades-long offstage union. A whirlwind of touring and promo followed, and when the dust cleared, the duo was ready to do it all again on ‘Contraband Love’, their new album on Red House Records and a riskier slice of Americana.
WoodSongs Kid: Duncan Stiit is a fifteen-year-old award-winning dobro player from Knoxville, Tennessee.
CHARLIE HUNTER AND LUCY WOODWARD are known for excelling in different genres, yet the two veteran musicians have been running in similar circles before pairing up for touring in 2018. With a career spanning 26 years and almost 20 albums, virtuoso guitarist Charlie Hunter has worked with the likes of Norah Jones, Mos Def, John Mayer, and D’Angelo. He is widely considered the authority on the seven and eight - string guitar. Lucy Woodward made her major label debut in 2003. She has since recorded/toured with Rod Stewart, Snarky Puppy, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Pink Martini, Chaka Khan and Carole King releasing 3 more albums along the way. ‘Music!Music!Music!’ marks the recorded debut of the musical partnership and an exhilarating blast of blues, soul and funk.
GINA CHAVEZ is a 12-time Austin Music Award winner, including 2019 Best Female Vocals. Her bilingual, pan-Latin sound explore the true meaning of “Americana" as she and her five-piece band take audiences on a high-energy journey through Latin America and beyond. Gina tours internationally as a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State Dept, and runs Niñas Arriba, a college scholarship fund for young women in gang-dominated El Salvador. Her NPR Tiny Desk concert has more than 890,000 views and her national TV debut is now airing on PBS stations nationwide.
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY is one of the most revered and accomplished singer songwriters of his generation. Considered as “America’s Cowboy” because of his work to preserve the music and lifestyle of the west, he is also a prolific artist. From his his songs WILDFIRE and GERONIMO’S CADILLAC, CAROLINIA IN THE PINES and more his music has crossed all boundries from pop to rock, bluegrass to folk and more.
MIHOKO GOTO is one of the leading accordionists in Japan, whose unique sound and performing style is highly praised both at home and abroad. Mihoko started playing the piano at the age of five, and at age ten, she took up the accordion. She is an artist with inclination towards classical and east European and Roma music. At the same time, she adheres to and cherishes her own identity, which brings her affection and appreciation towards Japanese music. Audience will be intrigued by Mihoko’s presentation of accordion music – a new genre of collaboration of Japanese and European music on a traditional European instrument.
WoodSongs Kids: Alexander and William Auer are accomplished violists from Lexington, Kentucky who are twin brothers.
DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE combine rich harmonies with impeccable musicianship to create the unmistakable sound that has made them one of the hottest young acts in acoustic music. Darin spent 6 years as a member of the acclaimed County Gentleman and is a highly sought-after multi-instrumentalist. Brooke has been lauded for having one of the most powerful voices in music of any genre is the reigning IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year. The North Carolina duo will be performing songs from ’Inner Journey’, their debut album on Rounder Records.
STEPHANIE URBINA JONES is well-known for celebrating her Hispanic heritage through her music, which can be described as Latin-rooted Americana, or “Texicana country folk-rock.” Jones' latest studio album, ‘Tularosa’, is an inspired marriage of country classics and mariachi rhythms named for the place where it was recorded. Tularosa honors Urbina Jones’ musical icons — a string of legends from Dolly, Patsy, Willie, and Merle to Johnny and June — and the Mexican heritage that feeds her sound and soul. She will be performing on WoodSongs with her band Honky Tonk Mariachi.
WoodSongs Kid: Jenna Quinones is a fourteen-year-old ukulele player and singer from Lexington, Kentucky.
THE FOLK LEGACY TRIO are George Grove and Rick Dougherty formerly with the Kingston Trio and Jerry Siggins, former lead singer of The Diamonds. These three men have been involved with the music of the great Folk Era since it's very beginning sharing stages stages with the best known names with musical icons like Peter Paul & Mary, Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, The Limeliters, The New Christy Minstrels, The Chad Mitchell Trio, The Mamas & The Papas, John Sebastian, Josh White Jr, Glenn Yarbrough, Pete Seeger and more. It is a journey through the Great American Folksong Booky with their signature dynamic harmonies enriching some of the most beloved songs ever written.
CHANCE MCCOY is a Grammy Award winning Indie Folk musician from West Virginia. A virtuoso fiddler, guitarist, and banjo player, McCoy is best known as a member of GRAMMY-winning Americana powerhouse Old Crow Medicine Show, but ‘Wander Wide,’ his debut solo album, reveals a remarkable depth and versatility far beyond anything we’ve heard from him yet. Captivating in its cross of the traditional and the progressive, the record shows little regard for the conventional boundaries of genre and decade, blending old-school bluegrass melodies with modern rock and roll arrangements and rich, atmospheric production.
WoodSongs Kids: Marlee Hart and Hudson MacReady hail from Knoxville, Tennessee and perfom blues and roots music as a duo.
THE KINGSTON TRIO began with Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane and Dave Guard in 1955… Home base: San Francisco. The three founded what turned out to be the most influential music band to emerge from the 1950s, only to be outdone by The Beatles. With talent and tenacity, they rose to become the undisputed kings of an acoustic musical genre that exploded onto the American scene, and still exists today. Celebrating the group’s more than 60 years of entertaining audiences, all three current members, Mike Marvin, Tim Gorelangton and Don Marovich have intrinsic links to and experience with the original group.
ALLIE COLLEEN is no stranger to the music industry. A Belmont University graduate from Owasso, Oklahoma with a style that is truly her own, Allie has a passion for singing and songwriting since a young age has garnered her a reputation of being a notable songwriter with an iconic-sounding voice. Her impeccably strong voice with hints of timeless tradition falls between classic country and the emerging country sound. Her recent debut single, “Work In Progress” defines the life that’s shaped her with personal lyrics and transparency in both the vocals and delivery.
WoodSongs Kids: The Byrne Brothers are a traditional Irish Music Band and Irish Dancers from Donegal, Ireland. .
From it's humble origins in Hawaii to becoming a worldwide phenomenon, the ukulele is having a global revival thanks to artists like Jake Shimabukuro, Emi Sunshine and more. It was a favorite instrument of George Harrison and Eddie Vedder called it "an activist instrument." On this WoodSongs, we'll be exploring the many styles, sounds and stories of the uke with musicians from across the country.
EMISUNSHINE has been attracting national attention since she was nine years old with appearances on “The Today Show,” NBC’s “Little Big Shots,” “Pickler & Ben,” the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere. Rolling Stone named 15-year-old EmiSunshine among “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know,” but she is more than country. With music described as “old-timey,” the East Tennessee native adds her own unique contemporary blend of roots music that is equal parts Americana, Bluegrass, Gospel, Blues and Jazz.
VICTOR & PENNY deliver swing-infused folk-jazz in the band’s signature high-energy style with joy, humor, and soaring musical improvisation. This corset-tight group brings a modern Kansas City voice to their original tunes and prohibition era jazz with sterling musicianship.
DIANA CHITTESTER’S live performance is brought to life by her signature percussive, multi-part acoustic ukulele and guitar playing. This Cleveland, Ohio storyteller uniquely developed style is accentuated by her alternating between picking and strumming, all while pounding out bass lines and drum beats.
Jug bands got their name from using instruments that were either homemade or household items such as a jug. Beginnings in the South in the 19th century, with origins in Louisville, KY, they were made up predominately of African-American musicians and were in their heyday from the 1890s to the Great Depression. Playing a mixture of blues, ragtime, and jazz, jug bands were some of the first musicians to record and a key contributor to the evolution of blues and early rock and roll. The folk revival in the 60's launched a second wave of jug-band music and it continues to exist and evolve today. On this WoodSongs broadcast, we'll be celebrating the music and history of jug bands with musicians from across the country.
JIM KWESKIN is a folk music legend and founder of the legendary 1960s Jim Kweskin Jug Band which successfully transformed the sounds of pre-World War II rural music into a springboard for their good-humored performances. Their imitators were legion, including The Grateful Dead, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Lovin’ Spoonful and more. These days Jim is best known as a singer and bandleader, but he also created one of the bedrock guitar styles of the folk revival.
JERRON “BLIND BOY” PAXTON transforms traditional jazz, blues, folk, and country into the here and now. Hailing from NYC, his sound is influenced by the likes of Fats Waller and "Blind" Lemon Jefferson. According to The Wall Street Journal, Paxton is "virtually the only music-maker of his generation—playing guitar, banjo, piano and violin, among other implements—to fully assimilate the blues idiom of the 1920s and ‘30s."
THE STEEL CITY JUG SLAMMERS made a name for themselves in Birmingham, AL with a new album, extensive touring and the band's recent induction into the Jug Band Hall of Fame.
WoodSongs Kids: The Wallace Sisters are three harmozing siblings from Lexington, Kentucky.
JANIVA MAGNESS has traveled millions of miles, sung on thousands of club and festival stages, and made a string of recordings that have earned accolades and awards. She is only the second woman, following blues giant Koko Taylor, to receive the Blues Foundation's B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. NEW BOOK and ALBUM: This Grammy nominated artist now tells her dramatic, miraculous and deeply moving story about a life worth living with her memior 'Weeds Like Us'. On the this Special Event Broadcast of WoodSongs, Janiva will be read and discuss her book plus perform with her full band. She will feature songs from her new album 'Change in the Weather: Janiva Magness Sings John Fogerty' released on Blue Élan Records, 12 songs curated from the Creedence Clearwater Revival leader's catalog in Magness' soaring, soul-centered style.
THE BB KING BLUES BAND are the men who walked alongside the iconic bluesman for over 35 years. The band writes the next chapter, on an album that salutes King’s classic songs and showcases their own. Boasting several world-class songwriters in their ranks, ‘The Soul Of The King’ finds the lineup supplying material that stands alongside their late leader’s catalogue. The B.B. King Blues Band are thrilled to announce B.B. Kings daughter, Claudette King (vocals) and Michael Lee from The Voice (guitar & vocals) will be appearing with them for this Special Event broadcast taping of WoodSongs.
WoodSongs Kid: Six String Andrew is a thirteen-year-old guitar player from Van Cleave, Mississippi.
DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS shows are filled with New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger and dark theatrical moments. Davina has been compared to Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and even Betty Boop, but comparisons don’t suffice. Sowers is a true original. ‘Sugar Drops’ is her first album on Red House Records and marks the first time this Minneapolis-based artist entered a proper studio to record an album. It’s a distillation of bluesy barroom baritone and bravado, graveyard jazz grooves, and noir-ish confessional lyricism backed by boisterous piano, guitar, and strings, the music actualizes.
TURLACH BOYLAN and DAVEY MATHIAS are two masters of traditional Irish music. Turlach Boylan was once cryptically introduced onstage as “a musician’s musician”. He learned his music standing in the Culleybackey kitchen of County Antrim flute master John Kennedy, kickstarting a lifelong pursuit of the elusive musical quality ‘Lift’. Davey Mathias is literally a guitarist’s guitarist. He has often performed with fiddler Randal Bays, himself a highly respected Irish music guitarist.
WoodSongs Kid: Hudson MacCready is an twelve-year-old guitar player from Knoxville, Tennessee.
JOHN PAUL WHITE grew up in tiny Loretto, Tennessee, and now lives in Florence, Alabama, not far from Muscle Shoals. He has cultivated a music career in Nashville for two decades, first as a songwriter for a major publisher, then half of The Civil Wars – a groundbreaking duo that won four Grammy Awards before disbanding in 2012. With ‘The Hurting Kind’, John Paul White has crafted a stunning album that draws on the lush, orchestrated music made in Nashville in the early 1960s. Yet these songs retain a modern feel, whether he’s writing about overwhelming love, unraveling relationships, or fading memory of a loved one.
SIDELINE is a pedigreed six-piece powerhouse whose style has set the pace in Bluegrass for over two decades. Founders Steve Dilling, Skip Cherryholmes and Jason Moore can all claim their own historical significance to the genre as members of highly awarded groups, multiple Grand Ole Opry appearances and years of national and international touring. What started as a side project for the seasoned players soon moved to the front and center as the three were joined by talents of Bailey Coe; guitar, Troy Boone; mandolin, and Daniel Greeson; fiddle, and began to record and release albums in earnest. Combine all this with their on-stage energy and finesse as well as their powerful and affecting harmonies, and you have the embodiment of the North Carolina Bluegrass sound.
The Griffin Miller Band hail from Georgia and Florida and features 11-year-old Sadie Miller on vocal and Bryce and Brett Griffin on bass and acoustic guitar.
THE LEE BOYS are one of America’s finest “sacred steel” ensembles and have been bringing their joyful noise around world for over 10 years. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their nephews, Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass), Earl Walker (drums) and Roosevelt Collier (Pedal Steel) and Chris Johnson, a young pedal steel player from Miami, that is making quite a name for himself. The band’s new album ‘Live On The East Coast’ continues the Lee Boys reputation of playing eclectic, soulful music that incorporates elements of rock, country, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, funk and more.
GRADY CHAMPION is a 21st Century Bluesman. This Mississippi-based songwriter/entertainer/musician has been captivating audiences for more than two decades. Champion has been the winner of prestigious Grammy and Blues Music Awards as well as the recipient of the 26th International Blues Challenge. His new CD, ‘Steppin' In’, is a tribute to legendary Texas bluesman ZZ Hill who died 35 years ago. Hill particularly inspired CHAMPION because Hill’s combination of blues & soul stylings helped to restore the blues to modern black consciousness.
YASMIN WILLIAMS is an acoustic finger style guitarist with a nod to the great MICHAEL HEDGES. Growing up in northern Virginia, her music has been commonly described as refreshing, relaxing, and unique and has been called some of the most imaginative guitar music out today. She utilizes various techniques including alternate tunings, percussive hits, and lap tapping in her music to great effect. She has won various local talent shows, was a finalist in the Rolling Stones Young Gun guitar competition, was the Grand prize winner of New York University’s Ultra Violet Live talent show, and won the grand prize in Culpeper Has Talent. She was recently featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday show.
EMILY WOLFE transcends the ranks of ordinary musicians. Her creative songwriting keeps her fans aglow thanks to her strong, powerful lead vocals and dominating guitar style. This Austin, TX’s resident rocker has shared stages with the likes of Heart, The Pretenders, Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons and Gary Clark Jr. Wolfe a self-taught guitar player starting at the age of 5, has honed her craft over the past 22 years and has been described as a sonic merging of PJ Harvey and Jack White. Featured by the Wall Street Journal, MTV, NPR, and American Songwriter, Emily Wolfe is definitely one to watch. She released a debut self-titled, full-length album earlier this year.
GEORGE WINSTON is undeniably a household name. He's inspired fans and musicians alike with his singular solo acoustic piano songs for more than 40 years while selling 15 million albums. A tireless road warrior playing nearly 100 concerts annually, live performance for Winston is akin to breathing. Winston's music is evocative, offering us all a chance to take a step back from our perpetually busy lives and let our minds adventurously wander. ‘Restless Wind’ is the acclaimed 15th solo piano album and a portrayal of Winston's place in a chaotic world -- his compositions extend solace with an idiosyncratic grace.
ANDREW BIRD is an internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, whistler, and songwriter who picked up his first violin at the age of four and spent his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely by ear. Since beginning his recording career in 1997, Bird has released 13 albums and performed extensively worldwide. He has recorded with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, appeared as “Dr. Stringz” on Jack’s Big Music Show, and headlined concerts at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and festivals worldwide. New album 'My Finest Work Yet' is out now.
DANNY BURNS is a red-headed, storytelling, hard-touring Irishman whose own voice is just as evocative as his songwriting. He grew up in the Irish county of Donegal surrounded by singers and instrumentalists receiving a first-class education in Irish folk music along the way. He kicked off his career as a traveling folksinger, logging shows on both sides of the Atlantic. He's been on the road ever since, sharpening a sound that mixes the folk traditions of his native Ireland with diverse American influences. ‘North Country’ is Danny’s new collaborative album filled with appearances by icons like Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Tift Merritt.
REED TURCHI was raised in the Swannanoa valley of Western North Carolina and grew up playing piano, focusing on boogie woogie and New Orleans styles before becoming infatuated with slide guitar. While learned Hill Country Blues (RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Mississippi Fred McDowell) firsthand in North Mississippi, he’s become a master of guitar driven blues that shapeshift seamlessly between acoustic slide, electric juke joint boogie, and the improvisational, groove-driven, massive sound of his band. Reed’s eleventh album, ‘Midnight in Memphis’ was recorded live at legendary Sun Studio featuring his Kudzu Choir band.
WoodSongs Kid: Christian Gisborne is a sixteen-year-old indie rock & roll singer and songwriter from LA.
QUEEN BEE & THE HONEYLOVERS is an unabashedly joyful swing band that performs legends who first defined the genre. The Honeylovers hail from Asheville, North Carolina; a Historic township where tradition collides with contemporary innovation to create brand new art and culture. Their arrangements are upbeat and nostalgic - with enough ‘sweetness’ for the whole hive. Vocal-driven with an infectious groove, the Honeylovers are guaranteed to put a grin on your face and a tap in your toes.
JAMIE DRAKE is one of LA’s best-kept musical secrets co-writing and collaborating with the likes of Jim James, Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco), Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary), Ed Helms, Glen Phillips, Sara and Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Moby. Drake has all the while been carefully honing her own craft and preparing to take center stage. Now, over 4 million people have discovered Drake’s premiere tracks from her upcoming album, ‘Everything’s Fine’ a record that embraces heartbreak and hope, with indie-pop stylings wrapped in lush orchestrations reminiscent of Jon Brion and Van Dyke Parks and delivered with rich vocals, derivative of her varied musical influences ranging from Harry Nilsson to Sufjan Stevens; from Lucius to Joni Mitchell.
WoodSongs Kid: Evan Singleton is a ten-year-old musician from Lexington, Kentucky. Evan will be performing the Earl Scruggs banjo classic “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” on the marimba.
JIMMIE VAUGHAN has dedicated his life to making sure the blues not only stays alive, but remains full of life and an inspiration to all who listen. For the past 50-something years, music has been the guiding light for Vaughan. He started playing young, and when the blues of Freddie King and Frankie Lee Sims crawled deep inside his young soul, it would stay there forever. After worldwide success with the Fabulous Thunderbirds during the ’80s, it came time to leave that band and build his own path in exploring different approaches to the blues.’Baby, Please Come Home’, is a rolling and righteous celebration of everything the blues can be.
WoodSongs Kid: Jack Triebold is an 18-year-old guitar player from Charleston, South Carolina.
NEWTOWN features the first-rate vocal and instrumental work of five of the finest musicians in acoustic music who share a bond that combines individual virtuosity with a background of formal training. The band is based in Lexington, Kentucky and fronted by award-winning vocalist/fiddler Kati Penn Williams and her singer/banjo-picker husband, Jr. Williams. They are joined by the extraordinary talents of guitarist/vocalist Hayes Griffin, mandolinist Mitchell Cannon, and bassist/vocalist Travis Anderson – all who have college education backgrounds in music in addition to their collective decades of performing experience. The band’s newest album is ‘Harlan Road’.
LARK WATTS is yet another talented singer/songwriter from the state of Kentucky (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Dwight Yoakam) His songs have a very traditional country element to them, but that voice is pure Memphis soul.
RYVOLI is Jenn Whiteman and Samantha Ayres an indie-folk band based in Lexington, KY.
WoodSongs Kid. Logan Smith is a talented Singer/Songwriter from Lexington, Kentucky and a WoodSongs Crew member.
LAURIE LEWIS is internationally renowned as a singer, songwriter, fiddler, bandleader, producer and educator. This Grammy Award-winning musician was a founding member of the Good Ol’ Persons and the Grant Street String Band and has performed and recorded since 1986 with her musical partner, mandolinist Tom Rozum. Laurie has twice been voted “Female Vocalist of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association and has won the respect and admiration of her peers. Her latest album with her band the Right Hands ‘The Hazel and Alice Sessions’, was nominated for the Best Bluegrass Recording Grammy in 2017.
NEFESH MOUNTAIN is the place where American Bluegrass and Old-time music meet with Jewish Heritage and tradition. Band leaders, genre-pioneers, and husband and wife Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg are the heart of this eclectic offering, and share their love for American music, their own cultural heritage, and each other with audiences throughout the world. The result of this unexpected and beautiful mix is staggering; and while complete with the kind of adept string virtuosity and through composed arrangements one would hope for from a newgrass band with influences from Bluegrass, Old-Time, Celtic, and Jazz, they also play and sing songs of the heart creating music with a sense of diversity, oneness, and purpose for our world today. Their newest and most adventurous recording to date called ‘Beneath The Open Sky’.
WoodSongs Kid: Fallon Marie is a fourteen-year-old and from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She loves to sing and play mandolin.
GARY MORRIS is known world-wide for his vocal mastery. His recording career garnered five #1 and 16 Top 10 singles, including “Why Lady Why,” “The Love She Found in Me,” “Baby Bye Bye.” Morris’ original rendition of the classic “Wind Beneath My Wings” won both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music “Song of the Year” awards. Morris was also named Billboard’s “Male Artist of the Year” early in his career. At the height of his Nashville recording career, the Texas-bred tenor was tapped to play the lead role of Jean Valjean in Broadway’s epic hit Les Misérables, to critical acclaim. ‘Sense of Pride’ is Morris’ latest and his 13th album release.
JASON COLEMAN & MEAGAN TAYLOR grew up with two legends at their instruments. Coleman’s grandfather is the legendary pianist Floyd Cramer whose “slip note” piano style was an essential part of countless country, pop, and rock hits in the 1950s and ‘60s and exemplified by his 1960 smash hit, “Last Date”. Taylor picked up the guitar at 18 and turned to her uncle, one of the world’s preeminent guitar virtuosos and most prolific record producers, “Uncle Chester” Chet Atkins for help in the months before he passed away. Their new album ‘Feel Like Home’ honors their families love of music with a deep appreciation of the rich musical heritage while carrying it forward.
WoodSongs Kid: Zoe Shiner lives in New Albany Indiana and has been playing mandolin since she was eight-years-old.
WATERMELON SLIM has built a remarkable reputation with his raw, impassioned intensity. He is one of the most authentic bluesman in the world today. Born in Boston, raised in Ashville, NC, a Vietnam Veteran, fisherman, baseball fan, truck driver, currently farms watermelons in his home state of Oklahoma, Slim taught himself upside-down left-handed slide guitar on a $5 balsawood model using a triangle pick cut from a rusty coffee can top and his Army issued Zippo. He’s garnered over 20 Blues Music Award nominations. His latest album is ‘Church of the Blues.’
LOVERS LEAP is a roots music supergroup from Hot Springs, NC made up bassist Shelby Means (Delta Mae), clawhammer banjo picker Mary Lucey (Biscuit Burners), guitarist Joel Timmons (Sol Driven Train), and innovative slide guitarist Billy Cardine (Acoustic Syndicate, Biscuit Burners). Collectively the bandmates have presented their sound from the Kennedy Center to Bonnaroo, Merlefest to Telluride, and across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean. They each have been musical ambassadors and have taught workshops throughout the country and internationally on their respective instruments. Their self titled debut EP was recently released.
WoodSongs Kid: Savannah Reeves is a seventeen-year-old county singer from Lexington, Kentucky.
THE CHUCK WAGON GANG has entered its 75th year of singing the old songs, and singing them the way 'Dad Carter' taught his kids. A simple style, yet distinctive sound, is credited with helping preserve the legacy of the music so many love. Over the years, the group has managed to record well over 800 songs, and sell 40 million records worldwide. ‘The Legacy Lives On’ is documentary film that aired on PBS a few years ago that explores the history, legacy, and contemporary relevance of the Gang in America’s Gospel Singers. The band’s latest project is a tribute to The Carter Family.
THE SMALL GLORIES are Cara Luft & JD Edwards, a musical tour-de-force partnership planted on the Canadian Prairies. With a stage banter striking a unique balance between slapstick and sermon, this roots powerhouse duo have a way of making time disappear, rooms shrink, and audiences feel as they are right there on the stage with the band. Luft, one of the original members of folk trio The Wailin’Jennys, and Edwards duplicate and reinforce each other’s many strengths and yet allow their distinct personalities to shine through. Their highly anticipated sophomore album “Assiniboine & the Red” will be released on Compass/Red House Records.
WoodSongs Kid: Eli Patrick is a fourteen-year-old banjo picker from West Liberty, Kentucky.
SHANE HENNESSY is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, and songwriter from Ireland. Known for his unique virtuosic approach to the acoustic guitar, his musical style has won praise from musical giants Nile Rodgers of CHIC and guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel, with whom Shane has shared the stage. At the young age of twenty-five, Shane has sold out a solo concert in the National Concert Hall, released two highly praised albums, has worked with Bill Whelan (composer of Riverdance) and has done extensive international touring across Europe, The United States, and Russia. Shane will be premiering material from new album set for release in June.
AL, ALICE & RUTH bring new life to old music, and make new music sound vintage. This trio has a musical history that is enviable. Alice and Ruth are sisters, growing up in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, performing nationally and internationally with their family, The McLain Family Band. Al grew up in New Mexico, from a long line of family musicians, performing in the west, before heading east to join the Bluegrass Alliance, and then (after marrying Alice) joining the McLain Family Band. The trio has released several projects on their own and toured.
WoodSongs Kid: Ben Kennington is a Young Thumb guitar picker from Middleton, Florida.
SI KAHN is a folk, bluegrass and roots music legend, once described as “a rumor in his own time.” At 75 years old, he is at the peak of his powers as performer, songwriter, recording artist and playwright. His songs of family, community, love, work and freedom have been recorded and performed by hundreds of artists in North America and Europe. For 52 years, he’s worked professionally as a civil rights, labor and community organizer.
On this Special Event Broadcast of WoodSongs, we are honoring this American Folk legend. Guests appearing with Si:THE LOOPING BROTHERS are a German bluegrass trio that have recorded a new album of songs written by Si called ‘It’s Dog’s Life.’ to honor his 75th.
MATT WATORBA is a veteran performer, teacher, radio host, songwriter and more. Matt discusses his Community Sings project.
VIVIAN NESBITT is an acclaimed actress that has appeared in on hit TV shows like Breaking Bad, The Night Shift, Longmire and the theatre. Vivian is currently on tour with Si Kahn's ‘Mother Jones In Heaven’ ~ a musical one-woman show about the legendary labor organizer Mary Harris "Mother" Jones. With musical accompaniment by John Dillon, Vivian performs an excerpt from the play on WoodSongs.
SISTAH LALA is a classically trained Contralto who has been sharing her gifts with the world for over three decades She has participated in national and international tours singing many genres of music including Spirituals, Opera, Jazz, and Gospel. Spirituals In Motion is Sistah LaLa’s response to the call of the Ancestors. Using the history, and power of this work, she is on a mission to use her talents to inspire, educate and galvanize others through music.
BABY GRAMPS is an energetic humorously entertaining performer with an endless repertoire. He plays a National Steel guitar, and sings his own unique arrangements of rags, jazz, & blues from the 20's & 30's, and many originals with wordplay, humor, and throat singing. According to an article in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Baby Gramps is acknowledged as one of the top 50 most influential musicians in the last 100 years. This past year Baby Gramps was asked to be part of three films.
LULA WILES is the trio made up of Isa Burke, Eleanor Buckland, and Mali Obomsawin and came of age in Boston, in the practice rooms of Berklee College of Music and the city’s lively roots scene. Anchoring the band’s sharp, provocative songcraft is a mastery of folk music, and a willingness to subvert its hallowed conventions. They infuse their songs with distinctly modern sounds: pop hooks, distorted electric guitars, and dissonant multi-layered vocals, all employed in the service of songs that reclaim folk music in their own voice. ‘What Will We Do’ is the trio’s sophomore album and out Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
WoodSongs Kids: The Grandview Pickers are an up-and-coming bluegrass band from Grandview, Tennessee
SCOTT MULVAHILL is a world-renowned upright bassist, multi-instrumentalist,frontman and singer-songwriter. For the past decade, Mulvahill has left his unique mark on the intersecting worlds of Americana, bluegrass, folk, jazz, rock & roll, and roots music. Already acclaimed for his work alongside icons like Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby, he turns a new page with ‘Himalayas’, a versatile solo album that celebrates the full spread of his abilities.
NEW REVEILLE is a Raleigh, North Carolina Americana band whose distinctive talents find common ground in traditions that stretch back to and beyond early America. On that foundation, through their varied gifts, they build a unique sound that encompasses the virtues of music that came before and the promise of what it might yet become. Rolling Stone Country named them as one of the “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know,” and described their sound as, “Twangy, truck-driving music that runs on classical gas.” The band’s latest album is ‘The Keep’.
WoodSongs Kid: Lafayette Saxophone Quartet are accomplished high school musicians hailing from Lexington, Kentucky..
SUGARAY RAYFORD is a Texas-born soul blues singer nominated for two blues music awards in 2019 including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Possessing a magnetic personality, and an old school vocal style that echoes Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergrass, Rayford is also a stellar dancer with moves reminiscent of the Legendary James Brown. ‘Somebody Save Me’ on Forty Below Records is an ambitious album that slides gracefully between the new blues of Gary Clarke Jr. and Fantastic Negrito, the rock & soul stylings of The War & Treaty and the vintage Daptones soul of the late Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones, bringing a fresh take to classic sounds.
LIZ BRASHER makes her own kind of southern music. She's a soul singer. A guitar-playing rocker. A one-woman girl group. A gospel revivalist who sings the praises of secular bands like the Box Tops. It's a diverse sound rooted in the influence of Brasher's two homes: her adopted hometown of Memphis, where she recorded her debut LP, Painted Image, for Fat Possum Records; and her childhood stomping grounds in rural North Carolina, where she was raised in a musical, multi-ethnic household.
WoodSongs Kid: George Fields is a twelve year old banjo picker from Stamping Ground, Kentucky.
CHERISH THE LADIES are the long-running, Grammy-nominated, Irish-American super group that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene. The group has since toured the world, played the White House and the Olympics, recorded 17 outstanding albums including a live recording, “An Irish Homecoming,” which was simultaneously videotaped for a Public Television Special that aired across America and won an Emmy. Under the leadership of All-Ireland flute and whistle champion Joanie Madden, named by The Irish Voice Newspaper as one of the Top 25 most influential Irish Americans of the past quarter century, these ladies create an evening that includes a spectacular blend of virtuoso instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements, and stunning step dancing
THE TIM O'BRIEN BAND features the five piece acoustic lineup of Tim on vocals, guitar, mandolin and fiddle, Mike Bub bass and vocals, Shad Cobb fiddle, Jan Fabricius vocals, and Patrick Sauber banjo, guitar and vocals. Tim has walked many musical paths in his career from singer songwriter and honky tonk crooner to Celtic troubadour and old time cultivator. Tim first toured nationally in the 1980s with Colorado bluegrass band Hot Rize. Kathy Mattea scored a country hit with his song and soon more artists like Nickel Creek and Garth Brooks covered his songs. Kathy Mattea Tim lands with two feet squarely back in bluegrass on the band’s new self titled debut album.
WoodSongs Kid: Caleb Moore is a nine year old piano player from Lexington, Kentucky.
CATHERINE BRITT is an award winning Australian singer/songwriter. Raised in regional Australia (Gunnedah, NSW), Catherine made the move to the home of country music at just 17 years old after recording her debut album, which garnered the attention of Elton John and RCA Records. The critical acclaim for her albums and reputation as a performer has seen Catherine tour and perform with some of the biggest names in music, including Sir Elton John, Don McLean, Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, and more. Her recent album, ‘Catherine Britt & The Cold Cold Hearts’, is an album that rattles and rolls with life, energy and honest, autobiographical songwriting.
LOCKWOOD BARR is a Tiburon, Calif. native songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her successes include CMA Emerging Artist, an Independent Country Music Association Award as banjo player for the Nashvegas Ramblers, and a 2016 Music Row Magazine Discovery Award for her song “Forgotten How to Cry.” With a mother who performed with John Hartford and the Dillards, a dad who taught her banjo, and a cousin, Al Barr, who fronts the Dropkick Murphys, she can’t remember a time she wasn’t around music. With bluegrass in her blood and determination second to none, she has crafted a unique sound that is here to stay: unapologetically bold yet playfully relatable.
WoodSongs Kid: Candice Gunn is 8 years old, lives in Benton, Kentucky and loves to yodel.
BUTTON is a new trio made up of John Cowan (Doobie Brothers/New Grass Revival), Ed Toth (Doobie Brothers/Vertical Horizon) and Keith Howland (Chicago). Plus, Lou Pardini (Chicago) joins this hillbilly progressive rock super group in a rare broadcast featuring new music from their debut album.
AMYTHYST KIAH is a professed Southern Gothic, alt-country blues singer/songwriter based in Johnson City, Tennessee. Her commanding stage presence is only matched by her raw and powerful vocals—a deeply moving, hypnotic sound that stirs echoes of a distant and restless past. Accoutered interchangeably with banjo, acoustic guitar, or a full band (Her Chest of Glass), Kiaht’s toolbox is augmented by her scholarship of African-American roots music. Provocative and coolly fierce, her ability to cross the boundaries of blues and old-time through reinterpretation is groundbreaking and simply unforgettable. She has two new releases this year: a solo project on Nonesuch Records produced by Joe Henry and Songs of Our Native Daughter the new roots music supergroup featuring her, Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops) Allison Russell (Birds of Chicago), and Leyla McCalla (Carolina Chocolate Drops).
JOE ROBINSON is considered uniquely gifted as a virtuoso guitarist and singer/songwriter. He walks a tightrope between the instrumental music that has put him in the spotlight and a unique fusion of vocally based rock, blues, jazz, and R&B that is entirely his own. Born in the backwoods of Temagog, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia, his six-string ability and compositional insight have already earned him a worldwide following. Robinson’s talents were further recognized by Guitar Player magazine as part of a cover story entitled “Youthquake 2017: Ten Mind-Blowing Young Guitarists.” He'll perform songs from his new album 'Undertones'.
WoodSong Kid: Bella Guerrie is a 13 year old singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado..
Tommy Emmanuel & John Knowles are two of the world’s greatest guitarists. Both are masters of their instrument, honored by the iconic Chet Atkins with the rare designation of CGP (Certified Guitar Players). Emmanuel has twice been voted “Best Acoustic Guitarist” by readers of Guitar Player Magazine and honored as both a “Member of the Order of Australia” and an official “Kentucky Colonel”. Knowles is a Grammy winner, a member of the National Thumb Picker’s Hall of Fame, and editor of the respected FingerStyle Quarterly. They will be performing songs from ‘Heart Songs’ their new guitar duet project. Grace & Chelsea Constable are viral sensation guitar playing sisters from Jonesborough, Tennessee.
ROAN YELLOWTHORN front woman Jackie McLean, accompanied by producer and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Strack, delivers ethereal indie-rock songs with a singer/songwriter heart. Musically, they are a combo of pop, indie rock and folk featuring Jackie's poetic lyrics backed by Shawn's exquisite mastery of keys, strings and more. Her skills as as a poignant storyteller is fitting, she grew up around music and songwriting being the daughter of legendary 1970's singer-songwriter Don McLean. They recently released ‘Indigo’, their first full-length album, on Blue Élan Records.
CHELSEA WILLIAMS made a name for herself as a musician in Los Angeles in a less than traditional way. She managed to sell nearly 100,000 copies of her independently released records the old fashioned way, by playing on the street. She’s performed on The Today Show and has opened for big names such as the Avett Brothers and Dwight Yoakam, and she’s even had a high-profile guest shot on a Maroon 5 video, dueting with Adam Levine on the group’s No. 1 smash “Daylight (Playing For Change).” He debut album ‘Boomerang’ on Blue Élan Records is a transcendent mix of Americana, indie-folk and lush pop that places the young artist front and center among the preeminent performers of the day.
WoodSongs Kid: Fiddle Frenzy is a performance group of fiddlers from Blair School of Music in Nashville, Tennesse, ranging in age from 7-17.
Folksinger Michael Johnathon and The Ohio Valley Symphony celebrate the music and stories of America's front porch, from Appalachia to Woody Guthrie, Buddy Holly to George Gershwin, Irving Berlin to Vincent Van Gogh and more. Conducted by Tim Berens and recorded at the historic Ariel Opera House in Gallipolis, Ohio.
THE STEEL WHEELS hail from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are familiar with the traditions of folk music and how a string band is supposed to sound. In fact, they’ve been drawing on those steadfast traditions for more than a decade. Yet, their name also evokes a sense of forward motion. Their musical style weaves through Americana and bluegrass, folk and old-time music, and the acoustic poetry of the finest singer-songwriters.
CONNLA have been quickly making an impact on the folk/traditional scene. Labelled as the Hottest New Group out of Northern Ireland, they have received fantastic reviews at home and internationally. They have already gathered a big following in the UK, Ireland, Europe and the USA. Their sensitive and innovative arrangements of traditional and modern folk songs and tunes, have helped them create a sound which is very identifiable as Connla.
WoodSongs Kid: Amber Brown is a 12 year old guitar player and singer from Williamsburg, Kentucky.
MURIEL ANDERSON is one of the world’s foremost fingerstyle guitarists and harp-guitarists. She is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship and has performed/recorded with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Victor Wooten and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. Her obvious joy of music, humor and her facility across the genres of folk, classical, jazz, bluegrass and international music is revered by guitarists worldwide. Muriel is host of the renowned Muriel Anderson’s ALL STAR GUITAR NIGHT® and founder of the MUSIC FOR LIFE ALLIANCE charity. Her current project is ‘Eclipse’ a CD of harp-guitar music to evoke the magic of the solar eclipse, enclosed in a greeting card by brilliant photo-artist Bryan Allen.
SISTER SADIE is the all-female/all-star bluegrass group comprised of some of the best-known women in bluegrass including five time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley, Tina Adair, Deanie Richardson, Gena Britt and Beth Lawrence. The group was born out of what was originally supposed to be a one time jam at The Station Inn in Nashville, Tennessee with five good friends. Shortly after that sold out show, the band began getting calls for gigs and the girls decided to officially form "Sister Sadie". The band’s highly-anticipated sophomore project has turned heads in a big way, garnering rave reviews by top publications, and also debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart.
WoodSongs Kid: Tia Penny is a ten-year-old singer/songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona.
MISSY RAINES has proven herself without doubt as one of the iconic bluegrass instrumentalist of all time. In 1998, Raines became the first woman to win IBMA's Bass Player of the Year award and she went on to win the title more than any other bass player in the history of the organization, male or female. On her newest release on Compass Records, ‘Royal Traveller’ Raines has stepped into the spotlight as a songwriter for the first time. The album digs deep into her family life and her upbringing in West Virginia. The stand out track “Swept Away”, features the 5 first women to win IBMA instrumentalist awards, Raines, Alison Brown (banjo), Sierra Hull (mandolin), Becky Buller (fiddle), and Molly Tuttle (guitar). “Swept Away” was named 2018 IBMA “Recorded Event of the Year”.
WILLIE NILE was hailed by the New York Times as “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years.” Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, and Little Steven are among those who have sung his praises. Willie has toured across the U.S. with the Who and has sung with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. As the induction program from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame says: "His live performances are legendary.” His 12th studio album 'Children of Paradise' was released in the summer of 2018 to universal acclaim.
WoodSongs Kid: Marissa Goings is an twelve-year-old singer from Kingman, Kansas.
CEDRIC BURNSIDE still lives on several acres not far from the Holly Springs, Mississippi, home where he was raised by “Big Daddy,” his grandfather, the late singer/songwriter/guitarist R.L. Burnside whom Cedric famously played with, just as his own father, drummer Calvin Jackson, did. Cedric was literally born to the blues, more specifically, the “rhythmically unorthodox” Hill country variant which emerged from Mississippi, where he grew up surrounded (and influenced) by Junior Kimbrough, Jessie May Hemphill and Otha Turner, as well as delta musicians T-Model Ford and Paul “Wine” Jones. This Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Awards winner latest is ‘Benton County Relic’ which brings the blues alive for a new generation.
THE FARMER & ADELE are reimaging the modern cowboy/cowgirl while respecting its beginnings. Based out of Nashville, TN, The Farmer & Adele – led by Grace Adele and Keenan Wade – leads the pack of a new wave of musicians revitalizing western swing music. With a star-studded record, award nominations and their own morning radio show on WSM’s Route 650, The Farmer & Adele are a one-two punch of classic meets modern. The band’s debut effort, ‘Into the Wide Open Sky’, combines original compositions rooted in familiar styles of the American landscape. Traces of classic country, jazz and Tin Pan Alley songwriting interweave throughout the group’s top-notch musicianship.
WoodSongs Kid: Liam Farley is a nine-year-old fiddle champion from Chapman, West Virginia.
SONGS FROM THE ROAD BAND is a North Carolina powerhouse group featuring Mark Schimick, Charles Humphrey, Ryan Cavanaugh, Sam Wharton, and James Schlender. Collectively, they have received top accolades in the bluegrass, Americana, and jazz genres. They are an all star band consisting of musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds including an IBMA award & Grammy recipient for songrwriting, performance, and producing, Banjo player in jazz pioneer Bill Evans Soul Grass project, a 2 time National Fiddle Champion, and played alongside legends likes of Larry Keel, Vassar Clements, Tony Rice, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin,George Benson, and more. The band is currently touring in support of their 4th studio album release "Road To Nowhere."
JOE CROOKSTON is a songwriter, guitarist, painter, fiddler, slide player, eco-village member and believer in all things possible. He’s a master storyteller. His music swirls with themes of lightness, darkness, clocks ticking, weeping willows, cynicism, hope, and the cycles of life and rebirth. Named 2016 Folk Alliance International Artist-in- Resident, he’s played with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, David Francey, John McCutcheon, John Gorka, Judy Collins and 100’s more.
WoodSongs Kids: Kelsie and Jordan Willis are twins from Greenup, Kentucky and love playing roots music.
CHRIS STILLS is the son of American rock musician Stephen Stills and French singer-songwriter Veronique Sanson and was raised between Paris and Los Angeles. His multicultural influences are infused in his work as a singer-songwriter and actor. Since his debut album on Atlantic Records, Chris has toured the world performing and recording with a variety of brilliant artists including, Don Was, Leanne Rimes, Ryan Adams, Government Mule, Smashing Pumpkins, Lucinda Williams, Ricky Lee Jones, and others. His songs have been featured in numerous movies and television including the hit Showtime series, ‘Shameless’ and films like ‘American Hustle’ and most recently ‘I, Tonya’.
ABBIE GARDNER is a fiery dobro player with an infectious smile. Whether performing solo or with the Americana darlings Red Molly, her acclaimed tales of love and loss, both gritty and sweet, are propelled by her impeccable slide guitar playing. Solo performances feature truly unique use of the dobro as a solo instrument, bouncing between a solid rhythmic backbone and ripping lead lines, all in support of her voice and award-winning songs.
WoodSongs Kid: Kevin Beddingfield is a ten-year old hot shot banjo picker from Flag Pond, Tennessee.
GAELYNN LEA has been bewitching scores of fans with her haunting original songs and experimental takes on traditional fiddle music. Lea performs from her electric wheelchair and holds her instrument like a tiny cello and loops her classically trained rhythms and melodies. She recently won NPR Music’s 2016 Tiny Desk Contest. In addition to performing and recording, Lea also loves to do speaking engagements about disability awareness, the power music, and leading an enriching life.
AUBREY LOGAN is known as “The Queen of Sass.” Her concerts are a mix of excellent musicality, jaw-dropping vocals, expert trombone-playing, a breathtaking array of originals and original takes on cover songs and, well…fun! Her heart wrenching musical stories has audiences in tears just before her comedic relief has them in stiches. Her appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and The Grammy Awards and a PBS special and London Live have kept her in the public eye and millions of fans have watched her head-spinning videos on YouTube and Facebook.
WoodSongs Kid: Elle Hack is a ten-year-old singer from Benton, Kentucky.
On this Special Event Broadcast of WoodSongs, we’re honoring one of the most important legacy’s in all of recorded music… Smithsonian Folkways in celebration of their 70th anniversary.
As Michael Johnathon notes, “Smithsonian Folkways is the musical treasure box of America's roots music. It is Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly and Big Bill Broonzy. It's what WoodSongs aspires to be. Our show was even based on Pete's old TV series Rainbow Quest. It's like WoodSongs is coming full circle as we present the great work of Smithsonian Folkways to a worldwide audience.”
Appearing on the broadcast will be three incredible Folkways artists that continue the tradition that Moses Asch, who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document the "people's music”, carry forward. Artists appearing on the broadcast include: Dom Flemons co-founding member of the GRAMMY-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, Grenadian-Canadian songwriter and tradition bearer Kaia Kater and Iraqi-American oud player Rahim AlHaj. Folkways’ Huib Schippers, (Curator and Director) and Jeff Place (Curator and Senior Archivist) will join Michael to share the label’s mission, story and cultural heritage with WoodSongs’ global audience.
WoodSongs Kid: Mya Hunt is a thirteen-year-old vocalist from the Appalachian community in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky.
VANESSA COLLIER is a master musician and multi-instrumentalist whose head-turning, fiery, and passionate performances recently got the attention of Buddy Guy. With soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and witty songwriting, Collier is blazing a trail, racking up an impressive arsenal of honours, and has already singled herself out as an artist of distinction and one we would all do well to watch. She was recently nominated for TWO 2018 Blues Music Awards and released her new album ‘Honey Up’ this summer.
TLEN HUICANI (pronounced wee-KAH-nee) takes you on a journey of Mexico’s music, time and place with their traditional costumes and native instruments. Meaning “the singers” in their indigenous Indian language of Nahuatl, the band makes the beautiful “harpa jarocha” or folk harp, the centerpiece of their music. Since 1973, their music and international achievements have earned the honor of ‘Best Folk Group in Mexico’ by the Union of Music and Theater Critics.
WoodSongs Kid: Alexis Radhakrishnan is a sixteen-year-old ukulele player and singer from Lexington, Kentucky.
AMY HELM’s ’This Too Shall Light’,on Yep Roc Records, is marked by streaks of Americana, country, blues, and gospel, and the kinds of four-part harmonies that can burst open a melody and close the loop of an octave. The daughter of The Band’s legendary drummer and singer Levon Helm and singer/songwriter Libby Titus, Helm began her musical career as a founding member of the alt-country collective Ollabelle and later served as a backing musician in her father's Midnight Ramble Band. While ‘This Too Shall Light’ is only Helm’s second album under her own name, it serves as a comprehensive portrait covering her life's journeys and recoveries; They’re the stories that, no matter where they take her, seem to end and begin in the same place like a circle.
SETH WALKER has become recognized as one of the most revered modern roots artists in the United States; a three dimensional talent who combines a gift for melody and lyric alongside a rich, Gospel-drenched, Southern-inflected voice with a true blue knack for getting around on the guitar. His latest studio album is 'Gotta Get Back'.
WoodSongs Kids: The Wallace Sisters have been harmonizing together since they could talk. The siblings from Lexington, Kentucky enjoy singing for their schools and church choir but a year ago began singing officially as a trio at local events.
ARVEL BIRD is a classically trained as a violinist compositions whose performances encompass an extraordinary love of diversity—from traditional Celtic tunes and bluegrass standards to his contemporary Native American and Celtic rock orchestrations. His performances have been called “Braveheart Meets Last of the Mohicans ... at Woodstock.” Arvel toured worldwide with Glen Campbell for six years and also worked with Loretta Lynn, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, Louise Mandrell, and Clay Walker. His newest and most vibrant instrumental release ‘Animal Totems’ is a tribute to the endangered species of the world.
CICADA RHYTHM is the sound of Juilliard-trained bassist Andrea DeMarcus and rootsy guitarist Dave Kirslis. Born and raised in Georgia, the duo merges both traditional and contemporary Americana sounds along with topical lyrics, which often touched upon modern issues like environmentalism. On their latest album ‘Everywhere I Go’ out on New West Records, upsized their sound considerably with new members filling their lineup and a louder set of influences propelling their sound forward.
Special Guests: ZHOU FAMILY BAND ( 周 家 班 ) plays traditional wind and percussion music which accompany birth and death celebrations of the people of Central-Eastern China for more than 600 years. Coming from Lingbi, Anhui Province, part of the Central Plain area which formed the cradle of Chinese civilization, the Zhou family have been musicians for seven generations, and are bearers of a tradition that represents the finest of Chinese folk music.
HIROYA TSUKAMOTO is a one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after. In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. Hiroya has been leading concerts internationally including several appearances at Blue Note in New York City with his group and Japanese National Television(NHK). Hiroya performed, recorded and shared stage with Esperanza Spalding, The Kennedys, Joe Jencks(Brother Sun), Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Brooks Williams and Jim Kweskin. He’s released two solo albums and three with his acclaimed group Interoceanico.
YOUSSRA EL HAWARY became a slyly defiant sensation in the aftermath of the Egyptian revolution capturing the stories of Cairo, and the charged alchemy of the Mediterranean basin that fuels her distinctive and soulful sound. Now a fixture of Egypt’s independent music scene, El Hawary and her five-piece band meld the sounds of Cairo’s underground with quirky acoustic charm, led by the sway and swagger of El Hawary’s accordion. Her songs entwine French chanson, indie rock, and jazz to underscore an idiosyncratic artistic world. She is currently on her debut US tour as part of Center Stage, a cultural exchange program that invites performing artists from abroad to the United States to perform, meet, and share their experiences with communities around the country.
WoodSongs Kid: Eddy Wan is a sixteen-year-old cello player from Lexington, Kentucky.
From it's humble origins in Hawaii to becoming a worldwide phenomenon, the ukulele is having a global revival. On this Special broadcast WoodSongs, we'll be exploring the many styles, sounds and stories of the uke with musicians from across the country including: "The Tennessee Ukulele Lady" Kelle Jolly, young, dynamic sister duo from Columbia, Missouri The Burney Sisters, Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso Andrew Molina, a wholly unique father-daughter musical duo The Barnkickers and 11-year-old WoodSongs Kid Ian Shaw.
CHRIS SMITHER is truly an American original. For over 50 years, Smiother draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets, and philosophers. He’s forged lifelong friendships with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt who went on to record his songs, “Love You Like A Man” and “I Feel the Same. Smither recently released his eighteenth record, ‘Call Me Lucky’ on Signature Sounds/Mighty Albert. It’s arguably his best.
SAM MORROW has found his footing as an artist and appears poised to join the ranks of a member of Los Angeles' country elite. He was recently named by Rolling Stone as 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know. At 27 years old, Morrow has released a confident career-defining album ‘Concrete and Mud’ on Forty Below Records. It’s rooted in Texas twang, southern stomp, and old-school funky-tonk.
WoodSongs Kid: Ruby Leigh Pearson is an eleven-year-old country singer from Folley, Missouri.
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MADNY BARNETT, one of Nashville’s enduring musical treasures, debuts song from her new album Strange Conversation. Rolling Stone Country broke the news about the project, citing that the Muscle Shoals-recorded album “bursts forth with a dynamic array of tunes from the worlds of pop, R&B and folk." Barnett has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Sunday Morning, PBS’s Sessions at West 54th, and numerous other TV programs, and her music has been featured on movie and TV series soundtracks. The Chicago Tribune calls Barnett “a torch singer in the grandest sense of the word,” while the Los Angeles Times lauds her “pipes of steel. People magazine praises Barnett’s “natural musicality,” and the New York Times her “vocal finesse.”
GINA SICILIA is a decorated blues vocalist whose ambition and determination has always set her apart. Since nabbing a Blues Music Award nomination for Best New Artist in 2008, Sicilia has enjoyed great success playing over 150 shows a year and opening for the likes for Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joan Osborne and Beth Hart, among others. She relocated to Nashville from Philadelphia a few years ago and those Americana influences can be heard on her eighth studio album ‘Heard The Lie’ via Blue Elan Records. Sicilia integrates these rootsier signifiers seamlessly within the album’s bluesy moments.
