Woodsongs Vodcasts

Latest Episodes:

Woodsongs 761: Special Consensus plus Bluegrass Kids featuring Cane Mill Road and Jonathan Wilson-Rader Feb 03, 2015

Show notes

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.

Woodsongs 760: The Kruger Brothers Feb 03, 2015

Show notes

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,

Woodsongs 759: The Infamous Stringdusters and Elephant Revival Feb 03, 2015

Show notes

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."

Woodsongs 758: Matt Andersen and The Howlin� Brothers Feb 03, 2015

Show notes

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

Woodsongs 757: Acoustic Eidolon and Willie Watson Feb 03, 2015

Show notes

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.

Woodsongs 756: Larry Sparks and American Drive Jul 11, 2014

Show notes

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.

Woodsongs 755: Amy Ray and John Fullbright Jul 11, 2014

Show notes

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'.

Woodsongs 754: Celebration of the Music and Life of Pete Seeger featuring Rik Palieri, Rick Nestler, Mark Dvorak, Chris Walz, and Frank Hamilton Jul 11, 2014

Show notes

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!

Woodsongs 753: Donna the Buffalo and Eliza Rickman Jul 11, 2014

Show notes

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.

Woodsongs 752: Pink Martini and The von Trapps Jul 11, 2014

Show notes

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected