The Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour Podcast

ADRIAN LEGG is one of the wizards of the acoustic guitar. Since the 1990 release of his first U.S. recording Guitars and Other Cathedrals, this English guitar music has more than lived up to the expectations stirred by an ongoing avalanche of praise from critics, fans, top guitar mags and peers alike. Joe Satriani once said, "He's simply the best acoustic guitar player I've ever heard." The genius that the Boston Globe has called "technical brilliance paired with a troubadour's tale-weaving skill" led him from 1993-96 to be voted Best Fingerstyle Guitarist four years straight and "Guitarist of the Decade" by the readers of Guitar Player magazine. His new album is "Slow Guitar." THE DUNWELLS are an acclaimed British folk quintet that are utterly natural. There's no more fitting description for both the music of The Dunwells as well as the story of their magical rise from the pubs of Leeds, England to an American record deal and a stunning debut album in just two short years. The group is two brothers, two cousins and totaling five best mates who simply love to sing and play music, and do so together. Striking an organic blend between acoustic and electric roots music laced by luscious vocal harmonies by all five members, their songs and sound feel both bracingly fresh while at the same time as warm and familiar as a dear longtime friend. Their debut album is "Blind Sighted Faith."

KAT EDMONSON is a buoyant singer-songwriter from Texas whose tiny stature belies a powerful voice. She makes smart, familiar pop; though steeped in vintage tradition, her style leans left of center. She's performed with Willie Nelson, opened for Smokey Robinson, toured with Boz Scaggs and Lyle Lovett, and headlined the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan. She also recorded "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Lovett for his new album "Release Me." Now splitting her time between Austin and NYC, Kat is eager to release her second record, 'Way Down Low.' She hopes it will be "a launching pad to play all over the world and travel wherever I can." SPIRIT FAMILY REUNION play homegrown American music to stomp, clap, shake and holler with. Ever since they started singing together on the street corners, farmer's markets and subway stations of New York City, their songs have rung-out in a pure and timeless way. When Spirit Family Reunion gather to sing, there is communion. Strangers and neighbors come to rejoice in the sound, and there is no divide between performer and spectator. The band's latest is "No Separation" and they will be playing at the historic Newport Folk Festival over the summer.

BALSAM RANGE is a group of five outstanding acoustic musicians and singers from Haywood County, North Carolina. All the guys in the band grew up in the rich musical heritage of the Appalachian South, surrounded by culture and heritage steeped in traditions of The Grand Ole Opry and other important influences. For their band name, they thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county...where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge. The band won the 2011 IBMA Song of the Year winner for their song "Trains I Missed" and were nominated IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year nominee in 2010 & 2011. The band's latest is "Papertown." SONNY MOORMAN is an award winning blues musician that hails from Hamilton, OH. Whether Sonny is deftly fingerpicking his Zeiler acoustic guitar, or playing sinewy slide on his Oahu lap guitar and Dobro resophonic guitar, this is classic Blues -- played and sung the way it was supposed to be. Sonny's current release is More Live as Hell - Up to My Neck in the Blues. Sonny will performing solo acoustic on WoodSongs.

JANIVA MAGNESS is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. A charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows, Magness is a gutsy and dynamic musical powerhouse. She received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (she is only the second woman to ever win this award, Koko Taylor being the first) and for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, an honor she also received in 2006 and 2007. She returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new CD "Stronger For It" , where she co-wrote three remarkable, autobiographical songs for the album.

LOREN & MARK are Central New York acoustic guitar standout Loren Barrigar and New Zealand star Mark Mazengarb. The two were instantly aware of the musical magic that was created the first time they played guitar together, working with the great Tommy Emmanuel at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp. It is difficult to classify the genre of music Barrigar and Mazengarb perform; they simply describe it as 'fingerstyle guitar'. The music is influenced by Bluegrass, Jazz, and Country, and their style of guitar playing is largely built upon the thumb-picking techniques pioneered by guitar greats Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. ETTA BRITT is one of the most versatile singers working out of Nashville today. Born in Lancaster, Ky., this seasoned veteran has toured the world and shared a stage or recording studio with everyone from Engelbert Humperdinck to REO Speedwagon to Waylon Jennings. In 1978, she joined Dave Rowland and Sue Powell in the country-music trio Dave & Sugar. She stayed with the trio from 1979 to 1985, during which time they received CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominations five years in a row. Etta has a brand new album "Out of the Shadows" and will be joined on-stage with her husband and renowned guitarist Bob Britt who has toured with Bob Dylan and John Fogerty.

JOAN OSBORNE is a six time Grammy nominee who had a massive worldwide hit several years ago called "One of Us." Joan is a Kentucky artist who overwhelmed radio with the clarity and power of her beautiful voice. Since initially rocketing to prominence on the success of "One of Us," the indelible, chart-topping hit from her 1995 debut album "Relish," the creatively restless singer has followed an adventurous career path that even included time as the singer for the Grateful Dead. We welcome Joan back to her Kentucky home as she performs songs from her new release, BRING IT ON HOME.

