The Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour Podcast

WS643: Jake Schepps and Harpeth Rising

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:22:59 -0500

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 Béla Bartók,' 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'.

WS642: Michael Martin Murphey and Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 15:19:57 -0500

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.'

WS641: Keith Medley and Donna Ulisse

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 15:30:14 -0500

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.

WS640: John Gorka and Eliza Gilkyson, Blitz the Ambassador

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 15:13:38 -0500

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.

WS639: Time For Three and Tangletown Trio

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:52:36 -0500

TIME FOR THREE returns to the WoodSongs stage with their groundbreaking, category-shattering music that rises beyond traditional classification, with elements of classical, country western, gypsy and jazz idioms forming a blend all its own. This young, dynamic trio of classically trained string musicians transcends traditional performance genres. In concert, a bluegrass standard like Orange Blossom Special may be followed by a gypsy-tinged Csardas. The band is equally comfortable offering their own arrangements of shorter classical works and popular hits, whether Brahms or the Beatles. They have begun a major commissioning program to expand their unique repertoire for both symphony orchestras.

TANGLETOWN TRIO is an innovative new music group with classical and opera backgrounds. They celebrate new music and new composers with passionate elegance. The trio includes mezzo-soprano and composer Sarah Mattox, master violinist Jo Nardolillo, and pianist Judith Cohen, who is an official Steinway artist. All three of these very accomplished musicians are masters of their respective instrument and are considered some of the finest artists in the country. The TangleTown Trio has a mission to perform beautiful, powerful, evocative living music with a vibrant energy that claims the audience as a vital, active participant. Their brand new CD is called "Song Nouveau."

WS638: Ollabelle and Goitse

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 08:44:47 -0500

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 Bodhrán Champion. This is the band's first tour in the states.

WS637: Woody Pines and Colin O'Brien

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:22:44 -0400

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."

WS636: The Hillbenders and Al Petteway & Amy White

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:15:08 -0400

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.

WS635: Nu Blu and Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:54:45 -0400

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.

WS634: Hot Tuna and Mountain Heart

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:25:53 -0400

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.

WS633: Vintage Wildflowers and Hoots & Hellmouth

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 17:16:49 -0400

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."

WS632: Blame Sally and The Twilite Broadcasters

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 17:12:59 -0400

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.

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."

WS631: Rockin' Acoustic Circus and KJ Denhert

Sun, 4 Sep 2011 12:12:08 -0400

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 "Artists 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."

WS630: Celebration of Unusual Instruments featuring Peter Hedlund, Maeve Gilchrist, Andy Cohen & Dick Boak

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:05:10 -0400

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.

WS629: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, The Kids of Bluegrass

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:02:11 -0400

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.

WS628: Carolyn Wonderland and The David Mayfield Parade

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:58:32 -0400

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.

WS627: Guitar Shorty and Tracy Nelson

Mon, 8 Aug 2011 16:36:50 -0400

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.

WS626: Rhonda Vincent and Gene Watson

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:29:53 -0400

RHONDA VINCENT AND 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.

WS625: The Blind Boys of Alabama

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:28:20 -0400

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.

WS624: Tommy Emmanuel

Sun, 3 Jul 2011 18:13:07 -0400

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!!!

WS623: Milkdrive and BettySoo & Doug Cox

Sun, 3 Jul 2011 18:13:05 -0400

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.

WS622: Janiva Magness and The Honey Dewdrops

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:50:30 -0400

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 full-time 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.

WS621: Acoustic Eidolon and Hymn for Her

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:03:17 -0400

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. hymnforher.com

WS620: Holly Golightly and Lipbone Redding

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:25:48 -0400

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.

WS619: Amanda Shires and Ben Hall

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 13:08:15 -0400

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.

WS618: Sierra Hull and Pokey LaFarge

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:09:55 -0400

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, TN 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.

WS617: Suzy Bogguss and Ted Yoder

Sun, 29 May 2011 11:09:50 -0400

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. A 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.

WS616: Bearfoot and The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

Sun, 22 May 2011 12:30:05 -0400

BEARFOOT is a bluegrass 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 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.

WS615: Celebration of Appalachia with Emmylou Harris, Darrell Scott and others part 2

Sun, 8 May 2011 16:55:51 -0400

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. NIKKY FINNY is a writer and poet who will recite the James Still poem "Heritage" during the broadcast. She is the author of several books of poetry, most notably "Rice," winner of the PEN America Open Book Award, and "The World is Round," winner of the 2004 Benjamin Franklin Award for Poetry. Sue Massek from the Reel World String Band will play banjo behind Nikky's recitation. MOLLY ANDREWS returns to our stage to perform her very powerful rendition of the acapella coal mining song "That Twenty Five Cents You Paid." Born the granddaughter of mountain folks and coal miners in Bluefield, WV, her lineage trails deep into pre-revolutionary southwest Virginia and the 'lost province' of Ashe County, North Carolina. She employs particular intuition and versatility as traditional acapella and interpretive singer, multi-instrumentalist and songsmith, for the edification of all concerned.