WoodSongs Kid: Beth Davis is an award winning twelve-year-old musician from Carbondale,
JONATHAN McEUEN has spent two decades of working with an astounding array of artists like Dwight Yoakam, Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, and others. He recently realized that if he was ever going to make the artistic impact he envisioned with his music, he would need to declare his independence once and for all. McEuen’s new release, ‘Through The Sun Gate’, is a symbolic illumination as he steps into a world of total artistic control with a collection of songs that chronicle his journey from Nashville to Ventura and back again. Drawing from a deep well of musical influences that range from The Flying Burrito Brothers to Buck Owens and Earl Scruggs, McEuen has crafted a true California-meets-Nashville gem.
THE TROLL SMASHERS are a folk trio playing funky and fresh roots music with fiddles, mandolins, fingerstyle guitar, and decadently layered harmonies. Chalk it up to folksmash. This Austin, Texas trio has just released a debut EP.
WoodSongs Kid: Georgia Turpin is a 15-year-old actress, singer and dancer from Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She performs the Edith Piaf classic “La Vie En Rose”.
JUGGERNAUT JUG BAND based out of Louisville, Kentucky have proudly kept early twentieth century jug music alive and well since 1965. The band blends an eclectic, fun mix of jazz, blues ragtime, swing and original music with washboards, washtubs, kazoos, jugs and various other sundry hardware. The band hosts the annual National Jug Band Jubilee in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky the birthplace of jug music. They plan on releasing a new EP around the time of the next Jubilee in September 2018.
ERIN ENDERLIN is an in-demand Nashville songwriter. She penned Alan Jackson's "Monday Morning Church," Lee Ann Womack's "Last Call," and others for Luke Bryan, Randy Travis, Terri Clark, Joey + Rory, and many more. She was named to CMT's Next Women of Country class of 2018 and her critically acclaimed albums have positioned her as one of county music's brightest torch bearers. Enderlin's highly-anticipated sophomore album ‘Whiskeytown Crier' puts all the sad souls she's become known for singing and writing about in the same tiny, fictional city. The result is unprecedented: a concept album devoted to women's experiences in small town, America.
WoodSongs Kid: Brannock McCartan is a twelve-year-old banjo player from Crestwood, Kentucky influenced by Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe.
THE FARM HANDS are one of the most exciting and in demand bands in Bluegrass Music. Since their inception in 2010, the band has won an unprecedented 24 major awards including BAND OF THE YEAR at the 2018 Bluegrass Music Awards. Personnel includes Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee Tim Graves on resophonic guitar, #1 hit songwriter Daryl Mosley, super picker Keith Tew, and champion banjo player Don Hill. The four are known for their exquisite quartet harmonies and tight instrumental talent. ‘Colors’ is the band’s current release on Pinecastle Records.
GRANT MALOY SMITH is a singer/songwriter of heartfelt country/roots music - an artful blend of country, bluegrass, folk, and pop music. His songs tell heartfelt stories about real people, and are unfailingly optimistic and forward looking. His current album "Dust Bowl - American Stories" spent 17 weeks on the Billboard charts. On this epic album, three years in the making, Smith takes you on a trip back through time, to the American Great Plains of the 1930s where over-farming, combined with a terrible drought that went on year after year, turned lush farmland into a wasteland. But within the hardship lie stories of love, joy, and the solid backbone of the American rancher and farmer. These stories are told in each song on this album.
WoodSongs Kid: Phoebe White is an award winning 8-year-old singer from London, Kentucky.
NO BS! BRASS BAND has quickly earned a reputation as a premiere band to see for heart-pounding energy and uncontrollable dancing. Based in Richmond, Virginia, they take their music into uncharted territory, embracing the spirit of New Orleans into its original East Coast modern funk and fearlessly combining elements of James Brown, John Coltrane, Michael Jackson, and Led Zeppelin into their fiercely original sound. Founders Reggie Pace and Lance Koehler have cast this 11-piece band in which nearly every member has had conservatory training, holding various degrees in music. They have the look of New Orleans with the raw sound all their own -- music is a true definition of the “Richmond sound".
MICHELLE MALONE defies easy description. Wild-haired Rock God, political singer/songwriter, passionate performer with roots in church music–no single characterization tells the whole story. Over the course of this Atlanta native's decades-spanning career, she’s collaborated with artists from Steve Earle to ZZ Top to Greg Allman, released more than a dozen records and gone indie when it still took guts. Equal parts badass guitar slinger and sweet songstress, Malone artfully balances her penchant for ripping it through the roof with masterful lyrical introspection and vocals that range from sublime to raucous. She'll be performing songs from her 15th release, the self-produced 'Slings and Arrows', which debuted at #8 on the Billboard blues charts.
WoodSongs Kid: Williams Stone Atkins is high school student from Lexington, Kentucky with a passion for singing. He performs a classic Frankie Valli tune a cappela on the broadcast.
RUEN BROTHERS were inspired by their music aficionado father who raised the duo on a steady diet of The Rolling Stones and The Everly Brothers, the two would rehearse in the family kitchen while scrounging for gigs in their blue-collar hometown of Scunthorpe, England. The brothers quickly collected a global audience of fans, none more influential than iconic producer Rick Rubin, who quickly recognized their talent and promptly took the brothers under his wing. The brothers’ artistic background and pedigree come into full focus on their debut studio album ‘All My Shades of Blue’.
KITTEL & CO. is a contemporary string collective fronted by violin virtuoso Jeremy Kittel (formerly of the GRAMMY award-winning Turtle Island Quartet). Kittle has worked such diverse artists as My Morning Jacket, Yo-Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensemble, and Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn but for the last few years, the Brooklyn-based artist has been diligently building his own repertoire of music for a wholly original new group. ‘Whorls’ is the band’s debut album on Compass Records and it inhabits the space between classical and acoustic roots, Celtic and bluegrass aesthetics, folk and jazz sensibilities.
WoodSongs Kids: Ivey Station is a siblingfiddle duo from Cedar Bluff, Alabama made up of Jenalee and Elijah Roberts.
RHONDA VINCENT was famously crowned as "The New Queen of Bluegrass" by the Wall Street Journal, and is considered the most decorated artist in that field. She is an 8-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Grammy winner. Her group The Rage is the most Award Winning Group in Bluegrass Music History. Vincent's music incorporates savvy contemporary touches while drawing deeply from the authentic traditions of classic bluegrass, with a flawless band that can execute break-neck instrumentals to heart wrenching ballads. She will be performing material for her latest project ‘Rhonda Vincent & The Rage with Bluegrass Legends Live at the Ryman’.
WoodSongs Kids: The Borders Band is a family band from Clarksville, TN consisting of five siblings ranging in age from 6-13 years old. All attend the Conservatory of Annie Moses in Nashville, TN, where each studies at least two instruments, vocal and stage performance, music theory and composition, and family performance.
Young Thumbs is an organization started at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville by John Knowles and Tommy Emmanuel. Both of these legendary guitar masters, awarded Certified Guitar Player (CGP) honors by Chet Atkins, offer advice, encouragement, and help these teenage pickers continue Chet’s legacy by connecting with older, established fingerstyle guitarists. Young master guitarists from around the world perform on this Special Event broadcast of WoodSongs and are mentored by one of the most revered guitar players on Earth Tommy Emmanuel. Young Thumbs appearing include thirteen-year-old award-winning guitarist Frano from Croatia, Nathan Miller, Parker Hastings, Bella Spellman, plus Take Two Guitar Duo with Katelyn Prieboy and Emma Pettyjohn.
GRETCHEN PETERS, after moving to Nashville in the late 80’s, quickly established herself as both a talented performer and in-demand songwriter, writing songs for Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Anne Murray, Shania Twain, and Neil Diamond. She also collaborated with Bryan Adams Peters won the 1995 CMA for Best Song with her breakout song “Independence Day”. Her new album ‘Dancing With The Beast’ showcases her skill at creating characters who feel true-to-life within stories that are all too relatable in reflecting the times we live in.
MARTY BROWN was born in Maceo, Kentucky and eventually made his way to Nashville, Tennessee to a record deal at MCA Records. He toured with acts such as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Hank Williams, Jr. and many, many more. After his recording years, he started writing hit songs for artists like the heart-felt and groovy “I’m From the Country and I Like It That Way” for Tracy Byrd. He recently also appeared on America’s Got Talent and will have a new album out later this year on Plowboy Records.
WoodSongs Kid: Shelby Callahan is a talented thirteen-year-old vocalist and guitarist from Lexington, Kentucky. Shelby performs Trisha Yearwood’s breakout song “Independence Day” which was written by Gretchen Peters.
LINDSAY LOU has been making beautiful, soul-shaking music for the last decade with her band The Flatbellys. This Michigan songbird has been featured in a number of the best acoustic music festivals in the US. Her singing floats over the instrumental mastery and deep groove of her band with dynamics that range from a lullaby to a battle cry. 2018 marks what might be the biggest year for the band, both sonically and with the fact that they are dropping “& The Flatbellys” from their name, a decision that seemed like the natural next step for them. The band is set to release their latest, a transformative and heart-wrenching album titled ‘Southland’.
DAWN LANDES is one of the most fearlessly innovative musicians working today. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and Branson, Missouri, Landes cultivated her musical gifts not only through performing and songwriting, but also through learn-by-doing production work that eventually led her to co-owning a recording studio for a time. Over the years, she has collaborated with such contemporaries as Will Oldham, Justin Townes Earle, and Norah Jones. Her latest ‘Meet Me At The River’ is Landes’ self-described “Nashville record.” She has assured its pedigree by enlisting the production skills of Fred Foster, the Country Music Hall of Fame member and an an A-Team of Nashville musicians.
WoodSongs Kid: Cash Staub is a twelve-year-old musician from Williamstown, Kentucky. He has a deep love of bluegrass and old timey music.
THE LOOSE STRINGS BAND is an all women band, five members ranging in age from fifteen to twenty three years of age from Galax, Virginia. The band has been together for nine years, playing at bluegrass conventions, special events, ceremonies, and festivals. They are well known in the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond for their nice blend of tight vocal harmonies and sweet rhythms. They are also unique in their style since they all play an instrument and sing. The band has been well supported and embraced by many through the years.
KIRBY JANE is a Nashville-based guitarist from Charleston, South Carolina, specializing in solo jazz/americana performance and fingerstyle arranging. Her award-winning playing style stems from her roots as an ex-pat pianist and her guitar approach draws significantly on composing and arranging methods more commonly seen in the piano world, providing for a nuanced, expressive approach to the guitar. At 24 years of age, Kirby is a protégé of Grammy-winning guitarist John Knowles, CGP. She is also a contributor for for Premier Guitar Magazine.
WoodSongs Kid: Although only 8-years-old, Ashlyn Smith flat-picks the guitar well beyond her years. Her hometown is Louisville, Kentucky.
SARAH PATRICK is a Kentucky girl with a passion for traditional music. The singer/songwriter embodies the spirit of real country music: hope and heartbreak, working hard, playing hard, focusing on family and appreciating the simple things. She loves the music of Loretta Lynn. And now, this simple girl has her sights set on a big dream with the impending release of a new album produced by country music’s living legend, the multi-award-winning David Frizzell.
DILLON CARMICHAEL is a Kentucky bred solid country gold singer whose plainspoken lyrics and a rich baritone voice recently was just named one of Rolling Stone Country’s 10 New Country Artists You Need To Know. To say he knows a thing or two about music is putting it lightly. To say he knows a thing or two about music is putting it lightly. His musical pedigree includes uncles John Michael Montgomery and Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery. Produced by GRAMMY award-winning Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton & Sturgill Simpson) Carmichael’s debut record is stocked with songs that nod to Outlaw country while still making room for Carmichael’s stunning.
WoodSongs Kid: Made New is a family bluegrass and country band originally from Southeast Michigan but now based in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
GLEN PHILLIPS has been making music for over two decades, starting as the 14-year-old frontman of Toad the Wet Sprocket. Since then, hes accumulated an esteemed body of work comprising eight albums with Toad (which collectively have sold close to 4 million units) and three as a solo artist. Swallowed By The New, on Compass Records, is the most intensely personal album of his career, reflecting his mastery for converting raw emotion into sound. Taking on lifes difficult transitions, Phillips delivers some of his most vulnerable songs yet.
MIPSOis an acclaimed indie-Americana quartet from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Recently recognized by Rolling Stone as an Artist You Need to Know, the band ventures ever-further from its string-band pedigree to discover a broader Americana where classic folk-rock and modern alt-country sounds mingle easily with Appalachian tradition. Their fifth album, Edges Run, is lush and forward moving, with lyrics that sear and salve in turn..
ASHLEY CAMPBELL is a triple threat songwriter, singer and banjo virtuoso. Following in the footsteps of a famous parent is never an easy path, and Ashley, the daughter of music legend Glen Campbell, initially pursued dance and acting. But when Ashley was asked to learn banjo for a part in a play, a spark was lit and her calling was found. Soon Ashley was studying with banjo luminary Carl Jackson (her godfather and longtime member of Glen's band) and mastering her technique. Ashley co-wrote all thirteen songs on her debut album 'The Lonely One', chronicling a personal journey - by turns bold, reflective and brazenly funny - of a young woman grappling with grown up choices.
LILLIE MAE has been singing and playing on stages across the country since she could stand on her own two feet. ‘Forever and Then Some’, her much anticipated Third Man Records debut, sees the Nashville-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist weaving her own extraordinary experiences with the myriad strains of Americana to create a breathtaking song cycle of romance and struggle, solitude and adventure. Produced by multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner Jack White III at Third Man Studio in Nashville, the album affirms Lillie Mae as a remarkably gifted musical storyteller, a bright new star that’s been here all along.
WoodSongs Kid: Kate Ward is a fifteen-year-old fiddler from Kuttawa, Kentucky. Kate is a staff fiddler at the Kentucky Opry and she has competed in numerous fiddle across the country.
ROSIE & THE RIVETERS vintage-inspired folk anthems paint a portrait of a woman’s voice in a man’s world. The Canadian trio’s unmistakable red lipstick and pin curls may be deceiving, but don't be fooled - this not a throwback band. Their 2015 breakout record, ‘Good Clean Fun!’, brought them sold-out tours, awards, nominations, a performance for British royalty and national airplay in Canada. Their latest album, ‘Ms. Behave’, is a collection of gritty, sultry songs that feature playfully defiant lyrics and confident talk-back harmonies that empower and challenge.
KYLE DILLINGHAM is a world renowned fiddle sensation and Oklahoma Musical Ambassador. Dillingham has over 20 years of international experience with performances in 36 countries. The Enid native picked up the violin when he was nine, and eight years later, he gave two featured performances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. On stage with his band Horseshoe Road, the group's eclectic style rooted in Bluegrass and Western Swing is full of surprises.
WoodSongs Kid: Olivia Moore and Jack Lynch are both twelve-year-old and from Frankfort, Kentucky. They’ve been playing together since grade school.
CHRIS BARRON is the acclaimed Spin Doctors frontman. A four-album hot streak in the ’90s established them as a heavyweight of the era with 1991’s five-times-platinum Pocket Full of Kryptonite’ ruling the airwaves with hits “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes”. Barron is now a veteran approaching 50, living in a world changed beyond recognition, compelled to write the music that chronicles the here-and-now. His latest ‘Angels and One-Armed Jugglers’ is the the culmination of a lifetime’s craft and a record both contemporary and classic.
KIM RICHEY is a legendary Nashville songcrafter. This two-time Grammy-nominated artist is a storyteller; a weaver of emotions and a tugger of heartstrings. Tender, poetic and aching with life’s truths, Kim’s songs transport you to her world, where words paint pictures and melodies touch the soul. After a nearly five year hiatus, Richey returns with her eighth studio album, ‘Edgeland’. The term “Edgeland” is defined as the lost zone between urban and rural environments, a concept which mimics Richey’s constant fluctuation between the rigid genre definitions of country and Americana music.
WoodSongs Kid: Aisley Stuebs is an aspiring sixteen-year-old Singer/Songwriter from Lexington, Kentucky.
JANIVA MAGNESS has one of the preeminent voices in contemporary American roots music. After Magness added a 2016 Grammy nomination to her 26 Blues Music Award nominations — with seven wins, including Entertainer of the Year — she might have taken at least a short rest on her laurels. Instead, she raised the bar for herself. Magness’ 14th album, ‘Love Is an Army’, is a brilliantly crafted bridge between the past and present, blending the echoes of classic soul and Americana music with timeless themes of love and the very contemporary sound of protest.
THE REVEREND SHAWN AMOS is Los Angeles-based soul brother number one. The Rev’s distinctive blend of black roots music, R & B, and stripped down rock n’ roll brings a bracing, soul-deep musical experience to audiences starved for authenticity, for connection. His mission to preach joyful blues to the world continues on his third album ‘The Reverend Shawn Amos Breaks It Down’. He calls the album a collection of 21st century Freedom Songs.
WoodSongs Kid: Emily Reed is a 15-year-old ukulele player and singer from Frankfort, Kentucky.
Sun Records was founded in 1952 by Sam Phillips in Memphis, Tennessee and is the birthplace of rock and roll that launched the careers of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Charlie Rich. �Red Hot: A Memphis Celebration of Sun Records� is a jubilant homegrown commemoration of the timeless legacy of the tiny independent label that changed the face of American music. All proceeds from the release (the debut for the label, run by the Americana Music Society, a Memphis nonprofit organization), will benefit St. Jude Children�s Research Hospital, the Memphis facility that is one of the nation�s top pediatric care centers. Memphis musician appearing on this legacy broadcast include: producer and Americana songwriter Bryan Hayes; acclaimed veteran of the Memphis music scene John Paul Keith; American singer, songwriter, upright bass player and actress Amy LaVere and respected artist, songwriter and producer Will Sexton. Plus, our thirteen-year-old WoodSongs Kid Shelby Callahan performs Elvis� first hit for Sun Records.
THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS hell-for-leather roadshow has earned quite a name for itself with its unique brand of Southern Gothic and swampy "hillbilly blues" that is all-at-once irreverent, lyrical, dangerous, and fun. Led by their charismatic, rail-thin frontman and blues-harpist JD Wilkes, the Shack Shakers are a four-man wrecking crew from the South whose explosive interpretations of swamp blues, rock n' roll and hillbilly music have made fans, critics and legions of potential converts into true believers. the band�s latest is �After You�ve Gone�.
DONALD AND BARRON RYAN are dynamic father-son piano duo that blends classic and contemporary music into an enthralling concert experience. From Rachmaninoff to Gershwin to Billy Joel, Ryan & Ryan combine their talents to create a dazzling blend of old and new schools. A native of Trinidad & Tobago, Donald came to the United States to study music and has the distinction of being among the most accomplished pianists in the world as a Steinway Artist. Barron is a distinguished piano master in his own right and is a prizewinner in numerous piano competitions. Barron just released his debut solo album �The Masters' Apprentice�.
WoodSongs Kid: Andrew Swisher is a 16-year-old ragtime and blues pianist from Lexington, Kentucky.
This Special Event broadcast of WoodSongs is a massive roots music spectacular featuring all amazing WOODSONGS KIDS from around the nation plus special guests from the Folk Alliance, Blues Foundation, the IBMA and SongFarmers to explain what each organization does and how interested musicians can benefit from their grassroots work. Musicians performing on the broadcasts include: 16-years-old guitar prodigy DAVID JULIA performing with blues legend BOB MARGOLIN, Indian American Tennessee siblings and award-winning multi-instrumentalists GIRI & UMA PETERS, Grand Master Fiddle champion IVY PHILLIPS with renowned Nashville musician DEANIE RICHARDSON and the youngest national thumb picking champion in history PARKER HASTINGS.
DAN TYMINSKI is one of the premier vocalists in modern acoustic music. He�s been a member of Alison Krauss + Union Station for 25 years. He contributed guitar and/or harmony to many projects including the voice for George Clooney�s on-screen character in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and in 2013, he sang lead on Avicii�s international pop hit “Hey Brother,� which reached #1 on charts in at least 18 countries. Tyminski has racked up 14 Grammy Awards and 18 total nominations. His daring new album �Southern Gothic� merges electro-pop with his bluegrass and Americana roots.
DREW HOLCOMB is a road warrior for more than a decade, has spent his adulthood onstage and on the road playing his honest songs that explore the full range of American roots music. He turns a new corner with 2017's �Souvenir�, a highly-collaborative album that finds Drew Holcomb and his band the Neighbors focusing on the things that truly stick with you - including family and friends, music and memories, people and places - in a fast-moving world.
WoodSongs Kids: The Kellys hail from Springfield, Kentucky and are a family band. They�ll perform an Appalachian take on the Korean folk song “Arrirang“.
THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL is what you could call an American roots orchestra with eight full-time members � and they play it all, mashing the sounds of traditional American music into a genre-hopping, time-bending dance party that coaxes new fire out of familiar coal. Their new eponymous album, however, finds the Los Angeles-based ensemble evolving and refining its music. Their always-joyous sound now reveals a more soulful, funky side that exudes deeper emotions and taps a more modern vibe.
THE MAMMALS are a high-octane Americana quintet from New York�s storied Hudson Valley. They carry on the work of Pete Seeger & Woody Guthrie with a deep original repertoire and signature “trad is rad� sound. Founded in 2001 by Seeger�s grandson, Tao, second generation fiddler/singer, Ruth Ungar, and banjo/guitar songsmith, Mike Merenda, The Mammals reemerged in 2017 “stronger than ever� (Folk Alley) fronted by Mike + Ruthy along with drums, bass and pedal steel. Known for their jubilant, high-energy shows, The Mammals deftly move from older-than-dirt banjo duets to sound-the-alarm topical fare that�s right in line with the times, bouncing from roof raising hoe-downs to hear-a-pin-drop a cappella balladry. Their new album is titled �Sunshiner�.
WoodSongs Kids: Eli Patrick & Dreyden Gordon are two young bluegrass musicians from Eastern Kentucky.
RUSTY YOUNG is the singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist and frontman of the seminal West Coast country-rock band Poco. For five decades, Young became not only the musical core of the band, but also the writer and vocalist behind hits including “Rose of Cimarron� and the #1 smash “Crazy Love.� �Waitin� For The Sun� is his debut solo album - an album 50 years in the making.
DORI FREEMAN is a singer and songwriter from Galax, Virginia. Her music blurs the finer lines of Americana and shines new light on the legacy of traditional music. She brings a modern and honest perspective - both lyrically and vocally. Her sophomore album �Letters Never Read� produced by Teddy Thompson was recently released.
WoodSongs Kid: America Barajas is a twelve-year-old country singer from Corbin, Kentucky.
TOMMY EMMANUEL is a virtuoso guitarist from Australia who has completely stormed the world of guitar playing � mesmerizing audiences in sold out theaters all over the world. The WoodSongs audience needs little introduction to arguably the finest guitar player of his generation as he returns to our broadcast celebrating a brilliant new album �Accomplice One�. It�s an album full of incredible duets that showcases his love of many styles.
WoodSongs Kid: Bryce Paubel is a sixteen-year-old guitar player from Highland, Illinois who�s biggest guitar hero is Tommy Emmanuel. The two perform together on a duet that Tommy and Chet Atkins first performed together in 1997 on the album �The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World�.
THE RHYTHM FUTURE QUARTET has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today�s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Led by violinist Jason Anick and guitarist Olli Soikkeli plus Max O�Rourke on second guitar and Greg Loughman on bass, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms. The band's latest is titled 'Travels'.
PHOEBE HUNT is an accomplished Americana instrumentalist with foundations in jazz and swing music. Formerly of the Belleville Outfit, she makes an impressive creative leap with her new album 'Shanti's Shadow'. It�s the culmination of a five year journey that has taken her from her Austin roots through Music Row, Brooklyn, and even to India to study with seventh-generation master violinist Kala Ramnath. Along the way, Phoebe found her voice and delivered her most inspired set of songs to date.
WoodSongs Kids: Olivia and Eliana Lee are sisters from Versailles, Kentucky that love to play fiddle.
CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD was formed by the iconic frontman of rock and roll powerhouse band The Black Crowes in 2011 and is now in the midst of one of their most prolific periods to date. Overspilling with stunning musicianship and infectious energy, the band intertwines country, blues and psychedelia, even channeling freewheeling 60s' folk. Their stellar new album, �Barefoot In The Head,� marks the CRB�s third studio release in just two years, and it finds them pushing boundaries and breaking new ground with more joy and wonder than ever before. The album showcases the continued growth of Robinson�s songwriting partnership with his bandmates (guitarist Neal Casal, drummer Tony Leone, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, and bassist Jeff Hill) and revels in the kind of adventurousness that can only come from five artists tuned into the same sonic wavelength.
ACOUSTIC EIDOLON is what happens when you cross a guitar with 2 necks and a cello with attitude. This duo featuring Joe Scott on double neck guitjo and Hannah Alkire on cello are from Colorado and have graced stages throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Canada. With eleven CDs and a DVD to their credit, these masterful artists continue to captivate audiences throughout the world with their signature “new acoustic� sound and boundless possibilities in blending Celtic, Folk, World & Latin music influences. They have released 2 new CDs since their last WoodSongs appearance including the latest, 'A Tree Finds Its Voice,' which features the new cello and guitar made from the same piece of wood.
WoodSongs Kid: Jakarah Ritter is sixteen-year-old powerhouse vocalist from Lexington, Kentucky.
FLASHBACK is a bluegrass "super group" featuring former member's of The 1995 Grammy Nominated "Flashback" version of J.D Crowe And The New South. The group features Don Rigsby, Phil Leadbetter, Richard Bennett and Curt Chapman. The band released the hit album Foxhounds & Fiddles in 2017 on Pinecastle Records and is in the studio working on a new CD for Pinecastle Records to be released in early 2018.
JOLIE HOLLAND AND SAMANTHA PARTON are founding members of the famed group The Be Good Tanyas. The two hadn't played together in years, but still shared a strong musical and personal connection. An out of the blue" call was well timed for both musicians and led to their gorgeous new album �Wildflower Blues�. The album wanders from rural blues to folk and ragtime, from smoky jazz to emotive R&B and fearless rock & roll.
WoodSongs Kids: Jimmy and Joey Webb are 11 year old identical twins from Frankfort, Kentucky that have been singing and playing music for 6 years.
VIOLET BELL weaves gypsy, blues, and soul influences with folk-rock roots. Based out of Durham, NC, the duo of Lizzy Ross and Omar Ruiz-Lopez have played over 200 show since forming in March 2016. The duo�s outreach efforts include teaching workshops to to community and youth orchestras in NC and beyond, and collaborating with youth and community musicians whenever possible. Their 2017 debut is �Dream the Wheel�.
SKERRYVORE create a unique fusion of folk, trad, rock and Americana that represents all the different personalities and upbringing of the 8 band members who hail from different regions of Scotland. Twice winners of Scotland�s Traditional Music �Live Act of the Year� Award, the band have been on a meteoric journey that has taken them from the remote Isle of Tiree on to International tours performing in over 25 countries worldwide. The band is about to release their 6th studio album EVO this summer.
WoodSongs Kid: Anna Hess is the director of North Limestone MusicWorks in Lexington, Kentucky. The program is the first El Sistema-inspired program in Kentucky.
THE UNITED STATES NAVY BAND COUNTRY CURRENT is the Navy�s premier country-bluegrass ensemble. The group is nationally renowned for its versatility and “eye-popping� musicianship, performing cutting-edge bluegrass all over the world. Country Current is the only dedicated bluegrass outfit in the US military music program.
PARKER HASTINGS is the youngest national thumb picking champion in history. A prot�g� of Tommy Emmanuel, performing in the shadows of Chet Atkins and Merle Travis, Parker is only 17 years old � and he�s from Richmond KY. This is his first time on WoodSongs as a featured artist.
WoodSongs Kid: Cash Singleton is an award winning seven-year-old country singer from Marion, Kentucky. He is joined by his banjo playing older brother Cutter.
DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER are legendary in the Bluegrass genre. With nearly 40 albums to their credit, they have multiple Grammy, Dove, ICM, IBMA and SPBGMA Award nominations, and are 7-time winners of IBMA�s Vocal Group of the Year. Doyle was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship award in 2006 for his contributions to cultural heritage as a musical trailblazer. The group�s latest is �Life is a Story� on Mountain Home Music Company.
OLD SALT UNION is a string band from Belleville, Illinois founded by a horticulturist, cultivated by classically trained musicians, and fueled by a vocalist/bass player who is also a hip-hop producer with a fondness for the Four Freshmen. It is this collision of styles and musical vocabularies that informs their fresh approach to bluegrass and gives them an electric live performance vibe that seems to pull more from Vaudeville than the front porch. The band�s self-titled debut album on Compass Records is available now.
WoodSongs Kid: Cutter Singleton is an 11-year-old banjo wiz from Maryann, Kentucky.
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA first rose to fame in the segregated south with their thrilling vocal harmonies and roof-raising live show. Their 70-year recording career would see them rack up five GRAMMY Awards (plus one for Lifetime Achievement), enter the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, collaborate with everyone from Mavis Staples and Stevie Wonder to Prince and Lou Reed, and perform on the world's most prestigious stages. From the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind, where the original members met as children, all the way to The White House - where they've performed for three different presidents - the band's story is, in many ways, America's story, and that story is at the heart of their emotional new album, 'Almost Home.'
WoodSongs Kid: Makayla is a 15-year-old powerhouse vocalist from Lexington, Kentucky.
SKIPPER�S ALLEY are a 7-piece ensemble whose dynamic take on traditional Irish music has garnered wide critical praise and featured on such diverse stages as The Late Late Show, La Festival Interceltique de Lorient, and the Irish Embassy in Zambia. Once described as "a young Irish ensemble who look like a punk band and sound like The Chieftains� Skipper�s Alley specialise in gritty, high-octane Irish dance tunes on Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Fiddle, Bodhr�n, Bouzouki, Flute and Harp, with occasional detours into the dark, sombre melodies of the Irish song tradition.
TRISTAN McINTOSH quickly made a name for herself on the public stage when her American Idol audition performance brought the judges to tears and earned her a “golden ticket� to Hollywood to compete in the final season of the long-running television series last year. She went on to become a fan favorite and finished in the top six. This 16-year-old and Nashville Native has performed recently with Darius Rucker, Kellie Pickler and on the Grand Ole Opry. She continues to work her on musicianship, songwriting and her overall dream of becoming the next big Country Music Star.
WoodSongs Kid: Vivian Leigh is a 13-year-old singer and guitarist from Lexington, Kentucky. She recently fell in love with the blues and performs an Etta James classic.
JULIAN LAGE & CHRIS ELDRIDGE first full-length album �Avalon� is a vivid snapshot of this duo�s repertoire, circa 2014; a portrait of a burgeoning friendship between two virtuosic players; and, at its heart, a pristinely recorded love letter to the sound of the acoustic guitar. Lage has, since childhood, been highly regarded in jazz and new music circles for his own work as well as for his collaborations with such artists as Gary Burton, Nels Cline, Fred Hersch, and Jim Hall, among many others. Chris Eldridge is equally noted in the progressive bluegrass world for his stints with The Seldom Scene and The Infamous Stringdusters, which led to his joining Chris Thile's adventurous, Grammy-nominated quintet, Punch Brothers.
AOIFE O�DONOVAN has gained wide recognition through an impressive list of projects including the captivating lead singer of the Boston-based progressive string band Crooked Still and The Goat Rodeo Sessions (with Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile). The Washington Post describes her singing as “almost too gorgeous for its own good.� She has made regular appearances on A Prairie Home Companion and collaborated with some of the most eminent names in music across a wide variety of genres from Alison Krauss to Dave Douglas. Her latest release is �Man in The Neon Coat: Live in Cambridge�. The album features live trio performances of tracks from Aoife's two critically acclaimed releases as well as covers of Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris classics.
WoodSongs Kid: Beth Davis is award winning fiddle player and singer from Carbondale, Illinois. She is 12 years old.
ROGER McGUINN gained fame for his work with the Limelighters, the Chad Mitchell Trio and ultimately as the founding member of The Bryds. Because of massive global hits like Turn, Turn Turn and Mr. Tambourine Man, he was soon inducted into the Rock�n�Roll Hall of Fame. In the mid-1990�s Roger pioneered one of the first streaming websites called FolkDen. To this day it is one of the most extensive archives of America�s folk legacy. We are honored and excited Roger will help us celebrate WoodSongs 900th broadcast!
JOHN LOMAX III is a legacy descendant of the folk archivist pioneers, the Lomax Family. They are responsible for seeking out and cataloging America�s folk and mountain music, later absorbed by the Smithsonian Institute. John and Alan Lomax are responsible for discovering and promotion Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and many other icons of America�s musical history. John will be a special guest on this broadcast.
SIX-STRING SOLDIERS are part of the United States Army Field Band. They are a four-member acoustic group performing Americana, folk, bluegrass, and Irish music in an informal setting. The group brings its signature style to the smallest, most intimate venues, the busiest public places, street festivals, and music festivals across the United States. With its focus on audience interaction and sharing its members� stories and experiences as American Soldiers, Six-String Soldiers offers one of the most personal musical experiences found in the United States Army.
PENTAGON WINDS is woodwind quintet was originally formed in 1989 as part of the Army Field Band�s College Clinic Team. The quintet has presented numerous recitals at colleges and universities in forty-nine states featuring repertoire from Renaissance to jazz and beyond. It has been featured at the Kennedy Center, the International Double Reed Society Conference, and other professional music conferences around the country. In addition to its regular recital appearances, the Pentagon Winds frequently presents educational clinics to students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.
WoodSongs Kids: The Graham Family are a bluegrass group from Winchester, Kentucky.
GUY DAVIS and FABRIZIO POGGI pay homage to the legendary blues duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on their latest release �Sonny & Brownie�s Last Train� on MC Records. The deep, acoustic blues sessions for the album took place in Milan Italy and were recorded live in the studio. The result captured the special musical connection that “The Ambassador of the Blues" and this award winning international harmonica sensation possess from the years of playing and recording together.
THE AFFRILACHIAN POETS have been writing together, defying the persistent stereotype of a racially homogenized rural region of Appalachia since 1991. The term "Affrilachia" was originally coined by Frank X Walker who was named the youngest Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 2013. Through their writing and the very existence of their enclave, the Affrilachian Poets continue to reveal relationships that link identity to familial roots, socio-economic stratification and cultural influence, and an inherent connection to the land. An all-star team of poets lead by Frank X and Bianca Spriggs will read and discuss their poetry, the 25th Anniversary of the group and the release of the �Black Bone Anthology�. Reknown Louisville jazz pianist Harry Pickens will appear as a special guest to back the poets� readings.
WoodSongs Kid: Zakia Holland-Tucker is lives in Richmond, Kentucky and attends Madison Central High School. She is one of newest members of the Affrilachian Poets.
VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN features the high-octane boogie piano and big soul sounds of vocalist and blues man Victor Wainwright, backed by one of the tightest smokin� bands on the scene. Victor�s star is definitely on the rise, having won the coveted BB KING Entertainer of the Year in 2016 at Blues Music Award as well as “Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year� in both 2013 and 2014. With the release of �Boom Town�, the band�s latest record, they�re poised to ignite blues/roots fans with a sound that�s infectious and impossible to ignore.
BIRDS OF CHICAGO is a collective built around husband and wife duo JT Nero (Chicago, IL) and Allison Russell (Montreal, QC). Since forming in 2012, they�ve toured internationally 10+ months of the year. Their brand of rock and roll poetry can be a little hard to categorize, for people that insist on categorizing... their voices are undoubtedly the centerpiece - Nero's fractured country soul croon is wrapped in Russell's silver and gold tones for a harmony blend that is like nothing else in music today. �Real Midnight� is the band�s poignant new Joe Henry produced album.
WoodSongs Kid: Mikaya Taylor is talented bluegrass singer from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. This 12 year old is being called �Kentucky�s Singing Angel.�
PETER ROWAN is a true music legend. From his days with Bill Monroe as a Bluegrass Boy to his work with Tony Rice, from Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead to his Grammy-winning albums with David Grisman. GRAMMY-award winner and six-time GRAMMY nominee, Peter Rowan is a bluegrass singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, Peter�s stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and his subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring. Peter�s latest project is “My Aloha� recorded in Honolulu with traditional Hawaiian musicians.
J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band) is an all-star bluegrass supergroup featuring four legendary, Grammy Award-winning musicians � John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; Jon Randall on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Mark Fain on bass � delivering bluegrass like no one has ever heard it before. John is another true music icon. He, along with Herb, are founding members of the Desert Rose Band and one of America�s most adventurous guitar masters.
WoodSongs Kids: The Riegle Family Band is a bluegrass string quartet from Muncie, Indiana.
EMISUNSHINE became a global sensation when a video of her singing in a music store went viral; the world fell in love with the little nine-year-old gal from Knoxville, TN. The natural-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist beams with exceptional and inexplicable talents. Steeped in Appalachian music, Emi is a true vocal stylist whose music has been described as “old-timey." This 13-year-old prodigy has released seven projects to date to attract nearly a half million Facebook followers and is set to release her much-anticipated next album �Ragged Dreams�, featuring 14 self-penned tracks and co-writes.
BLUE HIGHWAY is one considered one of the highest esteemed bluegrass band in the history of the genre. The band has earned a collective 26 IBMA Awards, 6 SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, plus three Grammy nominations as a band, in addition to two prestigious Grammy Awards among its current members. The band was voted the Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time by the readers of Bluegrass Today in April 2016. Their newly released album �Original Traditional� is nominated for a 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album.
WoodSongs Kid: George Fields is a young banjo picker from Stamping Grounds, Kentucky.
SOUTHERN AVENUE takes its name from a Memphis street that runs from the eastern-most part of the city limits all the way to Soulsville (the original home of Stax Records). It�s a fitting moniker for this diverse four-piece: two powerhouse sisters whose musical education came from the church (Tierinii and Tikyra Jackson), a jazz bassist (Daniel McKee) and an Israeli-born guitar virtuoso who grew up a student of the blues and funk (Ori Naftaly). The band reached the finals at the 32nd International Blues Challenge, Naftaly and his bandmates knew they�ll be labeled "a blues band.� And they love the blues � but Naftaly says Southern Avenue is much more as evident from their debut album �Don�t Give Up� on Stax Records
MUDBONE tells the story of American music one song at a time. His performances reach a broad audience by taking them on a journey from the late 19th century when bluegrass met the blues, through the country, soul, funk, and rock & roll of the 20th century. He was born near the Black River in Northeast Arkansas. That river is the dividing line between the Mississippi River Delta and the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Combining his abilities as a guitarist with fiery vocals, Mudbone has developed a signature sound that appeals to a wide demographic while remaining uniquely his own. His latest release �Rivers', part 1 of the 2 disc set Rivers and Roads, is a reflection of old world delta blues, bluegrass and gospel music flowing together in the river they all come from.
LISA BIALES (Be-Alice) sings with a crystal pure voice and writes music about the simple things in life. She weaves a down home blues vernacular with finger style guitar to create songs that feel like they have been around forever. Following in her mother�s / parent's footsteps, this little ol� gal from Ohio graced the silver screen (acting and singing) in Francis Ford Coppola�s movie “Twixt.� Inspired by a found recording of a song her mother wrote, Lisa goes back to her roots on her latest album �The Beat of My Heart�.
AMY BLACK has always been drawn to soul singers. But it wasn�t until she began exploring her own southern soul roots for her last album, The Muscle Shoals Sessions, that she found her musical sweet spot � and knew her next stop had to be the place where blues and soul converge�Memphis. Released on her own Reuben Records, �Memphis� puts Black � already considered “a bluesy, R&B heavy hitter� by Elmore magazine � on the same continuum as soul sisters from Dusty Springfield, Ann Peebles and Mavis Staples to Bonnie Raitt and Shelby Lynne.
WoodSongs Kid: Savannah Reeves is a 15-year-old singer and guitarist from Lexington, Kentucky with an incredible voice.
THE RAILSPLITTERS is a high-energy bluegrass and americana band from Boulder, Colorado. Fresh off the success of their first album, and taking first place in Rockygrass� Best New Band Competition, Colorado natives, the band got busy touring the US, meeting wider audiences, and of course, spending hours in the tour van! The Railsplitters are pushing the genre forward with an adventurous spirit, carrying in the tradition of breaking boundaries with their innovative sound. Their new album, �The Faster It Goes�, uses these new sounds to break the bonds of bluegrass and unleash tradition.
DAVID CHILDERS is a musician, poet, historian, painter, father and a champion of people who get tangled up in the bureaucratic legal system; he specializes in helping people navigate the maze of the Social Security system to obtain their benefits. He grew up in Mt. Holly, NC and won the American Academy of Poets Award for North Carolina in 1973 and has two published volumes of poetry. For the past twenty years, Childers has focused primarily on songwriting. Childers� new album, �Run Skeleton Run� on Ramseur Records, is filled with the kinds of songs that have made him a favorite of fans and fellow artists including neighbors the Avett Brothers.
WoodSongs Kid: Maddie Carbary is a 14-year-old student from Lexington, Kentucky. She perform a song written by the Dean of American Balladeers John Jacob Niles.
MIKE DAWES is hailed as one of the world�s finest and most creative modern fingerstyle guitar performers. His acclaimed solo music has gained over 15 million hits on popular video sharing sites and since the release of his debut album in 2013 he has toured almost every continent on the planet, with an average of 150 concerts per year. This guitarist from the UK has recorded with and taught multiple grammy winning artists, appeared on film and TV soundtracks, released apps, written for the world�s best selling music magazines and in addition to his solo work, currently performs alongside and in support of the legendary frontman of The Moody Blues, Justin Hayward. His latest album is �What Just Happened�.
ANTHONY SNAPE is often likened to artists such as Jason Mraz, One Republic, Crowded House. His storytelling performance style reflects classic�s like, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, The Eagles. Snape�s raw acoustic performances, lush with uplifting emotional songs, are a platform for an unbelievable vocal that he effortlessly wields to the delight of audiences around the world. Originally from Australia, Anthony is now based in the US Anthony has been independently building his audience globally. His fans include guitar great Tommy Emmanuel who said, “Anthony's songs, his voice and his message are all so powerful, I love his work!�
WoodSongs Kid: Parker Hastings is a young guitar enthusiast from Kentucky. He�s been inducted into the National Thumbpicker's Hall of Fame three years in a row with the title of 2014 “Horizon Award,� 2015 NTHF “Thumbpicker of the Year,� and 2016 "Recording of the Year�.
BRANDY CLARK is part of a new vanguard in country music � one that tips a hat to tradition, while not eschewing its evolution. For Clark, the dream she harbored in her small hometown of Morton, Washington, was to be a country singer. Sure, once she moved to Nashville, she had successful cuts as a songwriter [The Band Perry's "Better Dig Two," Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart," and Kacey Musgraves' "Follow Your Arrow" which won the CMA Song of the Year Award in 2014], but being an artist in her own right was a dream she had stopped dreaming until three years ago when her first album, the stunning 12 Stories, debuted and went on to become a GRAMMY- and CMA-nominated release that topped a myriad of "Best Albums of 2013.� �Big Day in a Small Town� is the new album from this critically acclaimed songwriter and four-time GRAMMY nominee.
CHARLIE WORSHAM is widely acclaimed within the Nashville community and is set for a breakthrough year with the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album, �Beginning of Things�. Worsha, is a ridiculously talented multi-instrumentalist and student of great songs. He�s developed a unique modern country sound built around the traditional acoustic instruments he grew up on. From the Opry at age twelve to the local Missionary Baptist Church to the back-road blues joints he wasn't even supposed to know about, much less play in, wherever he found a stage, he played. For the last two years, he's divided his time between writing songs, being an in-demand studio musician for other artists and playing his music live � sharing stages across the country with Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and others.
WoodSongs Kid: Shelby Hudson is a 13-year-old singer from Greenville, Kentucky.
SHUN NG is an award-winning fingerstyle guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter, known for his unique style which infuses elements of Soul, Funk, Blues and Jazz. Shun dazzles audiences from all over the world with his flamboyant technique, soulful vocals and hypnotic groove. He stands as one of the most dynamic and innovative performers, winning accolades from legendary producer, Quincy Jones to fellow guitar virtuoso, Tuck Andress.
PETER MULVEY has pursued a restless, eclectic path as a writer and musician � immersing himself in Tin PanAlley jazz, modern acoustic, poetry, narrative, and Americana stylings over the past 20 years. Mulvey has a rare ability to hold an audience�s attention and transport them, using wit, humor, and a subtle but sophisticated melodic and harmonic sensibility to gracefully introduce complex and provocative concepts and characters. Relentlessly touring as a headliner he has also shared the stage with luminaries such as Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, and Greg Brown, and has attracted an audience that stretches from Anchorage to Amsterdam. His latest record, produced by Ani DiFranco for Righteous Babe Records, is called �Are You Listening?�.
WoodSongs Kid: Andrew Swisher is a 15-year-old ragtime and blues pianist from Lexington, Kentucky.
JOHN N�METH has established himself among the very top ranks of blues musicians and modern soul singers. Drawing from his strong influences in blues and R&B, as well as contemporary sounds in hip hop and rock & roll, John creates music that is personal as well as universal, and owes its origin to no one but John N�meth.N�meth is also a very accomplished harmonica player who can boogie with the best of them He is currently nominated for a 2017 Blues Music Award in the category of B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and won a couple of BMA the prior two years. His new album �Feelin� Freaky� backed by his Memphis band shows why he�s one of the hottest stars in the musical firmament.
TOMI LUNSFORD is a transcendent singer, and songwriter, informed by deep family musical roots. She has long been recognized as one of Nashville�s most versatile performers, thriving outside the realm of the expected. Lunsford�s soprano is deeply rooted in mountain and bluegrass history, but she possesses her own definitive voice. She has always impressed with an offbeat style and phrasing that conjures jazz, folk, country, and blues in a singular vehicle. Critics have long considered Lunsford a Nashville treasure. Her new album �Come On Blue�, produced by Robin Eaton, features twelve elemental songs melodically crafted around her indelible voice
DAILY & VINCENT has been hailed throughout the music industry as one of the most exciting, reputable and elite Bluegrass bands in America. Dubbed by CMT as the “Rockstars of Bluegrass,� the duo has won numerous awards for their uniquely contagious and riveting music, including: three Grammy Award Nominations for the 2014 “Bluegrass Album of the Year;� 14 IBMA Awards (International Bluegrass Music Awards) as three-time “Entertainer of the Year,� three-time “Vocal Group of the Year� and “Album of the Year� and four Dove Awards with three “Bluegrass Album of the Year� awards and “Bluegrass Song of the Year.� Their latest project is �Patriots & Poets�.
CHASITY BROWN grew up surrounded by country and soul music with roots in the Deep South. Now based in Minnesota, she is a powerful new voice with the ability to warm, comfort and challenge. She�s been hailed by NPR, CMT, American Songwriter, The London Times, and Paste Magazine as a songwriter to watch and has appeared on UK television on Later� with Jools Holland. She melds folk, pop and soul on her Red House debut, �Silhouette of Sirens�, weaving together a poet�s lyrical ear and a soul-laid-bare quality.
GEORGE WINSTON is a celebrated American pianist whose career spans more than 40 years with sales of over 15 million albums, including seven Platinum selling recordings. RCA Records is releasing Winston�s 14th solo piano album, Spring Carousel, a cancer research benefit album. Spring Carousel features a collection of 15 solo piano compositions written by Winston while in recovery from a bone marrow transplant for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) at City of Hope, in Duarte, California. Proceeds from sales of Spring Carousel will directly benefit City of Hope.
THE OUTSIDE TRACK are one of the top Celtic acts in the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, and the US, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on this as a foundation. They effortlessly fuse traditional and contemporary with winning joie de vivre, blending fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, whistle, step-dance and vocals with breathtaking vitality. The band won Best Group in both the Live Ireland awards and the TIR awards, and a finalist for best album in the 2016 Indie Acoustic Project Awards. Their new album is �Light Up The Dark�.
WoodSongs Kid: Benjamin Barker is a 15-year-old hammered dulcimer player from Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY shot to stardom with his 1992 double-platinum hit album Life�s A Dance. The romantic balladeer has won over the hearts of millions with his chart-topping songs “I Swear,� “Be My Baby Tonight," "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)," "I Love The Way You Love Me," “If You�ve Got Love,� and the moving tribute to veterans and the members of the armed forces, "Letters From Home." Born into a family of musicians in Central Kentucky, Montgomery has managed to create a storied career, charting 18 Top 10 hits and 15 No. 1s, celebrating two Billboard "Country Songs Of The Year," and achieving over 18 million albums sold. Along the way he has won four ACM awards, two CMA awards, one AMA award and garnered three GRAMMY Award nominations, placing him among the most successful country acts in history.
JOHN OATES is one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Oates embarked on a long-awaited solo career in 1999. He has since recorded five solo albums and the 2015 DVD docu-concert Another Good Road. Influenced by R&B and folk music while growing up near Philadelphia, he was named a BMI Icon in 2008 and founded the 7908: The Aspen Songwriters Festival in 2010. In 2016, Hall & Oates received a star on the Hollywood of Fame. In addition to his ongoing tour schedule with Daryl Hall, playing sold out shows around the world, Oates recently collaborated with Wolfgang Gartner for the EDM track “Baby Be Real,� as well as, The Time Jumpers on a new original holiday single “Santa Be Good to Me.� St. Martin�s Press will release Oates� memoir, Change of Seasons, in March of 2017. He divides his time between Nashville, TN and a ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
JOHN OATES is one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Oates embarked on a long-awaited solo career in 1999. He has since recorded five solo albums and the 2015 DVD docu-concert Another Good Road. Influenced by R&B and folk music while growing up near Philadelphia, he was named a BMI Icon in 2008 and founded the 7908: The Aspen Songwriters Festival in 2010. In 2016, Hall & Oates received a star on the Hollywood of Fame. In addition to his ongoing tour schedule with Daryl Hall, playing sold out shows around the world, Oates recently collaborated with Wolfgang Gartner for the EDM track “Baby Be Real,� as well as, The Time Jumpers on a new original holiday single “Santa Be Good to Me.� St. Martin�s Press will release Oates� memoir, Change of Seasons, in March of 2017. He divides his time between Nashville, TN and a ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
RUTHIE FOSTER a vocal powerhouse from Austin, Texas with a chapel-bred bravado trained on the works of powerful women such as Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, her sound grew into an inspired blend of blues, folk and gospel. Ruthie is a three time Grammy nominated artist plus she�s won seven Blues Music Awards, three Austin Music Awards, the Grand Prix du Disque award from the Acad�mie Charles-Cros in France, and a Living Blues Critics� Award for Female Blues Artist of the Year. She�s performed with Bonnie Raitt, the Allman Brothers, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and more. Her latest �Joy Comes Back � is a new career-defining soul/blues/gospel/rock opus.
SALLY & GEORGE is a musical duo at the crossroads of Americana, Country, and Rock. The East Nashville based duo, Sally and George, consists of Joel Timmons (Sol Driven Train) on guitar, percussion and vocals and GRAMMY nominated Shelby Means (ex-Della Mae) playing upright bass and singing. Drawing from their love for the classic duet styles of Johnny Cash and June Carter, as well as contemporary artists, The White Stripes and Shovels & Rope, Sally and George breathe life and love into the ever widening world of Americana. Their debut album �Tip My Hat� deftly moves from rollicking, electrified rockers to stripped down, gauzy reflections on love and faith to walking bass-led country-indebted duets.
WoodSongs Kid: Aneesa Sheikh is 14-year-old aspiring singer/songwriter from Lexington, Kentucky. She will perform one of her original songs.
CORKY SIEGEL is known internationally as one of the worlds great blues harmonica players, blues pianist, singer, songwriter, author and celebrated composer of blues-classical forms. He is a recent winner of the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest/Meet the Composer's national award for chamber music composition and the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award for Music Composition, Chicago Lifetime Achievement Award, and inductee into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. Corky is set to release a new album �Different Voices� with his Chamber Blues ensemble that merges blues and classical.
