Jeffrey Dean Foster & The Arrows w/ Kate Musselwhite & Molly McGinn
Jeffrey Dean Foster is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, who is both a solo recording artist as well as a member of roots rockers the Pinetops. Foster got his start with rock music back in the ’80s with a pair of bands, the Right Profile and the Carneys, which were either signed to fruitless major-label record deals or completed albums that went unreleased. The ’90s saw Foster play shows along the East Coast as a solo performer, as he began laying down tracks for newly penned compositions with old friend/renowned producer Don Dixon (R.E.M., the Smithereens) overseeing the recording process. Soon after, Foster decided to form a band, the Pinetops (which included members John Pfiffner, drummer Will Dyar, and bassist Andy Mabe), to bring his new songs to life. The newly formed group issued their debut album, Above Ground and Vertical, in 2000, following up the release with a smattering of select tour dates (including an appearance at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX). In late 1999, Foster appeared alongside William Shatner as part of an ad hoc band for Priceline.com TV commercials, and a year later issued his first solo release, the live EP The Leaves Turn Upside Down. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi
The Gone Ghosts, Crenshaw Pentecostal, and Charles Latham & The Borrowed Band
The Wes Collins Band with Jeffrey Dean Foster and Sam Frazier
Wes Collins’ songs dig deep and go to uncertain, sometimes scary places. On his new album “Jabberwockies” (available June 3) you meet a woman who fears her power over men, and eavesdrop on both a precious friendship destroyed by unrequited romantic feelings and an addict in full-fledged panic. A lyric suggesting you “look out for the people who love you” takes a nasty twist in the last verse: “You got a scar on your spirit? / Somebody who loved you was probably holding the knife.” “Wes Collins has a wonderful gift for telling stories from truly unique points of view. Every narrator in Jabberwockies reveals thoughts I’ve had, but would certainly be terrified to express. Wes is a courageous songwriter. Wes also has that magical musical sensibility that makes me hit “repeat” on his songs. He makes my favorite records and he’s one of my ultimate favorite musical artists.”Jaimee Harris “(Collins) is one of the best songwriters in the (North Carolina) Triangle’s vital Americana quadrant.Author and critic David Menconi “Wes Collins’ songs have a way of circling around my mood and elevating it. His music makes me feel better, no matter how my day is going. I congratulate him on his new record Jabberwockies, a stellar collection of new songs, beautiful vocals, and glorious harmonies by Jaimee Harris and Crystal Hariu-Damore. I can’t stop listening to it, I love it!”Mary Gauthier
Folkknot and Mild Goose Chase
Megan Jean’s Secret Family w/ Kyle Caudle & Timberline and Don Mercle
MEGAN JEAN’S SECRET FAMILYMegan Jean: Lead Vocals, BassByrne Klay: electric banjo, VocalsTommy Bailey: Drums, Keys,Eric Davis: Guitar,Megan Jean’s Secret Family is a fresh blend of the 70’s by way of the 90’s rock, soul, country, and jam, emphasizing vocal-driven danceable original songs that bring together generations of sound. In May of 2024, the band made their national radio debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage alongside notable acts like Keller Williams and Bettye Lavette. DC Music Review called them one of their “New favorite acts” following an energitc performance at 2024’s DelFest. The band was awarded a creativity grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to produce their debut full-length album PLOT (Play.Loud.On.Turntable) which will be released in Fall 2024. In the three years since their formation they have shared the stage with Fastball, The Spin Doctors, Cabinet, Joan Osbourne, and Cris Jacobs.
Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam w/ Audrey Smith and Rebecca Porter
Audrey Smith”Audrey Smith writes music from the heart, one molded within her rich cultural heritage of the North Carolina Piedmont. Her songs honor traditional country and southern folk, with a unique sound dancing between the lines of bluegrass, radio country, and piedmont blues. She’s heavily influenced by North Carolina icons Doc Watson, Etta Baker, and her time spent in south Louisiana over the last decade.”Rebecca PorterRebecca Porter, originally from Guam and now based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, brings raw authenticity to her music, defined by her honey-smooth voice and sharp, irreverent songwriting. Her lyrics courageously explore personal themes such as trauma, discrimination as a Pacific Islander woman in rural Virginia, and the complex challenges of motherhood.Her musical journey began over a decade ago as a member of local cover bands, where she honed her skills and gained local acclaim. However, it was during the pandemic that Porter redirected her creative energy, eventually releasing two EPs: “Prime Rainbow Conditions” and “Queen of the Local.” The latter marked a pivotal move towards independence, propelling Porter to national and international recognition through her grassroots efforts.Recently, Porter joined Rissi Palmer’s esteemed Color Me Country Class of 2024 and made her debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage. Her music also captured the interest of Ed Helms, editor of Good Country, who selected her for his curated playlist, ‘Ed’s Picks’. These achievements underscore Porter’s artistic evolution and the broad appeal of her music, touching listeners well beyond her local beginnings.Listeners near and far have come to appreciate and connect with the depth of Porter’s emotional landscapes. She continues to captivate audiences with her musical journey that embodies unwavering determination, creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling through music. Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam Folk? Country? Blues? Rock and Roll? Sugar, vinegar, or spice? When Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam show up, it’s all on the table.”…a juke joint energy coursing through it and a humidity that seems to sweat out the sins and the booze that these characters are often soaked in.” ~Paste”Wickedly funny.” ~Susquehanna Folk Music Society”Devastating.” ~Americana Highways”One magnificent tapestry of roots music.” ~No DepressionColin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam’s music stretches across the American roots music world, from acoustic oldtime and alt country to electric blues and rock’n’roll, with touches of bluegrass and jam band energy.The last couple years have seen them playing at Merlefest, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the Susquehanna Folk Festival, Antlers and Acorns Songwriters Festival, and the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival, while selling out Greensboro’s Flat Iron and touring for shows from Georgia to Indiana’s Notre Dame University. Tarwater, their first release as a band, reached the top 20 in both Folk and Alt Country radio charts on its release
Laura Jane Vincent (Interstellar Album Listening Party and Show) ft: Emorie Hush and Emily Stewart
Dawn Landes and Tyrone Cotton
Dawn Landes is a North Carolina-based singer-songwriter whose music you might have heard if you watch The Good Wife, House or Gossip Girl. Along with releasing seven albums and five EPs since 2005, she’s a frequent collaborator with contemporaries such as Sufjan Stevens, Norah Jones and composer Nico Muhly. She has appeared with the Boston Pops, the NYC Ballet and on the TED main stage. Her musical ROW about fellow Kentucky native Tori Murden McClure’s quest to become the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean premiered in 2021 at Williamstown Theatre Festival and is available on Audible. Her latest release is The Liberated Woman’s Songbook, an album of folk songs that leads us through a history of women’s activism from the 1800’s through the high times of Women’s Lib in the 1970’s. The album was produced by her longtime collaborator Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) and features guests including Emily Frantz (Watchhouse, formerly Mandolin Orange), Kanene Pipkin (The Lone Bellow) Charly Lowry, Rissi Palmer and Lizzy Ross (Violet Bell). Tyrone Cotton’s earliest musical revelation was listening to the raspy, inspirational voiceof his grandfather, the Reverend Cleveland Roosevelt Williams, at his childhood homein Louisville, KY. Cotton began playing guitar along to the sounds of popular rock andblues artists and draws inspiration for his debut album from influences such as JerryGarcia, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and Mississippi John Hurt, who intrigued Tyrone withhis “ finger pickin’ and soft, wispy voice.” Cotton’s debut album, Man Like Me, is theresult of a lifelong journey of his nearly 30 years of performing in venues and as abeacon of the Louisville music community where he continues to reside today. Thecollection of songs developed over the past decade and documented on Man Like Me,is a deeply stirring reflection of Cotton’s own experiences which explores connection,loss, hope and resurrection, punctuated by a voice that is hauntingly evocative yetequally warm and alluring.The title track is a stunner: “Man Like Me” is melancholy, dark and haunting as Cotton’srich vocal shrouds the opening line. “I understand you’re afraid / And you don’t want toget mixed up / With a man like me / Rumors follow me wherever I go / You better watchyour step / You might learn something you don’t want to know”. Producer JoshKauffman’s production throughout is impeccable in both its restraint and expanse, whichis no surprise