Bobby is celebrating 60 years performing bluegrass music around the world. As part of the legendary Osborne Brothers, he introduced one of the most popular songs in America's music canon: Rocky Top. Born in Leslie County, Kentucky, Bobby is known primarily for his collaborations with his brother Sonny Osborne in their band, the Osborne Brothers. He was a pioneer in conceiving the now-popular "high lead" vocal trio concept. He has released numerous recordings since the 1950s. The Osborne Brothers recordings of "Rocky Top", and "Kentucky" were named official state songs of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. Bobby will be performing songs tunes from his new album, NEW BLUEGRASS & OLD HEARTACHES.

The legendary McLain Family Band Reunion Show ... The McLAIN FAMILY BAND have delighted bluegrass audiences all over the world since beginning their musical careers in Berea, Kentucky. They were among the very first bluegrass groups to perform with symphony orchestras and have traveled to well over 60 nations playing their music. As the case with many family bands, the kids grow up and move on ito their own careers and lives ... but they are coming together for this special event broadcast. WoodSongs is extremely proud to present the reunion of one of Kentucky's true legacy musical groups.

THE HONEYCUTTERS are, at the heart, the musical collaboration of singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt and Lead Guitarist/ Producer Peter James. While their sound has drawn comparisons to such artists as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Platt and James produce a refreshingly unique blend of Americana music that is comfortingly familiar while being entirely original. This Asheville, NC band has just released their second album When Bitter Met Sweet. GRANVILLE AUTOMATIC is Vanessa Olivarez and Elizabeth Elkins. This Nashville-based alt country duo write songs pulled from a shared love of history, horses and war. Granville Automatic is named after a 19th-century typewriter: Vanessa is a collector. With sonic references like Lyle Lovett, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, Granville Automatic has created a quiet and lyrical sound devoted to telling stories from the past. Both girls have a history in the music business: Vocalist/songwriter Olivarez wrote and recorded a Top 10 single in Canada, has three cuts on Sugarland records, including a song on their multi-platinum Enjoy the Ride album, and received a Dora nomination for her work in the Toronto production of Hairspray. She was also a finalist on the second season of American Idol. Guitarist/songwriter Elkins is a Grand Prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest who has showcased at the Billboard/BMI Acoustic Brunch at SXSW, at BMI showcases in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Nashville, and at CMJ. The band's self-titled debut studio album was just released.

MARTY RAYBON has been called one of the greatest singers in music. Marty's signature country soulful vocals with Shenandoah were developed many years ago when he performed Bluegrass and Gospel music with his family.Throughout his epic journey, spanning nearly three decades, Marty has produced a remarkable list of career accomplishments including; multiple number one singles, top selling albums, CMA, ACM, IBMA, and Grammy Awards, along with scores of other accolades. Collectively, his contributions to the recording industry have sold well into the millions and he has performed literally thousands of live concerts at four corners of the earth. Marty has just released two new albums, Hand to Plow & Southern Roots & Branches, this year on Rural Rhythm Records. CHARLIE McCOY and his world class harmonica work has been a mainstay in Music City since the '60s. Charlie has played on dozens of hit records, including work for such legends as Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and many more. But the work that has distinguished this harmonica ace is contained on more than two dozen albums that Charlie has released over the past 3 decades. In 2009, Charlie was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Charlie latest is Lonesome Whistle: A Tribute to Hank Williams.

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new album 'Big Station' on Fantasy/Concord. Long one of America's most admired poet-rockers, his 35 years as a musician and two decades as a solo artist has taken him from Texas to California to New York and back again to Texas, encompassing a breadth of music as varied as the many bands he was part of before embarking on a solo career. The new album finds the ever-evolving Texas rocker highly-charged with spirit and purpose. Largely co-written with frequent collaborator Chuck Prophet, the album's 12 songs bristle with tension and hope as Escovedo fights to keep faith in a changing world and hold onto love. JOSEPH ARTHUR was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s, and signed to Gabriel's Real World label as the first North American artist on the label's roster. This Akron, Ohio-bred/Brooklyn, N.Y.-residing singer/songwriter's 1997 debut, 'Big City Secrets,' attracted a substantial following abroad. The artist didn't connect with Stateside listeners until 'Come To Where I'm From,' which features his signature song, "In the Sun." That track was covered by R.E.M.'s Stipe and Coldplay's Chris Martin in 2006 on a charity single to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, having previously been recorded a decade earlier by Gabriel for a Princess Diana tribute album. Arthur is also an accomplished painter, having displayed his works in galleries around the world. His latest is a double album titled 'Redemption City' released on his own label.

