Woodsongs Vodcasts

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Woodsongs 730: The Makem & Spain Brothers and Runa Mar 21, 2014

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THE MAKEM & SPAIN BROTHERS are song collectors in the spirit of their forefathers preserving old folk songs and introducing a new generation to this rich musical history. The Makem's continue the lineage of one of Irish music's dynasties, begun by their grandmother Sarah Makem and father Tommy Makem, who is now considered an icon. The Spain Brothers learned Irish songs at their father's knee. This band of brothers have honed their craft over nearly two decades of international performances and are now a road-tested Irish vocal group. A host of various instruments and five male vocals, using precise three-part harmonies blend perfectly for what many describe as a wall of sound. RUNA draws on the diverse musical backgrounds of its band members and offers a contemporary and refreshing approach to traditional and more recently composed Celtic material. This award winning ensemble includes members that hail from Philadelphia, Dublin, Canada and Louisville, KY and have played with Solas, Riverdance, Slide, Clannad, Fiddlers' Bid, Moya Brennan, Eileen Ivers, Hazel O'Conner, Full Frontal Folk, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Barc�, T�ada, and the Guy Mendilow Band. The band won recently won an Independent Music Awards for Best Song in World/Traditional Category. The band recently released their third album, 'Somewhere Along the Road'.

Woodsongs 729: Annie Moses Band and Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers Mar 21, 2014

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THE ANNIE MOSES BAND has wowed audiences performing their unique roots music that blossoms into a baroque-pop sound flavored with a shot of classical fervor and dy-namic string instrumentation. Named after their great grandmother who prioritized mu-sical education for her children, even in poverty stricken times, The Annie Moses Band is comprised of 9 members of the Wolaver family, several who are Julliard alumni. The band has just released their latest album 'Pilgrims and Prodigals'. It's a sophisticated, complex blending of classical, jazz, folk, bluegrass and even a frisson of Celtic thrown in for good measure. JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS are one of the hottest music acts in the Midwest. They are the 2012 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year. The band is collaboration of veteran Bluegrass musicians who have worked with one another during former musical endeavors, in the Ohio Valley. They are fronted by Joe Mullins, a banjo player and AM radio station owner that has earned 5 IBMA awards and 3 SPBGM awards over the past two decade.

Woodsongs 728: The Barn Birds and Melissa Ferrick Mar 21, 2014

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THE BARN BIRDS are a collaboration between veteran North Carolina Americana songsmith/guitarist Jonathan Byrd and Northwest singer/fiddler/guitarist Chris Kokesh, known for her work with Misty River. Jonathan and Chris Kokesh met in 2007 and dubbed themselves the Barn Birds when they made their first recordings together. The duo's self titled album is an album about romantic love expressed with sophisticated musicality, smart songs and great sound. Byrd and Kokesh include songs written with and by Amy Speace, Anthony da Costa, Carey West, Corin Raymond, Anais Mitchell, Rob Vaarmeyer, Luke Dick, and the late Jack Hardy. MELISSA FERRICK signed to Atlantic Records in the mid-�90s. Ferrick was part of a new wave of alt-rock females�including artists like Liz Phair, PJ Harvey and college-mate Paula Cole�who sang about womanhood with sharp, unchecked honesty. Morrissey proved an early champion when he personally invited her to tour as his opening act, and Ferrick eventually went on to found her own label and release a string of albums and EPs (more than 16 to date) in which she played almost every instrument herself. She tours regularly and plays to packed houses across the U.S. Her latest is 'the truth is' on MPress Records.

Woodsongs 727: Mandolin Orange and Jesse Dee Mar 21, 2014

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MANDOLIN ORANGE is Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, a duo that makes hushed, intricate, timeless music from the North Carolina Triangle region, drawing on deep American musical traditions to tell moving 21st century stories. The band has toured with Kathleen Edwards, Abigail Washburn, and Rosanne Cash, who says of their music, "Love it - it has the plainspoken, mournful power of bluegrass and the elegance and intricacy of American classical, like Copland or Barber." They are make their Yep Roc debut with �This Side of Jordan'. JESSE DEE is a singing, songwriting, guitar-playing soul man-a modern day trailblazer inspired by the old school. Based out of Boston, his warm and honest sound, his instantly memorable melodies and positive, slice-of-life lyrics (evoking the heyday of the Brill Building songwriters), Jesse expertly updates soul music for contemporary audiences. Dee's Alligator Records label debut is 'On My Mind / In My Heart'.

Woodsongs 726: Tribute to Dr. Ralph Stanley featuring Don Rigsby, Nathan Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys Jan 08, 2014

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Tribute to Dr. Ralph Stanley featuring Don Rigsby, Nathan Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys ABOUT DR. RALPH STANLEY Dr. Stanley is the legendary icon, that for over 6 decades, has become one of the most influential artists of all time. In 1946, along with his older brother Carter Stanley, they formed the legendary Stanley Brothers duo. The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys became one of the most popular brother acts in Country Music history. After Carter�s death, Stanley shifted the band�s musical emphasis from hard-driving bluegrass to an older, sadder, less adorned mountain style. In 2002, Stanley received his first ever Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance of the haunting rendition of “Oh Death� that was featured in the movie and soundtrack of “O Brother Where Art Thou�. DON RIGSBY has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. He has a life-long passion for the music of Dr. Ralph Stanley. His latest release, 'Doctor�s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley', are all songs Stanley recorded throughout his 67-year (and counting) career. Some are rare gems the Old Master seldom or never performed in his stage shows. Don is a two-time Grammy nominee and two-time winner of the SPBGMA�s Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year awards. NATHAN STANLEY is the grandson of Dr. Ralph Stanley, Nathan has been called the "Prince Of Bluegrass" and an heir to the Stanley Music Royalty. His new album, 'The Legacy Continues', salutes his bluegrass forebears and introduces some newer tunes that have all the earmarks of enduring including the heartfelt self penned song "Papaw, I Love you". THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS has been the name of Dr. Stanley touring band since he and his brother started performing together as The Stanley Brothers in 1946. The band has produced some of Country and Bluegrass music�s biggest stars including Ricky Skaggs, Larry Sparks and the late Keith Whitley. The Clinch Mountain Boys will be the backup band for both Nathan and Don for this historic WoodSongs broadcast

