East Tennessee's Own WDVX

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/2 - Weary Ramblers / Cam Cool
2024-10-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Newly formed Iowa folk duo, Weary Ramblers bring years of experience to the stage with award-winning songwriting and chemistry. Chad Elliott and Kathryn Fox showcase multi-instrumental performances with tight harmonies and great storytelling.
“That man’s music is as honest as was Woody Guthrie’s.” – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Chad Elliott blends folk roots and soulful writing to deliver an original sound with over two decades of being on the road.. Elliott is lauded as “Iowa’s Renaissance man” by Culture Buzz Magazine. He has penned more than 1,500 songs in his career while also cultivating his skills as a painter, sculptor, illustrator and author. Elliott’s career demonstrates a love of folk, roots and singer-songwriter music. He has worked with and shared the stage with artists of the highest caliber, including Odetta, Tom Paxton, Loudon Wainwright III, Ruthie Foster, Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, etc.
“When listening to Fox for the first time, one might wonder, how can a young woman make a violin sound so good?” – Cityview Magazine
Deemed “fiddler extraordinaire” in Cityview Magazine, Kathryn Fox is a DownBeat award winning artist. She played on the Grammy-nominated track “All My Tomorrows” with Kate McGarry. Kathryn toured internationally with fiddle troupe, Barrage 8, with shows in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. She has performed, recorded PBS specials and recorded with George Benson, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Pharrell Williams, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Osmond Brothers, Gloria Gaynor, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Kenny Loggins, Mark O’Connor, Ryan Montbleau, Seth Walker, Edgar Meyer and Joshua Bell.

Cam Cool is an Indie Rock duo based out of Nashville, TN. The duo is composed of identical twins Aaron and Tyler Cage – who have played under the alias for four years and have played music together their entire lives. Cam Cool is a name borrowed from a friend in university, a satirical attempt to perform and promote their music as a singular individual – being two people who look and sound identical.
Cameron’s music attempts to be as light hearted as their name, driven by heartfelt lyricism laced with satire, delivered by full live takes and paired sonically with raw and gritty instrumentation – inspired by indie powerhouses such as The National, Blake Mills, and Alex G. The duo plans to release their debut album in 2025.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/3 - Dave Hawkins
2024-10-03 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Singer/songwriter Dave Hawkins has been touring and recording professionally since 1976. Since his early career playing college folk clubs around Columbus, Ohio, Dave has expanded his core repertoire to Americana—an amalgam of “non-corporate” country, roots rock, folk, and other styles, including Celtic-crossover tunes.
Although Dave has performed and recorded with such international stars as Sam Bush, Aoife Clancy, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), and Peter Yarrow (Peter Paul & Mary), he loves the energy and intimacy of smaller and more informal venues. When not in Nashville (signed with Mountainside Music Publishing, Nashville) or on tour, he plays in clubs and music halls throughout the region.
In addition to his solo career, Dave is bandleader of the Americana band, THE PERFECT MEN, and performs in a duo with fiddler Peg Buchanan.

The WDVX Big Plate - 10/4 - Colby T Helms & The Va Creepers
2024-10-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Colby T Helms & The Va Creepers:
The Blue Ridge Mountains wind through eight states over a stretch of 615 miles. In Virginia, they overlook Franklin County south of Roanoke. Back in the day, bootleggers would refer to the area as “The Moonshine Capital of the World” due to its perfect placement to export contraband. These days, the textile mills of Rocky Mount and other once cozy-towns have shut down, leaving minimal opportunity and a lot of hopelessness. At the bottom of the Southwest Virginia foothills half-a-mile from the nearest neighbor, Colby Helms resides in an “underground house” built by his late father. He hunts and takes care of his mom. He also pens the kind of raw and real country music that cuts to the bone. After signing to Photo Finish Records, he introduces himself with a series of 2023 singles and his forthcoming debut album.​
“I want to show what it’s like to grow up in a rural, impoverished area,” he says. “A lot of these old little towns in Virginia and North Carolina used to be thriving, and now they’re nothing. There are a lot of people on welfare who can’t hardly do anything besides struggle to survive. There’s addiction. There’s pain. Sonically, I’m drawing from all of the classic Appalachian musicians. I believe a lot of the old music is too good to be lost. I’m trying to be a time capsule and hold this true feeling and carry it with me. In my music, I’m telling a story about people who came from nothing—like my dad and me—and made something out of it.”​
Colby’s mother and father became parents later in life. Mom worked as a secretary, while dad was a handyman and “the go-to guy for anyone around here for when something went wrong.” At the same time, pops loved to sing classics from yesteryear to his boy and constantly play the Juice Harp. “He played that thing so much he had false teeth,” recalls Colby. After achieving a Civil Engineering Degree during the energy crisis of the seventies, dad chose to build a sustainable home underground. Made from different types of wood and rocks from the mountains, it evoked a certain fairytale magic. At 12-years-old, Colby endured the loss of his father due to cancer. Beset by sadness and loneliness, he turned to music. He taught himself guitar, banjo, and mandolin by watching local performers and YouTube videos. He amassed a growing record collection, combing through the stacks at flea markets and browsing eBay. Under the influence of the forefathers of country, he listened to dusty vinyl from Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys, and Jimmie Rodgers in addition to embracing modern artists.​
Along the way, he carefully developed a signature style of his own.​
“This is a vision I’ve had since I was in early high school,” he goes on. “I really got into the history of the genre. I wish I had earlier, because I could’ve talked to my dad about it. The music tells part of my life and hopefully shows listeners a part of the world they haven’t seen before.”​
Joined by his band The Virginia Creepers, he cut his teeth with countless gigs around the area. He also shared a series of arresting D.I.Y. performance videos on YouTube, including “Smoke and Flames.” With starkly honest songwriting and a sharp angular twang to his vocals, he struck a dynamic balance between country storytelling, blue grass energy, and blues power. He caught the attention of Photo Finish Records and inked a deal with the label in 2023.
Now, he’s shining a light on a very special part of America and offering up hope.​
“When you listen to me, I hope you feel like you’re not alone and you have a chance to fulfill your purpose,” he leaves off. “Everyone deserves to know this. I also want you to know Appalachia is not just a dead-end place full of dead-end people. There is still growth happening here. I’m trying to give you a taste of our way of life.”