TWIN KENNEDY is comprised of West Coast sisters Carli and Julie Kennedy. Born and raised in the small town of Powell River, the sisters grew up perfecting their sibling harmonies and dynamic live performances, while making their name known throughout their small community as a family band. With years of classical training, including their Bachelors Degrees in Music Performance from the University of Victoria, the sisters have found their home in country music. Their latest single, “Secondhand Gold� was awarded the Lennon Award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
WoodSongs Kids: Members of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra will perform the song “Twisted� with Corky Siegel to showcase the unique chamber blues sound.
LINKIN� BRIDGE is a singing group from the west end of Louisville, Kentucky. They are best known for their warm harmonies and emotional performances.Whether on stage, on a corner, these guys deliver power and conviction driven by their passion to unite the world through music and love. The band exploded on the world stage with their music and story when they were finalists on the NBC�s “America�s Got Talent�. The band is now national recognized and has over 500M video views!
RUN BOY RUN exists comfortably in the tension between tradition and the musical frontier. This Tucson five piece Run Boy Run blends bluegrass, folk and the old timey American vernacular with touches of classical and turn of the century details. in the tension between tradition and frontier bluegrass and folk. From winning the band contest at Pickin� In The Pines (mere weeks after forming in 2009) and a special appearance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2012, to two appearances on NPR�s �A Prairie Home Companion� (host Garrison Keillor was also impressed enough that he penned the liner notes to the band�s debut album), they were tagged by Paste Magazine as “One of the top 10 Arizona bands to hear now.� Their new album Something to Someone.
WoodSongs Kid: Cane Mill Road is a talented teenage bluegrass trio from Deep Gap, North Carolina.
HOLLY NORMAN has a voice that is pure country, smooth, and takes you back to the days of traditional country crooners like Tammy Wynnette and Patsy Cline. Growing up in in Powell, Tennessee, Holly has sung and performed more than 6,000 shows before more than 2 million people. Holly has been a featured performer at Dollywood, Dolly Parton�s theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where she had the opportunity to sing numerous times with Dolly. She�s also one of the headlining female vocalists at several theaters including The Smokey Mountain Jubilee, Southern Nights, and The Smith Theatre. Her sophomore album is a 'grassed up collection of 12 Elvis songs and 1 original written by Holly.
GHOST TOWN BLUES BAND is a modern blues band with an intimate knowledge of both blues, rock and improvisational jams. At the same time, the band�s raw energy and intensity is reminiscent of some of the best blues that rock n' roll has ever offered. This Memphis-based, gritty, seven-piece has been touring the US and Canada since its inception in 2009, gaining a strong following within the Blues and Jam Band circuit.
WoodSongs Kid: Jonathan Wilson Rader is a 11-year-old Elvis tribute artist from Wilmore, Kentucky. He is known as Little E and has released a tribute CDs to the King.
JOSHUA MESSICK is a North Carolina-based National Hammered Dulcimer Champion. Creativity flows with dynamic passion as he weaves progressive, cinematic stylings & modern techniques into traditional melodies, original compositions, & powerful improvisations and breathes new life into an ancient, enchanting instrument. A beautiful and captivating listening experience, Joshua�s musical artistry is influenced by Celtic, World, Renaissance, Folk, and Classical music. His new album �Woodland Dance� is an instrumental outlook of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He will be joined be world class percussionist River Guerguerian.
HOLLY BOWLING is a classically trained pianist who began playing piano at the age of five. There�s one major distinction, however, that separates her from other similarly studied musicians. That is Holly�s devotion to the legendary rock band Phish. Last year, Bowling released �Distillation Of A Dream: The Music Of Phish Reimagined For Solo Piano� to wide acclaim. So it only seems fitting that she turns her attention to the music of The Grateful Dead for her second album �Better Left Unsung�. "Franklin�s Tower," "The Other One" and "China Doll," are among the songs Bowling recorded for the album, in addition to an entire solo piano arrangement of the "Terrapin Station" suite.
Barbershop Singing is a passionate, joyful celebration of the human voice � It originated in the late 1800s and early 1900s of America, a hybrid of both black and white expressive cultural forms at the time. The African American influence is sometimes overlooked although these quartets had a very formative role in the development of this style of singing. Popularity of the style faded in the 1920s and was revived in the mid-20th century with help by the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, founded in 1938 is now known as the Barbershop Harmony Society.
On this broadcast you will be spellbound by traditional groups, international groups � even an amazing kid Barber Shop ensemble.
KAIA KATER is the new soul of traditional music. Born of African-Caribbean descent in Qu�bec, Kaia Kater grew up between two worlds: one her family�s deep ties to Canadian folk music in her Toronto home; the other the years she spent learning and studying Appalachian music in West Virginia. The songs on her new album �Nine Pin� are fueled by her rich low tenor vocals, jazz-influenced instrumentation, and beautifully understated banjo, and they�ve got as much in common with Kendrick Lamar right now as they do with Pete Seeger. No wonder Rolling Stone named her a new country artist you need to know.
BANJO NICKARU & WESTERN SCOOCHES are NYC based band that bring everyone together for a high-spirited 1920's New Orleans style jamboree with their fearless melting pot of rhythmic banjo, slide guitar fused with Gullah-Geechee tambourines, beautiful female country lead singing and harmonized calypso vocalizations. Their brand new album is �Very Next Thing�.
WoodSongs Kids: Giri and Uma Peters are award winning multi-instrumentalists siblings from Nashville, Tennessee.
MERLE TRAVIS is a Kentucky guitar hero and an American music icon. Born in Rosewood, Ky his lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are “Sixteen Tons,� “Re-Enlistment Blues,� “I am a Pilgrim� and “Dark as a Dungeon�. However, it is his masterly guitar playing and his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky for which he is best known today. “Travis picking�, a syncopated style of finger-picking, is named after him. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
THOM BRESH is the son of Merle Travis and a world-class guitar master in his own right. Bresh did not begin his music career until his adult years. From age 3 to age 17, he worked as an actor and one of the youngest stuntman in TV and movies, where such programs as The Lone Ranger and the Billy the Kidd trilogy were filmed. Ever since he was old enough to hold a guitar pick, he�s followed the unique fingerpicking style his father made famous, bringing it to new audiences. Travis� trademark style incorporated elements of ragtime, blues, boogie, and Western swing, and was marked by rich chord progressions, harmonics, slides, and bends, with rapid changes in key.
EDDIE PENNINGTON is one of the true guitar legends from Kentucky in the same tradition popularized by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.
PARKER HASTINGS is only 15 years old and already one of Kentucky�s premier thumbpicking champions in the tradition of Merle Travis, Eddie Pennington and Tommy Emmanuel.
KATELYN PRIEBOY is 19 and from Tampa, Florida. She was recently crowned grand champion at Legends Thumbpicking Competition in Muhlenberg County, Ky., in late September.
THE O'CONNOR BAND with MARK O'CONNOR isn�t your typical family band. The Band features one of the most iconic fiddlers in American history, Mark O�Connor. His collaborations with James Taylor, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, and many others have led to performances on the most visible concert stages worldwide. In the O�Connor Band, Mark is joined by his wife Maggie (fiddle, vocals), son Forrest (mandolin, vocals), and Forrest�s partner Kate Lee (fiddle, vocals). Their repertoire is centered around some of Mark�s greatest instrumentals as well as songs written by Forrest and Kate, the band�s lead singers, whose tight harmonies and lyrical honesty have earned praise from the likes of Krauss, Rosanne Cash, and Mary Gauthier. Along with national flatpick guitar champion Joe Smart and Eastman School of Music graduate and current University of Miami DMA candidate Geoff Saunders, the O'Connor Band just recorded their debut album for Concord/Rounder Records slated for release this summer.
WoodSongs Kid: Allie Hagan is a 17 year old fiddle champion from Nicholasville, Kentucky. She recently taught 75 students in Kenya to play the violin using the O�Connor Fiddle Method.
MICHAEL CLEVELAND & FLAMEKEEPER is one of bluegrass music�s great treasures. A 10-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, 4-time Instrumental Group of the Year winner and 2016 nominee, Cleveland captured the attention of the bluegrass community as a child prodigy who performed on the Grand Ole Opry with Alison Krauss when he was only 13 years old. But he became a viral video sensation this summer with a virtuosic impromptu performance of “Jerusalem Ridge� that racked up over 6 million views in just a few days. With his new release, �Fiddler�s Dream� Cleveland and delivers his finest studio album to date
MURIEL ANDERSON is one of the world�s foremost fingerstyle guitarists and harp-guitarists. She is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. She has performed/recorded with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Victor Wooten and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. Her obvious joy of music, humor and her facility across the genres of folk, classical, jazz, bluegrass and international music is revered by guitarists worldwide. Muriel is host of the renowned Muriel Anderson�s ALL STAR GUITAR NIGHT® and founder of the MUSIC FOR LIFE ALLIANCE charity. Her recent CD “Nightlight Daylight� has won top honors in 11 national awards. Her upcoming project is �Wonderlust� The DVD: A musical and pectoral journey around the world.
WoodSongs Kid: Conner Derryberry is a bona fide bones and banjo player who happens to be only 11 years old. He is the 2016 Uncle Dave Macon Youth Musician Champion for his claw hammer banjoing. Conner will perform on WoodSongs with award winning multi-instrumentalist brother Austin. The two hail from Shelbyville, Tennessee.
FLATT LONESOME meteoric bluegrass rise in bluegrass can be attributed to their stellar picking and heartfelt songs centered around beautiful sibling harmony. They was the big winner at this year IBMA�s Awards walking away with Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. While deeply-rooted in bluegrass music�s historic classics, they also have an energetic flair for country sounds, progressive jams, and soul-stirring gospel music while never forsaking their traditional essence. Their latest album �Runaway Train� generated six charting singles thus far and was also honored at the SPBGMA Awards early 2016 for Album of the Year and Best Overall Bluegrass Band.
MARK KROOS plays 2 guitar necks at the same time. He�s the winner of Guitar Player Magazine's 2011 International Competition .Drawing influence from folk, Celtic, indie, and even punk rock artists as well as other great guitarists such as Michael Hedges, Tommy Emmanuel and Leo Kottke, Mark Kroos has developed his own edge to the acoustic guitar characterized by open harmonies, polyphonic textures, and incredible tapping technique. Mark�s latest release is �Clarity�.
WoodSongs Kid: Isaac May is a talented mandolin player from Mount Eden, KY. He frequently performs with Michael on his opening song and is a mentor to the WoodSongs Kids.
BEN SOLLEE featuring Jordan Ellis finds this innovative Kentucky cellist and genre-bending songwriter teaming up with his longtime collaborator, drummer Jordon Ellis. The two dive deep into heavy cello and drum grooves, adventurous instrumentals, and achingly beautiful songs on Ben�s first full-length studio album in four years �Infowars.� Sollee and Ellis were on a quest to capture the energy and dynamics that inhabits their live performances. It is a record that both broadens and extends the songwriter�s already eclectic sound by incorporating electronics, field recordings, and samples to a create a cinematic quality that defies genre.
LUKE BULLA has been singing and playing music most of his life. He won the National Fiddle Contest six times as a kid and won the Grand Champion division at age sixteen, making him the youngest to have earned the title at the time. As a full-time Nashville resident since 1999, Luke has enjoyed playing fiddle with Ricky Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, as well as other wonderful musicians including Earl Scruggs, Lee Ann Womack, Brandi Carlile, Kevin Costner, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, and Sam Bush. Luke has completed his seventh season touring with Lyle Lovett in the world famous Large Band. As a solo artist, Luke's debut on the Pure Music Nashville label, 'Who Loves You Better�, was released early this year.
WoodSongs Kid: Chapel Tinius of Bowling Green Kentucky is 16 and was crowned “Miss Kentucky Outstanding Teen� in 2016. She�s an incredible fiddle player and will be performing with the reigning Miss Kentucky winner Laura Jones who is also an extraordinary fiddler.
BOBBY RUSH is known as �The King of the Chitlin Circuit� and considered one of the greatest bluesman currently performing. Rush estimates that he has cut over 345 songs since he first began making music including first gold record in 1971 with a hit entitled “Chicken Heads.� He has been honored with three Grammy nominations, as well as ten Blues Music Awards and 41 nominations. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006. �Porcupine Meat� is Rush�s debut release for Rounder Records, and cements Bobby Rush�s legacy as blues� most vital artist of his generation.
DALLAHAN is one of the fastest rising forces on the international folk circuit; heavily rooted in traditional Irish music, but with hugely diverse backgrounds and influences. They call on their mixed Irish, Scottish and Hungarian heritage to create a unique and seamless musical montage, drawing in influences from jazz, funk, pop and classical music. This Scottish band of award winning musicians latest release is �Matter Of Time�.
WoodSongs Kid: Lissy Taylor was born in Staffordshire, England and now enjoys living in Lexington, Kentucky. This sixteen year-old has her own distinctive vocal sound and signature acoustic style.
JOHN McEUEN brings with him 45+ years of worldwide performing with his banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin. Often referred to as �the String Wizard�, John founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966. He instigated the 1972 classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken album, (inducted in to the Library of Congress as �one of America�s most important recordings). He has earned Emmy nominations, Grammy Awards, CMA acclaim, The Western Heritage Award, and many other accolades. He is celebrating the release of his latest solo album �Made in Brooklyn�.
BILL AND THE BELLES has made waves in the world of roots music with striking three-part harmonies and masterful instrumentation. Based at the foothills of the Blue Ridge and the forefront of old time music, Bill and the Belles (Johnson City, Tennessee) continue to further the music traditions of their region. From sentimental Southern ballads to the popular songs of Tin Pan Alley to regional fiddle breakdowns, the group�s shows are a celebration of the diversity country music once represented.
WoodSongs Kid: Victor Furtado is an award winning 15 year-old claw hammer banjo virtuoso from Front Royal, Virginia.
LIVINGSTON TAYLOR picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, beginning a 40-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting and teaching. From top-40 hits “I Will Be in Love with You� and “I�ll Come Running,� to “I Can Dream of You� and “Boatman,� both recorded by his brother James, Livingston�s creative output has continued unabated. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres�folk, pop, gospel, jazz�and from upbeat storytelling to touching ballads. Livingston�s latest album is �Blue Sky�.
REBECCA LOEBE is a laid-back award-winning indie-folk singer from Atlanta, GA. Since quitting her job as a full-time recording studio engineer in 2006, she has performed 100+ shows per year at colleges, coffeehouses and theaters in over 30 states of the US and in Europe. In the spring of 2011, her performance on the US premiere of “The Voice� impressed celebrity coaches Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine, prompting them both to ask her to work with them. In 2017, she�s celebrating 10 years on the road and a brand new crowd sourced album.
WoodSongs Kids: The Bucket Brothers are a North Carolina-based band composed of brothers Logan and Casey Valleroy. Just 16 and 13, the brothers have performed a sophisticated repertoire of jazz and original tunes since 2012 and have been described as "off-the-charts talented."
THE HARP TWINS have achieved extraordinary success by taking Electric Harps and acoustic Concert Grand Harps to unprecedented levels and smashing boundaries between different genres of music. The duo has amassed over 800,000 fans across their social media sites and over 40 million views on their YouTube music videos, making Camille and Kennerly the most followed and recognizable harp duo in the world. Mixing their virtuoso harp skills with their stunningly complex arrangements of rock, metal, and soundtrack hits, the Harp Twins deliver exciting and interactive performances audiences cannot forget!
DAWG YAWP are a duo from Cincinnati that mixes the sitar, one of the oldest instruments on earth, with guitars, obscure analog synthesizers, Electronica and sweet vocals. Tyler Randall and Rob Keenan forged a teenage friendship avoiding schoolwork by learning to play a myriad of musical of instruments and writing songs in their parent�s basements.They excelled at it and both attended the Berklee School of Music, dropped out searching for adventure � and Tyler hit the woodshed with his Sitar. The Cincinnati duo�s self-titled debut LP is out this fall via Old Flame Records. It�s a one of kind psychedelic folk and bluegrass experience.
WoodSongs Kid: Benjamin Barker is a 15-year-old hammered dulcimer player from Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
ERIC JOHNSON has long been hailed as one of the world�s preeminent electric guitarists with a Grammy Award and five nominations, platinum album, Top 10 hits like “Cliffs Of Dover,� and praise from critics and the esteem of his peers. Johnson now celebrates his acoustic side with his 12th album EJ. His first completely unplugged album is also his most immediate and intimate. Eric will be performing on WoodSongs solo on acoustic guitar and piano.
THE GONZALO BERGARA QUARTET plays a modern variant of 1930�s Django Reinhardt-inspired gypsy jazz. Composer and lead guitarist Gonzalo Bergara mixes a cascade of arpeggios with the sounds of Paris and his native Argentina.
WoodSongs Kid: Emma Mosley is a 16-year-old guitar wiz from Austin, Texas.
JANIVA MAGNESS is one of the most beloved figures in the Americana, blues and roots music world. She is the winner of seven Blues Music Awards (with 25 nominations) including awards for B.B. King Entertainer of the year, Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Her new album �Love Wins Again� is yet another evolutionary step for the soulful, elegant, award-winning singer-songwriter. Also in the works, Magness explores her own turbulent youth, her rise to stardom and more in her just-finished, yet-untitled memoir�a book that took three years to write and has already inspired an in-the-works musical.
MATT ANDERSEN is a powerhouse performer with a giant soul-filled voice and commanding stage presence. With nearly 10 million views on YouTube, a 2013 European Blues Award, and winning Best Solo Performer at the Memphis Blues Challenge, it appears that the entire world is now discovering Matt. His new album 'Honest Man' follows up the JUNO Award nominated Weightless and sees the songwriter pushing himself into new territory.
WoodSongs Kid: Mikaya Taylor is from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and has a deep love for bluegrass and country music. This ten year old young vocalist just released her first CD.
KELSEY WALDON hails from Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky. Her 2014 debut �The Goldmine� announced the Kentucky singer-songwriter as a disciple of Tammy and Loretta, with yearning vocals and hints of barroom twang. The Washington Post calls her "country's coolest young voice�. She has been featured in Rolling Stone's Ten Artists to Watch, Relix, Billboard and iTunes 25 Artists To Make You Like Country Music list. Don Henley recently cited her as one of the new young artists that keeps him encouraged about the future of music. She just released the follow up to her critically acclaimed debut album �I�ve Got a Way� which is already receiving high praise from critics and fans.
K PHILLIPS was born in West Texas. He started playing guitar and writing songs at age 5 and began playing organ and piano in bar bands at age 14. When K was 18 both his close friend and girlfriend died in separate drowning accidents. Reeling from these losses, he made the decision to pursue his own music. On his forth-coming sophomore LP �Dirty Wonder�, K has truly found his voice � a combination of Tom Waits' lyrical wit and Keith Richards� slinky country-rock hooks joined with K�s unique, compelling vocal delivery. He and his band recently finished a ten-week tour supporting Counting Crows and Rob Thomas.
WoodSongs Kid: Maisy Reliford hails from Borden, Indiana. This 13-year-old plays fiddles and sings and has released a couple of singles with a record label in Nashville.
SYLVIA has enjoyed more than two decades of a successful and multifaceted career as a singer and songwriter. Her career includes multiple No. 1 hits such as the crossover smash “Nobody� and “Drifter.� The Grammy-nominated singer also charted 20 singles on the country charts, which helped propel her to a win for the ACM�s “Female Vocalist of the Year.� 'It�s All In The Family', her first album in 14 years, is also the first on which she co-wrote the majority of the songs.
JP HARRIS plays Country Music. Not “Americana,� not “Roots,� “Folk,� or any other number of monikers used to describe a slew of spin-off genres; he plays from the foundation of these styles, the music that has influenced four generations of songwriters. Rolling Stone named JP Harris one of fall 2014�s “Country Tours Not To Miss,� as well as one of “21 Must-See Country Acts at SXSW 2015.� JP's latest 'Why Don�t We Duet In The Road' is a collection of old-school country duets inspired by 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken'.
WoodSongs Kid: Kevin Beddingfield is a fiery 8 year-old banjo player from Flag Pond, Tennessee.
THE BLUE SISTERS are Ina Forsman (Finland), Layla Zoe (Canada), and Tasha Taylor (USA). Three of blues scene�s next-big-things that are showcasing in Ruf Records 2016 Blues Caravan in it�s 12th triumphant year. These three tremendous singers all have new studio records, but are performing together for fans who want to catch them before lift- off. Their careers are ready to explode.
JIMMY “DUCK� HOLMES is one of the most celebrated rural blues musicians performing today. He is the last living practitioner of the celebrated style of Bentonia blues made famous by Skip James and Jack Owens. In addition, Holmes operates what is arguably the oldest juke joint left in Mississippi and is the organizer of one of the longest-running festivals in the state - the Bentonia Blues Festival. Holmes has released a new album �It Is What It Is� on his own label Blue Front Records.
WoodSongs Kid: Vivian Leigh is 12 year- old from Lexington, Kentucky. She performs Elizabeth Cotten timeless song“Freight Train� for the broadcast.
TED YODER has revolutionized the hammered dulcimer through his pop symphonic approach on the instrument as a solo performer. He�s the National Hammered Dulcimer Champion whose highly engaged fanbase has nicknamed his innovative approach to playing popular songs “Yoderizing.� The Goshen, Indiana-based instrumentalist-composer-singer fifth self titled album was released early this year and was produced in Nashville with the fiery fiddling of Ricky Skaggs' violinist, Andy Leftwich. He recently had a video of the Tears for Fears song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World� go viral with 50+ million views.
FRANK VIGNOLA AND VINNY RAVIOLIO are two of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. Frank's stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world's top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark O'Connor, Boston Pops, New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his "Five Most Admired Guitarists List" for the Wall Street Journal. Vinny Raniolo, at the age of 28, has already proved himself to be among the elite having performed and recorded with Bucky Pizzareli, Tommy Emmanuel and David Grisman just to name a few. Since Frank and Vinny teamed up in 2008 they have performed over 1000 shows at some of the most prestigious concert halls and festivals in the world.
EXILE formed in 1963 looking to play small clubs in Richmond, Kentucky, but managed to top both the pop and country charts during their over 50 year-long career. Their most successful hit, “Kiss You All Over,� spent four weeks at the top of Billboard�s pop chart in 1978. In the early 1980�s EXILE start to focus on country music. During their run on the country charts EXILE has successfully had ten No. 1 singles including “I Don�t Want To Be A Memory� and “Give Me One More Chance.� They have toured with acts including Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Gatlin Brothers and The Judds. The 5 original EXILE members reformed in 2008 and continue to tour today. Current members of the band include J.P. Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis and Steve Goetzman.
THE MARTIN FAMILY CIRCUS is vocal-driven melodic band of 2 parents and 4 kids ranging in age from 9-18 with a rich soaring blend of family harmonies which Rolling Stone magazine calls “exuberant.� Dad, Grammy-winning artist Paul Martin and lead singer/guitarist of country-pop group Exile, and Mom Jaime, daughter of Duane Allen of Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys, began singing together with their four children in 2010. Quickly realizing that the kids all showed an uncanny knack for hearing harmonies and pitch, as well as for playing instruments, they began performing shows together. They were soon dubbed the Martin Family Circus by Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill. The band's newest CD project is 'Past, Present, Future'.
SAMANTHA FISH is one of the most brilliant, exciting performers of the blues in the world. ... yes, on this planet. Samantha won a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. Her latest is 'Wild Heart' on Ruf Records and was produced by Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars. She was recently nominated for another Blues Award for the Best Contemporary Female.
TERRY "HARMONICA" BEAN is one of Mississippi's hidden treasures: a contemporary hill country bluesman, Bean has played with some of the most important bluesmen to come out of Mississippi in the past two decades. Since 2002 he has released six self-produced CDs that document both his band and solo performances.
The Earls of Leicester is a bluegrass group assembled by master musician and multi-Grammy winner Jerry Douglas to present the music of Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and their band the Foggy Mountain Boys. Their self-titled debut album on Rounder Records just earned a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. The band�s music focuses on the music of Flatt and Scruggs during the period when the band consisted of Lester Flatt on guitar and lead vocals, Earl Scruggs on banjo and guitar, �Uncle� Josh Graves on dobro, Paul Warren on fiddle, Curly Seckler on mandolin, and �Cousin� Jake Tullock on bass. _ The band�s name is a play on the names of “Earl� Scruggs and “Lester� Flatt. Onstage for tonights special event broadcast taping is Jerry Douglas (dobro) Shawn Camp (lead vocals and guitar) Charlie Cushman (banjo) Jeff White(mandolin) Johnny Warren (fiddle) and Barry Bales (upright bass).
WoodSongs Kids: Presley Barker and Clay Russell are two young bluegrass musicians from the Western North Carolina area. They been honored with many awards in the bluegrass competitions within their regions.
MICHAEL HEDGES was a trailblazing acoustic guitarist. He pioneered percussive finger style guitar, the influence of which can now be heard in the compositions and playing of many guitarists.
ANDY MCKEE is among the world�s finest acoustic guitarists. His youthful energy and attention to song structure and melodic content elevates him above the rest. He entertains both the eye and the ear as he magically transforms the steel string guitar into a full orchestra via his use of altered tunings, tapping, partial capos, percussive hits and a signature two-handed technique. McKee�s crossover success has helped him to achieve millions upon millions of YouTube viewers, underscoring his emergence as one of today�s most unique and influential artists. McKee is the first artist to be signed CGP Sounds, the record label founded by fellow guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. �Live Book� is McKee�s first release for the label.
CHRISTIE LENEE unique guitar work is often compared to visionaries like Michael Hedges, Joni Mitchell and Dave Matthews- fusing folky/funky playfulness with pop/rock inspired songs and virtuosic guitar compositions. Being a compositional pioneer for this product inspired an abundance of innovative techniques and a unique percussive approach to the guitar. Christie is now in the process of mixing tracks for her next album that will deliver her innovative music, empowering vocals and inspirational lyrics.
WoodSongs Kid: Logan Florence is 15 year-old guitarist from Lexington, Kentucky. Andy McKee and Michael Hedges are two of Logan�s guitar heroes.
TOMMY EMMANUEL is arguably one of the most exciting, brilliant and powerful guitar masters on earth. Walking in the legacy of Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and many others Tommy has dazzled audiences worldwide with his sheer mastery of the instrument. WoodSongs is excited to welcome back our friend for his seventh appearance on our broadcast. Joining Tommy on stage will be certified guitar player John Knowles, Nashville session ace Pat Begerson and award winning vocalist jazz Annie Sellick. This is a show not to be missed. Expect a few surprises including a preview of the ensembles new Christmas release �Let's Make A Christmas Memory�.
DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER are some of the most impressive vocalists and instrumentalists in the business. Legendary in the Bluegrass genre and called a “mandolin virtuoso� with “perfectly silken harmony� by The New York Times, Doyle is a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship winner and Bluegrass Hall of Fame member. With nearly 40 albums to their credit, Doyle & Quicksilver have multiple Grammy, Dove, ICM, IBMA and SPBGMA Award nominations, and are 7-time winners of IBMA�s Vocal Group of the Year. Lawson is reigning SPBGMA Mandolin Player of the Year. Their latest album, 'In Session', was just nominated for a Grammy.
COALTOWN DIXIE is energetic all-female bluegrass band hailing from the Appalachian hills of East Kentucky. With the obvious lack of female musicians in the bluegrass world, Coaltown Dixie fills a unique niche, performing their own brand of “High-Heeled Bluegrass� with beauty and professionalism. And the occasional G-run! In their fifth year together, the band has just released their long-awaited third CD, 'No Town Like Coaltown'.
WoodSongs Kid: Isabelle Kate Rose is the 10 year old daughter of the bass player of Coaltown Dixie. Isabelle has been singing on stage since age 4, when she sang with Coaltown Dixie at Hillbilly Days.
JACK SEMPLE is one of those rare guitar players who leaves a crowd speechless. WoodSongs fans of Tommy Emmanuel take note. This guitar virtuoso from Regina, Saskatchewan writes and performs "Modern Blues" without forgetting where he came from. He is an epic guitarist and a soulful singer. His music is like Stevie Ray Vaughn meets James Brown meets Robben Ford. He is a Juno Award winner and Western Canadian Music Award winner. He has contributed to television and music scores and appeared in the title role of TV movie appropriately called 'Guitarman'. He has a brand new CD called 'In the Blue Light'.
DARLINGSIDE are a Massachusetts-based ensemble whose sound is an eclectic blend of 60s folk, clever wry wit, classical arrangements, soaring harmonies, and a modern indie-rock sensibility. The four vocalists and multi-instrumentalists construct every piece collaboratively, pooling ideas so that each song bears the imprint of four different writing voices. Playful vocal permutations swing from four-part unison to CSNY-inspired group harmonies, underpinned by rich, carefully crafted soundscapes. The band's new album 'Birds Say' is out now.
WoodSongs Kid: Eliza Sayers
PAUL BURCH, a pioneer in fusing an unmistakably modern voice to American roots music, celebrates his 10th release, 'Meridian Rising', on Plowboy Records. The album is a first-of-its-kind concept album based on the life of Jimmie Rodgers � the genre-breaking superstar of the late 1920s whose blend of pop, folk, and blues anticipated rock �n� roll. No Depression has already deemed it "a contender for best roots album of 2016."
RAYLAND BAXTER is a gentleman, a singer of song, a teller of tale, a picker of strings, a thinker of things. Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Baxter�s father Bucky (a multi-instrumentalist for Bob Dylan, Steve Earle and Ryan Adams, among others) made sure music was just a natural part of life, a soundtrack to childhood. He�d always just let things settle into place naturally, following his gut from Tennessee to Colorado to Israel and back again, not knowing that when he returned home he�d have a handful of songs and the knowledge that, at the end of the day, he didn�t want to do anything else but make music. Baxter's full-length album 'Imaginary Man' on ATO Records was released to widespread critical attention last year.
WoodSongs Kid: Joseph Oharek is a self taught, 12 year-old bluegrass musician from Oviedo, Florida.
JAMES HUNTER burst onto the scene 10 years ago topping the Billboard Blues chart, earning a Grammy-nomination, and attracting universal acclaim from critics and his fans�including Van Morrison, Sharon Jones, and Allen Toussaint. Over the last decade, he�s toured extensively around the world and steadily growing a dedicated audience comprised of hardened gig-goers, old-school baby boomers, and young hipsters alike. Now Hunter is back with his fourth album, Hold On! marking his debut on Daptone Records, America�s premier soul imprint. At age 53, Hunter feels he has finally found his home for making music.
LIZ VICE is a gospel, soul, and R&B infused artist from Portland, Organ. With a love of story telling, she has found herself going from working behind the scenes in the film and video world to behind the mic. The songs from debut album 'There's A Light' feature dynamic, soulful vocals, with lyrics are classically influenced enough to feel timeless and reference her deep-rooted spirituality.
WoodSongs Kid: Joe Tellman works hard to master blues music. This 16-year-old from Springboro, Ohio has received multiple scholarships to guitar camps, including those from the Pinetop Perkins Foundation and Generation Blues.
COMPASS RECORDS was co-founded in 1994 by musicians Alison Brown and Garry West in 1994. Called “one of the greatest independent labels of the last decade� by Billboard Magazine, Compass Records has provided a thriving haven of creativity for artists and a reliable beacon of quality for music fans. Michael will be exploring the state of the music business with Alison and celebrating the label�s importance on
Featuring�
ALISON BROWN is one of today�s finest progressive banjo players. With her new Compass project, �The Song of the Banjo�, the 2015 IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award and 2001 GRAMMY Award-winning musician/composer/producer/entrepreneur plants another flag in her ongoing journey of sonic exploration. http://compassrecords.com/alison-brown
FRANK SOLIVAN left the cold of Alaska for the bluegrass hotbed of Washington, D.C., he�s built a reputation as a monster mandolin master � and became a major festival attraction with his band, Dirty Kitchen. Following Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen�s GRAMMY nomination, IBMA Award, and top prize in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, bandleader Frank Solivan continues the pace in 2016 with a solo release, �Family, Friends & Heroes� on Compass Records.
ROB ICKES AND TREY HENSLEY is unique collaborative effort between two gifted musicians . Rob Ickes is a longtime, well-established instrumental giant (Blue Highways) and won IBMA Dobro Player of the Year like a gazzillion times. Trey Hensley is newly arrived in Music City, bursting with talent both as a vocalist and guitarist. Their new album, �Before the Sun Goes Down�, was released on Compass Records.
WoodSongs Kid: Amelia Eisenhauer is a music prodigy from DuQuoin, Illinois now living in Nashville. She was recently featured on American Idol.
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY has left an indelible mark on the American Music. In the early 1970s, Rolling Stone Magazine called Michael Martin Murphey “one of the best songwriters in America.� Since that time, Murphey has left an indelible mark on the American Music Landscape crafting and recording such iconic hits as “Wildfire,� “Carolina In The Pines�, “Geronimo�s Cadillac�, “Cowboy Logic,� “Cherokee Fiddle�, “Boy From The Country� and more. In the process, he has topped the Pop, Country, Bluegrass and Western Music charts, earned six gold albums and multiple Grammy nominations. His latest release is 'High Stakes'.
THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS are known as “Southern Rock Royalty� and the “great American rock �n� roll band.� With a GRAMMY Award, CMA Album of the Year Award, two CMA Vocal Group of the Year Awards, two Top 10 charting albums, and four consecutive Top 40 hits, the “Heads� are credited for creating a unique blend of honky-tonk, blues, and southern rock that appeals to the toughest music critics and listeners of all kinds. Their newest album, 'Meet Me In Bluesland', is a collaboration between the band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame pianist Johnnie Johnson.
WoodSongs Kid: Jonathan Wilson Rader is a 10-year-old Elvis tribute artist from Wilmore, Kentucky. He is known as Little E and has released a tribute CDs to the King.
JUDY COLLINS burst onto the folk and pop world with her debut album A Maid of Constant Sorrow in 1961, but it was her cover of Joni Mitchell�s “Both Sides, Now�, the lead single from her 1967 album Wildflowers, that gave Collins international prominence. The single hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and won Collins her first Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance. She enjoyed further success with her covers of “Someday Soon�, “Chelsea Morning�, “Amazing Grace�, and “Cook with Honey�. She returns to WoodSongs riding the global wave of her first new studio album in four years, a project of incredible duets with the likes of Michael McDonald, Don McLean, Jackson Brown, Willie Nelson and many others.
ARI HEST makes his second appearance on our show. A powerful singer and songwriter and brilliant guitarist in his own right, he has been opening shows for Judy Collins around the world and appears on her duet album as well.
DJANGO REINHARDT is regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time. This Belgian-born French guitarist co-founded the pioneering ensemble Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist St�phane Grappelli in the 1930s. He created an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique (sometimes called 'hot' jazz guitar), which has since become a living musical tradition within French Gypsy culture. Reinhardt died in France in 1953, but his blend of swing and the Roma Musical tradition, as well as his unconventional technique, made him a unique and legendary figure. This WoodSongs Special Event Broadcast will be celebrating the Legacy of Django Reinhardt, gypsy jazz and the hot club sound.
Featuring... HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO is America's longest-lasting, swingingest and most daring gypsy jazz ensemble. This ensemble of accomplished and versatile musicians celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli�s pioneering Quintette du Hot Club de France with style and panache. The HCSF borrows the instrumentation of violin, bass, and guitars from the original Hot Club while breathing new life into the music with innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original compositions from the group�s superb lead guitarist, Paul Mehling. Featuring the amazing violin of twice GRAMMY® Award-winning Evan Price, the velvet vocals of Isabelle Fontaine and a swinging rhythm section, the group never fails to surprise and delight. The band is currently presenting 'Cinema Vivant' on tour, an evening of vintage silent films accompanied by live gypsy swing from HCSF.
ANDY YOUNG is a Chicago-based musician, sought after at music festivals nationwide, performing Gypsy Jazz & Irish Traditional Music on Hammered Dulcimer. Never before have you heard the dulcimer played like this, transporting you at once to Jazz Age Paris and the Gypsy encampments of the dulcimer�s ancestry. His performances infuse expressive musical arrangements with humor and insight to provide a deep understanding of the role of music in our multicultural and interpersonal world.
WoodSongs Kid: GRANT FLICK is only 17 but is already making waves in the acoustic music world. This fiddler from Bowling Green, Ohio has been the recipient of numerous musical awards including the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin in 2013. He was also selected as a participant for the 2015 Savannah Acoustic Music Seminar. Watch him perform with guitar master Frank Vignola.
MUDDY WATERS is an American Icon. The whole story of the blues can be heard, felt, and learned in his life. Country blues were Muddy�s roots and remained at his core, but through the force of his artistry he transformed them. With electricity, volume, the weaving of bass and guitar lines with piano, harmonica and drums, he created the ensemble sound and subsequently the template for future Rock and Pop groups including the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His music�s raw power and energy, plus his attitude and magnetism�Muddy was the prototype for the iconic Rock�n Roll star�are still the major ingredients that inspire the popular music we listen to today.
MUDDY WATERS?100 is a tribute album to Muddy�s music and legacy on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Larry Skoller, the album includes 15 newly recorded tracks featuring Muddy Waters Band alumni and many of today�s most preeminent American blues and roots artists This WoodSongs Special Event Broadcast will be celebrating the music and legacy of Muddy Waters and feature two of the artists on this historic Grammy nominated release plus another legendary blues musician.
Performing on this broadcast: JOHN PRIMER is recognized as one of today�s most crucial keepers of the Chicago blues flame. He broke through playing with the great Willie Dixon, spent more than a decade alongside Magic Slim, and has released 15 albums of his own. In between Willie Dixon and Magic Slim, though, was the event that changed his life. Muddy Waters asked John to join his band, a gig which John faithfully remained with until Muddy�s death in 1983. John has since then felt a genuine responsibility to carry on Muddy�s legacy�Muddy�s sound, his songs and his spirit�a responsibility that John takes very seriously. In fact, John handles most of the lead vocals and guitar playing on Muddy Waters 100.
BOB MARGOLIN is a multi-award winning guitar player/songwriter/singer/producer. Inspired by Chuck Berry, he started playing guitar at age 15 and immediately started performing in local rock and blues bands. Margolin was hired by Muddy Waters in 1973 and toured the world and jammed with many great blues and rock musicians, “but the biggest thrill was playing Muddy�s Blues with him.� Muddy brought Margolin with him to special shows and recordings including the Grammy Award-winning �Muddy Waters Woodstock Album� and The Band�s �Last Waltz� concert. Since leaving Muddy�s band in 1980, Margolin started his own band, won several BMA�s, produced albums for numerous artists including Muddy�s son Big Bill Morganfield, played on several Grammy-winning records, began a second career as a music writer, and produced and consulted on reissues of Muddy Waters� recordings for the Blue Sky Label for Sony/Legacy. His latest solo release is �My Road� and appears as a special guest on Muddy Waters 100.
PAUL OSCHER is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist, (harmonica, guitar, piano, melodica, and bass harp). He first came to national attention as Muddy Waters� harmonica player from 1967-1972 following in the footsteps of Little Walter, Junior Wells,James Cotton, andBig Walter Horton. Paul was was the first white musician in the world to become a full-time member of a black blues band of this stature. Paul is currently in the process of writing a book about his life�s experience in the blues and has won multiple BMA�s as a solo artists.
WoodSongs Kids: Patrick Long & Connor Stith perform is a highly renowned blues band in the Bowling Green, Kentucky area called Mo� Pie. The band has performed at the youth showcase at the International Blues Challenge on Beale Street several times. Patrick is 16 and from Clarksville, Tennessee and Connor is 17 from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Listen Now
THE CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO has enthralled listeners with a singular sound that fearlessly explores the intersections between rock, jazz, classical, and world music. It even throws in the occasional surf or spaghetti Western tune for good measure. Comprised of Bert Lams, Hideyo Moriya and Paul Richards, the group has established a unique, personal connection with audiences. CGT�s 14 albums, streamed over 47 million times on Pandora, offer diverse snapshots of the group�s mercurial muse. The trio�s most recent release Masterworks showcases its classical side, with expansive takes on Bach, Beethoven, Arvo P�rt, and Schubert.
SUGAR BLUE is the Grammy Award winner who has played with legends from Willie Dixon to The Rolling Stones. He�s been called “One of the foremost harmonica blowers in all of Modern blues�� (Rolling Stone MAGAZINE) He began his career as a street musician and made his first recordings in 1975 with legendary blues figures Brownie McGhee and Roosevelt Sykes. Sugar Blue has played and recorded with musicians ranging from Willie Dixon to Stan Getz to Frank Zappa to Johnny Shines to Bob Dylan, he is perhaps best known for his signature riff and solo on the Rolling Stones� hit “Miss You.� His new release is �Voyage� on M.C. Records.
WoodSongs Kid: Matt Chalk is young bluesman from Grove City, Ohio. This 16 years old received a Generation Blues Scholarship from the Blues Foundation last year.
ELLE KING is a phenomenal performer, songwriter, with an incredible voice and massive personality. Her single “Ex�s & Oh�s� is a hit. It was certified gold by the RIAA, nominated for a Grammy and has over 6.5 million views on YouTube. She received raves at all the summer festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and more. Her debut album 'Love Stuff' on RCA Records marks the true arrival of the young singer/songwriter/guitarist/banjoist as a pop force to be reckoned with. It's frank and fearless, tender and rowdy.
DAVID WAX MUSEUM had the breakout performance at the 2010 Newport Folk Festival and made them the most talked-about band of the weekend, with NPR hailing them as "pure, irresistible joy." They released a trio of albums that earned escalating raves everywhere from SPIN and Entertainment Weekly (who described them as sounding "like Andrew Bird with a Mexican folk bent"). Entering a self-described Technicolor world, David Wax Museum's new album 'Guesthouse' melds the band's strong acoustic sound with synthesizers, layers of percussion, and adventurous sonic processing to create the band's boldest studio album to date.
WoodSongs Kid: Makinnon Layne is an aspiring musician and actor from Knoxville, Tennessee. This 12-year-old is huge country music fan.
KINKY FRIEDMAN is America?s most famous Jewish cowboy. He'?s a songwriter, musician, author, comedian, philosopher, thinker and politician. His band is called Texas Jewboys and his big hit is They Don?t Make Jews Like Jesus Anymore. Kinky is one of the modern era?s closest link to Walt Whitman and Mark Twain. A powerful and passionate artist THIS IS NOT A SHOW FOR THE FAINT OF HEART but it will be pretty ding dang funny.
KACEY JONES is one of America?s funniest ladies of song. She produced an album with Kinky and has a huge body of work in her own right. Her latest song Donald Trump's Hair is a hysterical song about one of the recent campaign?s oddest subjects.
WoodSongs Kid: Alex Miller is 12 years old from Lancaster, Kentucky. His idol is Hank Williams Sr. and he sings mainly Hank songs or songs he writes himself.
THE CARTER FAMILY are considered the most influential group in country music history. Comprised of a gaunt, shy gospel quartet member named Alvin P. Carter and two reserved country girls -- his wife, Sara, and their sister-in-law, Maybelle -- the Carter Family sang a pure, simple harmony that influenced not only the numerous other family groups of the '30s and the '40s, but folk, bluegrass, and rock musicians like Woody Guthrie, Bill Monroe, the Kingston Trio, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris, to mention just a few. Among the more than 300 sides they recorded are "Worried Man Blues," "Wabash Cannonball," "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," "Wildwood Flower," and "Keep on the Sunny Side." This WoodSongs Special Event Broadcast will be celebrating the Legacy of the Carter Family.
Featuring... JOHN CARTER CASH, having been involved in music all his life, is an accomplished and award winning record producer. However, his activities inthe creative world reach far beyond just music production. He is also a singer-songwriter, and author. The grandson of Maybelle Carter and the only son to John R Cash and June Carter Cash, he preserves the family legacy and is a caretaker to the heritage of his musical ancestors.
DALE JETT is a native of Southwest Virginia and is a third generation member of the legendary Carter Family. The son of Janette Carter, the grandson of A.P.and Sara Carter, his roots have been heavily steeped within the heart of his family's musical heritage. Growing up within the Carter Family, Dale has been influenced by many musicians and styles of music. Dale helped emcee and the trio performed at the Carter Family Fold for many years. Their group,"Hello Stranger", features Dale as he carries on the Carter Family tradition.
AL, ALICE & RUTH are a Berea-based Appalachian and bluegrass trio. They toured for years as part of the McLain Family Band, a world-renowned family bluegrass band and Kentucky musical treasure.
WoodSongs Kid: Jaelee Roberts is a Tennessee girl that was born with bluegrass in her blood. She performs on WoodSongs with her dad, Danny, the mandolin player for The Grascals.
THE WOOD BROTHERS began as something of a side project between Chris Wood (Medeski Martin & Wood) and brother Oliver (Tinsley Ellis and King Johnson) in 2006.Adapting the blues, folk and other roots?music sounds they loved as kids into their own evocative sound and twining their voices in the sort of high?lonesome harmony blend for which sibling singers are often renowned, it's become quite clear that The Wood Brothers is indeed the main act. With the addition of drummer Jano Rix, the band have become a stalwart on the Americana scene and "Masters of Soulful Funk" (Paste Magazine). 'Paradise' is the band fifth album and it's their most sophisticated and rocking work to date.
THE CLAUDETTES create their own fanatical fusion of blues and soul-jazz�like Ray Charles on a punk kick. Think The White Stripes and Black Keys brandish with a piano instead and fronted by Nigerian-American singer/dancer Yana who sings in french. File under: post-burlesque? Neo-vaudeville? Cosmic cartoon music? You've never seen an a band quite like this.
WoodSongs Kid: Annette Vogts is a 14-year-old fiddle champion from Wilmington, Delaware.
IRIS DEMENT is considered "one of the great voices in contemporary popular music" (NPR), Beginning with her 1992 debut, �Infamous Angel,� which was hailed as “an essential album of the 1990�s� by Rolling Stone, DeMent released a series of stellar records that established her as “one of the finest singer-songwriters in America� according to The Guardian. The music earned her multiple Grammy nominations, as well as the respect of peers like John Prine, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris, who all invited her to collaborate. 'The Trackless Woods' is her latest and unlike any other in Iris' illustrious career. Featuring original music and melodies, the record brings 18 poems by acclaimed 20th century Russian poet Anna Akhmatova to life. Iris recorded the album in five days, immediately taken by the sorrow and burden of the poems juxtaposed with Akhmatova's lightness and transcendence in the face of inhumanity.
LEYLA MCCALLA is a multi-instrumentalist, is a cellist and singer whose distinctive sound is impossible to replicate. Leyla toured and recorded with the renowned African-American string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops and now focused on her solo career. Living in New Orleans, she released her debut album 'Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes' in 2014. The album consists of compositions she has written to Langston Hughes poetry, Haitian folk songs and original pieces.
WoodSongs Kid: Madison Lewis is 12-years-old. This native of London, Kentucky won 1st place at the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Sevierville, Tennessee earlier this year.
WOODSONGS KIDS have become one of the most popular parts of every of WoodSongs broadcast since Michael Johnathon introduced it last year. Every week a talented young performer appears on stage along side the professional/touring artists. It's created some incredible one-of-kind musical moments. This broadcast will be made up entirely of WoodSongs Kids!
Appearing on the broadcast:
PARKER HASTINGS is a 15 year old thumppicking, fingerstyle guitarist from central Kentucky. Parker was inducted into the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame as the recipient of the 2014 Horizon Award and won the 2015 Thumbpicker of the Year.
THE ZOLLA BOYS are a family bluegrass band from Torrington, Connecticut. The band consists of 14 and 15 years-old brothers Sam and Ben on mandolin and guitar. They recently posted a video to Facebook and it been shared over 63,456 times!
CHRISTIANA JONEIKIS is 14 years old and her hometown is Sherve, Ohio. She has played banjo for less than year. She won 1st place at Appalachian Old Time Singing Contest in Smithville.
THE LEXINGTON STEAM ACADEMY STEEL DRUM BAND plays on four types of steel drums and incorporates a very diverse mix of artists in their repertoire like Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and Daft Punk.
FIDDLIN� JOHN MAUPIN is only 9 years old and has already won quite a number of awards. He�s from Richmond, KY. He�s closes the broadcast with a barn burning version of �Orange Blossom Special�.
MOUNTAIN HEART is newly reformed and reinvigorated, and in the studio this past few months, putting together their first recorded project from the new lineup. Josh Shilling and Aaron Ramsey remain from the previous active version of the boundary-pushing bluegrassers, as does Seth Taylor who joined in 2011. Recent additions include Molly Cherryholmes (of the legendary CHERRYHOLMES family band) and Jeff Partin.
UNDERHILL ROSE has beautiful music, charming personalities, incredible harmonies and rippling success. Armed with a fresh sound, visually appealing performances and an extraordinary ability to blend a multitude of musical genres, Underhill Rose is a trio with a sound that clings to listeners and audience members alike. In the last three years, the all-female trifecta from Asheville, North Carolina has independently released two albums in the AMA Top 30, with �The Great Tomorrow� currently on the rise, gathering critical acclaim.
WoodSongs Kid: Kentucky Drive is a newly formed Bluegrass Band consisting primarily of members who have known each other for less than six months. The band recently showcased at SPBGMA.
LEIGH NASH is perhaps best known as the pixie-like singer with the heavenly voice from Sixpence None the Richer. She rolled pop, folk and gospel influences into hit songs like "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes". Her solo career, which kicked off in 2006, has been similarly diverse. Her latest solo album 'The State I'm In.' shines a light on her Texas roots. It finds Nash putting a modern spin on the sounds she heard as a young girl in the Texas Hill Country, mixing together the classic country of Willie Nelson, the sweeping pop of Roy Orbison and the mariachi influences of nearby Mexico.
TALL HEIGHTS harmony-heavy indie folk has taken this acoustic guitar and cello duo from the marketplaces of Massachusetts to stages across the country. They�ve toured America, released critically-acclaimed album, "Man of Stone", and earned a spot on the same folk family tree as Simon & Garfunkel and Bon Iver. On 2015�s "Holding On, Holding Out", though, the duo widen their reach significantly, beefing up their sound with electronics, synthesizers, drums loops, Casio keyboards, and plenty of shimmer and shine.
WoodSongs Kid: Angie Wilcutt is a 14 from Lexington, Kentucky. She performs an acoustic version of the pop hit “Bubbly� on the WoodSongs Stage.
BOBBY RUSH is a funky fire-breathing blues legend. The man known as �The King of the Chitlin Circuit� has been a blues innovator since the 1960s, when he stood shoulder to shoulder on the stages of Chicago with Muddy Waters, Howlin� Wolf, Little Walter and other giants. At 82, Rush still has an energy level that fits his name. He�s a prolific songwriter and one of the most vital live performers in the blues. Bobby's last two albums were nominated for Grammys and he is the 2015 BMA BB King Entertainer of the YEAR. A new 4 CD box set called 'Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush' celebrates the legacy this amazing one-of-a-kind artist.
JERICHO WOODS is a five member group from Breckinridge, Kentucky that rides a hazy line between country and Americana. The band is one part Grand Ole Opry, one part Muscle Shoals. A musical experience that only boys brought up in Commonwealth of Kentucky could produce. “I dig this band, they know their roots, haven�t gotten above their raisin� and do know their state and musical heritage,� says Greg Martin of The Kentucky Headhunters. Their debut album 'Same Ol� Dirt' premiered on both the “Billboard Heatseeker� and “iTunes Country Album� Chart.
WoodSongs Kids: First Time Around is a hard driving bluegrass band from Louisa, Kentucky made up of some very talented teenagers.
McPEAKE builds on the 150 year tradition of this legacy musical family from Belfast, Ireland that influenced Van Morrison, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and others. Figuring prominently in the EMMY Award-winning PBS Special “Music of Ireland,� the band is now taking the world of Celtic music by storm with its own contemporary brand of self-penned songs and compositions. The new generation of this legendary family has developed a distinctive sound that is totally immersed in the popular culture of today, while maintaining a firm anchor in the influences of past generations.