Woodsongs 725: Crystal Bowersox and Maria Doyle Kennedy Jan 08, 2014

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CRYSTAL BOWERSOX catapulted from the coffeehouses and subway tunnels of Chi-cago to millions of homes across America when she placed second in Season 9 of American Idol by her emotive folk-rock-country style. Old soul voice, care-free style and "don't mess with me" attitude set her apart from the other contestants and landed the self-taught songstress performances with the like Joe Cocker, Harry Connick, Jr., and Alanis Morrissette. Her latest is 'All That For This' . MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY gained international acclaim for her roles on esteemed films and television series like Dexter, Downtown Abbey, and The Tudors. From Ireland, her fifth solo release 'Sing', is a 10-song collection co-written with husband Kieran Kennedy, featuring duets with Damien Rice, Paul Brady and, on 'Yes We Will', the legendary John Prine. Richly imagined, 'Sing' marries folk forms with torch-song melodies, flamenco rhythms, avant-rock, Celtic, Mediterranean and Appalachian airs.

Woodsongs 724: Over the Rhine and Courtney Jaye Jan 08, 2014

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OVER THE RHINE is the southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist. The acclaimed folk/Americana duo return to the WoodSongs with a brand new double album titled 'Meet Me At The Edge Of The World'. The songs were all recorded live and were inspired by the couple�s move to a pre-Civil War farm in southern Ohio eight years ago. The album was produced by Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry. COURTNEY JAYE is a Nashville based singer/songwriter whose angelic, high plains vocal and its steady reverb wash fits in well with other female alt-country artists like Neko Case and Jenny Lewis. Her latest LP, 'Love and Forgiveness' is an organic and rootsy album that recalls the classic 70s-inspired pop of her heroes Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, The Band and Fleetwood Mac.

Woodsongs 721: Amy Grant Dec 18, 2013

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AMY GRANT has sold more than 30 million albums, including one Five Time Platinum album, 1 Triple Platinum and 1 Double Platinum album, as well as additional Six Platinum and 4 Gold albums. She has won six GRAMMY Awards in multiple categories. Her career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots into her experience as an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. It's been ten years since she has released a full-length studio album and her new album, 'How Mercy Looks From Here', delivers one of her most powerful albums. It's a soundtrack that embraces both the triumphs and challenges of life and was inspired by talks with her ailing mother (to whom the record is dedicated).

Woodsongs 719: Tommy Malone and Hey Marseilles Dec 18, 2013

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TOMMY MALONE has enjoyed a successful career as the guitarist, singer for the leg-endary SUBDUDES for over two decades. A musician�s musician, he has recorded with Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin and Anders Osborne, and has impacted markets with hit other projects including Tiny Town and the Continental Drifters. His songs have been recorded by Joe Cocker, The Radiators, Tab Benoit and many others, but it�s his ability to perform his own stories and turn them into vivid musical images that sets him apart from other performers. His first solo record in 12 years 'Natural Born Days' tracks one man�s journey through life, suffering through hard times from hurricanes to heartbreak but al-ways finding a way to keep on keeping on. HEY MARSEILLES [pronounced: hay mar-say ] is the critically acclaimed orchestral pop sextet from Seattle. The band produces a lush wall of orchestral sound using cello, viola, trumpet, accordion, clarinets, piano, guitar and drums around Matt Bishop's memorable melodies and honest lyricism. Their unique orchestral chamber pop (or 'folkestra' as the band likes to say) has become the group�s signature sound. The band has just released their sophomore album 'Lines We Trace'. It represents a band steady enough in its sound, that it can expand beyond it.

Woodsongs 718: Nikki Hill and Rick Estrin & The Nightcats Dec 18, 2013

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NIKKI HILL hails from Durham, North Carolina. She draws on vintage female rhythm and blues influences such as LaVern Baker, Etta James and Ruth Brown, as well as some of her favorite male singers Otis Redding and Solomon Burke, without being stuck or pi-geonholed strictly as a �retro� artist. Her tough vocal style fits with contemporary sensi-bilities yet evokes all the great blues shouters of previous decades. With the success of similar artists such as Amy Winehouse or Imelda May, Hill is poised to blaze her own trail in their wake. Her upcoming release is �Here�s Nikki Hill�! RICK ESTRIN ranks among the very best harp players, singers and songwriters in the blues world. His work on the reeds is deep in the tradition of harmonica masters Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter Jacobs, while at the same time pushing that tradition forward. Rick was awarded the Blues Foundation's prestigious Blues Music Award for Best Harmonica Player at the 34th annual BMA. He will be performing with his band The Nightcats. His latest is 'One Wrong Turn' on Alligator Records.

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