WS614: Celebration of Appalachia with Emmylou Harris, Darrell Scott and others

Thu, 5 May 2011 23:17:17 -0400

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. NIKKY FINNY is a writer and poet who will recite the James Still poem "Heritage" during the broadcast. She is the author of several books of poetry, most notably "Rice," winner of the PEN America Open Book Award, and "The World is Round," winner of the 2004 Benjamin Franklin Award for Poetry. Sue Massek from the Reel World String Band will play banjo behind Nikky's recitation. MADISON GLOVER is a delightful 10 years old singer from Morehead, KY and she will perform an a capella version of the Jean Ritchie mountain song "In The Cool of the Day."

WS613: Great American Taxi and Michael Hearne

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:28:39 -0400

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.

WS612: Gary Morris and The Roys

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 13:05:52 -0400

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, Colombia 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.

WS611: Over the Rhine and David Wax Museum

Sat, 9 Apr 2011 22:14:51 -0400

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. overtherhine.com

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."

WS610: Greensky Bluegrass and Eden Brent

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 10:35:31 -0400

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.

WS609: Celebrating the Women of Bluegrass featuring Roni Stoneman, Dale Ann Bradley & Bella Betts

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:01:50 -0400

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.

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.

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.

WS608: Angel Band and The Laws

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:09:00 -0400

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.

THE LAWS are a husband and wife 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.

WS607: The SteelDrivers and Molly Andrews

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:17:19 -0500

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 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 band's 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 miner's granddaughter in Bluefield, West Virginia, she uses a 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.

WS606: Jesse McReynolds and Lucky Peterson

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:12:19 -0500

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 has been 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 blues master, recorded what Amazon.com called "his finest album," Black Midnight Sun in 2003, but personal troubles prevented 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.

WS605: Punch Brothers and The Chapin Sisters

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:01:36 -0500

PUNCH BROTHERS return to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new 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.

WS604: Celebration of John Jacob Niles featuring Dr. Ron Pen, The Niles String Quartet, Reel World String Band, Carla Gover, Dennis Bender & Monica Dewey

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:09:32 -0500

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.

WS603: Guy Mendilow Band and Still on the Hill

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:46:06 -0500

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.

WS602: Mollie O'Brien and Rich Moore, Gary Bennett

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:11:28 -0500

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.

WS601: The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band and The Sweetback Sisters

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:38:46 -0500

THE TENNESSEE MAFIA JUG BAND with LEROY TROY are a frolicking fivesome that brightens up the stage with rib-tickling old time tunes. From the musical home of Bill Monroe, Bashful Brother Oswald, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, Keith Whitley and some living country music performers, comes the most entertaining "blast from the past" since Lester Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys. They're five guys and a scrubboard, with roots as deep as wisdom teeth. They will joined on stage with the old time banjo master Leroy Troy who wowed the WoodSongs audience a couple of months ago (See show #585).

THE SWEETBACK SISTERS sing country songs in close, surrogate-sister harmony and matching dresses. Their charismatic charm harkens back to the golden era of both the silver screen cowgirl and the old-time cowboy stars of local UHF TV kiddie shows, wrapped around a core of deeply felt love for traditional country music styles and a palpable joy in playing and singing together. Their first full-length album "Chicken Ain't Chicken" was released on Signature Sounds Recordings and has created quite a stir.

WS600: Peter Yarrow

Sun, 9 Jan 2011 21:15:29 -0500

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!

WS599: Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and Next Best Thing

Sun, 9 Jan 2011 21:12:01 -0500

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!

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!

WS598: Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Jubal's Kin

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:19:07 -0500

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.

WS597: Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and Raymond McLain

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:41:16 -0500

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.

WS596: 2010 Woodsongs Radio Fund Drive Special

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:38:59 -0500

Please support public radio! This one hour radio special features some of the shows best performances including Jakob Dylan with Neko Case, Brandi Carlile, Janis Ian, Odetta, Dar Williams, Sam Bush, and many more.

WS595: Songs of Water and Megan McCormick

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:52:23 -0500

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.

WS594: Billy Bragg and Wanda Jackson

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:40:56 -0500

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 and Justice."

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.

WS593: Wanda Jackson and Billy Bragg

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:09:41 -0500

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."