THE GOTHARD SISTERS have become internationally recognized as multi-instrumentalist Celtic-influenced folk musicians, songwriters, and performers from the Pacific Northwest, USA. Regularly performing more than 120 shows a year, they have built a loyal following by connecting with audiences in a lively, entertaining and touching way. In 2013, the Irish Music Awards presented the Gothard Sisters with Best New Irish Artist, and they were awarded with Album of the Year for Celtic Radio in 2011 for their album 'Story Girl'. The Gothard Sisters� long-awaited 3rd original album, 'Mountain Rose', was recently released and features fresh, inventive and melodic violin lines, the rhythmic drive of bodhran, percussion, Irish step dance and guitar, and three-part vocal sibling harmony.
WoodSongs Kid: Amber Adkins is an award winning fiddle player from Lexington, Kentucky. She�s 15.
GANGSTAGRASS is a dirty fightin', gator wrestlin', foot stompin' bluegrass-hip-hop project of Brooklyn based producer Rench, who has spent the last decade making gritty, soulful country hip-hop music that you will actually like. Best known as the Emmy-nominatd makers to the hit FX drama Justified, the band has since become a commercial and critical success. Gangstagrass is now back with its fourth official album, the aptly-titled, 'American Music'. The album debuted Number 5 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts.
HARPETH RISING are unapologetic genre-benders. This trio of women are master musicians that fuse Folk, Newgrass, Rock and Classical into a sound that is organically unique. Hallmarks of their music include expansive three-part harmonies, consummate musicianship and a deft, yet soulful lyrical perspective. The band's fourth album is 'Shifted'.
WoodSongs Kid: Mikaya Taylor is a 10 year old singer from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
Jewel is a multi-platinum singer-songwriter, poet and actress. Jewel has sold more than 25 million albums over her musical career. Her debut album Pieces of You had the hit "Who Will Save Your Soul."
Jewel was born in Utah, and grew up in Alaska. She began her musical career at the age of six. After her parents divorced, Jewel continued to tour for several years with her father, who taught her how to yodel-a singing technique that Jewel has used in many of her own songs. At age 15 she began performing as a solo act and won a vocal scholarship to Interlochen, a private school in Michigan dedicated to the arts. While there, she began writing songs and took up the guitar. Jewel later moved to San Diego, California, to live with her mother, and eventually branched out on her own, ending up living in a van for a time as she tried to make it as a performer.
Jewel comes on WoodSongs to read from her new memior plus perform songs from her new album.
WoodSongs Kid: Kelsie May is 16 and from Louisa, Kentucky. She is an aspiring country singer and songwriter. She appeared on NBC's hit TV show The Voice as a member of Team Blake.
GIRLS GUNS & GLORY have been making a name for themselves through relentless touring (about 200 gigs a year worldwide), the release of four critically acclaimed records, a slew of local awards, including being the Boston Music Awards first act of its genre to win Act of the Year, and international awards (Independent Artist of the Year at the French Country Music Awards). Boston�s rising stars foursome found from early �50s rock �n� roll icons such as Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, and Buddy Holly, as well as country greats like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. The band's latest is a live album honoring their hero Hank Williams.
T SISTERS are a genuine sister singing group based out of Oakland, CA. The group�s subtle throwback aesthetic calls to mind classic trios past, from the Andrews Sisters and 1960s girl-groups to the sirens from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Anchored by influences spanning folk, country, gospel, klezmer and early-90�s R&B, each sister brings a unique vocal and lyrical style to a sound that is at once modern and timeless.
WoodSongs Kid: Kitty Amaral is a 13 year-old award winning fiddle player from Elk Creek, Virginia.
CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE is one of the most revered blues musicians in the world. The harmonica master, also a respected singer and songwriter in his own right, has won countless awards during his legendary career including induction into the Blues Hall of Fame and collaborated with innumerable musical giants of the past 50 years including Howlin� Wolf, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder and Ben Harper, just to name to name a few. His latest 'I Ain't Lyin' is all Charlie � original tunes penned by this Grammy winning master that resonate with the South itself � rising from the Mississippi, crossing the levy, dancing through the streets and cutting to the heart of all that matters.
GILL LANDRY is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Louisiana. After cutting his musical teeth busking in New Orleans and chewing up half of America, he started writing songs about it; interpreting life from the curb up. Gill's self titled third album is his first on the ATO label, but he is not new to the family. He's played guitar, banjo, pedal steal, and been a contributing songwriter in Old Crow Medicine Show since 2004. Although Gill's music is influenced by some of the same sources as Old Crow, from Dylan to old delta blues songsters, his music is very much his own.
WoodSongs Kid: Erin Coburn is a 13-year-old blues musician from Florence, Kentucky.
TOMMY EMMANUEL is arguably one of the most exciting, brilliant and powerful guitar masters on earth. Walking in the legacy of Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and many others Tommy has dazzled audiences worldwide with his sheer mastery of the instrument. WoodSongs is excited to welcome back our friend for his sixth appearance on our broadcast as we help Tommy celebrate the release of his brand new album, “It�s Never Too Late.� This is a show not to be missed.
WoodSongs Kid: Evan Twitty is a 14-year-old guitarist from Vincennes, Indiana. Evan just won the National Thumpbpcikers Hall of Fame 2015 Horizon Award.
BOBBY LONG is a British singer-songwriter-guitarist. Long, who emerged from London's burgeoning folk music renaissance, relocated to New York in 2009, cultivating a strong fan base for his music. This gifted songwriter has earneda reputation for creating memorable songs inhabited by hauntingly poetic lyrics. For his third album, 'Ode to Thinking' he�s returning to the basics, a guy and a guitar, recalling his heady early days on London�s open mic circuit.
THE ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND continue the long legacy of great partnerships in the blues. The velvet-voiced Nixon, was born to sing the blues. He was part of Nashville�s thriving blues and R&B in the 60�s and 70�s and a sometime stage mate of the late, great Jimi Hendrix. Combined with Andy T�s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. The two were recently nominated for a 2015 Blues Music Award in the Traditional Blues Album category. Their new release on Blind Pig Records is 'Numbers Man'.
WoodSongs Kid: Victor Furtado hails from Front Royal, Virginia. This 15 year old is award winning claw hammer banjo wizard.
THE SPINNEY BROTHERS are based in Canada and heralded all over North America as champions of traditional bluegrass music, touring in support of their new CD, Tried & True. Allan & Rick Spinney, who still call Nova Scotia home, are known for their heartfelt, brother duet vocals. The siblings record for Mountain Fever Records in Willis, Virginia. They are coming off enormous success from their sophomore record for Mountain Fever, which garnished them both a #1 single and #1 CD on the Top 30 Charts.
ROY BOOK BINDER is one of America�s great folk and blues treasures. He was a friend of the blues master Rev. Gary Davis, he is equally at home with blues and ragtime, he is known to shift from open tunings to slide arrangements to original compositions, with both traditional and self-styled licks. He has toured with Bonnie Raitt, and has shared the stage with many great bluesmen including: BB King, John Jackson, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. THE GOOD BOOK, Roy�s latest release of all original songs, reached #3 on AirPlayDirect�s Americana charts.
WoodSongs Kid: Silas Powell is a third generation bluegrass musician from Salem, West Virginia.
JONATHAN EDWARDS is one of America�s finest songwriters. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, Jonathan has released 16 albums and has a highly respected repertoire that includes the classic “Sunshine (Go Away Today)� the fierce anthem of protest that resonated with thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women when it was first released in 1971. The veteran songwriter�s latest album is �Tomorrow�s Child� and it unites the themes that have defined his career.
LINDI ORTEGA is a fiercley independent and acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter of Mexican-Irish decent, recently named Canadian Roots Artist of the Year and nominated for two Juno Awards. Lindi�s voice has been described as a mix of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash � we�re not making this up. Her latest album is �Faded Gloryville� and was recorded with the Muscle Shoals-based team of Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes) and John Paul White (Civil Wars).
WoodSongs Kid: Clara Brumfield is an 8 year singer from Lexington, Kentucky. She'll perform "My Favorite Things" with her Grandpa.
THE RUA are two sisters and a brother with an Irish heritage that live in Windsor, England. They are Classically trained, write all of their own songs and music, play a variety of instruments, are actors (appeared in all of the Harry Potter movies, Thor, etc.) but prefer to follow their musical path. The band is legitimately breaking overseas and their first album, 'Essence' has just been released.
CHORO DAS 3 is a Brazilian instrumental group of three sisters and their father that first started to play as a band in 2002. Corina plays flute and piccolo. Lia plays 7-string guitar. The music they play is called Choro which is a form of urban jazz native to Brazil that shares a similar feel with New Orleans jazz or ragtime or bluegrass. They have 3 albums and have played for millions of people, including Brazil's Presidents, Governors and Ministers.
WoodSongs Kids: Ellie and Caleb Long are from Lexington, Kentucky. They are brother and sister duo the features some dynamic harmony vocals.
SHOOK TWINS are an Indie folk-pop band now hailing from coniferous forested Portland, Oregon. Identical twins, Katelyn and Laurie Shook, Kyle Volkman and Niko Daoussis form the core quartet. Beautiful twin harmonies,layered upon acoustic and electric instrumentation coupled with Laurie�s inventive use of percussive and ambient vocal loops, and Katelyn�s repurposed telephone microphone, set their sound apart, creating a unique and eccentric blend of folk, roots, groove and soul. The band's latest is'What We Do'.
REDHEAD EXPRESS are four talented sisters that have been touring from Alaska since 2007, performing over 2000 shows. They now reside in middle Tennessee, in the heart of America�s roots music. Music without the glitz and glamour, just raw beauty with exquisite harmonies, thought provoking lyrics, and melodies that take you away.
WoodSongs Kids: The Salty Caramels are brother and sister duo from Nashville, TN Giri (10) plays fiddle and mandolin, and Uma (7) plays fiddle and clawhammer banjo.
JOHN BERRY has one of the finest voices in country music. 20 years ago he had his first of many #1 Billboard Chart toppers with the incredible song "Your Love Amazes Me". He has recorded more than twenty studio albums, including one platinum album and two gold albums. In his career, Berry has also charted nineteen songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and six additional Top Ten hits. His new book 'Songs and Stories' is a collection of short stories about songs he has written or recorded.
10 STRING SYMPHONY is a Nashville duo combining world-class skilled instrumentalists with an incredible amount of soul and a love of crafting song. Rachel Baiman and Christian Sedelmyer (Jerry Douglas Band) met in Nashville, and realized a mutual love for the range and depth of the 5-String fiddle. The band expanded their sound a bit for their debut album. It showcases Sedelmyer�?™s virtuosic improvisation and creative harmonic soundscape ideas alongside Baiman�?™s old-time rhythm and emotional melodic sensibilities.
WoodSongs Kid: Daisy Helmuth is 14 and from Lexington, Kentucky. She�s an aspiring singer/songwriter.
CELTIC AIRE is the premier Celtic and folk ensemble of the United States Air Force. Formed in 2007, the group is comprised of five Airmen musicians from The United States Air Force Band�s Singing Sergeants, the official chorus of the U.S. Air Force. In addition to community relations concerts in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area, this small ensemble regularly performs at official functions for military and civilian leaders. In 2009, Celtic Aire deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Kyrgyzstan in support of diplomatic and troop morale initiatives as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The band has developed a large repertoire of Celtic folk songs, Irish reels and jigs, pub songs, and even cover versions of pop songs. Their latest release 'As I Roved Out'.
LEROY TROY AND THE TENNESSEE MAFIA JUG BAND are a "blast from the past" band. They are five guys and a scrubboard, with roots like wisdom teeth anchored by Leroy Troy, "The Tennessee Slicker," who has performed his astounding old time banjo act since the 1980's and was a featured player on hit TV show Hee Haw. Their latest CD is 'Lester's Loafin' Lounge'.
WoodSongs Kid: Christiana Joneikis is 14 years old and her hometown is Sherve, Ohio. She has played banjo for less than year. She won 1st place at Appalachian Old Time Singing Contest in Smithville.
BEN SOLLEE is Kentucky-born cellist, singer-songwriter, and composer known for his innovative playing style, genre-bending songwriting, electrifying performances, political activism, and wide appeal. Like his contemporaries Chris Thile and Abigail Washburn, Sollee�s music is difficult to pin down. It�s Ben�s quality of narrative and presence on stage that unifies his musical influences. This past year Ben has performed at Carnegie Hall, wrote the score for the documentary film Maidentrip, toured for two weeks in Europe and returned to the United States to perform with the Charlotte Ballet.
THE PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT has wowed audiences all over the country with extravagant performances. Since the group's inception in late 2007, the group has built a reputation mixing genres and blurring musical lines and perceptions wherever they go. No two shows are alike, with a repertoire now numbering over 1,000 pieces of music both expected and unexpected to come from a cello. The Cello Project's stage setup ranges from the very simple (4-6 cellos), to the all out epic (which has included 12 cellos playing with full choirs, winds, horns, and numerous percussion players).
WoodSongs Kid: Lily Murphy is 15 years old and from Midway, Kentucky. She started playing cello in the 7th grade with the orchestra.
DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE are a husband and wife duo that have carved out one of the fastest rising careers on the acoustic music scene today. The duo draws on the traditions of their native North Carolina. They have received multiple nominations from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) (SPGBMA) and Inspirational Country Music (ICM). Their talent has never been more apparent than with the release of their latest album, 'Snapshots' featuring #2 single and #3 album in Bluegrass right now.
FEUFOLLET is Americana at it�s finest� reverential but wholly nonconformists. The young and vibrant Southwest Louisiana band takes Cajun, honky-tonk, and string-band music as their starting point, and keeps an open mind about where their song craft will lead them. On Two Universes, their first studio album in over five years, Feufollet proves their Cajun roots don�t define them as much as propel them forward.
WoodSongs Kids: The Salty Caramels are brother and sister duo from Nashville, TN. Giri and Giri Peters is 10 and plays Fiddle and mandolin and Uma Peters is 7 and plays fiddle and clawhammer banjo.
LORRAINE JORDAN & CAROLINA ROAD have a distinct sound and charismatic stage show, which sets them apart from many traditional bluegrass bands. Affectionately known as the "Lady of Tradition" in bluegrass, Lorraine has fronted Carolina Road for over 15 years. She just won SPBGMA's 2015 Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and the band took home honors for 2015 SPBGMA's Song of the Year for "That's Kentucky". Appearing with Lorraine & Carolina Road on this Special WoodSongs Broadcast will be: Cajun-influenced country star EDDY RAVEN with 8 number 1 songs
PAUL MARTIN and the Martin Family Circus is a spectacular, talented, adorable family band of brilliant musicians. Paul is from Winchester Kentucky, EXILE band member, touring partner with Marty Stuart and the Oak Ridge Boys. The family includes mom and dad plus four kids 6-16.
THE FAIRFIELD FOUR are one of the most prominent and respected names in gospel music. Featured in O Brother Where Art Thou?, their blend of rich harmonies, joined with the simultaneously grand and humble vision of soulful singers clad in tuxedo jackets and coveralls, made for an experience unmatched in pop, soul, blues, R&B and gospel music for nearly a century. The famed quartet the will celebrate the heritage and tradition of both the music and its makers with the studio release of 'Still Rockin' My Soul'. Its first under the Fairfield Four Records banner. PBS recently premiered a dynamic celebration of the gospel tradition with 'Rock My Soul' anchored by The Fairfield Four and and The McCrary Sisters
THE McCRARY SISTERS are long known in Nashville circles as first-call session aces supporting some of music�s most vibrant artists. Possessing a unique familial musical history of their own as daughters of longtime Fairfield Four tenor Rev. Samuel McCrary, The McCrary Sisters - Alfreda, Ann, Deborah and Regina - each bring a unique energy and virtuosity to the group, not to mention varied experiences within the worlds of pop, rock, R&B and gospel music. 'Let's Go' is their new project Of timeless spirituals and original tracks produced by Buddy Miller.
WoodSongs Kid: Quinn Coffey is 14 and from Lexington, Kentucky. She performs a show stopping a capella version of “Amazing Grace� with the McCrary Sisters backing her up.
T. GRAHAM BROWN is a journeyman and songwriter whose blue-eyed soul sound defies musical boundaries. He has recorded over thirteen studio albums and charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard charts. Three of these singles reached Number One and eight more reached the Top Ten. Brown�s voice is also recognized from his singing in long list of advertising campaigns. Brown's latest, 'Forever Changed', is his first release in 9 years. It was just nominated for a Grammy and features guest appearances by industry giants like Leon Russell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Cropper, and more.
THE REVEREND PEYTON'S DAMN BAND bridges genres and eras with an intensity and effortlessness few contemporary artists possess. The band has always been strong on authenticity, playing music that blends blues, ragtime, folk, country and other traditional styles with the sleek modern energy of do-it-yourself, homespun, punk fueled rock. 'So Delicious' is their 5th album, with songs that speak from the heart and capture the trio � whose sound has been honed over 250 annual tour dates during the last eight years � playing at their peak.
WoodSongs Kid: Annie Grace is from Versailles, Kentucky and 13 years old. In 2013 she was signed to a development deal with the indie label, Long Island Records.
WILLY PORTER musical and personal odyssey spans over two decades, 10 albums, and multiple continents. Equally accomplished as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Porter�s songs weave a universal perspective about the questions, struggles, and triumphs of human existence. His live shows are guitar-driven events--equal parts grit, soul, and muscle--that are electrifying, dynamic, and wholly original in the way that Porter�s voice blends and fuses with his virtuoso fret work. Porter's recent record, 'Human Kindness' showcases his acoustic, electric, and multi-string chops, brought to bear in service of a great collection of songs.
AJ GHENT BAND is a 3rd generation sacred steel player. HE and his band perform a mixture of driving R&B, soul, funk and rock n' roll, out of Atlanta. AJ's great uncle Willie Eason was among those who popularized gospel lap steel in the early 1900's, and his father Aubrey Ghent tours the world playing lap steel for the Slide Brothers. Ghent has chosen to take the roots of his family's musical heritage and definitely place it in the present, using custom-made stand-up eight -string lap steel and Telecaster hybrids. The band's debut album 'Live At Terminal West' is a testament to both his mind-boggling guitar skills and infectious enthusiasm as a performer.
WoodSongs Kid: The Peyton Sisters are a family duo consisting of two sisters, Rachael age 11 and Riley age 12. The girls live in Southern Illinois. They started singing at the ages of 5 and 6 in churches and nursing homes and have branched out to different states and civic centers.
Celebrate Earth Day with Henry David Thoreau: Walden is our annual Special Event Broadcast of WoodSongs that airs during Earth Day week.
The two act, four character play is a conversation between Thoreau and Emerson set during the final two days Thoreau spent in his cabin before leaving Walden Pond.
NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE have been called the Greatest Cosmic, Psychedelic Country Rock and Roll Band Of The Universe. They began as a spin-off from the Grateful Dead when Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart teamed up with John Dawson and David Nelson. In the next 11 years the band toured and released over 12 albums, selling over 4 million records. The band recently teamed up with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and released two albums to rave reviews, 'Where I Come From' and '17 Pine Avenue'.
CHARLIE PARR is a roots musician like no other today. The Minnesota musician has built a frenzied following of fans around the world with his energetic performances and 12 records. On his 13th album and Red House Records debut, 'Stumpjumper', Charlie showcases his blistering finger-picking as he switches between acoustic guitar, dobro and banjo -- and keening, cut-through-the-crowd vocals that resonate with a conviction that runs deep and true.
WoodSongs Kid: Madison Broughton is 12-years-old. This native of London, Kentucky won 1st place at the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Sevierville, Tennessee earlier this year.
BAND OF RUHKS is the reunion of Ronnie Bowman and his Lonesome River Bandmates, Don Rigsby and Kenny Smith. Now, fourteen years later, the musical friends have reunited to record a powerful new bluegrass album. Bowman has scored #1 hits as a songwriter with artists such as Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn. He has been recognized with three IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year awards, as well as awards for Album and Song of the Year. Rigsby has released six well-received albums, including Doctor�s Orders, his tribute to Dr. Ralph Stanley. Smith has remained a staple in the bluegrass circuit, releasing eight albums with his wife Amanda and receiving a GRAMMY Award nomination along with two nods for Guitarist of the Year from the IBMAs. www.bandofruhks.com
THE HAUNTED WINDCHIMES is an Americana bluegrass band from Pueblo, Colorado. They have been featured on A Prairie Home Companion and their songs have a vintage quality, as if they might have been written yesterday or 75 years ago. Their latest album is Out With the Crow. “They recreate the vibe of rural 1930s music with a contemporary consciousness. The rustic, honeyed harmonies are a delight.� � Sing Out! Magazine
BLAIR CRIMMINS began his current music career in Atlanta, Georgia, with a determination to bring Ragtime and 1920�s style Dixieland Jazz to new audiences. What he created was a sound that is at once modern while being deeply rooted in the past. Now four years, and five hundred shows later, he has toured the Eastern United States playing large venues and has opened for national acts such as Mumford & Sons and Preservation Hall Jazz Band . A multi-instrumentalist and music academic, Crimmins writes songs and arrangements for a classic New Orleans style horn section. His newest studio album is entitled �Sing-a-longs� and will be performing on WoodSongs with his band The Hookers.
DANIEL CHAMPAGNE is a young Australian singer, songwriter and one-of-a-kind guitar virtuoso. Inspired by his musical father. He began writing songs at 12, training classically throughout his teens and performing solo wherever he could, honing his craft and developing what would become the dynamite live show that he is renowned for today. Now regarded as a leading light in acoustic music, with a firm reputation for making festivals buzz, holding crowds in his palm, dropping jaws and breaking guitars wherever he goes. His current release is 'Pint of Mystery'.
WoodSongs Kid: Annabelle Watts is an incredible fiddle player winning several fiddle contest around the country this year and sings also. She is from Philpot Kentucky and is 12.
JOSHUA MESSICK is from Asheville, North Carolina and the 2003 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion. Joshua breathes new life into an ancient instrument, weaving progressive, cinematic stylings and modern techniques into traditional melodies, original compositions, and powerful improvisations. Josh�s art blends genres, his compositions drawing on Celtic, Indian, Japanese, and New Age styles in addition to Appalachian folk, hymns, classical, and traditional favorites.
ANDY YOUNG is a Chicago-based musician, sought after at music festivals nationwide, performing Gypsy Jazz & Irish Traditional Music on Hammered Dulcimer . Never before have you heard the dulcimer played like this, transporting you at once to Jazz Age Paris and the Gypsy encampments of the dulcimer�s ancestry. His performances infuse expressive musical arrangements with humor and insight to provide a deep understanding of the role of music in our multicultural and interpersonal world.
TED YODER has revolutionized the hammered dulcimer through his pop symphonic approach on the instrument as a solo performer. He�s the 2010 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion whose highly engaged fanbase has nicknamed his innovative approach to playing popular songs “Yoderizing.� The Goshen, Indiana-based instrumentalist-composer-singer is both a dazzling technician and soulful and lyrical visionary.
JOHN NEMETH was born in Idaho to Hungarian immigrants, and honed his harmonica chops while working as a truck driver, jamming along to Junior Wells in his cab. It all culminated in a move to Memphis last year. Being in the epicenter for soul and blue shaped his new album �Memphis Grease�. It�s slathered with fatback soul and blues done the Memphis way: tight horn lines, whirling organ with John�s soaring voice and wicked harp playing front and center. John won 2014 Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Male Artist of the year and has just been nominated for six 2015 Blues Music Awards.
KRISTIN ANDREASSEN is an award-winning songwriter and multi-instrumentalist that has traveled the world with string-band sensation Uncle Earl and set hearts to flutter as one third of the folk-noir trio Sometymes Why. Along the way, she's performed and recorded alongside such maverick talents as John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dirk Powell (Joan Baez, Cold Mountain), Sufjan Stevens, Aoife O'Donovan, Black Prairie and New York anti-folk icon Jeffrey Lewis. She won a Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her song "Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes�. Andreassen�s new release, Gondolier, represents a new direction and focus, including the first time she�ll be touring behind a solo release. It draws upon those varied musical experiences in service of her captivating gifts as a songwriter and vocalist.
WoodSongs Kid: Carson Diersing is 17 year-old harmonica wiz from Fountain Town, Indiana. At 13, he became the youngest harmonica player in history to be endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas. He also won the 2012 Honeyboy Edwards Fund for the Blues at The National Blues Museum.
The Music Maker Relief Foundation was founded in 1994 to preserve the musical traditions of the South by directly supporting the musicians who make it, ensuring their voices will not be silenced by poverty and time. Celebrating their 20th year, they have assisted and partnered with over 300 artists, issued over 150 CDs and reached over a million people with live performance in over 40 states and 17 countries around the globe. The foundation just released a new book and double CD 'We Are the Music Makers� showcasing the work they have done with artists over their 20-year history. Appearing on this Special Event Broadcast will be Tim Duffy, who co-founded the foundation with his wife Denise, plus three legacy Music Maker artists! http://www.musicmaker.org/
IRONING BOARD SAM has been playing professionally for more than 55 years. He has amassed a staggering repertoire of both originals and classic blues and R&B songs. A truly gifted and engaging performer, Sam�s powerful, soulful voice and remarkable piano prowess remain undiminished. In 2012, he was named "Comeback Artist of the Year" by Living Blues Magazine, Most Outstanding Musician by Living Blues in 2013 and made a triumphant return to a packed tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He just released a new album new album 'Ironing Board Sam With The Sticks'.
BOO HANKS is the greatest Piedmont Blues rediscovery in many years. From Buffalo Junction, VA, he sings and plays guitar in the style of the legendary Blind Boy Fuller. At the age of 79, he made his first recording with Music Maker and at 82 he has enjoyed performances around home as well as Lincoln Center and Belgium.
BIG RON HUNTER is called the world's happiest Bluesman. He owns a voice that gives people chills. It�s the kind of voice that carries warmth and tenderness, a voice that is unmistakably his own and embodies everything that�s raw, pure and beautiful about the blues.
WoodSongs Kid: Isaac May is a talented mandolin player from Mount Eden, KY. He frequently performs with Michael on his opening song.
COUNTRY CURRENT, the premier country-bluegrass group of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., showcases a five-member acoustic ensemble performing traditional, contemporary and original bluegrass compositions. Former Country Current director, Master Chief Musician Bill Emerson, established the ensemble in 1989. The ensemble is in constant demand by the nation's most prominent bluegrass festivals and have performed with legendary bluegrass artists such as Alison Kraus, Nickel Creek, Rhonda Vincent and the "Father of Bluegrass," the late Bill Monroe.
PAT FLYNN is a Nashville guitar virtuoso. As guitarist/singer/songwriter for New Grass Revival, Flynn, along with Sam Bush, John Cowan, and B�la Fleck, influenced many of today's best-known artists while building New Grass Revival's own loyal audience to near cult status. Flynn has also been a session guitarist on more than 400 CD projects, including 32 Gold and Platinum records, as well as CMA and Grammy award winning projects with a wide array artists including Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Randy Travis and Michael Martin Murphey. Over the past decade, Flynn has released three solo albums, “reQuest,� “reVision� and the new “reNew.�
RONI STONEMAN is one of the great banjo masters of our time. The youngest daughter of the pioneering country music family The Stonemans, she became "The First Lady of Banjo," a fixture on the Nashville scene, and, as Hee Haw's Ironing Board Lady, a comedienne beloved by millions of Americans nationwide. She was the subject of book called “Pressing On�. Roni has just released the first single 'The Day The Banjo Dies' from her upcoming album. She will be appearing on WoodSongs with her sister Donna.
DOUG SEEGERS is a brilliant 62-year-old singer who struggled with homelessness for years. Seegers found acclaim when Swedish music star Jill Johnson discovered him in a Nashville food pantry. The two subsequently recorded a duet that climbed to the top of the music charts in Sweden. His debut solo album entitled 'Going Down to the Rive'r on Rounder Records is raw, rootsy and emotionally charged. It features collaborations with multi-GRAMMY winners Buddy Miller and Emmylou Harris, both of whom have championed the formerly down-and-out singer.
WoodSongs Kid: Fiddlin John Maupin is only 8 years old and has already won quite a number of awards. He�s from Richmond, KY.
WoodSongs has a long and consistent history involving children, schools and families on our worldwide broadcast. This past year, he made WoodSongs Kids a featured segment every broadcast. Highlights on this show include: Sam Bush jamming with a young Sierra Hull, 12 year old Parker Hastings playing with his idol guitar master Tommy Emmanuel, YouTube sensation EmiSunshine, Mya Hunt getting music advise from country superstar Lee Ann Womack and kids from our two roads in Ireland and Arkansas.
JORMA KAUKONEN is one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana with a history that in?uenced popular rock-and-roll. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy nominee as well as one of Rolling Stone's "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time," he is a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, and is recognized as one of the leading practitioners and teachers of ?nger-style guitar. In 2015, Jorma celebrates the 50th anniversary of co-founding the Jefferson Airplane and is releasing a new studio album 'Ain't In No Hurry' on Red House Records.
LOWELL LEVINGER aka “Banana� is the founding member of The Youngbloods, and the original �Hippie From Olema�. Banana began his career in bluegrass on the east coast before co-founded The Youngbloods. The band moved from New York City to West Marin in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1967. In 1969, the band's anthem of peace and brotherhood "Get Together" became a top 5 hit. Over his rich musical life Banana has worked with notable artists like Mimi Farina, Dan Hicks, David Grisman, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Peter Rowan and many others. His latest is 'Get Together' - Banana Recalls Youngbloods Classics.
WoodSongs Kid: Rhyan Sprague is 13 and from Lexington, KY. She performs an original song on the WoodSongs broadcast.
MINTON SPARKS fuses music, poetry, and her intoxicating gift for storytelling to paint word pictures of the rural South that put you square in the middle of the people and the places she knows like the back of her hand. She delivers words in beelines of bluesy rhythm and worries the hooks-and there are hooks-backed solely by the nimble acoustic guitar work of John Jackson, who�s perhaps best known for having played with Bob Dylan. Her latest album is 'Gold Digger', captures her and Jackson performing 11 memorable story-songs.
DALE WATSON is a country music maverick, a true outlaw carrying on where Waylon Jennings left off. A member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame, he stands alongside Waylon, Willie Nelson, and George Strait as one of the finest country singers and songwriters from the Lone Star State. Dale's current release is 'El Rancho Azul' on Red House Records.
LARKIN POE�s music is a unique brand of �swampadelic soul� with tight vocal harmonies, dizzying instrumental riffs and insightful lyrics. Born and raised in Georgia, sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell are the charismatic soul-singing/songwriting duo. The sisters� musical journey began at the ages of 5 and 6 playing classical violin and piano. In their early teens, they won a prestigious award on Garrison Keillor�s “A Prairie Home Companion� on NPR.
HUMMING HOUSE is a powerful quintet that embodies edgy Irish traditions, independent artistry with its legacies of folk, soul and bluegrass. Formed out of informal Irish music jams and the songwriting of Justin Wade Tam, the five musicians have played major festivals and have released two studio albums and one live recording since 2011, the latest being �Revelries�.
WoodSongs Kid: The Hollow Bodies are a roots and folk trio from Lexington featuring Riley Logan on mandolin, Blakeley Burger on guitar and fiddle and Chris Cupp on cello.
On this broadcast we will be celebrating the Music of Appalachia, one of the most fertile musical regions in the world. After generations of isolation from most of America, some of the most influential and powerful artists have been born from this mountain region like Ricky Skaggs, Loretta Lynn, Tom T. Hall, JP Fraley, Lee Sexton, Jean Ritchie and many others. To present this music in its most original and pure state, we have invited the staff and students of The Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State University to appear on the broadcast. It's home to one of the only accredited college-level bluegrass and traditional music programs in the nation. The staff and students of MSA recently went to China to showcase the music of Appalachia to Asian audiences. Appearing on this broadcast will be:
RAYMOND McLAIN a founding member of the legacy McLain Family Band and the director of the program/
JESSE WELLS is a master fiddler, mandolin player and traditional music scholar.
RUTH McLAIN-SMITH is also a founding member of the McLain Family Band, touring performer and instructor at the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music.
If you love the music and old-time front porch music of Appalachia, bring your family to this broadcast! This show will be packed with other students, staff members and surprise guests from this incredible program.
WoodSongs Kids: Meghan and Emily Bryant are sisters from Martin, Kentucky. Meghan has competed at the Morehead Old Time Music Festival for four years, placing first three times and second once. However, she says her favorite place to play is at square dances. Emily won the Morehead Old Time Music Festival for youth banjo in 2012. She placed third in 2013 and second in 2011.
THE NEW ORLEANS SUSPECTS comprise of some of the most season and highly respected players in NOLA. Start with members of three of the top bands to come out of New Orleans, The Neville Brothers, The Radiators, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band- then add a saxophonist who was James Brown's horn director for 12 years, and a keyboard player with extraordinary talent, and you have this Crescent City supergroup. The band combines original songs in the New Orleans style with hits and obscurities from the Allen Toussaint and Dr. John songbooks, as well as performing favorites from Radiators, Nevilles and Dirty Dozen repertoire. The band�s latest studio release, 'Ouroboros', was released on Louisiana Red Hot Records.
SULTANS OF STRINGS thrill their audiences with their global sonic tapestry of Spanish Flamenco, Arabic folk, Cuban rhythms, and French Manouche Gypsy-jazz, celebrating musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity. Since forming 7 years ago, “Canada�s ambassadors of musical diversity� have been on a meteoric rise with an astonishing number of awards and accolades in tow, including a JUNO (Canada�s Grammy) nomination, 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards, 1st place in the ISC (out of 15,000 entries), plus invitations to play with such legendary artists as The Chieftains and David Bromberg. The band's latest release is album 'Symphony!'.
WoodSongs Kid: Parker Hastings, an incredibly talented 14 year old thumbpicking, fingerstyle guitarist from central Kentucky, has been playing guitar since the age of 6.
RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT is one of the last true links to the great folk traditions of this country. Bob Dylan called him "King of the Folksingers." He ran away from his Brooklyn home at fourteen to join the rodeo and learned his guitar from a cowboy. In 1950, he met Woody Guthrie. Jack became so enthralled with the life and composer of This Land Is Your Land, The Dust Bowl Ballads, and a wealth of children's songs that he completely absorbed the inflections and mannerisms, leading Guthrie to remark, "Jack sounds more like me than I do." He has recorded forty albums; wrote one of the first trucking songs, Cup of Coffee, recorded by Johnny Cash; championed the works of new singer-songwriters, from Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson to Tim Hardin; became a founding member of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue; and continued the life of the traveling troubadour influencing Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Tom Russell The Grateful Dead and countless others. In 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded Jack the National Medal of the Arts, proclaiming, "In giving new life to our most valuable musical traditions, Ramblin' Jack has himself become an American treasure." He is a Five-time Grammy Nominee and a two time Grammy winner including an award for "Best Traditional Blues Album" in 2009. At 83, Ramblin' Jack is still on the road continuing to set his mark on the world of music.
NELL ROBINSON & THE ROSE OF NO-MAN'S LAND is a new album project that integrates the heritage of Nell'a Alabama family serving in 250 years of war. Most of the source material for the songs are from archived letters, documents, mementos and generational lore, all centered on war and service. Beginning with Revolutionary War to the present, Robinson weaves historic familial history with her lush vocal quality and artisan storytelling with musical guidance by Grammy Winning producer Joe Henry. Joining Nell on WoodSongs, will be her band plus Ramblin' Jack Elliott who appears as a special guest on the release. Robinson will be working with non-profits benefiting veterans as she tours. As an activist, she wants to draw attention and funds for the needs of veterans, especially in areas of healthcare and soul repair.
This was one of the final performance from Ian McLagan (band mate of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and the Faces). We hope this broadcast serves as a wonderful tribute to this incredible musician and humble man. Ian�s performance and interview was riveting.
IAN McLAGAN is a genuine, dyed-in-the-wool rock�n�roller. McLagan�s musical career began in the 1960�s in the UK as the keyboard player for the Small Faces and the Faces. He has performed and recorded with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Bragg among others. Awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award in 1996 for his outstanding contributions to British music, inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of both Small Faces & Faces, McLagan is beloved by musicians and music lovers alike. United States is his first new studio album in five years via Yep Roc Records.
JANIVA MAGNESS is among the premier Blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty born from her life experience. Having released 10 albums thus far, Magness is a charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows. A dynamic musical powerhouse, Janiva has received 22 Blues Music Award nominations to date, winning the coveted Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year and most recently, Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year, "I Won't Cry" at the 2013 Blues Music Awards. Her new album 'Original' stretches the artistic boundaries of roots, rock and soul music.
ROB ICKES AND TREY HENSLEY have a a new duo project together that features a stellar mix of bluegrass and traditional country. Rob is recognized as one of the most innovative Dobro players on the scene. He won The IMBA's Dobro Player of the Year award for a record-setting fifteenth time in 2013. He is a founding member of the bluegrass supergroup Blue Highway and has recorded with a wide range of artists, including Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, David Lee Roth, and more. Trey is only 23 and has performed with some of the best in country and bluegrass music including: Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs, and Steve Wariner. Rob gave his partner high praise by calling him "one of the most talented folks I�ve ever worked with".
EMI SUNSHINE isn�t your average 10-year-old. She is not only a singing sensation, she�s an old soul. The Madisonville, Tenn. native grew up listening to classic Bluegrass and country singers. Emi has already performed at the Ryman, appeared on the TODAY show and garnered over a million views on YouTube with her cover of “Folsom Prison Blues.� She is a multi-instrumentalist and writes her own songs. Emi and her band The Rain will be performing songs from her album 'Black Sunday '35'.
The indelible legacy of Buddy Holly continues to touch fans and has inspired decades of artists across multiple genres. Although he only played rock and roll for a few years, the breadth of material Holly recorded made an enormous, lasting impression on popular music. In recent years, Holly has been honored with a six-disc career retrospective, a pair of best-selling tribute albums, and two Grammy nominations for works inspired or created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
DAVID FRIZELL, country Music star and multi-award-winner, has gathered a cadre of music�s elite for a very special homage to Buddy Holly with The Buddy Holly Country Tribute: Remember Me.
HELEN CORNELIUS, one of the “Grand Ladies of Country Music� singer and CMA award winner, will join David for this one hour Special Event Broadcast.
The album is a benefit for the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, a charitable organization focused on musical education and co-founded by Buddy�s widow, Maria Elena Holly.
WoodSongs Kid: Brad Sparks is 14 years old guitarist/country vocalist from Cincinnati, OH.
CROWE, LAWSON & WILLIAMS are three Bluegrass Hall of Fame legends. Banjo master J.D. Crowe, multi-award winning trailblazer Doyle Lawson, and Bluegrass Gospel legend Paul Williams have joined forces for a second time to produce and deliver an amazingly powerful selection of songs on Standing Tall and Tough. Capturing the traditional drive, emotion and feel of 1950�s and 60�s Bluegrass, the trio presents songs that they themselves helped make classic. The entire WoodSongs broadcast will be devoted to these three icons of bluegrass music.
MUD MORGANFIELD & KIM WILSON join forces to salute the 100th Anniversary of Mud's legendary father, Muddy Waters. Mud is a multi Blues Music and Living Blues nominee and bears an uncanny resemblance to his late father�s sound. Kim Wilson is the singer/harmonica player of the iconic roots group, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The duo's 'For Pops (A Tribute to Muddy Waters)' is special album released on Severn Records that mixes some of Muddy�s better-known tunes with some lesser-known ones. The duo will be joined on WoodSongs by Billy Flynn on guitar and Barrelhouse Chuck on piano. They are part of the all-star team of players schooled in the Chicago-style blues that recoded on this historic album.
ANGALEENA PRESLEY fits all of the criteria for a modern country music star. Hailing from the small mining town of Beauty in Eastern Kentucky, Presley�s comparisons have likened her to the strong females of country music who have blazed the trail before her: Bobbie Gentry, Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, and Angaleena�s musical hero, Loretta Lynn. Writing in Nashville since 2002, Presley has established herself as a no-nonsense songwriter, unafraid to tackle the toughest of subject matters. Perhaps best known for her work as a member of the Platinum-selling Pistol Annies (with Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe) says she “doesn�t know how to not tell the truth.� That truth shines through on her much-anticipated debut album, 'American Middle Class'. It's real country music with Angaleena emerging as the clear, fierce, and joyous voice of her generation.
LAS CAFETERAS combines the vibrant energy of Son Jarocho music with an edgy LA-alternative sound & political message. Their pounding Afro-Mexican rhythms, stomping zapateado dancing, & uplifting lyrics tell stories of everyday people searching for love & fighting for justice in the concrete jungle. This alt-son group re-mixes traditional sounds, adding Afro-Carribean marimbol, Native American drum & flute, cajon, hip hop, English & Spanglish to Jarocho instruments like jarana & requinto guitars, donkey jaw-bone, & the tarima (stomp box).
FULLSET are quickly becoming one of the most well known bands in the Irish music scene today. In October 2011 they were honored by being announced as the winners of the RT�/RAAP Breakthrough Annual Music Bursary Award. As well as this, in 2012 FullSet were honoured to receive "Best New Group Award" from well respected Irish American News as well as "Best Newcomer" in Bill Margeson's Live Ireland Awards. All accomplished young musicians in their own right, FullSet create a stunning and unique sound that is full of energy and innovation, whilst all the time remaining true to their traditional roots. The band's latest is 'Notes After Dark'.
JEAN RITCHIE is the songwriter many refer to as "The Mother of Folk" and the Princess of Appalachia. She was born in Viper, Kentucky, the youngest of 14 children. Ritchie grew up immersed in the traditional songs of the region and moved to New York in the 1940s where, as a social worker, she taught music to children. �She launched the folk movement of the 1960's along with Pete Seeger, Oscar Brand, Woody Guthrie and Alan Lomax.� Ritchie's songs have been recorded by a variety of artists including Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash and Judy Collins. Over the course of her career, her song collecting and song writing has helped to preserve the musical legacy of her Kentucky home, as well as expand awareness of its challenges through her continued support of the grassroots environmental organization Appalachian Voices and politically pointed songs such as "The L & N" and "Black Waters".
Our friends at Compass Records have released a new multi-artist CD in honor of Jean, who now lives in Berea. 'Dear Jean: Artists Celebrates Jean Ritchie' is a double album featuring performances from an impressive array of Ritchie's fans and admirers. Many of these artists will be performing on this Special Event Broadcast of WoodSongs incluinge: Jon Pickow (traditional folk musicians and Jean's son), Dan Schatz (producer and folksinger), Elizabeth LaPrelle (mastery of the ancient and deep-art of Appalachian unaccompanied singing), Al, Alice and Ruth (from the McLain Family Band) and other surprise guests. It will be an evening of stories, art and music ... and surprises ...� to honor the living legacy of this Kentucky-born singer/songwriter and folk icon.
CARLENE CARTER was born into country-music royalty as the daughter of 1950s country superstar Carl Smith and June Carter Cash. Her grandmother is “Mother� Maybelle Carter of the original Carter Family trio.. Starting in 1978, Carlene begin to forge her own musical legacy. She has recorded twelve albums and has three No.�3-peaking hits including "I Fell in Love" and "Every Little Thing". 'Carter Girl' is the first album of new recordings this decade from this Americana legend and her personal homage to the Carter Family legacy. Produced by Don Was,�the album revisits both classic Carter Family repertoire as well as original songs that reflect Carlene�s direct connection to her roots.
JASON D. WILLIAMS has been called "the worlds greats piano player" and is a wild man onstage. This dynamic piano player from Memphis has the same musical innovation and on the edge attitude as Jerry Lee Lewis (his father) and Elvis. From Classical to Rockabilly to Country to Jazz and on to Rock & Roll, his performances are unique, talented and full of raw energy. Jason had has just released a new Dale Watson-produced album 'Hillbillies and Holy Rollers' that pays homage to his lifelong Sun Records influences. You�ll hear some originals and some interesting
LEE ANN WOMACK is the Grammy-winning vocalist whose 'Call Me Crazy, I Hope You Dance' and the 2005 Country Music Association Album of the Year 'There�s More Where That Came From' are among modern country�s most acclaimed albums. It's been almost seven years since this Jacksonville, Texas native has released new music. Her eagerly anticipated Sugar Hill Records debut, 'The Way I�m Livin', is an unvarnished collection of songs by some of America�s most progressive songwriter/artists. Recorded almost completely live, the album is made purely for the sake of the songs and the spark of the musical performances.
JOSHUA JAMES is a innovative folk singer based in American Fork, Utah. After releasing his first two albums and spending five years touring across the United States and overseas, Joshua headed back to Utah to take a break from the road. During this extended stay at home, James took to vegetable gardening, raising goats and chickens, and developed a heightened connection to the living things around him. The concept of becoming self-sufficient and living off the land became increasingly appealing. It was here that he bore the songs compiling his newest album, appropriately titled 'From The Top Of Willamette Mountain'.
NEULORE is a modern folk duo anchored by tribal drums and electric guitars. The band formed in 2009, when Adam Agin crossed paths with guitarist William T. Cook in Nashville, TN.� Neulore's songs are better suited for the arena than the campfire with tense verses that break into epic, open-armed choruses. They created complex backstories for each tune, digging deep into their collective imagination and conjuring up fictional characters, plot lines and landscapes. Those backstories helped inspire the band�s symbolic clothing and stage setup, too, transforming Neulore�s concerts from routine gigs into actual experiences.. Their debut album 'Animal Evolve' on Chop Shop/Island Records revolves around a central theme: man�s struggle between human decency and animalistic savagery.
DOM FLEMONS is the "American Songster," pulling from traditions of old-time folk music to create new sounds. Having performed music professionally since 2005, he has played live for over one million people just within the past three years. As part of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, which he co-founded with Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson, he won a GRAMMY for its 2011 album 'Genuine Negro Jig' and was nominated for its most recent album, 'Leaving Eden', in 2012. A multi-instrumentalist, Dom plays banjo, guitar, harmonica, fife, bones, bass drum, snare drum and quills, in addition to singing. Dom has just released his third solo release titled 'Prospect Hill'.
BRYAN SUTTON is one of the most sought after acoustic guitarists on the planet. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Sutton entered the bluegrass world in 1995 as a member of Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder band, playing on two Grammy award winning records. After his tenure with Skaggs, Bryan went on to build a career as a top studio guitarists in Nashville. His playing can be heard along side such names as Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, and Harry Connick Jr. His fourth solo release 'Into My Own' was just released by Sugar Hill Records. Casey Campbell, Sam Grisman and Mike Barnett will accompany Bryan on his WoodSongs appearance.
NRBQ is legendary roots rock band formed by pianist Terry Adams in his Louisville, KY home. The band released its self-titled debut album for Columbia Records in 1969. Forty-five years later, after more than 20 studio albums, more than a dozen live albums and numerous compilations, not to mention countless, and legendary, live performances around the world, NRBQ will release a new studio album, 'Brass Tacks'. Recorded with Terry Adams on keyboards and vocals, Scott Ligon on guitar and vocals, Conrad Choucroun on drums and Casey McDonough on bass and vocals, 'Brass Tacks' is brimming with swinging rhythms, sweet vocals, and sparkling sound. The dozen new tunes, served up in the unique Q mix of pop, rock, jazz, country, and more
SUNDY BEST crafts music that re-imagines timeless classic rock of the �70s and �80s � think the Eagles and the smart, whiskey-voiced lyrics of Tom Petty and Bob Seger. With Nick on guitar and Kris on cajon, Sundy Best takes that sound, modernizes it in their own unique way by borrowing hints of country and bluegrass, to make it personal. This duo began as a high energy Lexington, Kentucky bar act. As kids coming up together in Eastern Kentucky, they played music in church and formed their own band in high school. Now the band has just released their new album 'Bring Up The Sun', performed on the Grand Ole Opry and made quite an impression on many over the past few months as they have traveled beyond the borders of their Kentucky home to hit the national touring circuit.
CROWDER is the critically acclaimed artist and songwriter�whose unique blend of folk/pop/electronica style combined with his outstanding musicianship, profound lyrics, and intricate songcraft creates a sound that any fan of a catchy tune can appreciate.�Long embraced for his tenure as the frontman of the wildly progressive group David Crowder Band, the band sold over 2 million albums, 2.9 million digital tracks, and had 11 Top 10 albums on Billboard's Christian Albums Chart, including four that reached #1. Crowder celebrated the release of his solo debut album 'Neon Steeple' with a Top 10 entry on the Billboard 200, hitting No. 9.
THE COLLECTION are an incredible new folk collective. The group, lead by lead vocalist and guitarist�David Wimbish, prides itself as a community of artists, nurses, farmers, students, and everyone in between living life together. The majority of its members live on the same street (if not in the same house) in the heart of Greensboro, North Carolina, employing an assortment of instruments from drum and bass to phin and didgeridoo. Ranging from 13-18 members depending on the day, the band has just released a powerful new album titled�'Ars Moriendi'.
THE HOLMES BROTHERS are true treasures of American roots music. For 35 years, The Holmes Brothers� joyous and moving blend of blues, gospel, soul, R&B, rock �n� roll and country has been captivating audiences around the world. Their spine-tingling three-part harmony singing, mixing Wendell�s gruff and gravelly vocals with Popsy�s soaring falsetto and Sherman�s rich baritone, brings the spirit of gospel-inflected deep soul music into every song they perform. The band�s new Alligator Records album, 'Brotherhood' is another stellar chapter in The Holmes Brothers� storied and still-evolving history.
CHATHAM COUNTY LINE enters their second decade as an ensemble, the band bring a deep reverence for traditional American roots music and timeless bluegrass instrumentation to insightful, poetic original songs that are powerfully contemporary yet rich with the complex resonance of their southern heritage. Over the course of six studio albums and performances around the world, they have pursued a singular style that is entirely their own, yet connects with audiences from all walks. 'Tightrope' is the title of the band's new album released on Yep Roc Records.
JUDY COLLINS has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century. This folk icon's latest release is a very special concert album 'Live in Ireland'. This unforgettable concert includes a mix of Judy s most well known hits and traditional Irish songs PLUS duets with Irish singer Mary Black and NY singer-songwriter Ari Hest.
ARI HEST is an American singer-songwriter and a native of Riverdale in the Bronx borough of New York. His music has been featured on numerous television shows and NPR's "All Things Considered." He's also scored a film called 'Dreamriders,' which won several independent film awards. Ari's latest is his eight studio release titled 'Shouts and Whispers'. It's a non-typical collection of tracks that ultimately form a cohesive narrative. With songs of sadness and resignation giving way to lucidity and catharsis, Hest's introspection and intelligence are on display, creating moments of magic within his poetic, spare lyrics and backing them up with his ear for haunting melodies.
LISA BIALES who is known for her clear-as-a-bell singing voice, has been dubbed, fittingly, “Belle of the Blues.� This Ohio native over the past several years has been busy recording and singing the Blues. She released her 9th album which has been nominated for a Blues Blast Music Award for Acoustic Blues Album. Francis Ford Coppola enjoyed a Lisa Biales performance so much so that he cast her in his film, “Twixt,� where Biales portrays a waitress named Ruth (and *Bonus) she picks up the guitar and sings.�
THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT have been making waves in the folk world since the release of their 2011 debut album. Hailing from Johnson City, Tennessee, this ensemble mixes original and traditional numbers, complete with all the elements that make up the Barefoot sound: lush harmonies, thoughtful instrumentation, and memorable melodies. The band are award winners at the 2013 Telluride Bluegrass Festival and were asked by the American Embassy to perform in Burkina Faso, Africa. The band has just released a new EP of traditional songs they sing in concert that are fan favorites.
ELLIS PAUL is a master songwriter and storyteller with captivating vocals. He emerged out of the Boston music scene during a time when contemporary folk was beginning to come into the mainstream. Now, with 20+ years of playing 150 to 200 shows annually, 19 record releases, fifteen�Boston Music Awards, a documentary film, a book of poems/short�stories, an award winning children's book project, as well as songs featured on Hollywood soundtracks, he makes Boston�s music scene proud. Ellis�s new album, Chasing Beauty, is a set of songs which detail, in typical Paul fashion, stories of people and places that reflect larger truths about us all.
SOCKS IN THE FRYING PAN are a trio of talented traditional Irish Musicians based in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland. Having gained a fan-base from four years of gigging around the west of Ireland, this exciting group have recently started branching out and have been well received for their modern traditional style and energetic approach to music. The band was named 2014 New Group of the year for both the�Live�Ireland�Awards�and the�Tradition in Review Awards. They just released their self-titled debut album.