given Kauffman’s prior production work with artists such as The National,Bob Weir, Anais Mitchell and Josh Ritter.His own writing is deeply personal and pulls from those influences and embodies a vastlandscape of soul, folk, blues, jazz, and rock n roll. “I’m working on new angles andapproaches to songs. I’m intrigued by the process of having a story already in place andchiseling it into a song; looking outside but still looking in.” says Cotton.Cotton has toured throughout the United States and overseas but it’s in his hometownwhere he’s played hundreds, if not thousands of shows at clubs and festivals. He alsoretains residencies at several senior living centers where his vast knowledge ofrepertoire is showcased through performance every week which span 70 years ofcontemporary music. Soon, Man Like Me will have its moment to join the canon ofthose celebrated contemporary works
Will Willis And Friends w/ Evan Blackerby
A hardworking individual, a devoted family man, and a storyteller weaving talesthrough the medium of song, Will Willis epitomizes the journey of a rambling soulfinding solace and roots in the serene depths of North Carolina’s mountains. Hisupbringing was nomadic, traversing the landscapes of California, Montana, theCarolina coast, and eventually settling in the rustic heart of Appalachia.Guided by his father’s craftsmanship and a profound belief in the ethos of self-reliance, Will inherited a passion for woodworking, relishing in the art of creativedesign and the satisfaction of seeing projects to fruition. While music came later inlife, it swiftly became his vehicle for articulating lived experiences and personal truths.Will’s lyrical narratives often unfold through the lives of characters, delving intothemes of addiction, relationships, and existential quests, yet always underpinned bya resilient spirit of hope. He perceives life’s trials not as mere trials but as essentialchapters in the ascent up the mountain of existence, viewing realism through the lensof optimism.For Will, music is a holistic endeavor, a collaborative symphony wherein each bandmember contributes their virtuosic talents, infusing the songs with newfound vigorand depth. His genre-defying sound, a fusion of Folk Rock with nuances of Blues andFunk, has garnered acclaim since his debut in 2004, notably with recent singles”Honey Bee” and “Mercy.”A stalwart figure in the Southeastern Americana scene, Will Willis anticipatesembracing new venues and expanding the horizons of his band, “Will Willis andFriends,” in the aftermath of their upcoming release “Digital Movement” in May of2024. With each performance, he invites audiences to embark on a journey of musicalexploration, where the evolving process of creation mirrors the dynamic essence oflife itself
John Moreland wsg: Nathan James Hall (Old Heavy Hands)
John Moreland doesn’t have the answers, and he’s not sure anyone does. But he’s still curious,basking in the comfort of a question, and along the way, those of us listening feel moved to askour own. “I don’t ever want to sound like I have answers, because I don’t,” he says. “These songsare all questions. Everything I write is just trying to figure stuff out.”Moreland is discussing his new album Birds in the Ceiling, a nine-song collection that offers themost comprehensive insight into the thoughts and sounds swimming around in his head to date.A compelling blend of acoustic folk and avant-garde pop playfulness, Birds in the Ceiling livesconfidently in a space of its own, enriched by tradition but never encumbered by it. Thesongwriting that has stunned fans and critics alike since 2015’s High on Tulsa Heat remainspotent, while the sonic evolution that unfolds on the record feels like a natural expansion of 2020’sacclaimed LP5.The New Yorker, Pitchfork, Fresh Air, Paste, GQ, and others have embraced Moreland’smeditative songs, while performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS ThisMorning, NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and more have introduced Moreland to millions. And yet, whilethe Tulsa-based Moreland is grateful for the respect and musical conversation he’s now havingwith people around the world, he is also more focused on the idea of just talking to one person––or even himself. “Through the years, I’ve felt like I’m increasingly talking to myself in my songs,more and more,” he says. “Maybe in the past, I wasn’t aware of it, but now, I am. I think doing thathas helped me be less hard on myself, which makes you more generous and compassionate ingeneral.”That helps explain why even if Moreland is reaching out to someone else, there is no judgment.“I’m in the same boat with whoever I’m talking to,” Moreland says. Moreland’s songs do feel intimate––like overheard conversations or solitary meditations. “I wantto talk one-on-one to someone in a song,” he says. “I don’t want to address a group, really,because I think that’s when it’s easy to start pontificating––and it gets less honest.”On Birds in the Ceiling, Moreland’s singing contributes to the feelings of hushed intimacy.Wielding a warm, sandpaper soul voice, Moreland got used to singing loudly as he began playingin bars, fighting to be heard over chattering crowds. “When I first started singing, I was very self-conscious about it,” he says. “I think I tried to affect my voice more. Singing loud could be asecurity blanket sometimes. On the new album, on a lot of the songs I was definitely making aconscious effort to sing quieter––almost whisper.”Produced by Matt Pence and Moreland, Birds in the Ceiling is dynamic: a folk record that refusesto stay in its lane. It’s the second album for Pence with Moreland, who sees the former––a Denton,Texas-based engineer, producer, and drummer––as an ideal musical partner. “We have a lot ofthe same influences, and I have been really influenced by his bands,” Moreland says. “It feelsreally effortless
