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Woodsongs 781: Celebration of the Music of Appalachia Oct 30, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 780: Ian McLagan and Janiva Magness Oct 30, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 779: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley and EmiSunshine Sep 02, 2015

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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'.

Woodsongs 778: Crowe, Lawson & Williams Sep 02, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 777: A Country Tribute to Buddy Holly featuring David Frizell and Helen Cornelius Sep 02, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 776: Mud Morganfield & Kim Wilson and Angaleena Presley Aug 25, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 775: FullSet and Las Cafeteras Aug 25, 2015

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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'.

Woodsongs 774: Joshua James and Neulore Feb 13, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 773: Ellis Paul and Socks in the Frying Pan Feb 13, 2015

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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.

Woodsongs 772: Celebration of the Music of Jean Ritchie Feb 13, 2015

Show notes

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.

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