GAELIC STORM blends indie-folk and world grooves with Celtic tradition. The group�s ability to deftly incorporate a rock sensibility into their sound affords them rare crossover appeal. In recent years, they�ve performed on the same bill with acts ranging from Zac Brown Band and the Goo Goo Dolls to Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett, at events as varied as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Milwaukee�s Summerfest. With catalog sales of more than 1 million, the group has now had four consecutive albums debut at #1 on the Billboard World Albums Chart. The band is celebrating 10 years of music with a new best of CD titled 'Full Irish'.
BILLY STRINGS & DON JULIN play traditional American string band music with energy levels usually associated with extreme sports. A typical set includes haunting Appalachian songs, righteous gospel standards, and blazing bluegrass instrumentals. Honoring the musical traditions of Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Jimmy Martin, these boys will take you back to that high lonesome sound of yesterday�s bluegrass. This is your grandaddy�s bluegrass delivered with a pedal to the metal intensity of a moonshine runner. Their latest is 'Fiddle Tune X'.
CHRIS SMITHER is a profound songwriter that draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets, and philosophers. His song "Love Me Like A Man" became a signature song for Bonnie Raitt with the release of her second album in 1972. Chris is celebrating 50 years in music with a brand new, career-spanning retrospective 'Still on the Levee' recorded in New Orleans. He's also releasing a book of his lyrics 'Chris Smither Lyrics 1966 � 2013' and an all-star tribute record to Chris is in the works for a fall release with Josh Ritter, Bonnie Raitt, Loudon Wainwright III, and more.
GRACE ASKEW has called the Delta her home her entire life, drawing much of her inspiration from the muddy, rural roots of her hometown of Memphis. Over the past 4 years the road has been a mainstay for Askew as she continuously pushes herself to travel, sharing her music with all walks of life via self-booked and self-promoted tours. Most recently, Grace was on team Blake Shelton of NBC's The Voice (season 4) which took her all the way to the final 32 and was later deemed a top 3 favorite contestant by Yahoo Music and RollingStone.com. Her new album 'Scaredy Cat' was recorded at Sun Studios and highlights her smoky vocals with spare arragements that are distinctive Americana.
ACOUSTIC EIDOLON, featuring Joe Scott on double neck guitjo (a 14 string banjo/guitar combination that he can play both necks simultaneously) and Hannah Alkire on cello, are from Colorado and have graced stages throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Canada.� With eleven CDs and a DVD to their credit, these masterful artists continue to captivate audiences throughout the world with their signature “new acoustic� sound and boundless possibilities in blending Celtic, Folk, World & Latin music influences. Their latest is 'Lucky Man' a retrospective of Joe's 35-year journey through music.
WILLIE WATSON is best-known for his work with his previous band Old Crow Medicine Show and a large part of the reason that banjo and guitar driven music is heard everywhere in the air these days. Born in Watkins Glen, NY, Watson discovered North Carolina Appalachian music and began to unearth old Folkways albums. His debut solo album, Folk Singer Vol. 1, was produced by David Rawlings at Woodland Sound Studios, the studio he co-owns with associate producer Gillian Welch in Nashville, TN, over the course of a pair of two-day sessions, for their own Acony Records label. The album spans ten songs from the American folk songbook and features Watson�s skillful and subtle banjo and guitar accompaniments with his soaring vocals.
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS sound like no one else, combining virtuosic chops on five traditional bluegrass instruments, with an ethos of pushing the genre forward. When the band first emerged eight years ago, they were immediately branded fast-picking Nashville wunderkinds, a new-generation super group built to revive the high lonesome sound. Then came immediate accolades�IBMA awards, a chart-topping self-titled album and a Grammy nomination for “Best Country Instrumental�. Having just released their fifth studio album 'Let It Go' on the band�s own High Country Recordings, the band finds itself on firm footing, at ease with an evolving sound that defies categorization.
ELEPHANT REVIVAL is a soulful, seductive quiver of songwriters and multi-instrumentalists that reign from points all across America. This Nederland, Colorado quintet are, needless to say, quite a sound to be experienced - especially when they fall into the pocket of a groove containing elements of gypsy, rock, Celtic, alt-country and folk. Each Elephant possesses remarkable vocal abilities which are highlighted during every performance. 'These Changing Skies' is the band's newest release and was part of NPR's "Top 10 Folk and Americana Albums Of 2013."
SPECIAL CONSENSUS is the Grammy nominated acoustic bluegrass band that was founded in 1975 by banjoist Greg Cahill as a showcase for his urban traditionalist take on bluegrass which encompasses elements of Chicago blues, swing, newgrass, and country music. The band's latest is 'Country Boy' a bluegrass tribute to John Denver. There is a natural affinity between bluegrass and John Denver�s repertoire but this is the first purely bluegrass tribute to the iconic singer/songwriter who died in 1997. The album showcases Special Consensus at the musical center of each track with a guest cast of Grammy-winning and International Bluegrass Music Association-winning vocalists and�instrumentalists.
CANE MILL ROAD is a North Carolina youth bluegrass band formed from kids who met and bonded while performing at MerleFest. These kids have won countless blue ribbons and individually have performed on stage alongside the likes of J.D. Crowe, Pete Wernick, and Scythian.
JONATHAN WILSON-RADER is a budding bluegrass star from Jessamine County. This eight year old has traveled the commonwealth, played with several well-known bluegrass musicians and just completed his first album.
THE KRUGER BROTHERS are three soulful world-class virtuosos originally from Europe and now living in North Carolina. They were first introduced to American audiences in 1997, quickly gaining the attention of fans and the music industry alike. In an ever expanding body of work, Jens Kruger (banjo, vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar, lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass, vocals) personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. In fact, Jens Kruger was recently named the fourth recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music. Kruger is known for his innovative banjo composition and performance that integrates folk music with European classical music. This is personified in the band's latest work 'The Spirit of the Rockies'. A poetic, spiraling tale about ghosts, relationships and guides � both seen and unseen that was written by Jens for a small orchestral ensemble,
MATT ANDERSEN hails from the blue collar community of Perth�Andover, New Brunswick, and has been steadily building his sizable following in Canada. With over 2 million views on YouTube, a 2013 European Blues Award and winning Best Solo Performer at the Memphis International Blues Challenge, it appears that the entire world is now discovering his skilled guitar work, over-the-top showmanship and his narrative-driven songs blending blues and folk, encompassed in total honesty. Matt's
THE HOWLIN' BROTHERS had a very good year in 2013, following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album HOWL. In one year they graced the cover of Acoustic Guitar magazine; recorded in the legendary Sun Studio; shared the stage with Grammy® winner Ricky Skaggs; placed on over 17 end-of-year “best of� lists, and reached #6 on the Americana Music radio chart. The trio toured their brand of “old-time string country blues with an indie-rock edge� throughout the U.S. and into Canada. The band return with a new release 'Trouble' featuring 13 new original songs that gives
LARRY SPARKS is a dedicated leader for bluegrass music and has been called The King of Bluegrass Soul. Larry began his career in the mid-1960s as a guitarist with the Stanley Brothers and later became lead vocalist for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Larry went on to form his own band in 1969. (The Lonesome Ramblers) He has recorded and toured with his band for over four decades, releasing over 60 albums and delighting countless fans with his soulful vocals and unparalleled musicianship. He is celebrating 50 years in bluegrass music with a brand new album.
AMERICAN DRIVE is a high octane bluegrass band that includes group members of J.D. Crowe And The New South who are carrying on now that J.D. has announced his retirement. The result is a seasoned group that brings fresh new material to the forefront while still performing selected New South classics that their fans have grown accustomed to hearing over the years. The band just released their debut album on Rural Rhythm Records.
AMY RAY is the Decatur, Georgia songwriter best known as half of the Grammy-winning Indigo Girls folk-rock duo. Amy has always been a a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll but her upcoming solo release 'Goodnight Tender', on Ray's own Decatur-based imprint, will be a career first for her -- a pure country music album. The songs were written over more than a decade and she sings movingly about dogs, pills, Duane Allman and heartache. Amy will appearing on WoodSongs with her country band.
JOHN FULLBRIGHT was born in Bearden, Oklahoma and went to school in nearby Okemah, also the hometown of Woody Guthrie. It was at the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival that John first started to make a name for himself in the picking circles on the festival campgrounds. In 2009, John burst upon the southwest music scene with a stellar live and started to earn comparisons to great songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and Randy Newman. His debut album two years ago earned the Oklahoma native a Grammy nomination for 'Best Americana Album'. He just released his follow up LP titled 'Songs'.
DONNA THE BUFFALO's feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music all began over twenty years ago with roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Donna the Buffalo is known for touring the country remaining fiercely independent as one of the industry�s most diverse roots-music bands and has "earned a reputation as one of the most respected, eclectic and hardest-working acts today," praises Encore. The band just released their 10th studio album 'Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday' [Sugar Hill Records].
ELIZA RICKMAN's presence on stage�whether she wears flowers in her hair, or stuffed birds; whether she plays a toy piano or a grand piano�is an enveloping, soft darkness, impossible to ignore. It is quite a surprise that Rickman didn�t even realize she could sing until after she earned a degree in orchestration from Azusa Pacific University, because her voice is the most enthralling and salient feature of any on the tracks from her new album �O, You Sinners�. And this is saying something, considering her deftness as a pianist and her subtlety as a composer. Fans of Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom, St. Vincent, and Andrew Bird will not want to miss her unique per-formance.
PINK MARTINI AND THE VON TRAPPS have released a new collaborative album titled 'Dream A Little Dream'. Pink Martini is the multicultural pop ensemble from Portland, Oregon that has released seven studio albums which collectively has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The album is the first major international release by Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and August von Trapp� the actual great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria von Trapp, made famous by "The Sound of Music". In addition to renditions of several beloved classic songs (“Dream a Little Dream,� “Fernando,� “Lonely Goatherd,� “Edelweiss,� etc.), the album features three original compositions from August von Trapp and songs from Sweden, Rwanda, China, Japan and Bavaria.
PETE SEEGER was a folk icon and musical hero to many including Michael Johnathon. Pete was Michael's neighbor and later would inspire him to become a folksinger. Pete's public TV show Rainbow Quest were the seeds on what became WoodSongs. Read Michael full's thoughts on Pete here.
http://woodsongs.blogspot.com/2014/02/pete.html
For this special broadcast of WoodSongs, Michael will be celebrating the life and music of Pete with a few close friends and artists.
RIK PALIERI is a folksinger from Vermont. When he was fifteen, he taught myself the 5-string banjo from Pete Seeger's book. In the mid 70's he joined up with Pete Seeger and The Hudson River Sloop Singers and became a regular performer at Clearwater events. Back then, The Sloop Singers were a small rag tag army of singing environmentalists that often shared the stage with Pete Seeger. Rik's latest project is following the footsteps of the legendary “The Almanac Singers� made up of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays & Mill Lampell. Rik and George Mann traveled down the road from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, up the west coast and then from Seattle to Buffalo, singing at some of the same places and towns, and inviting local musicians to join in, as the legendary “The Almanac Singers� did in the summer of 1941. Rik will be performing with Rick Nestler who is a musician, ships captain, songwriter, and actor.
FRANK HAMILTON toured with the Pete in the Weavers in the early 1960s. He is co-founder of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL.
MARK DVORAK is a folk singer, songwriter, teacher and touring musician. His roots are in Chicago, but for more than 25 years he has been traveling the country and Europe. Since 1998, Mark has toured and performed with WeaverMania! playing the role of Pete Seeger. WeaverMa-nia! celebrates the sounds and songs of Pete's legendary folk group, The Weavers. Starting in March, he is conducting a new class "Pete Seeger & The Power of Song" at the Old Town School of Folk Music where Mark has taught since 1986. Mark is also known for conducting community sings and jams in the Pete Seeger style.
CHRIS WALZ spent three and a half years touring the world with the bluegrass band The Special Consensus. He has been at the Old Town School of Folk Music since 1996 and divides his time between performing and teaching. Chris performs with Mark in WeanerMania!
TOMMY CASTRO is considered one of the greatest live performers on the blues and roots touring circuit, renowned for high energy sets that feature his groove-laden guitar playing and soulfully-searing vocals. Castro is a multi-year winner of the coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award (the highest honor in the blues community) along with multiple Blues Music Awards to his credit. 'The Devil You Know' is the debut album from Tommy's red-hot new band The Painkillers. http://tommycastro.com/
TEE DEE YOUNG is a central Kentucky, award winning blues legend. Young's playing and singing are authentic to the genre but oblivious to current industry trends. His guitar is a weapon, wielded with total authority, assailing the listener with his sheer virtuosity
REBECCA FRAZIER achieved notoriety in the bluegrass world as the first woman ever to appear on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. But it is her vocal prowess and song writing chops that make her one of the most exciting new artists to emerge on the national bluegrass stage. 'When We Fall' is her long awaited solo debut and it is already garnering praise from bluegrass fans and critics in the know. She will be appearing on WoodSongs with her stellar band Hit and Run. http://rebeccafrazier.com/
LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE is an Indie-Folk Songwriter out of Brooklyn, NY. A former elementary teacher in New York City, Lucy joined the family “business� (mom is Suzzy Roche, dad is Loudon Wainwright III and sister/brother are Martha and Rufus, respectively) with the release of her debut 'Lucy' in 2010. Lucy is known for her crystal clear voice and straightforward, funny stage presence. She has performed with a number of musicians including the Indigo Girls, Neko Case, Dar Williams and Over the Rhine. She just released her sophomore album 'Last Time For Everything'. It features 10 originals and one surprising cover song - a unique adaptation of Robyn�s dance hit “Call Your Girlfriend�. http://lucywainwrightroche.com/
MANDY BARNETT is a World-Class Vocalist who sings the stylings of pop and jazz standards, torch, and classic country music. A native of Crossville, Tennessee, she started singing at five years-old. As a teenager, Mandy starred as country music legend Patsy Cline in the stage show “Always . . . Patsy Cline� at the celebrated Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The performances sold out nightly and received rave reviews across the country. Mandy soon began releasing albums under her name including 'I�ve Got A Right To Cry' which was a huge critical success. Her latest is 'I Can't Stop Loving You: The Songs of Don Gibson'. mandybarnett.com
THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL is a Venice, California-based collective that merges old school bluegrass, gospel, jug-band, swamp blues and the hot swing of the 1930�s to form a spicy roots cocktail. Known for their inspired live sets, the Dustbowl Revival boldly brings together many styles of traditional American music. Imagine Old Crow Medicine Show meeting Louis Armstrong�s Hot Seven Band in New Orleans or Bob Dylan and Fats Waller jamming with Mumford & Sons on a front porch in 1938. The band's latest album is 'Carry Me Home'. dustbowlrevival.com
DAVID BROZA is an Israeli superstar that has been considered one of the most dynamic and vibrant performers in the singer/songwriter world. His charismatic and energetic performances have brought to worldwide audiences, a fusion of the three different countries in which he was raised: Israel, Spain, and England, filling concert halls with his famous guitar playing, ranging from flamenco flavored rhythmic and percussion techniques, to whirlwind finger picking, to a signature rock and roll sound. More than a singer/songwriter, David is also well known for his commitment and dedication to several humanitarian causes, predominantly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. David recorded his new album 'East Jerusalem / West Jerusalem' with Palestinian and Israeli musicians in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian part of that holy city. The album was produced by multiple Grammy nominee Steve Earle and features performances by Earle and Wyclef Jean. http://www.davidbroza.net
MIKE STEVENS and OKAIDJA AFROSO are two passionate musicians from very different backgrounds. Mike is an award winning harmonica virtuoso from Canada and Okaidja is a a traditional master musician and dancer from Ghana. The two bring their talents together on the stunning album 'CanadAfrica'. Here you will encounter the essence of Ghana�s Gold Coast intertwined with the deep roots of Folk and Blues music of North America. This innovative record reveals how beautifully the sounds of the harmonica complements Ghanaian melodies powered by these two master musicians. The last time Mike appeared on WoodSongs, he and Raymond McLain brought the house down with their version of the "Orange Blossom Special". It stands as one of the all time great performance on the show. Raymond will be making a special guest appearance on the broadcast with Mike and Okaidja so put on your seat belts! http://www.mikestevensmusic.com/
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand album 'I'll Find a Way' produced by Bon Iver�s Justin Vernon. Nearly seventy-five years after they hit their first notes together, the Blind Boys of Alabama are exceptional not only in their longevity, but also in the breadth of their catalog and their relevance to contemporary roots music. Since 2000, they�ve won five Grammys and four Gospel Music Awards, and have delivered their spiritual message to countless listeners. blindboys.com
ED KOWALCZYK is the founding member, songwriter and former Lead Singer of LIVE. With over 20 Million Albums sold worldwide, Kowalczyk has built an impressive r�sum� in LIVE that includes eight full-length albums that have reached gold and platinum status in 9 countries, and nine Top 10 hit songs, which include the crossover smash "Grace" from his debut solo album, and classics such as "Lightning Crashes", "I Alone", "Selling The Drama", "The Dolphin's Cry" and "Heaven". Kowalczyk opened a new chapter in his already illustrious career in 2009 with the launch of his solo career. He will be performing songs from has brand new EP 'The Garden'. edkowalczyk.com
THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS are an acoustic Bluegrass quintet from Asheville, NC. Before embarking on a world tour backing comedian/banjoist Steve Martin, the Rangers were nominated for 2 International Bluegrass Music awards in 2008 (including Album of the Year, "Lovin' Pretty Women). The Rangers were also named 'Emerging Artist of the Year' in 2006 at the IBMA awards ceremony in Nashville, TN. They won a grammy for best bluegrass album in 2013. The band's lasted album 'Tell The Ones I Love' was just released on Rounder Records. steepcanyon.com
SHANNON WHITWORTH's sultry, bluesy stylings on her new album High Tide ascertains her new place in the musical landscape. Since her days as the anchor voice and songwriter of lauded N.C. ensemble The Biscuit Burners, Shannon Whitworth has attracted international attention with her passionate presence and a talent that�s evident within moments of taking the stage. On the heels of a year spent touring with Chris Isaak and the Tedeschi-Trucks Band, and recording as the singing voice of Belk department stores� latest campaign, High Tide finds Whitworth leaving all preconceptions of the banjo-wielding songstress behind for her swoon-inducing style shannonwhitworth.net
RHONDA VINCENT & THE RAGE is the most awarded band in bluegrass music with over 80 Awards including an unprecedented 7-consecutive wins for IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year plus 5-Grammy nominations. Famously crowned as "The New Queen of Bluegrass" by the Wall Street Journal, Vincent's music incorporates savvy contemporary touches while drawing deeply from the authentic traditions of classic bluegrass, with a flawless band that can execute break-neck instrumentals to heart wrenching ballads. Her upcoming project 'Only Me' is a 2-Disc combination release that includes six-songs each of Bluegrass and Country. http://www.rhondavincent.com/
WILLOW OSBORNE is 12 years-old and resides in Pigeon Forge, TN. At the age of 4 she was already entertaining and picking up a Banjo for the first time. Her vocals and instrumental skills have landed her a number of awards and shows at Dollywood. Rhonda is one of Willow's musical heroes http://www.willowosborne.com/
SAY NO MORE IT'S FREDDY LA BOUR is the alter-ego of “Too Slim� (bass player, face player, and all-around nutcase for Grammy-winning western music and comedy stars Riders In The Sky). Freddy is a wacky, one-man, guitar-playing, wise-cracking, original song-singing folk superstar best known for his hits “Who Offed Hoffa?� "My Load Shifted,� and his feel-good sing-along “The Prozac Polka (La-La Song)� all from his self titled album. He specializes in impressions of people you probably don�t recognize, plus zany late-night commercials, hilarious turns of poetry, and whatever else his fevered imagination can come up with. https://www.facebook.com/FredLabour
KACEY JONES is a sassy performing songwriter who will make you laugh, scream, cry, and ... did we say laugh? Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is the former lead singer of Ethel and The Shameless Hussies. This madcap redhead now based in Nashville sees the world at large with laser perception and a funny tilt. That�s why audiences have been laughing with this singer, songwriter, musician, producer, publisher for years. http://www.kaceyjones.com/
WILLIE SUGARCAPPS collective musical experiences mingle together to create a new kind of organic and artisanal music. Born out of a music gathering in lower Alabama, Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, Will Kimbrough and the duo Sugarcane Jane (featuring Savana Lee and Anthony Crawford)�led to the birth of the band. The band's Self-Titled debut is laid back, it rocks, it comes from classic country, from the blues, from New Orleans and from the best kind of rock 'n' roll. It tells a story through five individual voices full of character and experience with humanity, energy and soul. http://www.williesugarcapps.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7LJCdwxhKg&list=UUm1zbKAEYGrIU-mHGFnDQjw
BASKERY is a trio of sisters from Sweeden that's all about turning the music on its head, blending the straightforwardness of punk with the subtlety of singer/songwriting. The music is not to be confused with country or bluegrass just because the instrumentation involves a double bass, a six string banjo and acoustic guitar. In their late teens the sisters joined forces with their dad, who had been a one man band as long as the girls can recall it, playing old blues and country tunes for a living. This foundation of classic "roots music and Americana" settled in their hearts, but also awoke the urge of breaking the rules of traditional music. The band's latest is 'Little Wild Life'. http://www.baskery.com/
JIMBO MATHUS is likely known as the ringleader of the hyper-ragtime outfit Squirrel Nut Zippers. In his native Mississippi and throughout the South, however, Mathus is the prolific songwriter of born-in-the-bone Southern music, the torchbearer for Deep South mythology and culture. The late Memphis producer Jim Dickinson once called Jimbo Mathus “the singing voice of Huck Finn.� Jimbo remains a rising-star powerhouse that feeds the soul. His latest band, The Tri-State Coalition, features solid talent cut from the same Delta cloth. Jimbo will be previewing tracks from his upcoming album release 'Dark Night of the Soul' due out in February on Fat Possum Records. http://jimbomathus.com
CYNTHIA SAYER breaks all the banjo player stereotypes. Considered one of the top 4-string banjoists in the world today, Cynthia brings an edgy and soulful swing banjo style to a wide range of musical genres including hot jazz, tango, western swing, virtuoso classics and more. Cynthia has performed at Carnegie Hall, The White House, and for foreign royalty, and is an inductee into the American Banjo Museum Hall Of Fame. Her album �Attractions,� with legendary jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, was nominated Best CD of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Cynthia's much-anticipated 2013 release �Joyride,� is receiving rave reviews. cynthiasayer.com
AJ CROCE is the son of legendary singer-songwriter Jim Croce, began his career at age 18 opening for B.B. King and has since spanned genres from jazz to Americana to blues to pop. Croce has written with artists including Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Ben Harper and Steve Poltz and headlined festivals and shared the stage with artists including Ray Charles, James Brown, Lyle Lovett, and Rod Stewart. Croce's most ambitious recording project to date entitled 'Twelve Tales' released via Compass Records. The album's 12 songs were recorded with six illustrious producers over the course of a year, including some of Cowboy Jack Clement's final sessions before he passed last August and a co-written song with Leon Russell. http://www.ajcrocemusic.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VZZsjQ0ZQA
THE GRAHAMS are the creative union of lifelong romantic partners Alyssa and Doug Graham. The duo combines soulful bluegrass with hints of earthy Americana, adding colors from traditional folk and country blues, into an infectious blend of storytelling that results in songs of love, loss, yearning, and the view from rural American roads less traveled. The new album, 'Riverman�s Daughter', was produced by Grammy-winning producer Malcolm Burn and is the winning culmination of The Grahams� long journey into the heart of America, the inspiration they derived from immersion into classic American music, and the natural and honest talent they have for bringing forth a modern musical idiom steeped in tradition. http://www.thegrahamsmusic.net/
Michael Johnathon and the WoodSongs Crew head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for the first show of a double broadcast taping at as part of the 66th Annual Ozark Folk Festival.
LEROY TROY AND THE TENNESSEE MAFIA JUG BAND are a "blast from the past" band. They are five guys and a scrubboard, with roots like wisdom teeth anchored by Leroy Troy, "The Tennessee Slicker," who has performed his astounding old time banjo act since the 1980's and was a featured player on hit TV show Hee Haw. Their latest CD is 'Barnyard Frolic'. tennesseemafiajugband.com
CLANCEY FERGUSON has been hailed as "Princess of Bluegrass". This 15 year old fiddler from Mountain View, Arkansas is the 2012 Arkansas State Junior Fiddle Champion the and 2013 Arkansas Junior Contemporary Fiddle Champion. Despite her tender age, Clancey has amassed and impressive list of appearances including playing on stage with Rhonda Vincent on numerous occasions and interviewed by Chelsea Clinton for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.
THE OZARK ALLIANCE is a family band from Salem, Missouri, (home of The Dillards). Alex, Jenny, Allison, Robin, & Dennis Vaughn have been playing together as a band since 2002 - with the exception of Allison, who was only born in 2004. The band specializes in traditional and modern bluegrass and bluegrass-gospel music performed around a single mic. In fact, they won 1st place in the National Single Mic Championship at Silver Dollar City in 2008.
MOUNTAIN SPROUT is a highly energetic hillbilly music machine, spitting original tunes and blowing minds with whitty lyrics and face melting musicianship. Hailing from Eureka Springs, Arkansas, four incredible musicians work seamlessly to bring forward the kind of bass thumping, banjo picking, guitar playing, fiddle shredding, that makes you get and stomp your feet.
DAVID KIMBROUGH III is a genuine bluesman living in Northwest Arkansas. He began his career singing alongside his father the great "Junior" Kimbrough. David has recently added the mountain dulcimer to his presentation of original, Delta, North Mississippi Hill Country and Cotton Patch Blues.
ALLISON WILLIAMS is a native of the Arkansas Ozarks and plays old-time clawhammer banjo in a modern context. Allison got her start as a punk rock musician before rediscovering her musical roots. Several years in the mountains of North Carolina educated her in Appalachian banjo techniques, especially the fast, distinctive styles of Hobart Smith and Wade Ward. Since releasing her solo CD 'Give Me Roses', she has toured internationally, playing to a sold-out Barbican Hall in London, as part of the BBC's "Folk America" special, and backing folk legend Michelle Shocked on her 2010 East Coast tour. She makes her home again in the Ozark mountains.
THE OOKS OF HAZZARD are a nine-person ukulele collective from Santa Monica, CA who transform songs from the likes of Radiohead, Sublime, Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd into singalong uke ditties.. The Ooks uploaded to YouTube their cover of MGMT's 2008 hit "Kids" the same weekend that MGMT played Coachella, and it brought the uke players worldwide attention with over 600,000 views! Along with their different styles, the members perform with a range of ukuleles, including bass, baritone, tenor, concert and concertino types. One of the Ooks' more unique instruments is the Resonator Delta Cone Ukulele, or the Banjuke. uploaded to YouTube their cover of MGMT's 2008 hit "Kids" the same weekend that MGMT played Coachella, and it brought the uke players worldwide attention. ?Facebook page
THE BANKESTERS are a talented family band from Illinois. Phil and Dorene Bankester and their three daughters and son-in-law are known for some of the finest harmony singing in bluegrass music. The band was recently nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Momentum Award for Group of the Year. Now, on their first internationally distributed album 'Love Has Wheels' released on Compass Records and produced by Alison Brown, The Bankesters shine as ma-ture vocalists, instrumentalists, and articulate songwriters. http://www.bankesters.com/home
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand album 'I'll Find a Way' produced by Bon Iver�s Justin Vernon. Nearly seventy-five years after they hit their first notes together, the Blind Boys of Alabama are exceptional not only in their longevity, but also in the breadth of their catalog and their relevance to contemporary roots music. Since 2000, they�ve won five Grammys and four Gospel Music Awards, and have delivered their spiritual message to countless listeners. blindboys.com
ED KOWALCZYK is the founding member, songwriter and former Lead Singer of LIVE. With over 20 Million Albums sold worldwide, Kowalczyk has built an impressive r�sum� in LIVE that includes eight full-length albums that have reached gold and platinum status in 9 countries, and nine Top 10 hit songs, which include the crossover smash "Grace" from his debut solo album, and classics such as "Lightning Crashes", "I Alone", "Selling The Drama", "The Dolphin's Cry" and "Heaven". Kowalczyk opened a new chapter in his already illustrious career in 2009 with the launch of his solo career. He will be performing songs from has brand new EP 'The Garden'. edkowalczyk.com
Michael Johnathon and the WoodSongs Crew head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for the second show of a double broadcast taping at as part of the 66th Annual Ozark Folk Festival.
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY has been called "one of the best songwriters in America." Murphey has left an indelible mark on the American Music Landscape crafting and recording such iconic hits as "Wildfire," "Carolina In The Pines", "Geronimo's Cadillac", "Cowboy Logic," "Cherokee Fiddle", "Boy From The Country" and more. In the process, he earned six gold albums and multiple Grammy nominations. His latest release is the bluegrass flavored album 'Red River Drifter'. michaelmartinmurphey.com
THE CLARK FAMILY TRIO are from Searcy, Arkansas and perform modern Bluegrass, Americana and Gospel favorites, featuring tight three-part "family" harmonies and finger-style and flat picked acoustic guitar. Nine-year-old Sally Ann Clark and her big sister, 15-year old Sophie, have literally grown up singing with their Mom, Cindy (who also plays upright bass for the group) and are joined by Little Rock superpicker Bill Nesbitt on acoustic guitar.
GUY DAVIS has dedicated himself to reviving the traditions of acoustic blues and bringing them to as many ears as possible through the material of the great blues masters, African American stories, and his own original songs, stories and per-formance pieces. Guy has been recording since 1978 - he is a musician, composer, actor, director, and writer. 'Juba dance' is Guy's latest, released by our friends at M.C. Records. It's a stripped down recording contain Guy's own compositions and choice covers by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Rev. Robert Wilkins and Blind Willie McTell. guydavis.com
SI KAHN & THE LOOPING BROTHERS have teamed up for an extraordinary album that features the best-known songs from this legendary songwriter, author, playwright and activist in a bluegrass setting. The Looping Brothers are one of Europe's most respected and best-loved bluegrass bands. On their joint CD 'Aragon Mill: The Bluegrass Sessions' the Looping Brothers handpicked and ar-ranged the material and cast each of Si's classic songs in a new light. sikahn.com & looping-brothers.de
SUE MASSEK is best know as the banjoist and singer of Kentucky's Reel World String Band. This musician, artist, activist and educator from Willisburg, Kentucky is an official Master Artist for the Kentucky Arts Council's Master/Apprentice pro-gram. Sue is committed to using the music she writes and the songs she sings as tools for social justice, and recently released a solo recording project, 'Brave is the Heart of a Singing Bird,' a tribute to those people who influenced her music and activism. Sue is currently touring nationally with the one-woman play with music 'Precious Memories,' written for her by Si Kahn, in which she stars as Eastern Kentucky traditional singer and union songwriter Sarah Ogan Gunning. Sue's performance of an excerpt from the show on WoodSongs will be the first time any part of this work has been heard or seen outside a theater. suemassek.com/
SARAH JAROSZ - 22- year-old, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who hails from just outside Austin, TX. A recent graduate from the prestigious New England Conservatory, she is releasing her third album, 'Build Me Up From Bones', for Sugar Hill Records. She has toured the United States extensively, as well as Canada and the UK, taped Austin City Limits and the BBC Series The Transat-lantic Sessions and appeared on A Prairie Home Companion.
OLD MAN LUEDECKE is an award-winning roots singer-songwriter from Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada. After touring the globe, winning multiple Juno Awards, and becoming a father to twin girls, Luedecke has finally found confidence in himself, and his art. His latest 'Tender Is The Heart' was produced by Tim O'Brien and goes beyond his beloved solo, banjo-driven folk tunes.
TOMMY EMMANUEL is one of Australia's most respected musicians. This two-time Grammy nominee and legendary guitarist has dazzled audiences worldwide for five decades. Tommy's unique "finger style" is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Guitar legend Chet Atkins became one of Emmanuel's biggest fans. Tommy will be the featured guest for the entire broadcast hour. His latest release is an acoustic album with British jazz guitarist Martin Taylor titled 'The Colonel & The Governor'
THE MAKEM & SPAIN BROTHERS are song collectors in the spirit of their forefathers preserving old folk songs and introducing a new generation to this rich musical history. The Makem's continue the lineage of one of Irish music's dynasties, begun by their grandmother Sarah Makem and father Tommy Makem, who is now considered an icon. The Spain Brothers learned Irish songs at their father's knee. This band of brothers have honed their craft over nearly two decades of international performances and are now a road-tested Irish vocal group. A host of various instruments and five male vocals, using precise three-part harmonies blend perfectly for what many describe as a wall of sound.
RUNA draws on the diverse musical backgrounds of its band members and offers a contemporary and refreshing approach to traditional and more recently composed Celtic material. This award winning ensemble includes members that hail from Philadelphia, Dublin, Canada and Louisville, KY and have played with Solas, Riverdance, Slide, Clannad, Fiddlers' Bid, Moya Brennan, Eileen Ivers, Hazel O'Conner, Full Frontal Folk, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Barc�, T�ada, and the Guy Mendilow Band. The band won recently won an Independent Music Awards for Best Song in World/Traditional Category. The band recently released their third album, 'Somewhere Along the Road'.
THE ANNIE MOSES BAND has wowed audiences performing their unique roots music that blossoms into a baroque-pop sound flavored with a shot of classical fervor and dy-namic string instrumentation. Named after their great grandmother who prioritized mu-sical education for her children, even in poverty stricken times, The Annie Moses Band is comprised of 9 members of the Wolaver family, several who are Julliard alumni. The band has just released their latest album 'Pilgrims and Prodigals'. It's a sophisticated, complex blending of classical, jazz, folk, bluegrass and even a frisson of Celtic thrown in for good measure.
JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS are one of the hottest music acts in the Midwest. They are the 2012 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year. The band is collaboration of veteran Bluegrass musicians who have worked with one another during former musical endeavors, in the Ohio Valley. They are fronted by Joe Mullins, a banjo player and AM radio station owner that has earned 5 IBMA awards and 3 SPBGM awards over the past two decade.
THE BARN BIRDS are a collaboration between veteran North Carolina Americana songsmith/guitarist Jonathan Byrd and Northwest singer/fiddler/guitarist Chris Kokesh, known for her work with Misty River. Jonathan and Chris Kokesh met in 2007 and dubbed themselves the Barn Birds when they made their first recordings together. The duo's self titled album is an album about romantic love expressed with sophisticated musicality, smart songs and great sound. Byrd and Kokesh include songs written with and by Amy Speace, Anthony da Costa, Carey West, Corin Raymond, Anais Mitchell, Rob Vaarmeyer, Luke Dick, and the late Jack Hardy.
MELISSA FERRICK signed to Atlantic Records in the mid-�90s. Ferrick was part of a new wave of alt-rock females�including artists like Liz Phair, PJ Harvey and college-mate Paula Cole�who sang about womanhood with sharp, unchecked honesty. Morrissey proved an early champion when he personally invited her to tour as his opening act, and Ferrick eventually went on to found her own label and release a string of albums and EPs (more than 16 to date) in which she played almost every instrument herself. She tours regularly and plays to packed houses across the U.S. Her latest is 'the truth is' on MPress Records.
MANDOLIN ORANGE is Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, a duo that makes hushed, intricate, timeless music from the North Carolina Triangle region, drawing on deep American musical traditions to tell moving 21st century stories. The band has toured with Kathleen Edwards, Abigail Washburn, and Rosanne Cash, who says of their music, "Love it - it has the plainspoken, mournful power of bluegrass and the elegance and intricacy of American classical, like Copland or Barber." They are make their Yep Roc debut with �This Side of Jordan'.
JESSE DEE is a singing, songwriting, guitar-playing soul man-a modern day trailblazer inspired by the old school. Based out of Boston, his warm and honest sound, his instantly memorable melodies and positive, slice-of-life lyrics (evoking the heyday of the Brill Building songwriters), Jesse expertly updates soul music for contemporary audiences. Dee's Alligator Records label debut is 'On My Mind / In My Heart'.
THE JAKE LEG STOMPERS evoke the rebellious spirit and colorful pageantry of American popular music before the Second World War, from the Memphis blues to the Virginia Reel; when jazz began, vaudeville was urgent, and folk music was still dangerous. From their world headquarters in Bucksnort, Tennessee, the band serve up tangy tastes of chicken-fried, pre-war, hokum-billy jug music to gourmet audiences everywhere. The band's latest release is 'Up to No Good'.
BASSEKOU KOUYATE is a virtuoso picker, musical visionary and Africa�s greatest in-strumentalist whose work blurs the lines between West African and American roots music. Bassekou�s instrument, the ngoni, is an ancient traditional “spike lute� and an ancestor of the banjo, sharing its taut-skinned drum body, percussive attack, and varied picking techniques. Since 2005, Bassekou has led Ngoni Ba, the first-ever group built around not one but four ngoni�s. Bassekou Kouyate is celebrating the release of his album �Jama ko�.
Tribute to Dr. Ralph Stanley featuring Don Rigsby, Nathan Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys
ABOUT DR. RALPH STANLEY Dr. Stanley is the legendary icon, that for over 6 decades, has become one of the most influential artists of all time. In 1946, along with his older brother Carter Stanley, they formed the legendary Stanley Brothers duo. The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys became one of the most popular brother acts in Country Music history. After Carter�s death, Stanley shifted the band�s musical emphasis from hard-driving bluegrass to an older, sadder, less adorned mountain style. In 2002, Stanley received his first ever Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance of the haunting rendition of “Oh Death� that was featured in the movie and soundtrack of “O Brother Where Art Thou�.
DON RIGSBY has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. He has a life-long passion for the music of Dr. Ralph Stanley. His latest release, 'Doctor�s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley', are all songs Stanley recorded throughout his 67-year (and counting) career. Some are rare gems the Old Master seldom or never performed in his stage shows. Don is a two-time Grammy nominee and two-time winner of the SPBGMA�s Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year awards.
NATHAN STANLEY is the grandson of Dr. Ralph Stanley, Nathan has been called the "Prince Of Bluegrass" and an heir to the Stanley Music Royalty. His new album, 'The Legacy Continues', salutes his bluegrass forebears and introduces some newer tunes that have all the earmarks of enduring including the heartfelt self penned song "Papaw, I Love you".
THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS has been the name of Dr. Stanley touring band since he and his brother started performing together as The Stanley Brothers in 1946. The band has produced some of Country and Bluegrass music�s biggest stars including Ricky Skaggs, Larry Sparks and the late Keith Whitley. The Clinch Mountain Boys will be the backup band for both Nathan and Don for this historic WoodSongs broadcast
OVER THE RHINE is the southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist. The acclaimed folk/Americana duo return to the WoodSongs with a brand new double album titled 'Meet Me At The Edge Of The World'. The songs were all recorded live and were inspired by the couple�s move to a pre-Civil War farm in southern Ohio eight years ago. The album was produced by Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry.
COURTNEY JAYE is a Nashville based singer/songwriter whose angelic, high plains vocal and its steady reverb wash fits in well with other female alt-country artists like Neko Case and Jenny Lewis. Her latest LP, 'Love and Forgiveness' is an organic and rootsy album that recalls the classic 70s-inspired pop of her heroes Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, The Band and Fleetwood Mac.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX catapulted from the coffeehouses and subway tunnels of Chi-cago to millions of homes across America when she placed second in Season 9 of American Idol by her emotive folk-rock-country style. Old soul voice, care-free style and "don't mess with me" attitude set her apart from the other contestants and landed the self-taught songstress performances with the like Joe Cocker, Harry Connick, Jr., and Alanis Morrissette. Her latest is 'All That For This' .
MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY gained international acclaim for her roles on esteemed films and television series like Dexter, Downtown Abbey, and The Tudors. From Ireland, her fifth solo release 'Sing', is a 10-song collection co-written with husband Kieran Kennedy, featuring duets with Damien Rice, Paul Brady and, on 'Yes We Will', the legendary John Prine. Richly imagined, 'Sing' marries folk forms with torch-song melodies, flamenco rhythms, avant-rock, Celtic, Mediterranean and Appalachian airs.
THE CLEVERLYS are one of the most outrageous bands that we've ever come across. This "family" band comes from the remote part of the Ozark Mountains, near Cane Spur, Arkansas. Their twisted sense of humor and stellar musicianship rocked this year's CMA Fest and their YouTube downloads have topped over a million. They have an incredible "backstory" and a timeless bluegrass sound. What makes the band unusual is their choice of material. They cover The Black Eyed Peas, The Bangles, and many other unexpected choices.
MOORE BROTHERS BAND are a trio of very young brothers from western North Caro-lina made up of 15 year old Jacob (mandolin), 19 year old Daniel (bass) and 10 year old Isaac on guitar. Don�t let their youth fool you; this trio means business. Together, they weave a musical tapestry that honors tradition and welcomes progress, melding a love of tone and harmonies with a fiery stage energy that wins over even the most jaded listeners, while keeping music lovers on the edge of their seat. The latest CD project is 'Pick It Brother'.
TOMMY MALONE has enjoyed a successful career as the guitarist, singer for the leg-endary SUBDUDES for over two decades. A musician�s musician, he has recorded with Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin and Anders Osborne, and has impacted markets with hit other projects including Tiny Town and the Continental Drifters. His songs have been recorded by Joe Cocker, The Radiators, Tab Benoit and many others, but it�s his ability to perform his own stories and turn them into vivid musical images that sets him apart from other performers. His first solo record in 12 years 'Natural Born Days' tracks one man�s journey through life, suffering through hard times from hurricanes to heartbreak but al-ways finding a way to keep on keeping on.
HEY MARSEILLES [pronounced: hay mar-say ] is the critically acclaimed orchestral pop sextet from Seattle. The band produces a lush wall of orchestral sound using cello, viola, trumpet, accordion, clarinets, piano, guitar and drums around Matt Bishop's memorable melodies and honest lyricism. Their unique orchestral chamber pop (or 'folkestra' as the band likes to say) has become the group�s signature sound. The band has just released their sophomore album 'Lines We Trace'. It represents a band steady enough in its sound, that it can expand beyond it.
AMY GRANT has sold more than 30 million albums, including one Five Time Platinum album, 1 Triple Platinum and 1 Double Platinum album, as well as additional Six Platinum and 4 Gold albums. She has won six GRAMMY Awards in multiple categories. Her career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots into her experience as an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. It's been ten years since she has released a full-length studio album and her new album, 'How Mercy Looks From Here', delivers one of her most powerful albums. It's a soundtrack that embraces both the triumphs and challenges of life and was inspired by talks with her ailing mother (to whom the record is dedicated).
NIKKI HILL hails from Durham, North Carolina. She draws on vintage female rhythm and blues influences such as LaVern Baker, Etta James and Ruth Brown, as well as some of her favorite male singers Otis Redding and Solomon Burke, without being stuck or pi-geonholed strictly as a �retro� artist. Her tough vocal style fits with contemporary sensi-bilities yet evokes all the great blues shouters of previous decades. With the success of similar artists such as Amy Winehouse or Imelda May, Hill is poised to blaze her own trail in their wake. Her upcoming release is �Here�s Nikki Hill�!
RICK ESTRIN ranks among the very best harp players, singers and songwriters in the blues world. His work on the reeds is deep in the tradition of harmonica masters Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter Jacobs, while at the same time pushing that tradition forward. Rick was awarded the Blues Foundation's prestigious Blues Music Award for Best Harmonica Player at the 34th annual BMA. He will be performing with his band The Nightcats. His latest is 'One Wrong Turn' on Alligator Records.
BLUE SKY RIDERS features the one-and-only Kenny Loggins, one of the biggest hit makes in modern music, plus Nashville songwriters Georgia Middleman (who has penned songs for Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney & Reba McEntire among others) and Gary Burr (Conway Twitty, Wynona Judd). For Loggins, Blue Sky Riders is a new creative step forward in a career filled with magic moments. His hits include "Danny's Song," "House at Pooh Corner," "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Angry Eyes," "Whenever I Call You Friend" (with Stevie Nicks) and "This Is It," a series of movie theme songs, including "I'm Alright" (Caddyshack), "Footloose" (Footloose), "Danger Zone" (Top Gun), and many more. The band will be performing material from their debut album Finally Home. They will be the sole guest for this Special Event Broadcast of WoodSongs.
JANIVA MAGNESS is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. She received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (she is only the second woman to ever win this award, Koko Taylor being the first). She returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new CD 'Stronger For It', where she co-wrote three remarkable, autobiographical songs for the album.
MINTON SPARKS fuses music, poetry, and her intoxicating gift for storytelling to paint word pictures of the rural South that put you square in the middle of the people and the places?she knows like the back of her hand. She delivers words in beelines of bluesy rhythm and worries the hooks-and there are hooks-backed solely by the nimble acoustic guitar work of John Jackson, who�s perhaps best known for having played with Bob Dylan. Her latest album, 'Live at the Station Inn', captures her and Jackson performing 13 memorable story-songs in front of an audience.
KIM CHURCHILL plays a guitar with busy fingers and the rhythm of a master, and sings lyrics that are difficult to believe they came from someone 21 years old. His style is ex-plosive, with intricate fingerpicking, percussive beats on the body of the guitar, and two-handed tapping intertwined with an earthy stomp box, powerful harmonica melodies and soulful voice.
BEN SOLLEE is known for his cello-playing that incorporates new techniques to create a unique mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz and R&B. This Kentucky native possesses a knack for intricate arrangements. Sollee shares himself with his audience, whether it be by personal lyrics, or his commitment to the environment.
2CELLOS are two young Croatian cellists Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser. The duo has achieved sensational success by taking the cello to a new level and breaking the boundaries between different genres of music. Their unique cello version of Michael Jackson�s “Smooth Criminal� took the world by storm. Within only a week, this YouTube video became a huge viral sensation leading to a record deal with Sony Masterworks and an invitation to join Elton John on his worldwide tour. Since then, the duo has appeared on major TV shows such as GLEE, have toured with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, George Michael and Leona Lewis and released their second album IN2ITION. 2cellos.com
SARAH MORGAN has also won multiple titles for her Appalachian dulcimer work including the 2012 National Mountain Dulcimer Championship. This native of East Tennessee is only 18 and has incorporated the rich musical heritage of the area into her music. Backing traditional Appalachian melodies and haunting old time tunes with fresh harmonies and a progressive drive, she lends a new feel to seemingly “old� tunes, while accompanying pure and heartfelt vocals with the unpretentious sound of the Appalachian dulcimer. She recently released her second album Run to the Window sarahmorganmusic.webs.com
OTIS TAYLOR is the visionary songwriter with his powerful and unique blend of roots music and narrative poetry he labels "trance blues." On his 13th album, 'My World Is Gone', Taylor was inspired by Indigenous frontman and guitar virtuoso MATO NANJI. With Mato, Taylor embarked on a soul-searching journey into the past and present, and into the psyche, of America�s indigenous people. The result is a lightning bolt of musical creativity and social commentary. Its songs crackle with poetic intelligence and a unique, adventurous sound that balances the modern world with echoes of ancient Africa, Appalachia and more. Mato will be performing with Otis on WoodSongs.
MARY GAUTHIER (it�s French; pronounced Go-SHAY) is an Americana troubadour, singer and songwriter. Her songs have earned praise from Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, and been recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Blake Shelton, Boy George and many others. This Louisiana native-turned-Nashville resident's six albums have received countless accolades including Americana Music Association�s New/Emerging Artist of the Year title in 2005 for 'Mercy Now' and the No. 3 Record of the Year by the L.A. Times for 2011�s 'The Foundling'. After 10 years of perfecting her stagecraft, Gauthier felt ready to release her first live album 'Live at Blue Rock' (In the Black Records).
JJ GREY & MOFRO bring a grimy blend of front porch soul and down-home storytelling to the WoodSongs stage. Over the course of six albums and a decade of touring, he and his band Mofro have sewn a continuous thread of laying-it-on-the-line shows that move folks to dance and at times to tears. Many of Grey�s songs reflect his love for the North Florida wilderness in which he grew up. JJ's sixth studio album, 'This River'on Alligator Records was named for the St. John's River -- a centering point for his childhood near Jacksonville, Florida and features some of his strongest songwriting to date.
SLADE WARNKEN is only 15 but has incredible bluesy voice. Listen as Slade brings down the house with his version of Otis Reddings "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay".
THE HOWLIN' BROTHERS are a three-piece string band that brings heart and passion into every performance. Their upbeat shows are heavy with original and traditional music, featuring the sounds of slide banjo, harmonica and old-time fiddle. Their latest album “HOWL� produced by Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs) and released on Benson�s label Readymade Records.
Ma Crow and The Lady Slippers is an all-female band from Cincinnati, Ohio, and a 2013 Cincinnati Entertainment Award nominee featuring Bluegrass, Americana, and Old-time Mountain music. Ma Crow is a legendary acoustic artist in the Cincinnati area, a CAMMY (a Cincinnati Grammy) award winner, and a multi-nominee for the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. The band just released their first CD Wayward Daughter.
A Special Broadcast taping about using music to better our homes, communities and Mother Earth.
TOM CHAPIN is a three-time Grammy award winning artist and an active board member of WhyHunger, the organization which the artist's older brother, the late singer-songwriter/activist Harry Chapin, founded (as World Hunger Year) in the 1970s. He co-wrote material with Si for the Bristol Bay project CD. Website for Tom Chapin.
SI KAHN is an award winning songwriter, author and playwrite. He is one of the leading Appalachian voices calling for the protection of hometowns and communities in the southern mountains. He was chosen as the lead resource person for Musicians United to Protect Bristol Bay in Alaska because of his widespread reputation and credibility in the folk, bluegrass and Americana music communities, his recognized skill as a songwriter in many genres, and his long career as a civil rights, labor and community organizer. Website for Si Kahn. Website for Musicians United.
KEN WALDMAN has toured throughout North America as Alaska's Fiddling Poet since 1995. He is the author of six poetry collections and has released seven CDs. This former college professor draws on his 25 years in Alaska to produce poems, stories, and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his own. Website for Ken Waldman.
DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER is celebrating his 50th anniversary in bluegrass music this year. Doyle and the boys have multiple Grammy, Dove, ICM, IBMA and SPBGMA Award nominations, and are seven-time winners of IBMA�s Vocal Group of the Year Award. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver are the reigning Inspirational Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year, on the heels of Lawson�s induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame last year. We are proud to have this incredible bluegrass legend back on WoodSongs!
LAKE STREET DIVE is a quirky northeastern quartet that has become known for their irreverent brand of pop which blends classic soul and R&B, jazz, and British invasion. Combine this with the unstoppable joy of their live shows and near viral collection of YouTube videos, and you get the sum of the Lake Street Dive equation: pure pop music fun. Knock-your-socks-off vocals and virtuosic instrumentals top it all off, and with the release of their third and self titled record on Signature Sounds, the band is garnering a growing fan base in and beyond their native East Coast. Check out their fun Jackson 5 cover recorded on a sidewalk.
MIKE SCOTT is the Scottish bandleader of the legendary group The Waterboys. The band has just released its first new album in half a decade 'An Appointment With Mr. Yeats' which takes classic poems of the classic Irish poet W.B. Yeats and puts them in modern musical settings. The new album connects with the power and immediacy of Waterboy's classics like This Is the Sea (1985) and Fisherman�s Blues (1988), unfolding with colorful vividness that has characterized Scott�s single-minded body of work during the course of the last three decades. Scott has been on quite a creative roll in recent years, having authored an enthusiastically received memoir, Adventures of a Waterboy, while the new album is the result of two decades of dedication and a lifelong fascination with Yeats� poetry.
VICTOR WOOTEN is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the world, fueled by his tenure with the GRAMMY-winning super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Victor will be celebrating the release of two albums Sword and Stone and Words and Tone plus his new book The Music Lesson. Victor will be joined on stage by his children.,
EXILE is one of America's legendary bands. In 1963, the year before the Beatles scored their first American hit, a group of kids calling themselves The Exiles climbed onto an outdoor stage in the small town of Richmond, Ky. The group, JP Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis and Steve Goetzman are celebrating 50 years together with their first new album in 20 years, their induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and more.