DULCIE TAYLOR is an award-winning singer/songwriter from the Washington, DC area. Her clear, supple voice, down-to-earth lyrics, her songwriting and use of the mountain dulcimer first caught our attention several years ago. Check out show #218 in the WoodSongs archive. She's back with a new album 'Free of this Sorrow' on MesaBluemoon and will be joined by Nashville musician, songwriter and really good friend of the show Bill Wence. In addition to crafting song lyrics, Dulcie Taylor is a prolific writer of poetry and prose. She is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Poetry Series at Washington, D.C.'s Folger Shakespeare Library. THE TREWS are a rock band out of Canada looking for their audience in the US. The band had been on an upwardly mobile streak since "Not Ready to Go" first came pumping out of Canadian radio back in 2003. They wasted no time piling success on top of success, watching their stature grow with with two gold records, ten top-10 singles and 850-plus concerts logged. The band will be performing a special unplugged session for their WoodSongs performance. Their latest release is 'Hope & Ruin.'

VICTORIA VOX and her ukulele return to the WoodSongs Stage with a brand new CD. Known as a pioneer for singer/songwriters in the growing ukulele genre, Victoria Vox has been writing and performing songs across the country in her eclectic, upbeat and clever way. Refreshingly modern and innovative, the award-winning vocalist and songwriter lives in Baltimore, and tours 130+ shows a year. The new album, 'Vox Ukulele Cello,' features Katie Chambers on cello who will accompany Victoria on WoodSongs. CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER are a formidable powerhouse of sound, with a repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk, old-time country and swing music. They've earned two Grammy Awards and have worked with the likes of Tom Paxton, Si Kahn, Riders in the Sky, Pete Seeger, Brave Combo, Mariachi Los Camperos, Mike Seeger, Patsy Montana, Pete Kennedy and Ysaye Barnwel. "ROCKIN THE UKE" is the very first Uke-centric CD and explores their versatility on the ukulele as they travel through blues, swing, old time county, folk and original songs - all in virtuoso style. THE LOVE LEIGHS hail from Austin, TX and combines ukuleles, guitar, a dash of clarinet; lots of harmonies, some twang, and more than a little sass. The band creates original songs in the tradition of 20th Century American acoustic music--a mix of jazz, blues, twang, and the occasional funky tune or Motown groove. Their latest Is 'All Your Talk of Love."

LURRIE BELL is a legend of the Chicago blues scene. Born in 1958, the son of famed blues harmonica player Carey Bell, Lurrie picked up his father's guitar at age of five and taught himself to play.In addition, he grew up with many of the Chicago blues legends around him. Eddie Taylor, Big Walter Horton, Eddie C. Campbell, Eddie Clearwater, Lovie Lee, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Dawkins and many more were frequent visitors to his house. They all helped to shape and school him in the blues, but none as much as his father's long-time employer Muddy Waters. By seventeen Lurrie Bell was playing on stage with Willie Dixon and soon formed The Sons of Blues band and toured with Koko Taylor. 'The Devil Ain't Got No Music,' is Lurrie's latest. It's a collection of acoustic blues and gospel songs that recollect the music he often played with his dad and at church in Mississippi and Alabama as a child. LISA BIALES is a soulful songstress, performer, and recording artist who weaves a tapestry of Americana, jazz and blues inspired folk. A native of Ohio, Lisa grew up in a musical family and began her career as a performing songwriter at the age of thirteen. Lisa has independently released six albums of music under her own Big Song Music label including her latest 'Just Like Honey' which was produced by WoodSongs alum EG Kight. Lisa also makes her film debut this year in Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola's new film,Twixt.

LAURENCE JUBER was the lead guitarist for Paul McCartney's band Wings, Juber is a Grammy winning, world-renowned guitar virtuoso, composer and arranger. He has released 19 acclaimed solo albums. His solo arrangement of The Pink Panther earned him a second Grammy. Pop Goes Guitar includes his arrangement of Stand By Me that was heard nationally in a 'Diamonds Are Forever' commercial. His CD "LJ Plays The Beatles" is one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine's' all-time Top Ten acoustic albums. PETE HUTTLINGER has become widely known as one of the most awe-inspiring acoustic guitar players in the world. He toured with John Denver for many years and appears with Country/Pop superstar LeAnn Rimes who often requests him for her acoustic performances. His unique arrangements and spell-binding musicality and precision have entertained audiences from Los Angeles to Milan to New York City's Carnegie Hall to two invited to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festivals. 'The Black Swan' is Pete's latest release. MACYN TAYLOR is a remarkable 17 year old guitarist who opened up for Michael at a show just outside of Milwaukee. Michael was so impressed with her playing and poise that he immediately invited her to be on WoodSongs. Macyn began playing the guitar when she was seven and graduated high school at 12. She recently graduated from college. She's an incredible young woman.