JD CROWE is in fact one of the greatest bluegrass stars of all time. He comes to WoodSongs to help us celebrate his legacy career, amazing banjo style and his recent honors from the University of Kentucky. Crowe began playing the banjo early and was offered a job with Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys in the mid-1950s. In the late 1960s, Crowe formed the Kentucky Mountain Boys, principally performing in the Lexington, Kentucky region. By the early 1970s, Crowe changed the band's name to The New South, widely considered one of the most influential bluegrass groups in history. Many influential musicians have been a part of the band over the years, including Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, and Doyle Lawson. Part of the evening will be devoted to JD talking about his banjo style and introducing young, new players to the audience.
BRANDY MILLER is a 15 year girl from North Carolina who has won several banjo awards. JD Crowe is one of her banjo inspirations and we thought it would be fun to have her on the show to go pick-to-pick with her. Bring your own seat belts!
MARTEKA LAKE is a 14 year girl from West Virginia. She will be playing on the show with her brother
CARAVAN OF THIEVES are a gypsy swinging serenading firebreathing circus freaks band based out of Bridgeport, CT. If Django Reinhardt, the cast of Stomp and the Beatles all had a party at Tim Burton's house, Caravan of Thieves would be the band they hired. Their new CD is "Funhouse." Check out their gypsy jazz version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
MOLASSES CREEK's high-energy performances and phenomenal songwriting bring the love of their coastal home of Ocracoke Island, NC, to the stage. Award winners from Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion," Molasses Creek has recorded 12 albums over the past 19 years. The band's elegant harmonies and arrangements, blazing instrumentals, and quirky sense of humor have won loyal followers throughout the United States and around the world.
BOBBY RUSH is the legendary, multi-award winning blues man. He shared the stage and toured with such legacy artists like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and so many more. Bobby will be performing songs from his new album "Louisiana".
MICHAEL CLEVELAND AND FLAMEKEEPER is the award-winning, hard-driving traditional bluegrass band. Michael is a nine-time winner of the IBMA's Fiddle Performer of the Year award.
CARAVAN OF THIEVES are a gypsy swinging serenading firebreathing circus freaks band based out of Bridgeport, CT. If Django Reinhardt, the cast of Stomp and the Beatles all had a party at Tim Burton's house, Caravan of Thieves would be the band they hired. Their new CD is "Funhouse." Check out their gypsy jazz version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
MOLASSES CREEK's high-energy performances and phenomenal songwriting bring the love of their coastal home of Ocracoke Island, NC, to the stage. Award winners from Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion," Molasses Creek has recorded 12 albums over the past 19 years. The band's elegant harmonies and arrangements, blazing instrumentals, and quirky sense of humor have won loyal followers throughout the United States and around the world.
WANDA JACKSON is widely known and respected as "The Queen of Rockabilly." Jackson is credited with being the first woman to ever record a rock and roll song-"Let's Have a Party" in 1958. In 2009, Jackson was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" and, in 2010, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Music Awards. Wanda returns to the WoodSongs Stage to celebrate the release of her 31st studio album 'Unfinished Business' produced by Justin Townes Earle on Sugar Hill Records.
SHEMEKIA COPELAND has evolved from teenage upstart to one of the most prominent voices in the blues. She's currently the most feted woman in the blues world and actually had a coronation where she was crowned and declared "Queen of the Blues" at the Chicago Blues Festival in 2011. Shemekia earned her crown with a series of high-quality recordings and an unrelenting tour schedule including a memorable performance at the White House in front of an audience that included the President of the United States, sharing the bill with Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, B.B. King and other greats. Her latest is "33 1/3" on Telarc International.
BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY last award winning album was a tribute to the great Cab Calloway, a music legend who performed decades ago in the Lyric Theatre. What better band to help us celebrate our 700th broadcast! are the longtime purveyors, custodians and distillers of a modern big band swing sound. In celebration of twenty years bringing an irrepressible groove to the adoring masses, the band has recorded Rattle Them Bones, their eighth studio album on Savory Jazz. The band's originals rocketed the group into its first phase of stardom when “You & Me and the Bottle Makes Three (Tonight)� and “Go Daddy-O� were featured in the 1996 indie film landmark Swingers. The band has built a career through relentless touring and an impressive discography that includes the platinum selling, Americana Deluxe. From "Minnie the Moocher" to WoodSongs 700th show! bbvd.com,
MATTHEW RYAN has been celebrated for his poetic lyricism. His work challenges listeners in so many ways, always cutting to the bone with a rare honesty that isn't prone to offer easy answers. His latest 'In the Dusk of Everything' marks a distilled reclamation of his more primal Americana/Folk roots. With the bluntness of punk and the evocative rhythm of poetry his lyricism shines amongst these twelve deceptively simple songs of perseverance and closure via a clarity that operates in layers amid a world of struggle, beauty and sublime epiphany.
MISS TESS is a New York City based songwriter and performing musician, who tours regularly with her band, as "Miss Tess & The Talkbacks". Inspired by styles of vintage swing, blues, country, and early rock-n-roll Miss Tess draws comparisons to artists such as Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Peggy Lee, and Chuck Berry, but maintains a style all of her own. Miss Tess� sixth studio album, Sweet Talk, is a collection of finely crafted original material, along with one haunting cover of the Ink Spot�s 1941 hit I Don�t Want to Set the World on Fire. With songs ranging from influences deeply rooted in a rich history of American music, Tess and her band project a sound that is distinctively timeless and unique.
CLAIRE LYNCH is a bluegrass pioneer. She has earned two International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year awards and earned two GRAMMY award nominations. Claire will release her as yet untitled Compass Records debut in early 2013. Lynch will be performing on the show with her band, guitarist Matt Wingate, bassist Mark Schatz and Bryan McDowelland.
APPALATIN formed in Louisville, KY through band members' mutual love of the folk music sounds of Latin America and the Caribbean. Instrumentation features the guitar, charango, mandolin, Andean flutes, bongos, congas, and caj�n. Their songs reflect messages of freedom, community, empowerment, human rights, spirituality, and environmental stewardship.
BEN TAYLOR's music is marked by memorable melodies, immaculate acoustic guitar playing and insightful, honest lyrics have been captivating fans since the moment he embarked on this journey ten years ago. As the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon, Ben has led a life so far in which music has always played a central role. His wit and skill as a singer-songwriter showcases an artist who is comfortable both in his own skin and with his impressive musical legacy. "Listening" is the follow up album to Taylor's critically acclaimed 2008 release "The Legend Of Kung Folk - Part 1 (the Killing Bite)."
VON GREY is an Atlanta-based quartet of four classically trained sisters with soulful four-part harmonies, poetic lyrics and indelible melodies. Performances include over 200 shows in the past 2 years ranging from intimate venues to supporting gigs with Sarah McLachlan. ! Their forthcoming five-song EP, recorded with GRAMMY® award-winning producer/engineer Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Train, The Gaslight Anthem), captures the band's essence and the raw intensity of their live performances.
BILL EVANS is well-known within the bluegrass music community not only as a musician, but also as a teacher, writer and scholar. Bill will be bringing his solo show The Banjo in America to the WoodSongs Stage. Tracing the banjo from its West African roots to the New World, Evans performs musical examples from the 1700's to the present day on a variety of vintage instruments, explaining how the banjo has been at the intersection of African- and Anglo-American musical and cultural exchange for over 250 years. Bill's new CD "In Good Company" features an all-star cast of 26 musicians, including the Infamous Stringdusters, Tim O'Brien, Joy Kills Sorrow, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, David Grier, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan and many, many more.
KAYLA BENDER is an amazing 12 year old banjo picker from Oklahoma. She has placed in several banjo competitions and will be showcasing at both IBMA's Kids on Bluegrass and Walnut Valley Festival this year. Watch her tear it up on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" with her banjo teacher Rob.
AMBER RUBARTH has become a fixture in New York's indie scene, named #1 Best of NYC Songwriter by Deli Magazine last year and grand prize winner of NPR's Mountain Stage New Song Contest. At 21 years old, Amber decided to quit her career as a chainsaw sculptor in Nevada in order to pursue music. She taught herself guitar, began playing open mics and recorded her songs, which soon received over 1.5 million listens on MySpace through word of mouth alone. Amber's latest is a live album 'Sessions from the 17th Ward' features Dave Eggar on cello who will be performing with her on WoodSongs.
THE RAGBIRDS are a fusion of folk rock and pop hooks over danceable world rhythms stirred with a Celtic fiddler's bow. Hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, the energy of multi-instrumentalist Erin Zindle demands attention. She is the songwriter and front woman of the band, skillfully switching between violin, mandolin, accordion, banjo and percussion, all while dancing. The release of The Ragbirds' fourth studio effort 'Travelin' Machine' is a new milestone for the band.
DELLA MAE is five women that are are turning heads, winning hearts, and quickly becoming a household name in acoustic, folk, roots, and bluegrass music. The band are all seasoned performers who have won countless contests and shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Del McCoury, Leon Russell, and Laurie Lewis.
PEARL AND THE BEARD are three voices, one cello, one guitar, one glockenspiel, one melodica, several drums, one accordion, ninety-six teeth, and one soul. The band's genre-bending and expectation-defying sound has since burst the trio out of the confines of the New York music scene opening for Ani DiFranco and Dar Willliams. The band's current release is "Killing the Darlings."
CAROLINE HERRING has established herself as a lyrical and inventive songwriter and a singer whose vocals never fail to move the listener with her high trills and rich vibrato. The Mississippi native, now based in Atlanta, has been compared to Lucinda Williams, Joan Baez, and even Mozart. Although the comparisons are nice (and hold water) the truth is that she has her own signature sound that comes to full manifestation on "Camilla", hew new career-defining record on Signature Sounds.
SHEL is comprised of four sisters ages 18-24 who are classically trained and home-schooled�the band name is an acronym for their first names. Growing up in a musical household encouraged by their father, a respected local Ft. Collins, Colorado musician, they first appeared on stage as his backing band. SHEL has been performing since 2005 and graced the stages of Lilith Fair, International Folk Alliance, Music City Roots, and South by Southwest. The self-titled effort is the group's first full-length studio album.
THE WAILERS, together with Bob Marley, have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. In England alone, they've notched up over twenty chart hits, including seven Top 10 entries. Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with international acts like Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica's reggae tradition, the Wailers have completed innumerable other tours, playing to an estimated 24 million people across the globe. Yet there's a great deal more to the Wailers than reliving the past. The band, anchored by original bassist Aston "Family Man," is still going strong today. A forthcoming Wailers' album with a star studded celebrity guest artists is in the works. As well as the band's two latest tracks featuring Koolant on lead vocals. One is a future lovers' rock classic called "Shining Star," and the other a heartfelt appeal � "A Step For Mankind" � made on behalf of the World Food Program, co-starring Duane Stephenson.
JUNIOR TOOTS, son of Toots Hibbert of the Toots & the Maytals, is a uniquely talented recording artist and performer whose passion for reggae is evident in his moving live performances & recordings that inspire all. Born and raised in Jamaica & the US, he has a genuine commitment to socially conscious lyrics and a determination to express himself sincerely from within. This passion can be felt through his deeply soulful vocal style that is reminiscent of his father. With a mixture of Reggae, Roots, Ska, & Dancehall, Junior Toots reaches out to all supporters of conscious music with a message to unite & uplift. His new album, "A Little Bit of Love" is his finest work so far & is receiving lots of positive reviews.
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY's song "Wildfire" was one of the biggest pop hits of the 70's. He returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new bluegrass CD called 'Tall Grass & Cool Water.' It's his third album in this Grammy nominated series that explores the similarities between Bluegrass and American Cowboy Music. This "singing cowboy poet", is not only the number one, best-selling singer/songwriter of American Cowboy Music, he's one of the world's most respected singer/songwriters in the Pop and Country-Western field. Michael Martin Murphey is also a recent inductee into the Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame.
THE MASTERSONS are each deft instrumentalists, and they've spent years playing in others' bands before coming together as a unit. Both the Denton, Texas-born Eleanor Whitmore and Houston-reared Chris Masterson have been musicians for as long as they can recall. Whitmore and Masterson apprenticed for years with other musicians, she with Regina Spektor, Susan Gibson, Kelly Willis, Diana Ross, Will Hoge and others, he in the bands of Jack Ingram, Son Volt, Bobby Bare Jr. and more but found themselves compelled to write and sing together. They met in 2005 and joined Steve Earle band in May of 2011. Their debut album is "Birds Fly South" on New West Records.
THE PINES rose out of the prairies of the Midwest and are one of the most distinct and powerful indie-rock/Americana groups to hit the national scene in years. Founded by Iowa natives David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, the band caught the attention of acclaimed indie label Red House Records. The Pines' new album, "Dark So Gold" shows a young band that has fully arrived with a sound and song craft that stands apart on the indie music landscape.
THE TRISHAS are 4 girls from Austin. All can sing, play and write songs ... sometimes all at once. None are named Trisha. They first shared a stage in January 2009 and their intention was simply to perform a couple of songs as part of a tribute to Savannah's father, singer-songwriter Kevin Welch. With nearly two solid years' worth of buzz and confidence-building shows and opening for the likes Dwight Yoakam, Raul Malo, Rodney Crowell, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Todd Snider, the band has released their first full-length album, "High, Wide & Handsome." Their musicianship, songwriting and soaring four part harmony shows a band with a sister-like tightness looking to expand their grassroots audience outside of Texas.
SARAH MCQUAID is a gifted and captivating performer whose warm, haunting alto is delicately cradled by her "sparkling guitar" (Sing Out!). She is both song crafter and song collector, equally at home with traditional Irish and Appalachian folk songs, Elizabethan ballads and 1930s jazz numbers. She is also renowned for her guitar work and is the author of acclaimed The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book. Her musical output is a direct and unfolding reflection of her own eclectic background: Sarah was born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holds dual US and Irish citizenship, and currently lives in rural England. Her new album, "The Plum Tree and the Rose," represents a departure from Sarah's previous albums, which focused on her arrangements of traditional material, in that nine of its thirteen tracks are originals.
PERT NEAR SANDSTONE emerged from the same roots-based musical hotbed in Minneapolis that gave birth to Bob Dylan, The Jayhawks and Spider John Koerner. Originally formed by four friends from the same hometown, Pert Near Sandstone formed unintentionally over weekly, whiskey-fueled picking sessions in an old house in St. Paul, MN.The band rejuvenates American stringband music with raw energy; they play tightly-crafted original material that lends itself to the modern audience, as well as being stewards of the old-time and bluegrass traditions. Check out their high octane version of The Beatles "I Am The Walrus. The band's latest release is "Paradise Hop."
BLUE RAIN BLUEGRASS BAND is a dynamic young bluegrass band from Mountain View, Arkansas. They recently won the Youth in Bluegrass Band Competition at Silver Dollar City in Branson where they performed, in the great bluegrass tradition of Bill Monroe and others, around a single microphone.
STILL ON THE HILL is the folkgrass duo from the Ozarks in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This duo uses traditional instruments from their home in the Ozarks (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica and scrub board) as well as other exotic offerings (Moon guitar from Japan, African Mbira, and Tenor Ukulele) to create a kaleidoscope of musical color and texture.
NATHAN A. was born to play the blues. This blues kid is just a junior in high school and has been forcing second glances around Rogers and Fayetteville since he was 13 years old with his command of multiple instruments and musical maturity. The past two years, Nathan has represented the Ozark Blues Society in the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis, TN. Check him out here blowing some mean blues harp on the King Biscuit Time Radio Show.
SCOTT ODENA is a National Champion on mountain dulcimer as well as the 1998 Old-Time Singing Champion at the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He has lived in Little Rock for the last 15 years. Scott will be performing with the Peterson�s Original Ragtime Band made up of David Peterson, a retired Professor of Math and the Director of the Ozark Institute at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, and his wife Donna.
RIVER LEE is an 11 year old fiddle champion from Springdale, AR. River began playing violin at the age of 4. National Champion Fiddler and Hee Haw star, Jana Jae first inspired River to take up the fiddle. River participates in many Fiddlin Arkansas events including the Arkansas Pickin' and Fiddlin' Championships held in Little Rock each October and various Master Fiddler Series. River will be joined on guitar by Jonathan Trawick who grew up in the hills of Ozarks. Website for River and Jonathan.
MARTHA REDBONE is a leading voice in contemporary Native American music. Her award winning work is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian. Redbone's musical talent has caught the ears of legends and she has recorded and/or performed with Bonnie Raitt, Pete Seeger, Youssou N'Dour, George Clinton, Rita Coolidge, Randy Brecker and Nona Hendryx. Her new album "The Garden of Love - Songs of William Blake" takes the immortal words of poet William Blake, the great Romantic visionary from 18th century England, and sets them in the Appalachian Mountains, bringing her uniquely soulful voice to hollered melodies, lullabies, ancient chants and inspired hymns. The result, produced by Grammy Award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen and David Hoffner, is a wondrous folk, country, gospel and blues reading in which the songs feel like timeless mountain classics with lyrics that are strikingly relevant.
BEN MILLER BAND is a one-of-a kind trio that combines the frenetic energy of bluegrass, the soul of the delta blues and the haunted spirit of Appalachian mountain music. Band members Ben Miller, Scott Leeper, and Doug Dicharry create a unique and modern sound while continuing the tradition of blending together many different musical styles, which has long been a trait of their native Ozarks in Joplin, Missouri.
IRIS DEMENT is one of the most beloved and respected writers and singers in American music. After a series of jobs waitressing and typing, Dement first began composing songs at the age of 25. Honing her skills at open-mic nights, in 1988 she moved to Nashville, where she contacted producer Jim Rooney, who helped her land a record contract. Dement did not make her recording debut until 1992, when her independent label offering, "Infamous Angel," won almost universal acclaim thanks to her pure, evocative vocal style and spare, heartfelt songcraft. Her next two albums received Grammy nods. In 1999, she collaborated with country man John Prine on his album, "In Spite of Ourselves." Dement recorded four duets with Prine that earned her another Grammy nod the following year. "Sing The Delta" is her first LP of original material in 16 years and is being released on her own label Flariella Records. She will be the sole guest for this WoodSongs Special Event Broadcast.,
ADAM COHEN is the son of the legendary songwriter Leonard Cohen. All his life Adam had sought an artistic space beyond the reach of his father's looming shadow. But in January 2007, at the age of 34, Adam Cohen owned up to his legacy. His new album "Like A Man," is a "strikingly personal album" of ten intimate songs that is "truly fit to bear the family name" (Sunday Times of London) on Decca Records. Cohen had been writing these songs and poems for a number of years, but kept them hidden away. However, the birth of his son inspired a major change of heart in Cohen. This epiphany came about during a family meal: "I was sitting at the dinner table with my father to my left and my son to my right, and I realized that it was imperative that I try and make a record worthy of my father's legacy."
LAC LA BELLE is an acoustic duo from Detroit, Michigan that juxtaposes the early decades of recorded rural American music with decaying Rustbelt aesthetic. A tradition is re-imagined- or maybe just resumed- in the 'future-rustic' swirl of accordion, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and resonator guitar. The instrumentation echos another era, but is employed for a music of now. Their soon to be released album, "Bring on the Light" boasts 12 original works and one traditional arrangement, performed with a variety of instruments from accordion to banjitar. Each song presents a melodic tale, be it an intimate anecdote, or stories on their hometown Detroit, "Bring on the Light" captures the drifting spirit of early America.
KAT EDMONSON is a buoyant singer-songwriter from Texas whose tiny stature belies a powerful voice. She makes smart, familiar pop; though steeped in vintage tradition, her style leans left of center. She's performed with Willie Nelson, opened for Smokey Robinson, toured with Boz Scaggs and Lyle Lovett, and headlined the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan. She also recorded "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Lovett for his new album "Release Me." Now splitting her time between Austin and NYC, Kat is eager to release her second record, 'Way Down Low.' She hopes it will be "a launching pad to play all over the world and travel wherever I can."
SPIRIT FAMILY REUNION play homegrown American music to stomp, clap, shake and holler with. Ever since they started singing together on the street corners, farmer's markets and subway stations of New York City, their songs have rung-out in a pure and timeless way. When Spirit Family Reunion gather to sing, there is communion. Strangers and neighbors come to rejoice in the sound, and there is no divide between performer and spectator. The band's latest is "No Separation" and they will be playing at the historic Newport Folk Festival over the summer.
ADRIAN LEGG is one of the wizards of the acoustic guitar. Since the 1990 release of his first U.S. recording Guitars and Other Cathedrals, this English guitar music has more than lived up to the expectations stirred by an ongoing avalanche of praise from critics, fans, top guitar mags and peers alike. Joe Satriani once said, "He's simply the best acoustic guitar player I've ever heard." The genius that the Boston Globe has called "technical brilliance paired with a troubadour's tale-weaving skill" led him from 1993-96 to be voted Best Fingerstyle Guitarist four years straight and "Guitarist of the Decade" by the readers of Guitar Player magazine. His new album is "Slow Guitar."
THE DUNWELLS are an acclaimed British folk quintet that are utterly natural. There's no more fitting description for both the music of The Dunwells as well as the story of their magical rise from the pubs of Leeds, England to an American record deal and a stunning debut album in just two short years. The group is two brothers, two cousins and totaling five best mates who simply love to sing and play music, and do so together. Striking an organic blend between acoustic and electric roots music laced by luscious vocal harmonies by all five members, their songs and sound feel both bracingly fresh while at the same time as warm and familiar as a dear longtime friend. Their debut album is "Blind Sighted Faith."
BALSAM RANGE is a group of five outstanding acoustic musicians and singers from Haywood County, North Carolina. All the guys in the band grew up in the rich musical heritage of the Appalachian South, surrounded by culture and heritage steeped in traditions of The Grand Ole Opry and other important influences. For their band name, they thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county...where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge. The band won the 2011 IBMA Song of the Year winner for their song "Trains I Missed" and were nominated IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year nominee in 2010 & 2011. The band's latest is "Papertown."
SONNY MOORMAN is an award winning blues musician that hails from Hamilton, OH. Whether Sonny is deftly fingerpicking his Zeiler acoustic guitar, or playing sinewy slide on his Oahu lap guitar and Dobro resophonic guitar, this is classic Blues -- played and sung the way it was supposed to be. Sonny's current release is More Live as Hell - Up to My Neck in the Blues. Sonny will performing solo acoustic on WoodSongs.
JANIVA MAGNESS is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. A charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows, Magness is a gutsy and dynamic musical powerhouse. She received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (she is only the second woman to ever win this award, Koko Taylor being the first) and for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, an honor she also received in 2006 and 2007. She returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new CD "Stronger For It" , where she co-wrote three remarkable, autobiographical songs for the album.
LOREN & MARK are Central New York acoustic guitar standout Loren Barrigar and New Zealand star Mark Mazengarb. The two were instantly aware of the musical magic that was created the first time they played guitar together, working with the great Tommy Emmanuel at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp. It is difficult to classify the genre of music Barrigar and Mazengarb perform; they simply describe it as 'fingerstyle guitar'. The music is influenced by Bluegrass, Jazz, and Country, and their style of guitar playing is largely built upon the thumb-picking techniques pioneered by guitar greats Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed.
ETTA BRITT is one of the most versatile singers working out of Nashville today. Born in Lancaster, Ky., this seasoned veteran has toured the world and shared a stage or recording studio with everyone from Engelbert Humperdinck to REO Speedwagon to Waylon Jennings. In 1978, she joined Dave Rowland and Sue Powell in the country-music trio Dave & Sugar. She stayed with the trio from 1979 to 1985, during which time they received CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominations five years in a row. Etta has a brand new album "Out of the Shadows" and will be joined on-stage with her husband and renowned guitarist Bob Britt who has toured with Bob Dylan and John Fogerty.
JOAN OSBORNE is a six time Grammy nominee who had a massive worldwide hit several years ago called "One of Us." Joan is a Kentucky artist who overwhelmed radio with the clarity and power of her beautiful voice. Since initially rocketing to prominence on the success of "One of Us," the indelible, chart-topping hit from her 1995 debut album "Relish," the creatively restless singer has followed an adventurous career path that even included time as the singer for the Grateful Dead. We welcome Joan back to her Kentucky home as she performs songs from her new release, BRING IT ON HOME.
Bobby is celebrating 60 years performing bluegrass music around the world. As part of the legendary Osborne Brothers, he introduced one of the most popular songs in America's music canon: Rocky Top. Born in Leslie County, Kentucky, Bobby is known primarily for his collaborations with his brother Sonny Osborne in their band, the Osborne Brothers. He was a pioneer in conceiving the now-popular "high lead" vocal trio concept. He has released numerous recordings since the 1950s. The Osborne Brothers recordings of "Rocky Top", and "Kentucky" were named official state songs of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. Bobby will be performing songs tunes from his new album, NEW BLUEGRASS & OLD HEARTACHESusical groups.
THE HONEYCUTTERS are, at the heart, the musical collaboration of singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt and Lead Guitarist/ Producer Peter James. While their sound has drawn comparisons to such artists as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Platt and James produce a refreshingly unique blend of Americana music that is comfortingly familiar while being entirely original. This Asheville, NC band has just released their second album When Bitter Met Sweet.
GRANVILLE AUTOMATIC is Vanessa Olivarez and Elizabeth Elkins. This Nashville-based alt country duo write songs pulled from a shared love of history, horses and war. Granville Automatic is named after a 19th-century typewriter: Vanessa is a collector. With sonic references like Lyle Lovett, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, Granville Automatic has created a quiet and lyrical sound devoted to telling stories from the past. Both girls have a history in the music business: Vocalist/songwriter Olivarez wrote and recorded a Top 10 single in Canada, has three cuts on Sugarland records, including a song on their multi-platinum Enjoy the Ride album, and received a Dora nomination for her work in the Toronto production of Hairspray. She was also a finalist on the second season of American Idol. Guitarist/songwriter Elkins is a Grand Prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest who has showcased at the Billboard/BMI Acoustic Brunch at SXSW, at BMI showcases in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Nashville, and at CMJ. The band's self-titled debut studio album was just released.
MARTY RAYBON has been called one of the greatest singers in music. Marty's signature country soulful vocals with Shenandoah were developed many years ago when he performed Bluegrass and Gospel music with his family.Throughout his epic journey, spanning nearly three decades, Marty has produced a remarkable list of career accomplishments including; multiple number one singles, top selling albums, CMA, ACM, IBMA, and Grammy Awards, along with scores of other accolades. Collectively, his contributions to the recording industry have sold well into the millions and he has performed literally thousands of live concerts at four corners of the earth. Marty has just released two new albums, Hand to Plow & Southern Roots & Branches, this year on Rural Rhythm Records.
CHARLIE McCOY and his world class harmonica work has been a mainstay in Music City since the '60s. Charlie has played on dozens of hit records, including work for such legends as Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and many more. But the work that has distinguished this harmonica ace is contained on more than two dozen albums that Charlie has released over the past 3 decades. In 2009, Charlie was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Charlie latest is Lonesome Whistle: A Tribute to Hank Williams.
ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new album 'Big Station' on Fantasy/Concord. Long one of America's most admired poet-rockers, his 35 years as a musician and two decades as a solo artist has taken him from Texas to California to New York and back again to Texas, encompassing a breadth of music as varied as the many bands he was part of before embarking on a solo career. The new album finds the ever-evolving Texas rocker highly-charged with spirit and purpose. Largely co-written with frequent collaborator Chuck Prophet, the album's 12 songs bristle with tension and hope as Escovedo fights to keep faith in a changing world and hold onto love.
JOSEPH ARTHUR was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s, and signed to Gabriel's Real World label as the first North American artist on the label's roster. This Akron, Ohio-bred/Brooklyn, N.Y.-residing singer/songwriter's 1997 debut, 'Big City Secrets,' attracted a substantial following abroad. The artist didn't connect with Stateside listeners until 'Come To Where I'm From,' which features his signature song, "In the Sun." That track was covered by R.E.M.'s Stipe and Coldplay's Chris Martin in 2006 on a charity single to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, having previously been recorded a decade earlier by Gabriel for a Princess Diana tribute album. Arthur is also an accomplished painter, having displayed his works in galleries around the world. His latest is a double album titled 'Redemption City' released on his own label.
DULCIE TAYLOR is an award-winning singer/songwriter from the Washington, DC area. Her clear, supple voice, down-to-earth lyrics, her songwriting and use of the mountain dulcimer first caught our attention several years ago. Check out show #218 in the WoodSongs archive. She's back with a new album 'Free of this Sorrow' on MesaBluemoon and will be joined by Nashville musician, songwriter and really good friend of the show Bill Wence. In addition to crafting song lyrics, Dulcie Taylor is a prolific writer of poetry and prose. She is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Poetry Series at Washington, D.C.'s Folger Shakespeare Library.
THE TREWS are a rock band out of Canada looking for their audience in the US. The band had been on an upwardly mobile streak since "Not Ready to Go" first came pumping out of Canadian radio back in 2003. They wasted no time piling success on top of success, watching their stature grow with with two gold records, ten top-10 singles and 850-plus concerts logged. The band will be performing a special unplugged session for their WoodSongs performance. Their latest release is 'Hope & Ruin.'
VICTORIA VOX and her ukulele return to the WoodSongs Stage with a brand new CD. Known as a pioneer for singer/songwriters in the growing ukulele genre, Victoria Vox has been writing and performing songs across the country in her eclectic, upbeat and clever way. Refreshingly modern and innovative, the award-winning vocalist and songwriter lives in Baltimore, and tours 130+ shows a year. The new album, 'Vox Ukulele Cello,' features Katie Chambers on cello who will accompany Victoria on WoodSongs. Website for Victoria Vox.
CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER are a formidable powerhouse of sound, with a repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk, old-time country and swing music. They've earned two Grammy Awards and have worked with the likes of Tom Paxton, Si Kahn, Riders in the Sky, Pete Seeger, Brave Combo, Mariachi Los Camperos, Mike Seeger, Patsy Montana, Pete Kennedy and Ysaye Barnwel. "ROCKIN THE UKE" is the very first Uke-centric CD and explores their versatility on the ukulele as they travel through blues, swing, old time county, folk and original songs - all in virtuoso style. Website for Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer.
THE LOVE LEIGHS hail from Austin, TX and combines ukuleles, guitar, a dash of clarinet; lots of harmonies, some twang, and more than a little sass. The band creates original songs in the tradition of 20th Century American acoustic music--a mix of jazz, blues, twang, and the occasional funky tune or Motown groove. Their latest Is 'All Your Talk of Love." Website for The Love Leighs.
LURRIE BELL is a legend of the Chicago blues scene. Born in 1958, the son of famed blues harmonica player Carey Bell, Lurrie picked up his father's guitar at age of five and taught himself to play.In addition, he grew up with many of the Chicago blues legends around him. Eddie Taylor, Big Walter Horton, Eddie C. Campbell, Eddie Clearwater, Lovie Lee, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Dawkins and many more were frequent visitors to his house. They all helped to shape and school him in the blues, but none as much as his father's long-time employer Muddy Waters. By seventeen Lurrie Bell was playing on stage with Willie Dixon and soon formed The Sons of Blues band and toured with Koko Taylor. 'The Devil Ain't Got No Music,' is Lurrie's latest. It's a collection of acoustic blues and gospel songs that recollect the music he often played with his dad and at church in Mississippi and Alabama as a child.
LISA BIALES is a soulful songstress, performer, and recording artist who weaves a tapestry of Americana, jazz and blues inspired folk. A native of Ohio, Lisa grew up in a musical family and began her career as a performing songwriter at the age of thirteen. Lisa has independently released six albums of music under her own Big Song Music label including her latest 'Just Like Honey' which was produced by WoodSongs alum EG Kight. Lisa also makes her film debut this year in Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola's new film,Twixt.
LAURNECE JUBER was the lead guitarist for Paul McCartney's band Wings, Juber is a Grammy winning, world-renowned guitar virtuoso, composer and arranger. He has released 19 acclaimed solo albums. His solo arrangement of The Pink Panther earned him a second Grammy. Pop Goes Guitar includes his arrangement of Stand By Me that was heard nationally in a 'Diamonds Are Forever' commercial. His CD "LJ Plays The Beatles" is one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine's' all-time Top Ten acoustic albums.
PETE HUTTLINGER has become widely known as one of the most awe-inspiring acoustic guitar players in the world. He toured with John Denver for many years and appears with Country/Pop superstar LeAnn Rimes who often requests him for her acoustic performances. His unique arrangements and spell-binding musicality and precision have entertained audiences from Los Angeles to Milan to New York City's Carnegie Hall to two invited to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festivals. 'The Black Swan' is Pete's latest release.
MACYN TAYLOR is a remarkable 17 year old guitarist who opened up for Michael at a show just outside of Milwaukee. Michael was so impressed with her playing and poise that he immediately invited her to be on WoodSongs. Macyn began playing the guitar when she was seven and graduated high school at 12. She recently graduated from college. She's an incredible young woman. Website for Macyn Taylor.
ANAIS MITCHELL writes songs from her 200-year-old farmhouse in rural Vermont. This daughter of "hippie back-to-the-landers" whose father was a novelist and English professor, remembers her family's home containing "a library full of novels, and lots of old folk and psychedelic rock albums. All of these influences come together in 'Hadestown,' an epic "folk opera." It's a modern retelling of the Orpheus myth set in a Depression era America. The album landed her on numerous "Best of 2010" lists including The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Observer. Her latest album is 'Young Man in America.'
LITTLE G. WEEVIL is a Hungarian who migrated to Memphis, eager enough to soak up the culture and music enough to wash dishes on Beale Street just to get as close as possible. He started out as a drummer and began playing the guitar at 17. He was introduced and captivated by the music scene through listening to legendary musicians such as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert Collins, B.B. King and Chuck Berry.His approach to the American Roots and Blues Music makes him one of a kind. This high energy and very laid back performer sings his heart out, picks his guitar and his Bacon Fat cigar box guitar like he just got "struck by lightning" and tells his real life stories in a way that is really hard to forget. His latest CD is 'The Teaser.'
MARK O�CONNOR returns with a brand new album and fiddle method book to play and give the WoodSongs audience a global violin lesson. Mark is the prominent American classical and multi genre violinist and composer. A product of America's rich aural folk tradition as well as classical music, he has melded and shaped his early influences into a new American Classical music, and a vision of an entirely American school of string playing. He has sold over two-million CDs as a solo recording. His collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer received a Grammy Award in February 2001. The O'Connor Violin Method has been widely praised since its debut in fall 2009 as "an American grown rival to the Suzuki method" (The New Yorker). It includes great folk songs, fiddle tunes and classic themes culled from 400 years of traditional American violin playing. It pulls from all regions of North America and from diverse musical styles including classical, folk, Latin, jazz, rock and ragtime. �American Classics,' is a collection of new recordings arranged for violin and piano and performed by O'Connor and pianist Rieko Aizawa. The album features the repertoire on Mark�s new Method Book III. Mark will be performing with pianist Melissa Tong and serveral of the students from Lexington�s Carwile String Studio for a global violin workshop and lesson.
THE CLEVERLYS are a “family� bluegrass band from the remote part of the Ozark Mountains, near Cane Spur, Arkansas. Their twisted sense of humor, stellar musicianship and unusual choice of material make the band one of the most outrageous bands that we�ve ever come across.
BONNIE MONTEGOMERY is a native Arkansan from Little Rock. She is a classically trained opera singer by day and a honky tonk queen by night. She will be showing off both facets of her amazing voice in Conway.
TIM CROUCH & GARY ROUNDS are two of Arkansas' finest musicians. Tim is a fiddle, mandolin and guitar player from Strawberry, Arkansas. Tim is an award winning fiddler and has performed and or recorded with such artist as Vince Gill, George Jones, Billy Bob Thornton, Dolly Parton, Glen Campbell, Sara Evans, Marty Stuart, Oak Ridge boys, Charley Pride, Dierks Bentley, Jerry Reed, Tommy Shaw of "STYX", Mare Winningham, Mike Snider, Grand Ole Opry Staff Band, Jonathon Edwards, along with others. Gary is a one-of-a-kind singer from Batesville, AR who is filled with deep mountain Arkansas soul. These two amazing Arkansas musicians will be performing together.
CLARKE BUEHLING is recognized worldwide for his insightful interpretations of late 19th century classic finger-style banjo. Clarke is also in the forefront of the recent resurgence of interest in the earlier minstrel banjo style. Clarke teaches banjo, fiddle, mandolin and guitar in Fayetteville, Arkansas and performs with his band The SkirtLifters.
The McEuens come to WoodSongs to celebrate the release of their first album together "The McEuen Sessions.." John McEuen is a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band solo road journeys have involved playing, in various configurations, with his musician sons Nathan and Jonathan, including recently having the thrill of performing together at the Grand Ole Opry to three standing ovations. After years talking about recording as a trio all agreed the time was right. 'The McEuen Sessions�For All The Good' from John, Nathan, and Jonathan McEuen. It's part of our families in music night on WoodSongs!
THE SNYDER FAMILY BAND is an amazing family group of musicians from Lexington, North Carolina. Bud and Laine Snyder started their young kids in classical music lessons, now music is a big part of life for this North Carolina family. Samantha, age thirteen, plays fiddle and Zeb, age sixteen, plays guitar. Both have excelled in their individual instruments and the art of entertaining and added their Dad on bass as the duo their music interest turned toward Bluegrass. The band's latest release is 'Stages.'
DON RIGSBY is one of the most accomplished bluegrass musicians working in Kentucky. From remote Isonville, KY, to an international following in Bluegrassmusic, Don has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. Don played with JD Crowe and The New South, and was a member of the award-winning Lonesome River Band. The two-time Grammy nominee and two-time SPBGMA Traditional MaleVocalist of the Year and sang on a Grammy-winning album by rocker John Fogerty.
SUGAR TREE are three wanderin' women who found their way back to the tippy-toes of the Appalachian foothills in Berea. This string trio are known for their pristine vocal harmonies, traditional and contemporary song choices and cowgirl boots.
THE 23 STRING BAND hail from all around Kentucky. The band pays a fun, fuel-injected, original Americana that dangerously weaves across the lanes of modern acoustic music � windows down, accelerator to the floor, on a joyride into the unknown with one eye on the vintage sounds in the rearview mirror. It's a bluegrass attack fueled by high-octane rock-n-roll energy and triple-distilled organic roots. The guys won the prestigious band competition at RockyGrass in Lyons, CO in 2011. Their latest album is 'Catch 23.'
BAWN IN THE MASH are entering their seventh year of performing their sound founded in the ancient tones of Western Kentucky. Based in Paducah, early fans watched the band go from busking Appalachian street corners to headlining the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion-- from performing on the corner of 4th and Broadway to selling out the world famous Station Inn-- and from playing local barrooms to performing in the Victorian Ballroom aboard the Delta Queen steamboat, as the band continually progresses and impresses listeners worldwide. The band has just released their 4th studio album.
BLAKELY BURGER is hails from Lexington and is known around town as the “That Lil Fiddler.� This 13 year old comes from a musical family and specialty is bluegrass fiddling, although she also is currently learning mandolin, guitar, and piano.
DERVISH was formed in Northwestern Ireland in 1989 and has grown into a vital force on the international Irish music scene. Its artistry, musicianship and maturity won outstanding praise from the media placing Dervish at the forefront of the bands working on traditional Irish music. In its 20 plus years, the band has performed from the Great Wall of China to packed auditoriums in the Holy Land and more recently being the first Irish band to perform at the greatest music festival in the world, "Rock in Rio" on front of an estimate audience of two hundred and forty thousand people. In 2010, the band released "From Stage to Stage" a live concert footage from both sides of the Atlantic that marked Dervish's 21st year anniversary.
THE DEVIL MAKES THREE are laced with elements of ragtime, blues, country, folk and rockabilly. The critically praised trio - consisting of guitarist/front man Pete Bernhard, stand-up bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist Cooper McBean - bring a genuine approach to acoustic music. The sound is deeply steeped in rhythm and alive with three part harmonies, while keeping a high-energy aesthetic to their music and especially their live shows. "Stomp and Smash: Live at the Mystic Theatre" is band's latest release.
GARY "BISCUIT" DAVIS is the only three-time National Banjo Champion in America and has won dozens of state and regional titles as well. Gary got his nickname, "Biscuit" when he was performing with the Smith Brothers as lead guitarist. They had a guitar player that they nicknamed "Cornbread," so he could be "Biscuit." Gary performed for fifteen years at Dollywood, recently was band leader, co-producer and banjo player for Dolly Parton on her bluegrass album "Halos & Horns". He toured with Dolly for a year to promote that album/
THE HACKENSAW BOYS have their feet firmly planted in the old-time song tradition, have their hands soiled by the dirt of rock n' roll and have their eyes fixed steadily on the future of real country music. This Charlottesville, VA group is among the most exciting groups charting new territory in today's diverse Americana music scene after seven years of relentless touring throughout the United States, Europe and the U.K.. The group's latest efforts, "The Old Sound of Music, Vol. 1 and The Old Sound of Music, Vol. 2," deliver original material that draws upon the songwriting talents of its members. It's a celebratory but defiant sound culled from old-time mountains, backstage doorways and punishing drives through the evolving American landscape.
HOLY GHOST TENT REVIVAL cannot be pigeonholed into any popular genre. Melding brass with banjo, guitar, bass and drums, this five-piece ensemble boasts an eclectic mesh of instruments and styles -- a musical alchemy all their own as they travel the country spreading the magic of their heart-throbbing, foot-stomping, good-time music.
THE DIRT DAUBERS hail from Paducah, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee. This trio has traveled the world, singing loud-and-proud an eclectic mix of Appalachian, ragtime and hot jazz standards and original music. From cowboy songs to bluegrass, Harlem jazz to honky tonk, the Daubers tackle it all with vim, verve and vigor. The Dirt Daubers have gained the encouragement and/or approval of such varied stars as Les Claypool, Charlie Louvin, and Jello Biafra. Their new album is Wake Up Sinners.
BLACKIE AND THE RODEO KINGS originally formed in 1996. Now into their second decade and with one JUNO award and several JUNO nominations under their belts, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings has organically evolved into one of the finest roots-oriented bands in North America. They have released seven CDs and gradually developed a feeling of brotherhood manifested in a sense of groove, timberal blend and melodic and rhythmic play that is distinctive, mystical, energizing and constantly evocative. Blackie and the Rodeo Kings remains one of Canada's greatest musical treasures. Their latest CD is 'Kings and Queens' and pairs the band with some of their favorite female singers and friends including Roseanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Janiva Magness, Lucinda Williams and more.
FOLK UKE is an eclectic acoustic folk duo comprised of Cathy Guthrie and Amy Nelson featuring perfectly melded harmonies and sharp, often biting wit. The daughters of two great American songwriters (Arlo and Willie), the two were musical holdouts until they gave into the force and began writing and playing music together a decade ago. Armed with a ukulele and a guitar, this duo is a unique amalgam of angelic harmonies often wrapped around edgy, surprising lyrics. Check out YouTube for some of their more provocative songs. Folk Uke plays folk music in its truest form with a delightfully wicked twist. The duo's latest album is "Reincarnation."
THE CLEVERLYS are one of the most outrageous bands that we've ever come across. This "family" band comes from the remote part of the Ozark Mountains, near Cane Spur, Arkansas. Their twisted sense of humor and stellar musicianship rocked this year's CMA Fest and their YouTube downloads have topped over a million. They have an incredible "backstory" and a timeless bluegrass sound. What makes the band unusual is their choice of material. They cover The Black Eyed Peas, The Bangles, and many other unexpected choices.
STETSON & CIA are a new acoustic roots duo made up banjo master Cia Cherryholmes and songwriter Stetson Adkisson. Cia began playing music at the age of 15 with the internationally acclaimed band Cherryholmes. As their lead singer, banjoist, and main songwriter, she garnered 5 Grammy nominations over the band's 12 year career. Stetson Adkisson started his musical career in 2003. As a singer, songwriter, and guitarist he has played many venues in the Western United States and released a self-titled album in 2006. As a duo, they have just released their first self-titled debut album.
JUDY COLLINS has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes.
She has a brand new CD called "Bohemian" and a brand new book "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music."
Her impressive career has spanned more than 40 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos" but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as the traditional songs of the folk revival, that sparked Judy Collins' love of lyrics. In 1961, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22.
Her rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. "Both Sides Now" has since been entered into the Grammy's Hall of Fame. Winning "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy's Awards show was Judy's version of "Send in the Clowns."
Judy's book, "Sanity and Grace, A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength" is a deeply moving memoir, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. In a recent appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, Judy performed "Wings of Angels," the heartbreaking ballad that she wrote about the loss of her son. The song is currently available on Judy Collins Wildflower Festival CD and DVD, which also feature guest artists Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush and Eric Andersen.
Judy Collins continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart and WoodSonmgs is proud for her special event return to our show.
JANIE FRICKE with THE ROYS: Country star Janie has gone from Indiana farm girl to internationally acclaimed recording artist. Fricke dominated the country charts with smash hits such as He's a Heartache, Don't Worry ' Bout Me Baby, and You're Heart's Not In It. She won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and she was chosen to the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars, nominated for a Grammy Award. Janie has released 23 albums and 36 hit singles. Now, she has moved into bluegrass territory, rearranging some of her best-known music on the album 'Country Side of Bluegrass.' She'll perform on the show with WoodSongs alum and good friends The Roys.
MATT FLINNER is widely considered one of the hottest and most creative mandolin players on the acoustic scene. Starting out as a banjo prodigy who was playing bluegrass festivals before he entered his teens, Flinner later took up the mandolin, won the National Banjo Competition in Winfield, KS in 1990, and won the mandolin award there the following year. He has toured and recorded with a wide variety of bluegrass, new acoustic, classical and jazz artists, including Tim O'Brien, Frank Vignola, Steve Martin, Darrell Scott, the Modern Mandolin Quartet, Leftover Salmon, Alison Brown, The Ying Quartet, Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
IMELDA MAY, born in Dublin, Ireland and raised in the Liberties, may be an unknown name to some, but to many she is already a superstar. She is unmistakable both in her music (a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly that wouldn't be out of place in a David Lynch film) and her style, with a solitary curl and shock of blonde in her jet black hair. In Ireland, her debut album 'Love Tattoo', which she recorded and released on her own label, has gone Triple Platinum. She has shared a stage with Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, Wanda Jackson, and Meatloaf.
APRIL VERCH is a dynamic award winning Canadian fiddler, singer and stepdancer. With her band, she plays a traditional and original repertoire that is deeply rooted in the style she grew up with in the Ottawa Valley region of Ontario. She became the first women in history to win both of Canada's most prestigious fiddle championships, The Gran Masters and Canadian Open; and when Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, she was asked to represent her country's music at the opening ceremonies. Her latest album 'That's How We Run' is her eighth release and explores Appalachian mountain music with her Northern roots.
RUTHIE FOSTER can burn down any stage with her combustible blend of soul, blues, rock, folk and making her one of the most dynamic voices that has ever graced the WoodSongs stage. Foster was catapulted to the forefront of the blues/roots world on the strength of her 2009 Grammy-nominated record, 'The Truth According To Ruthie Foster,' and her relentless touring. She then won seemingly contradictory Blues Music Association awards for both Best Traditional and Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist in back-to-back years. Her latest record 'Let It Burn' was recorded in New Orleans and features Blind Boys of Alabama, soul legend William Bell, and songs by Adele, Black Keys, Los Lobos, Johnny Cash, The Band, Pete Seeger, Crosby, Stills & Nash and more.
MARQUISE KNOX asks on his new record "Can a young man play the blues?" This 21 year old St. Louis native hails from a musical family deeply entrenched in the blues. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother whose family were sharecroppers and whose great, great grandparents were slaves. He spent his early teenage years in St. Louis mentoring under the late great Blues legend Henry James Townsend. Marquise's talents have earned him performing rights with some of America's most notable blues performers such as blues legend B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins and David "Honeyboy" Edwards. He won a Living Blues Award for Best Debut and takes another big step forward with the release of his new CD.
BILLY BURNETTE is a songwriter for superstars, acclaimed sideman, member of Fleetwood Mac and enjoying a resurgence of success for his own solo career. Born in Memphis, Billy was recently inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He has penned hit songs for everyone from Ray Charles, Cher, Roy Orbison to Alan Jackson and Faith Hill. He's also known as an acclaimed guitarist touring with Bob Dylan John Fogerty among others, as well a member of Fleetwood Mac. His recent release of 'Rock & Roll With It' is his 1st studio album in a decade.
LYDIA LOVELESS is blessed with a commanding, strong voice. The 21-year-old Lydia Loveless was raised on a family farm in the small rural town of Coshocton, Ohio. Her dad owned a country music bar and she often woke up with a house full of touring musicians scattered on couches and floors. When she got older, in the time-honored traditions of teenage rebellion, she moved to the big city (Columbus, OH) and immersed herself in the punk scene. These two worlds now collide on her debut CD on Bloodshot Records 'Indestructible Machine.' The album combines Lydia's country roots with punk rock candor -- sometimes within the same song.
NOAM PIKELNY returns to the WoodSongs Stage to celebrate his long awaited second album "Beat The Devil and Carry A Rail" on Compass Records. Pikelny is undeniably the next big thing to happen to the 5-string banjo, a player of unparalleled technique, he confounds and inspires listeners with his mastery of the instrument. As a member of Punch Brothers, he has helped to broaden the awareness of the banjo in the mainstream, earning the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music and a coveted appearance on Late Night with David Letterman with Martin. Noam will be joined on the show with a few of his friends: fellow Punch Brothers Gabe Witcher (fiddle) and Chris Eldridge (guitar), Aoife O'Donovan from Crooked Still (vocals), Jesse Cobb (mandolin) and Mark Schatz (bass).
VICTOR FURTADO is an amazing 11 year old banjo player from Front Royal, VA. He has won numerous awards for his Old Time banjo playing, quite often competing in the adult categories. Some of the contests he has placed in are: Deer Creek Festival, Maryland 1st Place Adult Old Time Banjo, Maury River Fiddlers Convention, Virginia, 1st Place Adult Old Time Banjo and best in show, Grayson County Fiddlers Convention, Virginia, 1st Place Adult Old Time Banjo, Virginia State Fair, 1st Place Adult Banjo, National Old Time Banjo Championship,(Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival, Tennessee, and 2nd Place Adult Old Time Banjo. Victor recorded his first cd in 2011 titled "Sounds from the Openback."
THE McCRARY SISTERS are the daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary, who was one of the original members of the legendary gospel quartet, The Fairfield Four. Ann, Deborah, Regina, and Alfreda were raised in harmony, singing at home and at their father's church. The McCrary's home was filled with music, whether it was the Fairfield Four or frequent guests that included a pantheon of gospel greats, including Shirley Caesar and James Cleveland. Collectively the sisters have performed or recorded with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Ray Stevens, and others. The sister's new CD "Our Journey," include stunning covers of Dylan's "Blowing In The Wind" and Julie Miller's "Broken Pieces" as well as six McCrary Sister originals (including one co-written by Regina and Bob Dylan.
DANNY FLOWERS is the awe-inspiring guitar guru, soulful singer and hit songwriter. His hits included "Tulsa Time" for Don Williams and Eric Clapton; "Back In My Younger Days" for Don Williams; "Gulf Coast Highway" for Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and Nanci Griffith (co-written with Griffith and James Hooker); and "Before Believing" from Harris' Pieces of the Sky. In addition he has been a session musician for Williams, Griffith, Vince Gill, Marshall Chapman, and Dobie Gray. Flowers has also enjoyed a solo recording career including the 2007 album, Tools For The Soul.
People have been singing about the mountains for generations. In recent years, the voices singing them have taken on a special urgency with the advent of mountain top removal. The landscape of Appalachia is changing with the times - and so are the songs. In the spirit of this music WoodSongs will tape two broadcasts in one evening on Monday, March 14 at the historic Lexington Opera House featuring an array of artists singing the music of coal country and Appalachia. Michael Johnathon conceived of the broadcast theme after watching a public television broadcast of “Coal Country,� a film about the Appalachian mountains by the award winning team of Mari-Lynn Evans and Jordan Freeman.
EMMYLOU HARRIS began her career singing with the legendary Gram Parson. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, her career has produced huge hits including "Two More Bottles of Wine," and "To Know Him Is to Love Him" from her Grammy winning album with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, Trio.
DARRELL SCOTT is one of Kentucky's most powerful songwriters. Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, John Cowan, Verlon Thompson, Guy Clark, Tim O'Brien, Kate Rusby, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and many others. Darrell will perform his deeply moving mountain ballad, “You�ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.�
JOHN ADAMS co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington DC. In February 2011, Adams received the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- our nation's highest civilian honor -- from President Obama, who referenced Rolling Stone Magazine's description of Adams when announcing the award: "If the planet has a lawyer, it's John Adams. In 2010, Adams and his wife Patricia co-authored “A Force for Nature,� a memoir recounting their forty years of battles and victories with NRDC. He has also served on governmental advisory committees, including President Clinton's Council for Sustainable Development. Patricia Adams is a writer and teacher who has partnered with her husband for many years in environmental activism. They live in the Catskill mountains of NY in a rambling country house that is over 150 years old. s.
People have been singing about the mountains for generations. In recent years, the voices singing them have taken on a special urgency with the advent of mountain top removal. The landscape of Appalachia is changing with the times - and so are the songs. In the spirit of this music WoodSongs will tape two broadcasts in one evening on Monday, March 14 at the historic Lexington Opera House featuring an array of artists singing the music of coal country and Appalachia. Michael Johnathon conceived of the broadcast theme after watching a public television broadcast of “Coal Country,� a film about the Appalachian mountains by the award winning team of Mari-Lynn Evans and Jordan Freeman.
EMMYLOU HARRIS began her career singing with the legendary Gram Parson. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, her career has produced huge hits including "Two More Bottles of Wine," and "To Know Him Is to Love Him" from her Grammy winning album with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, Trio.
DARRELL SCOTT is one of Kentucky's most powerful songwriters. Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, John Cowan, Verlon Thompson, Guy Clark, Tim O'Brien, Kate Rusby, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and many others. Darrell will perform his deeply moving mountain ballad, “You�ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.�
JOHN ADAMS co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington DC. In February 2011, Adams received the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- our nation's highest civilian honor -- from President Obama, who referenced Rolling Stone Magazine's description of Adams when announcing the award: "If the planet has a lawyer, it's John Adams. In 2010, Adams and his wife Patricia co-authored “A Force for Nature,� a memoir recounting their forty years of battles and victories with NRDC. He has also served on governmental advisory committees, including President Clinton's Council for Sustainable Development. Patricia Adams is a writer and teacher who has partnered with her husband for many years in environmental activism. They live in the Catskill mountains of NY in a rambling country house that is over 150 years old. s.
MURIEL ANDERSON is widely respected as one of the world's foremost fingerstyle guitarists and harp-guitarists. Muriel is the first woman to have won the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship. She is host of the renowned Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night and founder of the Music for Life Alliance charity. Her music can be heard in Woody Allen's film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
JACK PEARSON is a former guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and has been playing professionally since the age of 15. Although best known as a blues & jazz guitarist, he's also a singer, songwriter & producer. Jack has worked live or in the studio with a long list of artists including Vince Gill, Jimmy Buffett, Earl Scruggs, Chris LeDoux, Delbert McClinton, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Chuck Leavell to name a few.
VICKI GENFAN is a virtuoso guitarist, singer and composer. Guitar player magazine crowned her a new "Guitar Superstar" in 2008 Drawing from folk, jazz, pop, soul and world music, Vicki is redefining 'singer/songwriter culture.' With a mastery of the acoustic guitar that borders on pure alchemy, audiences are mesmerized by the waves of sound Vicki creates with just two hands and her voice. Using 29 alternate tunings and the percussive technique she calls 'slap-tap', you'll find the addition of her pure, expressive vocals that dig deep and stir the heart to be the perfect accompaniment on many of her songs.
ERIC BRACE & PETER COOPER have a created a body of work that reflects their literate sensibilities as songwriters, a love of harmony and wry humor, and their deep respect for the masters they're lucky enough to play with. When Brace and Cooper play together, it's something special. The pair's last album, 'Master Sessions,' is a tour de force that made its way onto numerous critics' Best of 2010 lists.Their most recent project, 'I Love: Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow,' was featured on NPR's All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. It's a tribute to country music's greatest storytelling songwriter and Kentucky native Tom T. Hall.
THE RICHTER UZUR DUO are each classical musicians of the highest caliber with successful international solo careers and intensive training from two of the world's most lauded musical institutions: The Moscow Conservatory and The Royal College of Music respectively. Their musical interests and abilities, however, are far from limited to classical music. In their teens and twenties, while developing into classical virtuosi, they cut their teeth in rock bands and delved into folk and world music. The duo's uniqueness is how they combine classical, rock and folk music and themes into truly original new compositions. The duo's latest recording is 'String Theory' and it was named best new release by Classical Guitar Alive in 2010.
JAKE SCHEPPS has made a name for himself as a banjo renaissance man, an artist with not only an adroit touch on his instrument but an intrepid, imaginative vision for contemporary stringband music. Although a student of traditional and progressive bluegrass styles as a player, Schepps has stretched beyond those genres to take his place alongside the Punch Brothers, Matt Flinner and other notables in a field the Colorado-based banjoist likes to call simply "new acoustic music." His venturesome new album, 'An Evening in the Village: The Music of B�la Bart�k,' finds common ground between the piquant beauty of the great Hungarian composer's take on Eastern European folk melodies and the big-sky vibrancy of new American acoustic music.
HARPETH RISING is a group of four young classically trained musicians exploring the Americana genre. With a banjo and fiddle, you might think they're traditional bluegrass, but think again: cello and hand drums round out the group, creating a truly new sound. A little bit bluegrass, a little bit folk, a little bit classical and whole lot of original, Harpeth Rising is a band to watch. The band just released their second album, with Grammy-award winning producer Bil VornDick, entitled 'Dead Man's Hand'.
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY's song "Wildfire" was one of the biggest pop hits of the 70's. He returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new bluegrass CD called 'Tall Grass & Cool Water.' It's his third album in this Grammy nominated series that explores the similarities between Bluegrass and American Cowboy Music. This "singing cowboy poet", is not only the number one, best-selling singer/ songwriter of American Cowboy Music, he's one of the world's most respected singer/ songwriters in the Pop and Country-Western field.
HORSE CRAZY COWGIRL BAND is an award winning western trio featuring beautiful harmony, excellent musicianship, and heart-hugging hilarious stage presence. Performing all over the United States and Canada, this wonderful group brings the audience along the trail of the American Western experience with traditional cowboy music and original compositions about love of place and land. This rural Washington State Trio are winners of the 2010 Western Music Association's Harmony Trio Award and were nominated for Cowboy/Western Swing Group of the Year and Album of the Year 2008 and 2009. The trio's latest recording is 'My Horse Knows The Way.'
KEITH MEDLEY is a Kentucky native and plays one of the most unusual instruments that we've ever come across. It's a one-of-a-kind 27-string guitar that Steve designed himself. In the late 70's his band opened for up-and-comers like George Strait, Johnny Paycheck, Ed Bruce, Rita Coolidge, Neil Young and many more from that era. When Keith got off the road in the late 80s he focused on another passion, building and repairing guitars. He eventually went to work for one of the largest guitar companies in the country building custom guitars, and for a few years also ran his own company, Medley Guitars and with it performs his own compositions.
DONNA ULISSE (pronounced "you-liss-ee") was born in Hampton Virginia and surrounded by a musical family. Donna made her first appearance singing at the tender age of three when she wandered onto the stage with a bluegrass band. Since then, bluegrass fans are getting to know Ulisse for her songwriter-driven brand of bluegrass, often called "bluegrass without borders." As a writer she has recently had songs recorded by Claire Lynch, Darin & Brooke Aldridge and also had the title cut to Louise Mosrie's "Home" which was the #1 Folk album in the nation in January 2010. In June of 2011 Hadley Music Group released a fourth CD on Ulisse; another collection of original tunes by this gifted singer songwriter titled "An Easy Climb". Also, she just completed a tour of Russia. The invitation to perform was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Russia where Donna performed with several Russian bluegrass bands.
JOHN GORKA AND ELIZA GILKYSON are considered two of the best contemporary Singer/songwriters touring today. These longtime friends recently teamed up with Lucy Kaplansky to form the super folk group Red Horse. The trio's self titled debut CD was released last year and it became an instant folk classic and a big hit with fans.
JOHN GORKA is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who was raised in New Jersey and came out of New York City's Greenwich Village folk scene that produced such songwriters as Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin. His award-winning songs have been recorded and performed by such notable artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith and Mary Black. John has recorded eleven solo albums, six on Red House Records. His latest is So Dark You See.
ELIZA GILKYSON is a politically minded, poetically gifted singer-songwriter, who has become one of the most respected musicians in roots, folk and Americana circles. The Grammy-nominated artist was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2006, she was recognized with 3 Austin Music Awards and 4 Folk Alliance Music Awards, one of which was for "Song of the Year" for her tune "Man of God." Her latest solo CD is Roses at the End of Time on Red House Records.
BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR may seem like an unusual booking for WoodSongs at first glance. The Ghanaian-born, New York-based composer, and producer unleashes psychedelic Afrobeat colors and triple-time rhymes with a lightning-fast mind, the political boldness of Chuck D, and the sixth groove sense of Fela Kuti. All set to swirls of brass, distorted guitars, and the crackle and pop of old amplifiers. However, for his WoodSongs performance, Blitz will be performing a more intimate, stripped down set. Check out his video for "Remembering The Future" to see this talented artist in action as Michael welcomes the show's first hip hop artist and explores the genre's connection to folk music.
OLLABELLE is a multi-talented, democratic collective whose participants share vocal and songwriting duties. This New York quintet draws from a deep well of gospel, blues, bluegrass, and country influences to create timelessly resonant music that honors the integrity of its sources while remaining effortlessly contemporary. Emmylou Harris said of the band, "Every time I hear something on the radio I truly love, it's Ollabelle." The band has emerged from a five year period of great artistic and personal change - including marriages, births, tours and other projects - to deliver their most assured, deeply felt album to date, "Neon Blue Bird." The CD was produced by Ollabelle and recorded in Athens, NY and at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock.
GOITSE (pronounced gwi-cha) is a five member Irish Trad band which specializes in their unique rhythmic arrangements of well known tunes and own compositions. Goitse is a Donegal Irish word meaning 'come here'. The band, now in it's third year, are all students of Traditional Music and Dance at the University of Limerick and have captured several prominent awards including Colm Phelan becoming the first World Bodhr�n Champion. This is the band's first tour in the states.
WOODY PINES transports you to the Mississippi Delta when AM radio was king with his energetic brand of Roots Music, Ragtime, Country Blues, and Viper Jazz. The band; comprised of Woody on guitar, banjo, harmonica and lead vocals, Zack Pozebanchuk on upright bass, Nathan Taylor on drums, and Darin Gentry on fiddle; epitomizes the Dixieland sound and embraces a simpler time. If Pines' elegantly-disheveled fedora and vintage resonator guitar don't set the mood (both are strongly suggestive of the musician's mix of ragtime, country blues and lightning-speed folk), the backing band does the trick. Crackerjack musicianship goes a long way toward a band's greatness, but showmanship seals the deal. Pines, on stage, is an old soul and natural performer, storied and steeped in the best of Americana. As honky tonk hero, Billy Joe Shaver puts it, "Woody Pines is the best band I ever heard in my life I swear.... I'm their biggest fan now!"
COLIN O'BRIEN is a prolific nationally touring performer, recording artist and master multi-musician known for his John Hartford Tribute show. Colin plays the daylights out of the banjo, fiddle and guitar, and his feet stay mighty busy as well dancing rhythms on his magic hardwood "Clogginator." Colin didn't start out as a folkie. He studied classical guitar at the Cornish College of the Arts, before moving to Milwaukee in 1993 to study guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He's on the faculty there now teaching Banjo, Guitar and Fiddle, has been since 2000. Colin has published two banjo instructional books and a DVD and most recently he's released an all instrumental guitar record, "Inside These Guitars."
THE HILLBENDERS are undeniably the hottest young band on the acoustic scene. Claiming the championship title at the 2009 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition helped put The HillBenders on the map, and their recent victory at the 2010 National Single Microphone Championships prove that they continue to be a force to be reckoned with. These buzz-worthy bluegrass whiz-kids are quickly rising above many of their peers and gaining international recognition for their aggressive combination of contemporary influences with traditional inspiration and instrumentation, as well as their infectiously energetic stage performances. The HillBenders released their debut album Down To My Last Dollar in spring 2010 and are currently working on their follow-up CD
AL PETTEWAY & AMY WHITE are an award winning duo that performs contemporary Celtic- & Appalachian-Influenced Acoustic Groove. Their music was featured throughout the soundtrack of the 2009 Ken Burns EMMY-winning documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. And in 2010, their album, "Caledon Wood" (which includes the main theme of the National Parks documentary) was names one of the essential albums of the past 20 years in Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Their recent album "High in the Blue Ridge" released early this year.
HOT TUNA is founding members of the legacy rock band Jefferson Airplane, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. They have just released their first studio record in 20 years "Steady As She Goes" on Red House Records and will be performing on WoodSongs in a special acoustic performance to celebrate the album. From their days playing together as teenagers to their current acoustic and electric blues, probably no one has more consistently led American music for the last 50 years. The pair began playing together while growing up in the Washington D.C. area. While in The Jefferson Airplane, putting together the soundtrack of the 60s, the pair remained loyal to the blues, jazz, bluegrass, and folk influences of the small clubs and larger venues they had learned from years before. While in San Francisco and even in hotel rooms on the road, they would play together and worked up a set of songs that they would often play at clubs in the Bay Area and while on the road, often after having played a set with the Airplane. This led to a record contract; in fact, they had an album recorded before they decided to name their band Hot Tuna. With it they launched on an odyssey which has itself continued for more than 35 years, always finding new and interesting turns in its path forward.
MOUNTAIN HEART is bluegrass super group that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. The band's name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group's creation in 1999. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the boundaries of acoustic music, the band is one of the most highly awarded ensembles ever assembled. Mountain Heart, or members of the band, have either won or been nominated for Grammy's, ACM, CMA, and multiple IBMA Awards. The band is out touring in support of their 7'th album, "That Just Happened", which was released in late 2010 on their own imprint, MH Music Group.
NU BLU is a great bluegrass band fronted by husband and wife team Daniel and Carolyn Routh and are creating quite a stir in the bluegrass community. In 2011, Nu-Blu was again nominated by the Carolina Music Awards and geared up for their new album, THE BLU-DISC on Pinecastle Records. The label has released the first single, "Other Woman's Blues" written by Kira Small and providing a unique twist on Dolly Parton's hit song "Jolene."
DARIN AND BROOKE ALDRIDGE is a rising bluegrass duo, newlyweds singing and playing a rich combination of bluegrass and country duets. Their rich harmonies, supported by a first rate band, showcase two fine individual voices with a superb blend. Darin played with Acoustic Syndicate and worked several years in the legendary band The County Gentlemen. Brooke Justice Aldridge grew up on the mountains of Avery County, NC. Her voice carries the lilt of the mountains along with the sophisticated sounds of a singer with experience way beyond her 25 years.
VINTAGE WILDFLOWERS is a Tulsa Oklahoma-based trio of women that has developed an enthusiastic legion of fans with their vibrant blend of Celtic harp, Irish flute, fiddle and harmony vocals. Mix in bits of mandolin, whistle, guitar and banjo and you have an idea of what it's like to spend an evening with these women. Their second CD, "Lovely Madness" was released in the spring of this year.
HOOTS & HELLMOUTH is a Philadelphia-based roots music act whose music brings together the passion of alt-country and the rustic tone of acoustic folk, merging them with loping jam band grooves. Sean Hoots and Andrew Gray (aka Hellmouth) were both veterans of the Pennsylvania alternative rock scene when they began making music together in 2005. After a breakthrough appearance at the 2006 Philadelphia Folk Festival, the group established a loyal following. The band's latest is an EP called "Face First in the Dirt."
ROCKIN' ACOUSTIC CIRCUS are building quite a buzz in the world of bluegrass and have quickly become one of Oklahoma's hottest up-and-coming bands. They are turning heads with an over-flowing talent pool and musicianship beyond their years. Comprised of four teens � (one a female cellist) and a musical veteran, this ensemble is wowing crowds and critics alike. Quickly morphing from a popular regional favorite into a group with nationally recognized aspirations, the band was recently named as one of eleven "Artist to Watch in 2011" and selected as a 2011 IBMA Official Showcase Artist. RAC's newest CD is 'Lonestar Lullabye.'
KJ DENHERT is a unique artist, singer, guitarist and songwriter who calls her music Urban Folk and Jazz. KJ, born Karen Jeannne to parents from the island of Grenada, was the first US citizen born to a small family. Her special blend of urban folk & jazz has earned her four Independent Music Award nominations and in '09, she was named as one of Jazz.com's top female vocalists. This New York City artist has just released her ninth release aptly titled Album No.9, with nine songs including her remarkable version of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water."
BLAME SALLY is one of the most powerful word-of-mouth success stories in recent years.. Each of the four women put her individual career aside to start Blame Sally in the San Fransisco Bay-area when they were in their late thirties and forties � the age at which bands are traditionally supposed to break up and begin solo careers. Their latest CD is "Speeding Ticket and a Valentine" released on Ninth Street Opus.Water."
THE TWILITE BROADCASTERS continues the longstanding tradition of two part rural harmony vocals with simple acoustic string instrument accompaniment once common in the Southern part of the United States (starting in the 1930's). The irinfluences include The Monroe Brothers,The Louvin Brothers, The Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse, and more but have a sound that is uniquely theirs. Adam Tanner and Mark Jackson formed the group in 2009 in Weaverville, North Carolina. They have just released a new recording called "The Trail of Time."
PETER "PUMA" HEDLUND is considered Sweden's leading traditional player of the modern chromatic nyckelharpa, having won the title World Champion twice, in 1992 and 2000. The nyckelharpa is a traditional Swedish instrument that has been played for more than 600 years. Peter just won Sweden's most prestigious folk award, Zorn badge in Gold "for masterpiece, brilliant and tradition consciously key harp playing."
MAEVE GILCHRIST is a master of the Celtic harp. She was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, daughter to an Irish mother and Scottish father she grew up immersed in traditional folk music. From thirteen onwards, Maeve was an in demand member on the traditional music scene in Scotland and at seventeen, she received a full scholarships the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She just released her second album 'Song of Delight' that fuses her Scottish roots with the colors and freedoms of jazz.
ANDY COHEN will be playing the Dolceola, a small piano-like instrument that was made in 1905. Andy was inspired to follow, study, perform and promote the music of the southeast quadrant after seeing Rev. Gary Davis perform when he was sixteen. He sets are made up of material from before the twenties to about the fifties.
DICK BOAK will be performing the traditional autoharp. Dick is bit of a Renaissance man. This Pennsylvania-based artist, writer, woodworker and musicians built and designed geodesic domes in the late 60s and for the past 32 years he has worked at Martin Guitar. He wrote book called 'Martin Guitar Masterpieces' about the formation of Martin's Artist Relations Department and the conception of more than one hundred and forty signature guitar collaborations with the top musical talents of our time. Dick is also a folk musician and will be performing the autoharp on the show.
DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER are one of Bluegrass' most honored and revered masters. He got his start in bluegrass music in 1963 when he played banjo for Jimmy Martin. In 1966, he started working with JD Crowe in Lexington, KY where he played guitar and later switched to mandolin. In 1971, Doyle formed his own band, Quicksilver. This award winning ensemble has picked up the IBMA Award for best vocal group an unprecedented seven years in a row. Doyle is also the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship, the Endowment's highest honor granted to traditional and folk artists for career accomplishments. He and his band are back to introduce songs from their new album called 'Drive Time' on Crossroads Music.
KIDS OF BLUEGRASS! Here are three young musicians that are rising stars in the bluegrass community. Daniel Patrick is a 16 year old banjo player and plays in his family band with his 13 year old sister, Samantha, who plays mandolin. Both started playing music at a very early age, and their group has performed at many Bluegrass festivals, churches, and community events. Kyle Ramey is 9 and is a hot shot mandolin player. He has already shared the stage with bluegrass legends like Daily & Vincent, The Grascals and JD Crowe. Daniel, Samantha &" Kyle will be performing together to show the incredible talent of the next generation of bluegrass of musicians.
CAROLYN WONDERLAND is a musical force equipped with the soulful vocals of Janis Joplin and the guitar slinging skills of Stevie Ray Vaughn. She is a multi-award winning artist from Texas recently named Austin's Best Blues Band at the 2009 Austin Music Awards where Carolyn picked up the award for Best Female Vocalist! She's performed with Bob Dylan, she's toured with Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter. Carolyn has seven releases of her own including her latest 'Miss Understood' produced by nine-time Grammy-Award-Winner Ray Benson.
THE DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE is fresh off a performance at Bonnaroo and David is a Grammy-nominated musician and producer. His energy and out and out enthusiasm for performing music are evident at every show whether it's with his former band mates Cadillac Sky, The Avett Brothers, Jessica Lea Mayfield or his own band. Growing up in Kent, Ohio, he was surrounded by bluegrass music. While on the road with his sister Jessica that Avett Brothers, Scott and Seth took notice of Mayfield's musicianship and the three quickly developed a friendship, leading them to invite David to sit in with them dozens of times including their 2010 Bonnaroo & Merlefest sets.
GUITAR SHORTY is a giant in the blues world. Credited with influencing both Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, Guitar Shorty has been electrifying audiences for five decades with his supercharged live shows and his incendiary recordings. Through the years, Shorty has performed with blues and R&B luminaries like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, B.B. King, Guitar Slim and T-Bone Walker. His recordings all received massive critical acclaim, and his renowned live performances have kept him constantly in demand all over the world. His latest release on Alligator Records "Bare Knuckles" was nominated for two Blues Music Awards.
TRACY NELSON has one of the signature voices of her generation.A fierce singer of truth, a fountain of the deepest heartache, she is an ultimate communicator and has regularly captivated audiences across decades of performing. She is one of the few female singers who has had hit records in both blues and country genres, performing with everyone from Muddy Waters to Willie Nelson to Marcia Ball and Irma Thomas, with Grammy® nominations for both her country and blues efforts. With "Victim of the Blues" (Delta Groove), her 26th album in just over five decades, she has circled fully, back to the original music from South Side Chicago that mesmerized her teenaged mind in the mid-1960s.
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new album "Take The High Road." The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The Grammys and The National Endowment for the Arts with Lifetime Achievement Awards and winners of five Grammy® Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 60 years and shows no signs of diminishing. The new CD is a country/gospel album co-produced by Nashville star and good friend Jamey Johnson. "Take The High Road" features country legends Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Leann Womack, Hank Williams, Jr., and Jamey Johnson.
RHONDA VINCENT & GENE WATSON have two of the greatest voices in both country and bluegrass music. Each possess an impressive list of credentials with Gene Watson's 23 Top 10 & 6 Number One Country Hits. Rhonda Vincent as the Most Awarded Artist in Bluegrass Music with over 80 awards; including a record breaking 10 consecutive SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year Awards and 7 consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Awards! The "Queen of Bluegrass" (as crowned by the WALL Street Journal) and the "King of Country Soul" Gene Watson are releasing a all duet project call "Your Money and My Good Looks." It's a powerful album of fresh new songs, perfectly combined with familiar classics.,
TOMMY EMMANUEL is one of the true master guitar players in the world and returns to the WoodSongs stage with The Australian All-Star Band featuring his brother, Phil Emmanuel. Tommy left Australia nearly fifteen years ago to tour the world relentlessly as a solo guitarist. What most fans outside Australia don't know is that his career began playing alongside his equally talented older brother Phil. The Emmanuel Brothers are celebrating 50 years of performing music. This dynamic show premiered in Australia in December and is playing to sold-out crowds across the country. Tommy's latest album is "Little by Little." Tommy was also featured on the late Michael Jackson's new album, playing on the track "MUCH TOO SOON". If you love the guitar and want to go on a six-string rocket ship ride with us, don't miss this broadcast!!!
MILKDRIVE is an Alt-folk-progressive acoustic string band that is generating quite a buzz in the Austin music scene. The band features several award winning musicians. Dennis Ludiker, who has toured with Asleep at the Wheel, won the 2009 RockyGrass Mandolin Contest and holds titles as the 2010 World Fiddle Champion, 2009 and 2008 Texas State-Fiddlers Frolics and 2002 Walnut Valley Music Festival Winner. Brian Beken was 2004 Texas Flatpick Guitar Champion. Noah Jeffries won a Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Jazz Guitar Competition. With the addition of bass player Matt Mefford, who was in South Austin Jug Band with Ludiker and Beken, the band was complete and became MilkDrive two years ago. The band has put the finishing touches on its debut studio album, ROAD FROM HOME.
BETTYSOO & DOUG COX might seem an unlikely pair. One hails from songwriter's heaven in Austin, Texas, the other from the paradisaical reaches of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The two musicians met while teaching at Acoustic Alaska Guitar Camp, where they discovered a shared fondness for good songs. They decided to create a project built around the stories and work of their mostly-unsung heroes. With two voices, a guitar and a Dobro, their CD "Across the Borderline" gathers different places and sounds: low and high, north and south, hope and heartbreak.
JANIVA MAGNESS returns to WoodSongs on the heels of FOUR major Blues Awards for 2011 including: BB King Entertainer Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, and Contemporary Blue Album Of The Year. Although Magness is now a bona fide blues star, her rise to the top was far from easy. She has been performing for almost three decades, logging thousands of miles on the road and appearing 150 nights a year at clubs, theaters and festivals all over the world. Janiva and her full band will be supporting her latest CD on Alligator Records called "The Devil Is An Angel Too." In addition to her musical accomplishments, Magness is reaching out to help others. She is a National Spokesperson for Casey Family Programs (her fourth consecutive year), promoting National Foster Care Month.
THE HONEY DEWDROPS make their home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, Virginia. Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish have been playing music in some capacity for over 15 years, but honed in on their natural duet abilities 7 years ago when they met for the first time in college. It was their love of folk music that brought them together and has since taken them out on the road to tour fulltime as the award-winning duet they are today. After their appearance and first place win on a 2008 talent show broadcast of NPR's "A Prairie Home Companion", the Dewdrops began their careers as songwriters and have since released two critically acclaimed albums.
ACOUSTIC EIDOLON is Joe Scott on double neck guitjo and Hannah Alkire on cello. They are from Colorado and have graced stages throughout the US, Europe, Australia, Canada, and are a WoodSongs fan favorite. With nine CDs and a DVD to their credit, these masterful artists continue to captivate audiences throughout the world with their signature “new acoustic� sound and boundless possibilities in blending Celtic, Folk, World & Latin music influences, something that Dirty Linen Magazine praises as “a sumptuous musical feast.� Their new CD is “Friends Across The Ocean.�
HYMN FOR HER is Lucy Tight & Wayne Waxing, a band that hails from anywhere they can park their trailer ...t hey live, tour and record in their 16 foot, 1961 Bambi Airstream (comes with dog and baby). Their new release, �Lucy & Wayne and THE AMERICAN STREAM� was entirely recorded in their classic trailer on a coast to coast U.S tour. They stopped at various campgrounds and friends driveways between shows, set up their gear in their Bambi/home recording studio, rolled tape and rocked out. Armed with 2 bullet mics, a three-stringed broom handle/cigar box, banjo, dobro, bass drum, hi-hat, and harp, this �lil duo causes massive earthquakes wherever they play.
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY started her musical career in the United Kingdom as a co-founding member of all girl garage band Thee Headcoatees. Holly made her first solo album, The Good Things, in 1995. After playing with The White Stripes in the USA, and supporting them at a few London shows, Holly and her long-time US band mate Lawyer Dave, have a new side project under the guise of Holly Golightly and The Brokeoffs. The two will be performing material from their new CD called "Medicine County" which is chock-full of ghostly blues, gut-bucket slide guitar, with a smattering of ol' time country.
LIPBONE REDDING is an inventive singer/songwriter and former subway musician who creates original songs that effervesce with New Orleans swing, Memphis grooves and New York City style. Known for his ability to use his vocals to sound exactly like a trombone, it's hard to tell the difference -- unless you witness the phenomenon live. Lipbone and his two-man orchestra (the Lipbone Orchestra) make for a show greased with uncanny riffs of vocal trumpeting, booming mouth percussion, hilarious side moments and esoteric lyrics.
AMANDA SHIRES is a singing fiddle-playing Texan who just released her second solo CD called "Carrying Lightning." She deftly employs her fiddle/violin, ukulele and even whistling ... the resulting sound is a beautiful but woozily surrealistic swoon. Amanda was also recently seen in the recent Hollywood movie Country Strong where she played the fiddle player in the band backing Gwyneth Paltrow's fictional country superstar. WoodSongs alum Rod Picott will join Amanda on acoustic guitar.
BEN HALL is a 22-year old multi talented National Thumbpicking Champion from Okolona, Mississippi. Ben has also been recognized nationally as a singer/songwriter who prefers traditional styles of music. While attending Belmont University, Hall has managed to perform at some of Nashville's most famous venues including the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Although he makes frequent appearances as a soloist, Hall has worked the stage as a sideman for legends such as Jeannie Seely, Jan Howard and Charlie Louvin. Ben has recorded with Louvin, Kurt Wagner & Cortney Tidwell, and Candi Staton. In 2011 Tompkins Square will release a new Ben Hall album full of guitar tunes heavily influenced by his heroes Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.
SUZY BOGGUSS is a brilliant songwriter with a suitcase full of country music hits. Some of her accomplishments include ten albums for Capitol Records, one of which has been certified platinum and three others, gold. Eight of her singles have cracked country music's top 5. Suzy is the recipient of a Grammy award as well as several awards from the Academy of Country Music, The Country Music association, CMT, and ASCAP. Her latest release is "Sweet Danger" and she hits a new milestone with this collection.
TED YODER is the 2010 National Hammer Dulcimer Champion � only the third performer to be crowned Champion on his first appearance at the Walnut Valley Festival. Life-long Indiana native Ted grew up in a musically inclined family, like a lot of musicians. His whole life has been filled with writing, performing, recording, experimenting with new instruments... But it wasn't until Ted received his first hammered dulcimer as a wedding gift that Ted knew he'd found his niche. Capturing the Championship title, Ted decided it was time to go professional. Since then, he has released two CD's.
SIERRA HULL first performed on WoodSongs when she only 10 years old and played with her idol Sam Bush. A lot has changed for Sierra since and she has become an artist in her own right. At 15, she recorded her debut album for Rounder Records called Secrets. Three years and a move from her family�s home in tiny Byrdstown, Ten. to Boston�s Berklee College of Music later, she�s followed her debut with one of the most surefooted transitions into early adulthood put to record on her new CD called Daybreak. Sierra will be performing on WoodSongs with her band Highway 111.
POKEY LAFARGE AND THE SOUTH CITY THREE are a ragtime blues band and originators of the Riverboat Soul sound. This St. Louis musician and singer creative mix of early jazz, string ragtime, country blues and western swing rings true and fine, making him one of the most innovative of all the purists performing American roots music today. It�s wonderfully infectious, and all laid down in front of a big, big swingin� beat. Pokey will have a new vinyl 73 single on Jack White�s Third Man Records as well as a new full album out later this year.
BEARFOOT is abluegrass quintet that originally formed in Alaska. The band has already made a mark with four strong releases, including their 2009 Compass Records debut, “Doors And Windows� which instantly hit the top of Billboard's Bluegrass Album chart. A mere two years after their initial meeting teaching at their namesake's bluegrass camp for kids, Bearfoot earned one of roots music's most prestigious awards �Telluride Bluegrass Band Champions� an honor they share with artists Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. Now based in Nashville, the band has welcomed singer/songwriter Nora Jane Struthers as their newest addition.
THE REVEREND PEYTON�S BIG DAMN BAND is comprised of fingerstyle guitarist Reverend Peyton, his wife and and distant cousin Aaron “Cuz� Persinger on drums and bucket. They have only been around for a few years, in that time period these country-blues aficionados from rural Indiana have played more than 250 shows annually and logged more miles on their van than most acts who have been around for a decade. Their latest CD is “Wages� on SideOneDummy Records.
GARY MORRIS is most noted for the smash hit 'Wind Beneath My Wings.� Gary has traveled a colorful path from Fort Worth, TX to the White House, Nashville to Opera Houses and beyond. Morris has long been regarded as one of the greatest tenors of our time, having performed for every President since Jimmy Carter, and also the Queen of England. His Country career produced an astounding twenty-five charted singles on the Billboard country charts, with five consecutive No. 1 hits. One of his first big roles was in the Broadway production of Les Miserables, as Jean Valjean. The full symphonic recording of Les Miserables is a Platinum selling, Grammy Award winning album and features Gary's timeless version of 'Bring Him Home.' He also appeared in Puccini's opera 'La Boheme' with fellow musician Linda Ronstadt. “Hymns� is his latest record.
THE ROYS are a brother/sister duo who hail from Fitchburg, MA, and their music is a surprisingly fresh, Bluegrass sound that includes hints of Roots and traditional Country, and its uniquely identifiable tone has brought them honors � and fans � from around the globe. The two-time Inspirational Country Music Duo of the Year (2010, 2009) made their national television debut on the most-recent Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in Las Vegas, and they�ve enjoyed heavy media exposure with multiple People and Country Weekly magazine features to their credit. THE ROYS have performed before President George W. Bush at Andrews Air Force Base; traveled to Bogota, Columbia on an outreach mission for Compassion International, and entertained fans for years at clubs, fairs and festivals. Their latest CD is Lonesome Whistle on Rural Rhythm Records.
GREAT AMERICAN TAXI has become one of the best-known headliners on the jam band circuit. The band was born when singer, guitarist, and mandolin player Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon joined keyboard player and singer Chad Staehly for a superstar jam to benefit the Rainforest Action Group in Boulder, in March of 2005. They�ve made their reputation as an exciting live band and has been equated with roots rockers like the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Grateful Dead, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, The Byrds, and Little Feat. Their latest album “Reckless Habits� was considered one of the best Americana release of 2010.
MICHAEL HEARNE moved to Northern New Mexico 25 years ago from Austin, Texas, and immediately joined forces with numerous other musical luminaries including Michael Martin Murphey and Tish Hinojosa, becoming an integral part of Murphey's band. Called the �Acoustic Southwestern Americana Musical Guitar Genius,� this native Texan continues to leave an indelible mark on his audiences not only with his signature �Michael Hearne� guitar sound, but also with songs and stories that are rich in lyrical prose, imagery and humor. His newest CD, The High Road to Taos, has received critical acclaim, with some discriminating reviewers declaring it to be his finest work to date.
OVER THE RHINE return to WoodSongs to mark their 20 year recording history with a brand new CD called "The Long Surrender." The southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist Karin Bergquist new CD is a fan-funded record on OtR's own Great Speckled Dog label (named for the couple's Great Dane, Elroy). It was produced by two time Grammy winner Joe Henry whose songs they've long admired and has a guest appearance from Lucinda Williams. The songs seamlessly interweave the disparate strains that form the many-colored crazy quilt of American music.
DAVID WAX MUSEUM was voted "one of Boston's hottest new bands" by The Boston Globe and awarded as the Americana Artist of the Year. They have performed at the Newport Folk Festival (and were featured on NPR's All Songs Considered as one of Newport's highlights), toured with The Avett Brothers, shared bills with Carolina Chocolate Drops and constantly tour around the country. The band's new CD is "Everything Is Saved."
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS is earning recognition nationwide as a growing force in bluegrass and acoustic roots music. This Michigan band won the 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition. As newcomers to the bluegrass scene, the three sought to define themselves within the framework of their bluegrass favorites while establishing a voice of their own, drawing upon an array of influences and varied musical backgrounds. Greensky Bluegrass is touring in support of their recently released fourth album, "Five Interstates."
EDEN BRENT is a masterful blues pianist and vocal stylist. Her piano playing and singing style ranges from a melancholic whisper to a full-blown juke joint holler. This Mississippi Delta native is a three-time blues music award winner when she won the 2011 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year. Her acclaimed album "Mississippi Number One" on Yellow Dog Records is a tribute to her home on Mississippi State Highway 1.
RONI STONEMAN is a true legend of bluegrass. The youngest daughter of the pioneering country music family The Stonemans, she became "The First Lady of Banjo," a fixture on the Nashville scene, and, as Hee Haw's Ironing Board Lady, a comedienne beloved by millions of Americans nationwide. She recently released a CD with her two sisters and was the subject of book called “Pressing On� written by Ellen Wright� Website for Ellen Wright's book on Roni Stoneman.�
DALE ANN BRADLEY is the 2007, 2008 & 2009 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and has been hailed by Alison Krauss and Ricky Skaggs as one of the greatest vocalists in bluegrass music. A former Coon Creek Girl and mainstay at Kentucky's Renfro Valley Barn Dance, Bradley commands a list of awards as long as Highway 40, yet a few minutes with her tells you she is something even more than extraordinarily gifted � she's extraordinarily human.� Dale Ann Bradley.�
BELLA BETTS is a young girl of only 10 but plays mandolin and fiddle like a pro. This Colorado girl is seasoned enough to perform on the main stage at Rockygrass this past summer. Bella also works with the Colorado bluegrass music society to present bluegrass to the schools. She has played with KC Groves and other local musicians during these presentations.� Bella Betts.�
ANGEL BAND is a group of three powerful women artists: Nancy Josephson, Kathleen Weber, and Aly Paige. No audience has been left unmoved by Angel Band�s all out, “take no prisoners� stage demeanor and rootsy, bluesy Americana songs. Performing at Bonnaroo, Merlefest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival and other high profile events, this band is winning over many new listeners in their travels. Their new album is titled "Bless My Sole" on Appleseed Records. MICHAEL HEARNE moved to Northern New Mexico 25 years ago from Austin, Texas, and immediately joined forces with numerous other musical luminaries including Michael Martin Murphey and Tish Hinojosa, becoming an integral part of Murphey's band. Called the �Acoustic Southwestern Americana Musical Guitar Genius,� this native Texan continues to leave an indelible mark on his audiences not only with his signature �Michael Hearne� guitar sound, but also with songs and stories that are rich in lyrical prose, imagery and humor. His newest CD, The High Road to Taos, has received critical acclaim, with some discriminating reviewers declaring it to be his finest work to date.
THE LAWS are a husband and wide duo from Wheatley, Ontario Canada. They are the FIRST Canadians to win the prestigious Chris Austin Song Writing Contest at MerleFest. It's not surprising John and Michele Law kick off their sixth album "Try Love" with the line 'I believe in love at first sight,' as the album marks The Laws' 10 years and one million miles on the road as a couple.
THE STEELDRIVERS brand of bluegrass is intense, dark, poetic, and inescapably human. It's a refreshing reminder of the timeless power of stringband music. This group of seasoned veterans from Nashville are each are distinguished in his or her own right. They are braiding their bluegrass roots with new threads of their own design, bringing together country, soul, and other contemporary influences to create an unapologetic hybrid that is old as the hills but fresh as the morning dew. The band is celebrating two new releases on Rounder Records. "Reckless" is the bands eagerly anticipated follow-up to their highly acclaimed self-titled debut. The band is also featured on the movie soundtrack for "Get Low" which stars Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. MOLLY ANDREWS is recognized as one of the finest interpreters of southern Appalachian music and varied genres. Her lineage trails deep into pre-revolutionary southwest Virginia, hence a natural affinity for the old songs. Born a coal miners granddaughter in Bluefield, West Virginia, she uses combination of intuition and versatility as an a capella and interpretive singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. As the late Mike Seeger put it, "She's one of my very most favorite ballad singers." Her most recent solo recording, Bird On A Briar, is slated for release in early 2011.
JESSE McREYNOLDS is a bluegrass master and mandolin stylist known for his musical wizardry, songwriting, singing and arranging. A member of the award-winning brother duo, Jim & Jesse until Jim's death in 2002. He is a Grand Ole Opry member for more than 45 years, performed throughout Europe and Africa, as well as in the U.S. Multiple Grammy nominee and winner, and played mandolin on the Doors' The Soft Parade album. Co-winner of the IBMA Instrumental Recording, "Mandolin Extravaganza". Nominated in 2005 for IBMA Instrumental Recording of the Year for his stellar collection of mostly original songs, "Bending the Rules." Currently celebrating his 63rd Anniversary in music! LUCKY PETERSON was discovered by blues legend Willie Dixon when he was just three years old, released his first record at five and soon after appeared on The Tonight Show. An amazing, colorful bluesmaster, recorded what Amazon.com called “his finest album," Black Midnight Sun in 2003, but personal troubles preventing a proper follow-up until now. Lucky's long awaited, brand new CD You Can Always Turn Around is an uplifting collection of songs that speak of struggles and salvation, using the gritty clarity of acoustic roots-blues
PUNCH BROTHERS return the WoodSongs stage with a brand CD on Nonesuch Records called "Antifogmatic." Led by mandolinist Chris Thile (founding member of Nickel Creek), the band's second CD showcases the collaborative power of this virtuosic, genre-blurring combo. The Punch Brothers' line-up includes some of the most impressive and widely respected musicians performing today: Chris Eldridge (guitar), Paul Kowert (bass), Noam Pikelny (banjo), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle). In fact, Noam Pikelny just won the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. THE CHAPIN SISTERS are singing and songwriting sisters who have been performing since 2004. Lily and Abigail (daughters of veteran singer/songwriter Tom Chapin and nieces of famed folk singer Harry Chapin) are known for pristine harmonies and haunting melodies that have gained comparisons to sister acts of old and Appalachian family groups, yet their songs and arrangements have a very contemporary feel, with elements of pop, blues and psychedelic rock.
JOHN JACOB NILES is considered one of our nation's most influential musicians. This Kentucky native is called the "Dean of American Balladeers" and Niles's dedication to the folk music tradition lives on in generations of folk revival artists such as Bob Dylan, Jean Ritchie, Joan Baez, and Oscar Brand. At the age of sixteen Niles wrote one of his most enduring tunes, "Go 'Way from My Window," basing it on a song fragment from a black farm worker. This iconic song has been performed by folk artists ever since and may even have inspired the opening line of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe." As a composer and balladeer, Niles drew inspiration from the deep well of traditional Appalachian and African American folk songs. The show will feature Dr. RON PEN, associate professor of music and director of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music and the Appalachian Studies Program, who just published the first full-length biography of Niles called I Wonder as I Wander: The Life of John Jacob Niles. Other artists performing on the show include: The Reel World String Band, The Niles String Quartet, Carla Gover, Dennis Bender & vocalist Monica Dewey.
GUY MENDILOW BAND delivers a delightful, international blend of Israeli, Middle-Eastern, Sephardi and Blues and performs in Hebrew, Arabic, Ladino, Portuguese and English. The five members of the Guy Mendilow Band create intricate textures with berimbaus, percussion, jaw harps that would make beat-boxers' jaws drop, and Mendilow's award-winning overtone singing. The band's latest CD is "Skyland." STILL ON THE HILL is the folkgrass duo from Arkansas, Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna. This duo uses traditional instruments from their home in the Ozarks (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica and scrub board) as well as other exotic offerings (Moon guitar from Japan, African Mbira, and Tenor Ukulele) to create a kaleidoscope of musical color and texture. They have been voted "Best Folk Band" in the Ozarks for several years running, and the mayor of their town, Fayetteville, Arkansas, proclaimed Dec. 20th Still on the Hill Day for all the work the duo does in community service. "Mouthpeace" is their newest release.
MOLLIE O�BRIEN & RICH MOORE have made music for over 30 years. After their youngest daughter went to college, they started to do some dates together which lead to the release of their debut studio album called “Saints & Sinners.� Mollie took her first step into the public eye with her brother, Tim O�Brien, and has one of the most remarkable voices in roots music. Mollie shared a Grammy with a stellar bunch of bluegrass collaborators on True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe (Sugar Hill). Rich grew up in Philadelphia with a musical family. He is well-known and well-loved in Colorado's acoustic music family and has lived and performed here for over 25 years. He made his reputation in recent years as the rhythmic bedrock for Pete Wernick's Live Five. He is guitarist of choice for folk legend Tom Paxton, who invariably requests Moore as a sideman for his Colorado shows.GARY BENNETT is a founding member of the critically acclaimed country music band BR549, who recorded five well-received albums, received three Grammy nominations and was hailed by music industry trade magazine Billboard as having single-handedly revived the soul of country music in Nashville. During Gary's tenure, the band sold over 500,000 albums and toured the world, headlining shows as well as opening for such artists as Bob Dylan, George Jones, Merle Haggard, the Black Crowes and Brian Setzer. BR549 was also voted "Best Country Group" in 1996 by Rolling Stone magazine. Gary is about to release his second full length solo album and will be performing with all-star band filled with some Nashville�s top players.
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage return to WoodSongs as we celebrate her brand new CD, "Taken," released on her own Upper Management record label. With over seventy awards to their name, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are the most celebrated band in bluegrass, with honors including a coveted Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and a staggering seven consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Don't miss one of the most dynamic and passionate artists in the world of bluegrass! NEXT BEST THING are a up-and-coming bluegrass ensemble from Johnson City, TN that features Sally Berry, Tensel Sandker, Haley Stiltner & Shane Blackwell. Sally & Tensel are the daughters of Rhonda Vincent becoming the 6th generation of the musical Vincent Family.
Peter Yarrow comes to WoodSongs to help us celebrate our 600th broadcast! He is the founding member of folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon". Yarrow also co-wrote "Torn Between Two Lovers", a number one hit for Mary McGregor. He is also a political activist and author. WoodSongs is incredibly proud to bring the legendary Peter Yarrow as the featured guest for our 600th broadcast!,
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage return to WoodSongs as we celebrate her brand new CD, "Taken," released on her own Upper Management record label. With over seventy awards to their name, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are the most celebrated band in bluegrass, with honors including a coveted Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and a staggering seven consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Don't miss one of the most dynamic and passionate artists in the world of bluegrass!
NEXT BEST THING are a up-and-coming bluegrass ensemble from Johnson City, TN that features Sally Berry, Tensel Sandker, Haley Stiltner & Shane Blackwell. Sally & Tensel are the daughters of Rhonda Vincent becoming the 6th generation of the musical Vincent Family.
LUKAS NELSON and PROMISE OF THE REAL is a four-man rock and roots powerhouse that has rapidly made a name for themselves since early last year. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Lukas Nelson was born in Austin, Texas, raised on his father Willie Nelson�s famed Honeysuckle Rose bus, and now based out of Venice Beach, California. The 21-year-old Nelson is no stranger to the road, with his first trip on the bus at 5 weeks old on a tour by The Highwaymen (the supergroup featuring his father, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson). The band has released a well-received EP, Brando�s Paradise Sessions and plans to release a full album in the not too distant future. The band will be performing an “unplugged� type of set on WoodSongs.
JUBAL'S KIN is a young, Florida based family that's a blend of rompin' old time, bluegrass, folk covers and roots originals. The band is anchored by Roger on acoustic guitar, a three time Florida Old-Time Music Championship winner, and Gailanne, the current Florida & Tennessee Grand Champion Old Time Fiddler, on fiddle and clawhammer banjo, with brother Jeffrey recently joining them to hold down the groove on acoustic bass. They will be performing material from their self-titled debut CD.
PETER ROWAN Bluegrass Band, Peter is a legendary bluegrass songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. He's a Grammy-award winner and five-time Grammy nominee. From his early years playing with bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, and following his stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring. His time-honored compositions include songs such as "Panama Red," a subsequent hit for the New Riders of the Purple Sage, "Moonlight Midnight", " In The Land of the Navajo" and "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy." Peter will be backed by his veteran touring Bluegrass Band featuring Jody Stecher, Keith Little, and Paul Knight. The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band have just released their debut recording on Compass Records called "Legacy."
Raymond McLain has been active in bluegrass for more than 20 years. He started out with his father and sisters in Kentucky's legendary McLain Family Band. In 1989 he joined one of the premiere bluegrass outfits in the country: Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys. Raymond brings his unique skills and talents as one of America's leading traditional musicians to the WoodSongs stage.
SONGS OF WATER is an adventurous and exciting band from North Carolina. Their bluegrass textures driven by the uncommon use of the Appalachian hammered dulcimer, followed by the brooding foundation of heavy percussion makes their music rich and passionate. With band leader Stephen Roach�s world music influence, the classical background of violinist Marta Richardson, the Spanish infused guitar of co-founder Jason Windsor, and multi-instrumentation of Greg Willette, Luke Skaggs and Michael Pritchard, Songs of Water creates a unique sound that reaches beyond the common.
MEGAN McCORMICK is a 23-year-old Nashville-based singer, songwriter and guitarist with her roots in bluegrass and her heart in rock. The sexy, raw, heavy, beautiful rock & roll of her debut CD, “Honest Words� really caught our attention. Megan grew up listening to the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Steely Dan, but her most essential influences were from her musical family in Alaska. McCormick has won two International Bluegrass Music Association awards for Recorded Event of the Year in 2006 (“Back To The Well�) and again in 2009 (“Proud To Be A Daughter of Bluegrass�) .This past year, she also landed her song, “Bullseye�, in the Emmy-Award nominated film, Prayers for Bobby, featuring Sigourney Weaver.
WANDA JACKSON is the First Lady of Rockabilly and America's first female Rock and Roll singer. When Jackson first toured in 1955 and 1956, she was placed on a bill with none other than Elvis Presley. The two hit it off almost immediately. Jackson said it was Presley, along with her father, who encouraged her to sing rockabilly. In 2009 Wanda was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Bruce Springsteen were just a few of the high-profile artists that encouraged the Hall to induct the Queen of Rock over the last few years. Wanda made a huge comeback a few years ago with the release of "Heart Trouble". An album that included cool collaborations with such artists as Elvis Costello, Dave Alvin, & the Cramps. With her career as hot as ever, she set to release another new album that Jack White of the White Stripes produced via Jack's Third Man Records.
BILLY BRAGG is a revered folksinger and songwriter from England and recently described by The Times newspaper as a "national treasure" in America as well. In the two decades Bragg has become the most stalwart guardian of the dissenting tradition of the country's political, cultural and social history. It's a legacy that's brought Bragg fans the world over as an artist with a keen sense of political activism as well as a way with a pop hook, all informed with a sense of humanity and humor. His two albums collaboration with Wilco filled with unfinished Woody Guthrie songs were both nominated for Grammy Awards. Billy's latest CD is "Mr. Love & Justice."
RAUL MALO is best known as the founder and front man of Grammy-winning, multi-platinum band the Mavericks. Born in Miami of Cuban parents, he made his mark in the country music world and then drifted into the Latin and jazz arenas via rock n roll. Considered to be one of the finest singers in the world, Raul Malo has always crossed cultures and blurred musical boundaries, breaking new ground with his distinctive balance of vintage sound and contemporary attitude. Raul is celebrating his first album of original material in seven year called "Lucky One" on Fantasy Records.
BRIGID KAELIN has played her accordion, musical saw, and sung with the likes of Elvis Costello and Garrison Keillor, but it's her original "alt-country cabaret" music that has charmed audiences worldwide. Recently, she was voted "Best Singer/Songwriter" in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, and she'll be departing for her fourth European tour this October. Brigid's latest album, West 28th Street, is part country, part vaudeville, and all Americana.
JESSE MALIN is hardcore/punk veteran from NYC turned folk singer-songwriter. He has cultivated a devout fan base from his days of fronting seminal hardcore trio Heart Attack and infamous glam punks D Generation to the seven years on the road as a solo artist. He�d shared stages with everyone from The White Stripes to Counting Crows, The Hold Steady to Lucinda Williams. His duet from his last CD with Bruce Springsteen for “Broken Radio� was a big hit on YouTube. His latest CD, Love It To Life , encompasses Jesse roots and evolution as an artist. The CD features his long time partner in crime Ryan Adams.
THE VESPERS are two sets of sibling duos: Callie and Phoebe Cryar, and Taylor and Bruno Jones. They came together purely by spontaneous collision, the two pairs both completely immersed in their own separate projects. The girls were playing acoustic instruments and singing ghostly harmonies to folk songs they had written, and the boys were playing rock and roll. What began as a “let�s jam and see if we can learn this and maybe play a few shows together� kind of situation soon turned into a full-blown summer of concentrated music. The band�s debut CD Tell Your Mama was recently released.
BETH McKEE is a Southern singer/songwriter/pianist/accordion player. A former member of the popular New Orleans country-cajun group Evangeline (MCA Records) McKee toured extensively behind two critically acclaimed albums. L.A. Weekly raved Beth�s piano is “worthy of some Jerry Lee Lewis arson.� Long before her career took off nationally, the Mississippi native played piano in church. She played blues on the chitlin� circuit from steamy juke joints to muddy hog farms, and emerged as a respected player on the New Orleans, Austin and Nashville music scenes. In 2010, the self-released I�m That Way displays all those southern roots fusing to formulate her swampy and soulful musical identity.
CEDRIC WATSON is one of the most noted young talents to emerge in Cajun or Creole music in the past few years. This Grammy nominated artist is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of seemingly unlimited potential. Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in San Felipe, Texas surrounded by the sounds of blues, old soul, country and zydeco. Unlike his hip-hop focused peers, Cedric was drawn to the old-style French songs of Southwest Louisiana and the greater Houston area. He soon made his way to Lafayette, LA where he was enthusiastically accepted into the musical community and immediately recognized as an important participant in the continuity of Creole music. Cedric will be performing on WoodSongs with his band Bijou Creole.
MUNNELLY is one of the hottest bands on the traditional Celtic music scene. Led by button accordion virtuoso David Munnelly, who came to attention in his early twenties touring and recording with The Chieftains, the band has exploded onto the Irish music stage with their peerless playing, irrepressible enthusiasm, and unique musical style. Their style of playing has been called a living link between two centuries of Rural Irish culture and the Golden Age of Irish American music of the 1920's & 1930's.
BUTCH ROSS brings a “rock n roll attitude� to the traditional mountain dulcimer. Playing the dulcimer standing up like a guitar and strung backwards, he�ll play everything from Beatles tunes to “Stairway to Heaven� to the more traditional mountain tunes. Butch was given a mountain dulcimer for his birthday a few years ago, at the time the regionally touring singer/songwriter had no idea of the impact the instrument would have on his career.
BRITTNI PAIVA is already the preeminent female ukulele player from Hawaii. At 21 years of age, she's an award-winning multi-instrumentalist whose sound and concept are influenced by jazz, rock, flamenco, and classical music as well as world music from Brazil, Japan, and elsewhere. Brittni and her ukulele are a brilliant match: Both are humble in nature, small in size, and very powerful with proper delivery. Brittni�s new CD is titled Four Strings: The Fire Within.
VICTORIA VOX and her ukulele return to the WoodSongs Stage with a brand new CD. Known as a pioneer for singer/songwriters in the growing ukulele genre, Victoria Vox has been writing and performing songs across the country about whatever tickles her tires. Refreshingly modern and innovative, the award-winning vocalist and songwriter lives in Baltimore, and tours 130+ shows a year Paris to Honolulu. The new album, Exact Change was financed by her fans. It�s a blend of traditional roots and blues, pop-rock sensibility and a distinct worldly flair.
PETER KARP & SUE FOLEY are two the of the finest roots artists working today and have teamed up for an incredible new project called "He Said - She Said." Peter is a gifted troubadour, a master songsmith with an art for spinning true-to-life emotions, humor, and candor. Sue was born to a working class family and spent her early childhood moving from Canadian town to town with her mother. After moving back to Canada Sue won the prestigious Juno award for her critically acclaimed CD "Love Coming Down." Their project project is based around a correspondence the two shared through letters that were written over a year period. Those letters became their songs.
THE ROCKRIDGE BROTHERS are a bluegrass and old-time band of young musicians from Stockholm, Sweden that perform high energy hillbilly style mountain music. The band got together to make a bluegrass soundtrack for an animated movie. Right away they felt the need to make something more out of this newly formed combo. Pooling their different musical experiences, ranging from country to punk, they found common ground in old time string music Since that time the Rockridge Brothers have been touring Europe and USA and have released two CDs including their latest "Rockridge Hollerin'
LEROY TROY is known as "the Tennessee Slicker" and plays Uncle Dave Macon banjo style, otherwise known as clawhammer or frailing. He debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in 1988, dazzled a nationwide audience on the hit TV Show Hee Haw. and was the National Old-Time Banjo Champion in 1996. Troy is an old time banjo master and often plays with the Tennessee Mafia Jugband and Marty Stuart, appearing weekly on The Marty Stuart show on RFD-TV.
JOSH CHARLES became a prot�g� of Dr. John at the age of 14, incorporating much of his mentor's style and philosophy into his own musicianship. Josh Charles studied music at NYU, Manhattan School of Music and with the legendary jazz pianist Barry Harris and Dr. John. He moved to New Orleans four days before Hurricane Katrina. In the spring of 2009 Josh released "Healing Time" with all the proceeds going towards rebuilding the city of New Orleans.
DARRELL SCOTT is a songwriter, acclaimed performer and recording artist. As a songwriter, he's contributed a string of hits that reads like a list of the best modern country music has to offer. There's the Grammy Award winning "Long Time Gone" and "Heartbreak Town," both top hits for the Dixie Chicks. "Great Day to be Alive" helped Travis Tritt complete his comeback; "Born to Fly" was a No. 1 hit for Sara Evans, while "Family Tree" was successful for Darryl Worley and "When No One's Around" extended Garth Brooks' run. Darrell returns to WoodSongs with a brand new double CD "A Crooked Road" before he hits the road for a string of dates with Robert Plant (yes, the Led Zepplin guy).
EVIE LADIN plays old-time banjo. Listen and you can hear the whomp and jive of the genre's Appalachian heritage. You also hear the instrument's African roots. Now listen to Evie's genteel voice and lyrics and you hear the push and pull of life, you hear real, contemporary stories. Evie is known to music fans as a driving force behind San Francisco's all-gal old-time group the Stairwell Sisters. Based in Oakland, CA, is has just released her debut CD "Float Downstream."
JOHN LEE HOOKER JR. is the son of the great John Lee Hooker. He was exposed to the life of the blues by touring alongside his dad throughout his teens. Unfortunately, while living the "life of a bluesman" he succumbed to the demons that surround it, derailing his musical career for many, many years. With the support of his family and friends, and a crew of talented musicians who never ceased to believe in him, Jr. Hooker finally found his own inner muse, making music that expresses the depth of emotion he has experienced in his personal life. Has received 2 Grammy nominations and several major blues awards. His latest CD is “Live in Istanbul Turkey.�
TIERRA NEGRA & MURIEL ANDERSON are three brilliant guitarists that met in a castle in Germany. In the world of modern Flamenco, few artists have attained the heights of thee two German guitarists known in Europe as “Tierra Negra.� The duo are often cited as the protagonists of Flamenco Nuevo. A WoodSongs favorite, Muriel is widely respected as one of the world�s foremost fingerstyle guitarists and harp-guitarists and is the first woman to have won the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship. This trio has come together in an exciting CD titled “New World Flamenco.�
KACEY JONES is a sassy, sexy trio of performing songwriters will make you laugh, scream, cry, and ... did we say laugh? ... her songs include "Every Man I Love is Either Married, Gay, or Dead" and her new CD is called "Donald Trumps Hair" ... how can you possibly miss this appearence by the "Shameless Hussy" Kacey Jones, former lead singer of Ethel and The Shameless Hussies.
HUDOST are singer/songwriters Moksha Sommer and Jemal Wade Hines offering a rich, eclectic blending of traditional Sufi music, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian ... plus Balkan folk, Farsi, Turkish, and Arabic. Adding to the group�s international feel is the unexpected instrumentation that includes harmonium, bouzouki, and bendir among others. Most recently, HuDost produced their latest release “Trapeze� that is almost unclassifiable and put them at the forefront of the folk rock world.
CHERRYHOLMES return to bluegrass as the reigning “First family of Bluegrass.� They have stormed to the top of the music world since winning the 2005 IBMA Award for Entertainer of the Year. As little as 10 years ago, the band itself didn�t exist, and half of its youthful members hadn�t even picked up instruments yet. With four GRAMMY nominations to date, the fourth album, “Cherryholmes IV Common Threads� on Skaggs Family Records, brings this talented family back to the WoodSongs stage.
KENNY WHITE is an explosive piano player, a soulful singer-songwriting and a Grammy nominated producer. He worked with artists like Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Dwight Yoakam, Ricky Skaggs, Kim Carnes Felix Cavaliere, Dobie Gray and Aaron Neville among many others. His relationships with Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin led to his producing Colvin�s Grammy-nominated, “I Don�t Know Why� and to his involvement in Cohn�s eponymous platinum debut record. Kenny signed to Judy Collins Wildflower Records and has just released“Comfort in the Static,� his long-awaited newest release.
THE FAREWELL DRIFTERS are one of the most powerful, striking new bands in Bluegrass, a young quintet that plays with the intensity of Mountain Heart and the fire of the New Grass Revival and, in the words of one gushing reviewer, they are “making folk music hip again.�
JP PENNINGTON is one of the founding members of the country and rock supergroup Exile. In a rare, solo acoustic performance, JP discusses the art of songwriting.
JANIVA MAGNESS returns to the WoodSongs stage as the reigning 2009 Blues Music Entertainer of the Year, only the second woman ever to win this award. Although Magness is now a bona fide blues star, her rise to the top was far from easy. She has been performing for almost three decades, logging thousands of miles on the road and appearing 150 nights a year at clubs, theaters and festivals all over the world. Janiva and her full band will be supporting her latest CD on Alligator Records called “The Devil Is An Angel Too.�
CROOKED STILL has established themselves as “the most important folk group to emerge from Boston since the early �60s� (The Boston Globe). Since their last WoodSongs appearance, the quintet became five with the addition of fiddler Brittany Haas and Tristan Clarridge on cello and second fiddle and opened up a new musical chapter for the band. The band�s new CD is “Some Strange Country� available on Signature Sounds.
TIFT MERRITT has already produced an impressive body of work and earned a passionate, dedicated audience. A North Carolina native, Tift began her music career in the clubs in Chapel Hill. Though she loves her new home in New York City, she still considers North Carolina home. Her live performances, both with her band and on her own, are similarly riveting. Tift's stellar album "See You On The Moon" is a most important step forward in a remarkable artistic journey that continues to search, penetrate, and surprise.
DANGERMUFFIN is a sand-blasted, rough-around-the-edges trio that casts a fresh perspective on American roots music. Based in Folly Beach, SC, the group is anchored by the thought-provoking lyrical wit of songwriter Dan Lotti, Nashville-veteran percussionist Steven Sandifer and lead guitarist Mike Sivilli. Accolades include winning Relix Magazine�s JamOff! competition for emerging bands and the reader-voted Best House Band in the Charleston City Paper�s Best Of 2009. Dangermuffin brings a new level of groove to Americana music � a punchy, folk-jam pastry for the sweet-toothed soul of the South. Their new CD is "Moonscapes" on released on Dualtone.
LAURA McGHEE is a brilliant Scottish singer/songwriter/fiddler/guitarist. She first hit the American roots scene while performing with Pete Seeger in New York. Since that time, she has performed with the great Odetta, and with the Pogues & Shane McGowan, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Lauderdale, Oscar Brand, Josh White, Jr., David Amram and with Moby and the Proclaimers. Her two albums, "Green Eyes" and "Celticana" have garnered rave reviews; while her traditional concerto piece "Commemoration� was performed as part of New York City's 9/11 Ceremonies in 2007.
GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV was born is Johannesburg, South Africa. Isakov�s family immigrated to the US in opposition to the apartheid. In 1999, he moved to Colorado to study horticulture and simultaneously embark on a career as an acoustic singer-songwriter after being inspired by Bruce Springsteen�s "The Ghost of Tom Joad." His song-craft hints of his influences, Leonard Cohen and Kelly Joe Phelps. He has been described as “strong, subtle, a lyrical genius� and has shared the stage with touring artists such as Calexico, Ani Difranco, Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Richie Havens, and Fiona Apple. His latest CD is This Empty Northern Hemisphere.
GEORGE WINSTON burst onto the music scene in the early 1980�s with his iconic impressionist style and a collection of seasonal-themed recordings. Since 1980, he has released nine other solo albums: “Autumn,� “Winter Into Spring,� “December,� “Summer,� “Forest,� and many others. His next album will be “Love Will Come � The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2,� scheduled to be released in February 2010. Winston spends much of his time touring, often playing solo piano, guitar and harmonica. He also studies the techniques of the great New Orleans pianists. In addition, Winston is working on several solo projects, including recording the masters of the Hawaiian Slack Key guitar for an extensive series of albums for Dancing Cat Records; and recording music by his major inspirations for harmonica playing: Sam Hinton, Rick Epping and Curt Bouterse. WoodSongs is honored to have this brilliant master musician on our stage for this special event broadcast!
The CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO (CGT) is Bert Lams from Belgium, Hideyo Moriya from Japan, and Paul Richards from Utah. Together, their technical wizardry is breathtaking, as is the wide range of instrumental music the group renders... everything from unique originals to dazzling, cleverly-arranged interpretations of jazz, classical music, and surf rock. The members of CGT met while studying under Robert Fripp and performing with Fripp's "League of Crafty Guitarists." In 1995, CGT toured worldwide with King Crimson. CGT�s new CD is called Andromeda.
PATTY LARKIN has been redefining the boundaries of folk-urban pop music for 25 years with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. Her songs run from impressionistic poetry to witty wordplay. In 2010, Patty Larkin releases a collectible collection of 25 love songs in celebration of 25 years in the recording industry. Here Patty has reworked 25 of her favorite songs in an acoustic, “unplugged� release, joined by friends along the way.
JAKOB DYLAN returns to the WoodSongs Stage with his NEW solo album “Women and Country� on Columbia Records. Soulful yet striking and ripe with sublime beauty, it is the follow up to the artist�s 2008 critically acclaimed debut, “Seeing Things.� This new collection finds him reuniting with acclaimed Grammy and Golden Globe winning producer T Bone Burnett (Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Crazy Heart), who produced the Wallflowers' 1996 breakthrough album Bringing Down the Horse which featured the massive hits “One Headlight� and "6th Avenue Heartache." Jakob will be performing on the show with 3 Legs featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan.
JAYME STONE & YACOUBA SISSOKO will be performing material from Jayme�s award winning project for “Africa to Appalachia.� Jayme is a banjo virtuoso from Canada who traced the origins of the banjo to Mali, Africa. He will be onstage with Malian kora master and singer Yacouba Sissoko as well as fiddle phenom Mike Barnett, innovative bassist Brandi Disterheft and percussionist extraordinaire Nick Fraser.
EXILE is Kentucky�s own supergroup made up of J.P. Pennington, Sonny LeMaire, Les Taylor, Steve Goetzman and Marlon Hargis. The band's hits include "Give Me One More Chance," as well as the 1978 pop hit, "Kiss You All Over" which was recently named by Billboard Magazine as the number 9 on its 50 Sexiest Songs of All Time. This band that got their start in the small town of Richmond, KY, will be performing on WoodSongs in an intimate “unplugged� performance.
CARLA GOVER plays clawhammer banjo, guitar and piano, writes songs, clogs, and is an aspiring Appalachian Diva. She is from the Eastern Kentucky coal town of Whitesburg, Kentucky, where she grew up idolizing her grandmother as well as Emmylou Harris and Loretta Lynn. Her music is full someone full of spirit and heart, someone who has the mountain sounds right in her blood. Her new CD is called Gypsy Ways.
THE SOUTH MEMPHIS STRING BAND is a trio composed of Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Alvin Youngblood Hart (Grammy-winning bluesman) and Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers). Although they�d known each other for years, the South Memphis String Band was greatly influenced by the Mississippi Sheiks, Gus Cannon & the Memphis Jug Band and other string bands and jug bands of their ilk, as well as Mississippi Delta and Hill Country blues. They will arrive with a passel of guitars, mandolins, banjos, lap steel guitars and harmonicas.
QUEBE SISTERS BAND is an American fiddle western swing group from Fort Worth, Texas. The band began their musical journey in 1998 when the three sisters started taking fiddle lessons. Shortly thereafter, the girls began entering fiddle contests and had success early on; winning several State, regional and National fiddle championships. Add the swinging rhythm guitar of World Champion fiddler Joey McKenzie and the upright bass of Drew Phelps, and the Quebe Sisters Band becomes a force of nature. Recently named Group of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists and recipient of the Crescendo Award by the Western Music Association, as well as nominations for Country group of the year by both the Dallas Observer and Ft. Worth Weekly, the QSB is performing coast to coast in support of their latest cd, “Timeless.�
THE DUST BUSTERS are an old-time string band based out of Brooklyn, New York. They strive to integrate a wide range of old-time songs, ballads, fiddle tunes and jug band blues into every performance, infused with the old-time feeling and freewheelin� high energy that characterized early string bands. They are influenced and inspired by the direct fusion of Scots-Irish and African music that took place in Appalachia, the Western states and the Deep South from the earliest colonial times through the Second World War. The Dust Busters have recorded their first album, currently available for sale only at live shows.
MORELAND & ARBUCKLE have spent nearly a decade exploring American roots music. Guitarist Aaron Moreland and harpist/vocalist Dustin Arbuckle with help from the driving beat of drummer Brad Horner have forged a relentless and haunting sound that merges Delta blues, folk, rock, traditional country, and soul. In addition to the more typical Telecaster and Les Paul guitars, Moreland arsenal also includes a hand-crafted instrument consisting of four strings stretched across a cigar box. Moreland & Arbuckle make their debut on Telarc International with the release of “Flood.�
MADISON VIOLET are a Toronto based duo, consisting of Lisa MacIsaac (vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin) and Brenley MacEachern (vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica). Together, they've been touring the globe non-stop for 9 years. The duo has just released their 3rd album No Fool For Trying. It�s been described as a cross between a rootsy Gillian Welch, gritty Steve Earle and bluegrassy Alison Krauss, loaded with harmonies, lots of stringed instruments and beautiful lyrics. The band also just won Vocal Group of the Year' at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
TIME FOR THREE is a groundbreaking, category-shattering roots music trio. What started as a trio of musicians who played together for fun while students at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute for Music evolved into Time for Three, or Tf3 for short. Tf3 has performed on many of the nation's impressive stages, including the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Joe's Pub in New York. They have performed their own original works with over 60 orchestras. The group recorded will release its third CD, "3 Fervent Travelers."
ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new CD on Red House Records called Buena Vista. The couple met in 1971 and the two debuted on A Prairie Home Companion back in 1975. Their association with the popular public radio program landed them on major stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl. SI KAHN will be releasing his 16th CD titled Courage on Strictly Country Records. The CD features the superb production and playing of Jens Kr�ger of the Kr�ger Brothers and harmonies and liner notes contributed by country music legend Kathy Mattea. His latest book Creative Community Organizing is a unique blend of guide and memoir, drawing from his staggering 45 years as a community, civil rights and labor organizer.
BRANDI CARLILE rrich voice and literate storytelling belie her youth. After debuting with a self-titled album in 2005, the Washington State-bred Carlile saw her fanbase mushroom with her sophomore disc, MATT MORRIS is a songwriter on the verge of a major breakout. His new album "When Everything Breaks Open" was produced by Charlie Sexton (Bob Dylan) and Tennman label founder Justin Timberlake.
OSCAR BRAND is one of the last remaining fathers of North American Folk Music. Oscar, a native of Winnipeg, who recently released his 100th record album, will be celebrating his 90th Birthday. He has over 70 years as a performer, and the 65th Anniversary of his weekly radio show Folksong Festival in 2010 (the only radio show in the USA who dared feature blacklisted folk singers during the McCarthy era). Just some of the folk artists who regularly appeared on Oscar�s radio show in the 1940s included Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Josh White (and Josh, Jr.), Paul Robeson, Burl Ives, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and Pete Seeger; He has written eleven books on folk music, his 1952 million selling song "A Guy is a Guy" was Song of the Year, and as co-founder (with Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn and Frank Sinatra) and Curator of the Songwriter�s Hall of Fame, and is one of the last three remaining performing artists to have shared the stage with Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Josh White, Burl Ives and Paul Robeson (along with Pete Seeger and Josh White, Jr.). Oscar is also an EMMY and 2 time Peabody Award star of television and radio and a founder of Sesame Street. WoodSongs is very proud to welcome this folk icon giant to our stage for a celebration of Oscar's historic musical legacy. JOSH WHITE JR returns to the WoodSongs stage celebrating the 65th year of his storied career with two brand new releases. His father, Josh White, was the ground-breaking African-American pioneer in many fields: as the first folk and blues artist and the first black man to have a million selling record; first to give a White House Command Performance; first folk and blues artist to perform in a nightclub, first to make a national solo concert tour of America; the first to tour internationally; and along with Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie, the first to be honored with a US Postage Stamp. In addition to his concerts and CDs, Josh is a TONY award winning actor. His current CD "By Request" was released in 2009, and he has new two releases,"Tuning the Blues" and "Live at the Raven Gallery 1978-1979," coming out in early 2010.
COREY HARRIS has dug for the deepest and truest essence of the blues, reggae, gospel and other roots music by examining and celebrating their origins in various cultural centers Africa, the Caribbean, Appalachia, Europe and beyond. In 2007, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship grant commonly referred to as a genius award ASHLEY CLEVELAND is a three-time Grammy and two-time Dove Award winner who has released eight critically acclaimed albums. God Don't Never Change is her most recent effort, and features songs rooted firmly in a "host of traditions -- black spirituals, folk songs, 18th century hymns, gospel blues, and jubilee." a woman willing to work hard to find her own place within them.
BATTLEFIELD BAND from Scotland has been performing on the international scene for more than three decades, and is one of the premier Celtic bands in the world. Founded in 1969 and named after the �Battlefield� area of Glasgow, the band pioneered the integration of bagpipes with fiddle, keyboards, guitar and voice, mixing the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments. PAULY ZARB is originally from Australia. His home base is now Bardstown, KY while traveling the country performing his rootsy musical blend. His music combines keyboards, drums, hi-hat, guitar, flute, pan pipes, tin whistles, accordion, harmonica, digerridoo ... often all in the same song. He and his brother received the Best Folk Album award at the Queensland Sunny Music Awards in 2001.
MARK O�CONNOR is a multi-Grammy-winning violinist and composer who is widely recognized as one of the most gifted contemporary composers in America, and one of the brightest talents of his generation. He's studied and recorded with some of the 20th Century's greatest musicians, including Stephane Grappeli, Benny Thomasson, and Yo Yo Ma. Along the way, between these many marvelous musical extremes, Mark absorbed knowledge and influence from the multitude of musical styles and genres he studied. Now he has melded and shaped these influences into a new American Classical music, and is perpetuating his vision of an American School of string playing. Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia's most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans almost five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. Guitar legend Chet Atkins was one of the first to inspire Emmanuel to try this "fingerpicker" style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel's biggest fans.
BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY bring their bib-band fusion of classic American sounds from jazz, swing, to Dixieland to the WoodSongs Stage for one incredible night of music. Since their arrival on the music scene in 1993 in a legendary residency at Los Angeles� Brown Derby nightclub, BBVD�s irresistible live show and aggressive, musically perceptive approach has proven them over time to be the singular standout among the numerous bands that launched the Nineties swing revival. ZACH BROCK is a Lexington native that received a global musical education in Chicago and now resides in NYC. He has been lionized as "the great bright hope for jazz violin" by the Chicago Tribune. His wide-ranging professional accomplishments place him in the company of today's leading "indie jazz" innovators. Zach will be performing solo-violin on this very special, adventurous WoodSongs broadcast.
DIANA JONES returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new CD titled Better Times Will Come on Proper American Records. It�s been three years since her breakthrough CD My Remembrance of You made Diana a major figure in Americana music. Since then, Diana has landed the opening slot on high-profile European tours with Richard Thompson and Mary Gauthier and has been the featured invitee at folk festivals in Ireland, England, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. CARBON LEAF is a five piece rock band based out of Richmond, VA. The band won the Coca-Cola New Music Award for the song "The Boxer," off of their fifth and final self-released CD, Echo Echo. Part of the prize was the opportunity to become one of the rare unsigned bands to ever play on the American Music Awards.
CHUCK McCABE is a master storyteller in the tradition of the great folk troubadours. A vein of humor and a theme of respect run through McCabe�s distinctly award winning songwriting. His delivery demonstrates an understated elegance that is a rare find among performers especially those who cross the lines between wit and wisdom. Chuck's latest CD is "Creatures of Habit." MITCH BARRETT is one of Kentucky�s most sought-after and talented singer songwriter sons. His approach to lyrical storytelling is true �Americana�, rooted in authentic experience, not just a record label�s genre. Mitch�s music draws from his Appalachian heritage and the values it instilled: agrarian work ethic, simple living, the importance of family and celebrating the joys and the struggles of everyday life through music and song. .
RAY BONNEVILLE is a distinctive artist, a man who cooks up a deep blues groove, blending a unique percussive electric guitar style, a weathered voice, and soulful rack harmonica into image provoking songs that can be believed. Born in Canada, he moved to the Boston area in his early teens where he started playing guitar and harmonica. His last 30 or so years have seen him seeking adventure and playing music throughout the world. Being a dual citizen allows him the freedom to live between Montreal Canada, and Austin Texas. THOSE DARLINS are a trio of young women based out of Murfreesboro, TN. They are part Carter Family and part Ramones. The unrelated band mates are Kelley Darlin, the group's bassist, Jessi Darlin, who plays guitar, and Nikki Darlin, on baritone ukulele. Sonically, they walk the line between traditional country and punk. As the NY Times put it, "This young country trio is a tangle of bare legs, cowboy boots and Southern sass."
JAKE SHIMABUKURO returns to the WoodSongs stage for a one hour Special Event Broadcast. Jake is recognized as one of the world's most exciting and innovative ukulele players and composers. Born in Hawaii, Jake's mother gave him his first ukulele lesson when he was but four years old. Renowned for lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, Jake views the ukulele as an "untapped source of music with unlimited potential." His virtuosity defies label or category. Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake's mission is to show everyone that the ukulele is capable of so much more than the traditional Hawaiian music - or corny showbiz routines -- many associate it with. ,
THE GREENCARDS return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new album called "Fascination" on Sugar Hill Records. The critically acclaimed band�s love and respect for country, Americana, blues and bluegrass brought them together in 2003. They�ve already toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, earned the Americana Music Award in 2006 for“Emerging Artist of the Year� and in 2008 landed a Grammy nomination (“Best Country Instrumental Performance� for Viridian). REID GENAUER is the singer/songwriter behind the New York City rocks and roots based band Assembly of Dust. The band's new album "Some Assembly Required" contains the strongest collection of songs the group has created to date, each expertly crafted tune illuminated by a stellar lineup of guests including Bela Fleck, David Grisman, John Scofield, Mike Gordon (Phish), Richie Havens, Jerry Douglas and Martin Sexton
CYRIL NEVILLE is the youngest of the beloved group, the Neville Brothers. Born in New Orleans to a musical family, Cyril began singing professionally at 19 and released his first single in 1970. In addition to his work with the Neville Brothers, Cyril has formed other bands over the years, ROB ICKES is the 10-time IBMA winner of dobro player of the year and is a founding member of the super bluegrass group Blue Highway. Rob will be joined on stage by jazz pianist Michael Alvey and sultry Nashville vocalist Robinella.
TREVOR HALL is originally from South Carolina and is most known for his song "Other Ways" which was featured in the Shrek III motion picture soundtrack. He has been writing and performing since his early teens and has released two independent recordings. AMONG THE OAK AND ASH is the duo of Garrison Star and Josh Joplin. Individually, New York-based Joplin and Nashville-based Starr have built impressive careers, signing to major labels as teenagers and winning substantial critical acclaim while building loyal grass-roots fan bases.
KACEY JONES brings her "body of work" back to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new CD titled Donald Trump�s Hair. It�s the hilarious follow-up to her previous comedy album, "Nipples to the Wind" and contains fifteen new tracks, including the debut single, "I Wanna Be Up Front Like Dolly." Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, this madcap redhead now based in Nashville sees the world at large with laser perception and a funny tilt. That�s why audiences have been laughing with this singer, songwriter, musician, producer, publisher for years. THE BATS describe themselves as your mom, with an electric guitar." It�s Rock & Roll meets Cabaret & Comedy made by the five feisty women and three very brave men of The Bats. Embracing many musical styles, the band play songs that range from lost love, weight gained, growing older, retail therapy, plastic surgery and anything else life throws their way and they do it with skillful musicianship. Their new CD is titled Some Settling May Occur.
RHONDA VINCENT & THE RAGE is a true superstar in the world of bluegrass. They return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new release on Rounder Records called Destination Life. The new album features a stellar lineup of new, original and classic bluegrass songs. This 7 time IBMA vocalist of the year takes her music to new heights while maintaining her deep bluegrass roots. GUY DAVIS has been real busy since his last WoodSongs appearnace. He just finished a special tour with Pete Seeger. This master blues musician has just released his 9th recording on Red House Records called Sweetheart Like You. Guy also recently recreated the role made famous by blues legend, Sonny Terry in the Broadway production of "Finian's Rainbow". He played at two tributes for his friend Odetta, and performed at Madison Square Garden with Bruce Springsteen and others for Pete Seeger�s 90th birthday celebration.
SARA WATKINS is best known as the founding member of the Grammy Award-winning, critically acclaimed, and platinum-selling band Nickel Creek. This singer, songwriter and fiddle player has just released her self-titled debut solo album on Nonesuch Records. The CD was recorded in Los Angles and Nashville and was produced by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. Sara will be joined on stage by her brother and fellow Nickel Creek band mate Sean Watkins. The LOVELL SISTERS The LOVELL SISTERS won Prairie Home Companion's National Teen Talent Competition in 2005. The talented sisters return to WoodSongs with their heavenly harmony of mandolin, fiddle and dobro. The three sisters, Rebecca, Megan, and Jessica began lessons in classical music at age 5, but grew to love traditional bluegrass music. The ensemble hails from Calhoun, Ga., but is traveling the world playing in major cities in Europe as well as across America
STEVE WARINER is a superstar of country music. His latest project is a tribute to his mentor and friend Chet Atkins. Steve first met Chet in 1977, who then quickly signed Steve to RCA Records. Steve will be the sole guest on WoodSongs and be playing material for his new CD Steve Wariner c. g. p., My Tribute to Chet Atkins along with a couple of Steve�s hits. Steve scored his first hit record in 1980 and thus began a career that has spanned three decades, 25 Albums released, 18 1's and millions of records sold. In 2009, he won his third Grammy (this one in collaboration with Brad Paisley). As an FYI, The abbreviation "c.g.p." stands for "Certified Guitar Player," a title that Chet would bestow on only four guitar pickers: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, the late Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner.
MAURA O�CONNELL is a wonderful, interpretive singer. This Grammy nominated singer spent nearly two years working on a project she�s been wanting to do for a very long time. Born and raised in County Clare, Ireland, she was the third of four singing sisters. She will performing on WoodSongs solo ... Just her voice ... No instrumentation. Get ready for something very special ! SI KAHN makes a return visit to the WoodSongs stage. Aside from being a brilliant songwriter, he has worked for over 40 years as a civil rights, labor and community organizer and musician in the Southern United States. His songs of family, community, work and freedom such as "Aragon Mill" "Gone, Gonna Rise Again" and "Wild Rose of the Mountain" have been recorded by over 100 artists. Si has released 14 albums of his original songs, plus a collection of traditional labor, civil rights and women's songs with Pete Seeger and Jane Sapp.
GIVEWAY is a band based in Scotland, four very talented sisters performing traditional Celtic and cross-over music. They have been performing from a very early age and feature vocals, fiddle, guitar, accordion, piano, whistle, drums, and bass. Award winners at the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, the band is, like the title of their current CD on Greentrax Records...Inspired., DANNY SCHMIDT is a writer's writer based out of Austin, Texas, with a lyrical depth drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Dave Carter. Upon winning the prestigious Kerrville New Folk award in 2007, Sing Out Magazine tagged Schmidt "the best new songwriter we've heard in 15 years."
BEAUSOLEIL bring their Grammy winning Cajun music to WoodSongs for a Special Event Broadcast. Since forming in 1975, BeauSoleil claimed their undisputed role as the most esteemed Cajun group in music. The band takes the rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana and artfully blend elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues and more into a satisfying musical recipe. From The Grand Ole Opry to Newport Folk, from concert hall to dance floor, the music of BeauSoleil continues to captivate audiences the world over. Yet, it all begins with the preservation of a sacred culture, the lifelong calling of fiddling frontman Michael Doucet. Their latest release and Yep Roc label debut Alligator Purse is not only a vibrant testament to BeauSoleil's healthy spirit but is easily their most adventuresome record yet.,
THE FLATLANDERS are Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. That their first go-round as The Flatlanders in 1972 was completely rejected by the country music establishment is surprising in retrospect but, ultimately, poetic. That each went on to have formidable solo careers is a testament to their talent and determination. Add to this their diverse yet complimentary styles -Joe the street-wise rocker, Jimmie Dale the mystic with the classic country voice and Butch the cerebral folk singer - and you�ve got a story of one of the most extraordinary kinships in American musical history. It took these Flatlanders a mere three decades to release the sequel to their legendary debut. Their latest CD on New West Records is titled Hills & Vallies.,
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY song "Wildfire" was one of the biggest pop hits of the 70's. He returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new bluegrass CD called Buckaroo BlueGrass. TOM RUSH impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s. He recently released his first studio CD in 35 years. Recorded in Nashville, What I Know was produced by Tom's long-time friend Jim Rooney and includes original Tom Rush material, as well as harmonies by Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Bramlett and Nanci Griffith.
SUSAN WERNER has cultivated a reputation as a daring and innovative songwriter. Her new release Classics, delivers entirely new string arrangements of mainstream popular songs by top songwriters from the classic pop era - the sixties and seventies. VANCE GILBERT burst onto the music scene in the early 90's when the buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-jazz singer who was knocking 'em dead at open mics. The word spread of this Philadelphia-area born and raised performer to New York; Shawn Colvin invited Vance Gilbert to be special guest on her Fat City tour.
ALMIRA FAWN is just eleven years old. She was brought on stage by Michael during the encore of show #515 and serenaded her hero, JJ Grey, with one his songs that she rewrote and received a standing ovation. Almira is from Lexington, Kentucky and has been busking at the Farmer�s Market and playing at restaurants and cafes around her hometown. She recently finished her first CD which includes several originals and will be appearing on NBC�s America�s Got Talent over the summer. THE DIXIE BEE-LINERS are creating quite a buzz in the world of bluegrass. The band�s ground-breaking sophomore album Ripe released on Pinecastle Records last year has achieved four #1's songs to date. The band was recently named The Roots Music Association Bluegrass Artist of the Year for 2008. They are hard at work in studio working on next album titled Susanville. The band�s lead vocalist Brandi Hart grew up in Lexington, Kentucky.
SAMUEL JAMES is a young master of fingerstyle, slide, banjo, harmonica, and piano and is not yet out of his twenties. With musical influences ranging from Skip James and Sonny Terry to Gus Cannon and Charley Patton, such understanding of pre-war blues is rarely embodied in the music of one person. SHOUT SISTER SHOUT is an old-time jazz unit, formed by Boston Music Award Winner Rachel Davis and roots band Steppin� In It through a common love of 30s & 40s jazz standards. The summer of 2006 found the two acts working at the same festivals, which led to joining each other for a classic tune by Nat King Cole or Billie Holiday during their respective sets.
DAN CRARY is a musical legend, a pioneer and a master of the guitar. With more than 50 years as a performer, he�s a flatpicking stylist with an international reputation for innovation, taste and brilliance with a long and distinguished recording career, featuring solo projects and group efforts. SHEMEKIA COPELAND has already received numerous blues awards worldwide, a Grammy nomination, and has a resume that includes work with musical titans like Dr. John and film giants like Martin Scorsese.
PUNCH BROTHERS featuring Chris Thile return to the WoodSongs Stage for a one hour Special Event Broadcast. The focus of this broadcast will be the band�s four-movement suite that is the heart of Punch Brothers� debut CD Punch released on Nonesuch Records last year.
The two act, four character play is a conversation between Thoreau and Emerson set during the final two days Thoreau spent in his cabin before leaving Walden Pond. Over 7,100 colleges and schools have already performed the play. Now we want to send it nationwide on Public TV, Public Radio, Movie Theaters plus online with lesson plans into thousands of schools across North America as an Earth Day Special Event.
HAL KETCHUM�s latest CD Father Time is the ninth album in a distinguished musical career that includes such indelible Top 10 hits as "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past The Point of Rescue," "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" and "Stay Forever." Reared in the village of Greenwich in the gorgeously verdant countryside of upstate New York, Ketchum hails from a family where singing and playing music was part of the daily (and nightly) diet for generations. DAILEY & VINCENT captured an unprecedented seven International Bluegrass Music Awards including the IBMA Entertainers of the Year. Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent are veterans of Bluegrass music having some twenty years experience between the two of them from long tenures with Bluegrass and Country legends Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs.
LORI LIEBERMAN is one of music�s best kept secrets. Lori has remained in the spotlight since the early seventies, quietly gleaning the respect of an industry and a devoted fanbase with such hits as "Killing Me Softly With His Song" MARK OLSON & GARY LOURIS are the founding members of the pioneering alternative group the Jayhawks, whose shimmering blend of country, folk, and bar band rock made them one of the most widely acclaimed artists to emerge from the alternative country scene.
JJ GREY was born and raised just outside of Jacksonville, Florida. Grey comes from a long tradition of Southern musical storytellers. Like the best of the great Southern writers, he fills his songs with details that are at once vivid and personal, political and universal. THE DUHKS based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the band has been hailed by The New York Times as one of the artists at the forefront of the neo-folk movement. The band's spot-on fusion of traditional bluegrass, folk rock, Afro-Cuban jazz and soul have earned them a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Country Vocal Performance category as well as a Juno award in their native Canada.
THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS are one of Scotland's premier traditional bands. Named for the town's historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the group has made an international name for its special brand of Scottish music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. LAMBCHOP is an alternative band based in Nashville. The unique, unclassifiable hybrid of country, soul, and jazz is a baroque beauty held together by the surreal lyrical wit and droll vocal presence of frontman Kurt Wagner. Their latest CD "OH" (Ohio) continues their tradition of releasing challenging, mold-breaking records.
THE FAUX FRENCHMAN are acoustic guitarists Brian Lovely and George Cunningham, Don Aren on double bass, and violinist Paul Patterson. The quartet have been playing 1930�s Hot Club-inspired string band gypsy jazz in and around Cincinnati since September 2002. KATI PENN is a native of Lexington, KY and is one of bluegrass�s premier up-and-coming artists. She starting playing the fiddle at the age of ten; by the time she was twelve, she was playing and singing with the Young Acoustic All-Stars.
TIM GRIMM grew up in the woods and small town settings of southern Indiana, son of schoolteachers and grandson of farmers. He co-starred for 2 seasons on the NBC drama Reasonable Doubts and appeared in several films like with Harrison Ford's Clear and Present Danger, and has shared the stage with writer and poet Wendell Berry. VICTORIA VOX is a Ukulele master. She started writing and recording her first songs in her bedroom in small-town, Wisconsin at the age of 10, graduated from The Berkley College of Music with honors and a degree in songwriting.
THE REFUGEES are a band of critically-acclaimed singer-songwriters performing their award-winning songs in glorious three-part harmony with high energy, humor, and stellar musicianship. Each successful in her own right as a solo artist, Cindy Bullens, Deborah Holland and Wendy Waldman formed their unique and innovative group in 2007, and have released their first CD, Unbound, to rave reviews. Described as the female version of Crosby, Stills and Nash with a humorous twist, The Refugees have more than three decades of experience in the industry between them, nineteen solo albums, and multiple Grammy Award nominations.
Janis will not only be performing but will also be reading passages from her long awaited autobiography Society's Child. She stunned a generation in the 1960's with her dramatic song "Society's Child". She returned in the 1970's with the equally powerful "At Seventeen". Roberta Flack had a mammoth hit with another Ian song, "Jesse". She is a brilliant artist, amazing performer and she has a huge story to tell. In addition to her book, she has also just released the new album Best of Janis Ian - The Autobiography Collection features all the songs mentioned in the book and many never before released tracks.,
MARY FLOWER is a premier Fingerstyle Acoustic Blues Guitar player in Portland, Oregon. Working in both the intricately syncopated Piedmont fingerpicking style and her own deeply bluesy lap-slide guitar, Mary is the only woman in history to twice place in the top three at the legendary national Fingerpicking Guitar Championships. THE GIVING TREE BAND is an original string band from Chicago playing acoustic folk, world-americana, outlaw bluegrass, and progressive olde-tyme. Using songwriting and performing as a vehicle for community service, the band�s mission is to inspire a culture of sustainability and peace.
THE GRASCALS return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new release Keep on Walkin�, on Rounder Records. They are already among the most beloved and acclaimed bands on today�s bluegrass scene. They were the IBMA�s Emerging Artist of the Year in 2005. Since then they won the IBMA Entertainer of the Year honors in 2006 & 2007.,
EDGAR MEYER & CHRIS THILE are two of the most respected and accomplished acoustic musicians on the planet. By the time he was 20 he was attracting a worldwide following as a member of the Grammy Award winning bluegrass super group Nickel Creek.Edgar Meyer is a master of the double bass and has been called the best bassist alive. Meyer began studying bass at the age of five, and throughout a lifetime of performing and composing he has turned the double bass into a modern virtuoso instrument that is equally at home in classical music and in the American vernacular.
THE WOOD BROTHERS are made up of Oliver and Chris Wood.The Wood Brothers have begun a collaboration that combines their influences of blues, folk, and rock music. RAILROAD EARTH is a bluegrass band whose music also incorporates folk, Celtic, jazz, and rock music. The band started out in 2001, and earned a spot at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival that June.
JEN CHAPIN is a Brooklyn, NY native is a singer, songwriter, activist and daughter of the late folksinger Harry Chapin. NATASHA BORZILOVA was born in Russia and moved to Nashville as the lead singer and acoustic guitarist of the band Bering Strait, a group of classically trained musicians playing bluegrass music.
SONYA KITCHELL songs are a true showcase for Kitchell's worldly voice, which, with its intimate tone and feathery falsetto, has earned her attention not only from critics, but also from one of the most respected figures in jazz: Herbie Hancock. The contemporary avant-rock trio band The Slip will be Sonya�s backing band for the show. DOUG MacLEOD is one of the last remaining bluesmen who learned from the old masters, lived the music, survived the life and carries forward that valuable tradition.
ROBERT JOHNSON is among the most famous of Delta blues musicians. RORY BLOCK is the winner of five Blues Music Awards. She studied the blues as a teenager with the legendary Son House who told Rory he taught Robert Johnson how to play guitar.SCOTT AINSLIE heard Virginia Bluesman and grave digger, John Jackson play a couple of songs in the middle of a Mike Seeger concert just outside of Washington, DC, back in 1967.
OLD BLIND DOGS are on the cutting edge of Scotland�s roots revival. Dynamic percussion with the small pipes and whistle and a fine blend of guitar, cittern, fiddle with rich vocals. BLUE MOUNTAIN have been living and playing in Oxford, Mississippi since the late eighties, creating original songs written in a traditional spirit, but with the hard edge of rock 'n' roll.
Richie Havens is an icon of the folk world who first rose to fame in the music scene that also fostered Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. In 1969 Havens opened the Woodstock Festival. His performance received continuous ovations and he kept playing encores until he ran out of songs. Finally, he decided to improvise a version of "Motherless Child"; the song was featured in the Woodstock film, and became an international hit.
THE CHARLIE SIZEMORE BAND are based out of Eastern Kentucky. Charlie is the son and grandson of banjo players, and he became fascinated by the sounds of bluegrass and mountain music as a child. ROB McNURLIN is known as "The Beatnik Cowboy" and just released a new album called Rhinestoned.HEIDI HOWE is singer/songwriter from Louisville, KY and writes irreverant, witty songs. MAGGIE ESTES is an 18 year old fiddler from Hopkinsville, KY. At 17, she had the honor of performing on the Grand Ole Opry. JUDGE RAY CORNS has been warming up the WoodSongs audience every week since 2003 with his tales from WoodSongs Holler. During the day, he�s an actual highly respected Judge.
BEOGA is the Irish word for �lively�. The group is a five-piece traditional band based in County Antrim, Ireland. NICK OGAWA is a cellist and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York. His new album, Introduction, travels through blues, folk, and pop styles on the way to his distinctive contemporary sound.
CHUCK LEAVELL is one of the most respected piano player and keyboardist in music, as well as one of the most dedicated and revered conservationists in the world. TORI SPARKS called "a knockout" by the Village Voice, her dynamic live show is equal parts soulful singing and zany stand-up-style humor.
HOMEMADE JAMZ BLUES BAND are three young siblings from Tueplo, MS whose firey original blues tunes are played on homemade guitars made out of car mufflers. THE BARRA MacNEILS are a family group that is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and history that hail from from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, and Nova Scotia in Canada.
THE EBONY HILLBILLIES are one of the last black string bands in AMERICA. They are based in NYC, consisting of fiddle, banjo, washboard and bass fiddle, and have successfully created a huge following while maintaining their grassroots credibility. THE CAT MARY call their music "Kitchen-Sink Americana." Based out of San Diego, the band blends acountry blues, ragtime, modern jazz, progressive acoustic music.
DAR WILLIAMS as a young songwriter in the north east, she began to make the rounds on the coffeehouse circuit. An early fan of her music was Joan Baez, who took Williams out on the road and recorded several of her songs. Williams self-released her debut album,The Honesty Room in 1993, then signed with Razor & Tie Records in 1995, which has been her label home ever since. She has also written two novels. Her second Lights, Camera, Amalee just became available in paperback.
THE GABE DIXON BAND was formed with Dixon - then a classical piano major at the University of Miami - and his two college roommates, bassist Winston Harrison and drummer Jano Rix.Gabe played keyboards on Paul McCartney�s CD, Driving Rain. CAROLINE HERRING digs deep into the rich soil of American music for her sound on her new CD Lantana. Her album cements her status as a story teller. The subject matter on the album is deeply rooted in the rural south.
BILL SIMS JR. and MARK LaVOIE have been playing their brand of front porch acoustic blues for almost 15 years. THE BELLEVILLE OUTFIT is startling six-piece ensemble from Austin, TX that�s mix of gypsy swing, big band jazz and cross-genre Americana.
Jakob Dylan is the lead singer of The Wallflowers who had a monster hit with the song "One Headlight." He is also the songwriter son of the legendary Bob Dylan. MINTON SPARKS Minton paints word pictures of the rural South that put you square in the middle of the people and the place she knows like the back of her hand.
THE DEL McCOURY BAND is the premier bluegrass band in America and returns to the WoodSongs stage for a one hour special event devoted to their new album Moneyland which is a hard-hitting look at economic injustice through songs old and new. Del first gained attention in the early 1960s as lead singer and guitarist for Bill Monroe's fabled Blue Grass Boys band. In recent years, he has led his own band, aided by sons Ronnie and Rob. CHRIS KNIGHT is a great Kentucky songwriter, who also appears on the Moneyland CD, and makes a special guest appearance on the show.
TAKEHARU KUNIMOTO & THE LAST FRONTIER is the world�s first bluegrass band incorporating the Japanese traditional music instrument "shamisen" in their compositions. Hot Club of Cowtown bring their high energy brand of Western Swing and Hot Jazz back to WoodSongs stage.
GEOFF ACHISON has a reputation as a guitarist�s guitarist. Fans of Tommy Emmanuel will love his playing, and he was recently voted by Guitar Player Magazine as one of the "Top Ten Hottest New Guitarists." THE BAND OF HEATHENS are roots rock band based out of Austin, Texas. During the 2007�s South By Southwest the band took home an award for "Best New Band."
OVER THE RHINE- SPECIAL EVENT returns to the WoodSongs stage where they will be the sole guest on the show. Based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist have been making music for more than 15 years. In fact, Paste Magazine recently listed the duo as one of the 100 Best Living Songwriters. The band�s latest release The Trumpet Child was hailed by many as one of 2007 best releases. It celebrates American music in the most richly imaginative ways as Detweiler and Bergquist�s evocative, earthy songwriting and impassioned delivery are at their finest.
ANDERS OSBORNE is a Grammy winning songwriter, singer and guitarist who�s song "Watch the Wind Blow By" was a number one hit for Tim McGraw. THE HILLBILLY GYPSIES are a West Virginia string band who play their own homegrown style of Appalachian old time music, mixed with a hard drivin' bluegrass sound.
ABIGAIL WASHBURN and the SPARROW QUARTET explore a mixture of old-time, folk, and bluegrass numbers, as well as intriguing original songs. Abigail�s solo work balances her affinity for Chinese culture with a love of traditional American music.
JANIVA MAGNESS is a LA based blues and soul vocalist is a three-decade darling of the blues genre. GRIFFIN HOUSE is a 27 year old who reveals a wealth of soulfulness and sincerity well beyond his years.
TIM KREKEL has a warm, personal vocal style and has perfected his own distinctive guitar playing. ANNA LAUBE brand of folk music merges country, blues, and Americana with her sultry voice.
JAMES McMURTRY is a Texas native and a hard core Trobadour. His songs chronicle the human condition with a slight political edge. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE is the son of legendary songwriter Steve Earle. His latest release is called The Good Life..
KATHY MATTEA - SPECIAL EVENT is the beloved, Grammy-winning singer of such classics as 18 Wheels and A Dozen Roses, Where�ve You Been, and many other hits. Her new album COAL is a concept album that she�s been thinking about making since she was 19 when she heard Dark as a Dungeon for the first time.
SHAWN MULLINS is a songwriter based in Atlanta, GA that is best known for his 1998 single Lullaby which hit number one and was nominated for a Grammy. THE BISCUIT BURNERS offer a fresh approach to acoustic music with roots that date as far back as mountain music can reach.
RUSS BARENBERG is one of the most dynamic pickers in acoustic music. MURIEL ANDERSON is one of the foremost fingerstyle guitarists in the world. JONATHAN "JUANITO" PASCUAL has been called "one of the greatest American flamenco guitarists."
TIM O�BRIEN returns to the WoodSongs stage for a full one hour SPECIAL EVENT broadcast. Tim, of course, is a master musician who was born in West Virginia. He made his way out to Colorado and formed the landmark bluegrass ensemble Hot Rize in 1978. He continues to be one of the most prolific musicians and songwriters in American roots music. His new CD Chameleon will be released this spring on Proper American Records. ,
THE STEELDRIVERS play what might be called bluegrass soul. Imagine a great bluegrass band playing with, say, Joe Cocker singing. You read right. The band is comprised of a group of veteran Nashville session players that have innumerable hits, cuts, and licks to their credit. They will be performing material from their self-titled debut CD on Rounder Records. CARRIE NEWCOMER returns to the WoodSongs stage to perform material from her latest release The Geography of Light, her 11th release, also on Rounder Records. A native of Bloomington, Indiana, this critically acclaimed singer/songwriter is considered one of the definitive voices of the heartland. She has been an artist, a teacher, a truck stop waitress, a single mother, an activist and writes and sings about the human condition with compassion and clarity.
The BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA return to the WoodSongs stage for to perform material from their latest CD Down in New Orleans. The Blind Boys of Alabama have spread the spirit and energy of pure soul music for over 60 years, ever since the first version of the group formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. Their last several albums have earned the band the best reviews and record sales of their career, four Grammy Awards in a four year span, and a completely new, contemporary audience. The entire one hour broadcast will be devoted to the band and their new record which was recorded entirely in New Orleans.