First Friday Live - 10/4 - Andy Pirkle & Friends
2024-10-04 18:00 - 19:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Come enjoy the sounds of Andy Pirkle and friends.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/5 - Dustin Sellers
2024-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
“I’ve always written songs without any walls or rules. I write and create whatever moves me in the moment, regardless of where it may fit in today’s genres. You never know what lovely accidents may happen.” – Dustin Sellers

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/7 - Skyler Gudasz
2024-10-07 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Skyler Gudasz is a day dreamer with the nightly blues. Songs & singing from Durham, NC.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/8 - The Crybabies
2024-10-08 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
The Crybabies are five tired angels in four part harmony. They play anything that disguises the offensive nature of the banjo. They hope to one day slap a stranger in the face.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/9 - Common Man / Krislyn Arthurs
2024-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Common Man is the explosive indie-pop duo that defies expectations and captures hearts. Compton & Meredith, the husband and wife behind the magic, craft entrancing stories and harmonies that resonate deeply. Their performances, whether with a full band or in an intimate duo setting, have graced stages across the the south-east U.S., leaving an indelible mark on audiences.

Krislyn Arthurs looks Punky, sings Country.

WDVX Summer Nights - 10/9 - The Tim O’Brien Band / The Songs from the Road Band
2024-10-09 19:00 | Yee Haw Brewing Co, 745 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1954, Grammy winning singer songwriter and multi- instrumentalist Tim O’Brien grew up singing in church and in school. After seeing Doc Watson on TV, he became a lifelong devotee of old time and bluegrass music. Tim started touring nationally in 1978 with Colorado bluegrass band Hot Rize. His songs “Walk the Way the Wind Blows” and “Untold Stories” were bluegrass hits for Hot Rize, and country hits for Kathy Mattea. Soon more artists like Nickel Creek, Garth Brooks, and The Dixie Chicks covered his songs. Over the years, Tim has collaborated with his sister Mollie O’Brien, songwriter Darrell Scott, and noted old-time musician Dirk Powell, as well as with Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, Dan Auerbach and Sturgill Simpson.
Living in Nashville since 1996, O’Brien’s skills on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo make him an in-demand session player. He tours throughout the US and abroad, most often with his wife Jan Fabricius on mandolin and vocals. A voracious reader who loves to cook, he has two sons, Jackson (born 1982) and Joel (born 1990). The International Bluegrass Music Association awarded him song of the year in 2006 and named him best male vocalist in 1993 and 2006. He was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2022.
O’Brien’s latest release, 2021’s “He Walked On”, weaves historical and socially conscious themes through songs about ordinary and not so ordinary people just trying to “keep it between the ditches”. Other notable O’Brien recordings include the bluegrass Dylan covers of “Red on Blonde”, the Celtic-Appalachian fusion of “The Crossing”, and the Grammy winning folk of “Fiddler’s Green”. His duet recording “Real Time” with Darrell Scott is a cult favorite, and he won a bluegrass Grammy as part of “The Earls of Leicester”. His 2017 release “Where the River Meets the Road” paid tribute to the music of his native West Virginia. A new release of original material “Cup of Sugar” drops June 16.

Songs From The Road Band is an Asheville, North Carolina based bluegrass supergroup featuring Mark Schimick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Wharton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). The band takes flight with virtuosic picking, singing, and grammy award winning songwriting. Several of their most recent singles have gone to the top of the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. They have 6 studio albums available at all musical outlets.

WDVX Summer Nights supported by ORNL Federal Credit Union and Yee Haw Brewing Company.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/10 - Brian Revels / Sara Jean Kelley
2024-10-10 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
A river beneath a river with an edgy sense of humor, Sara Jean Kelley is an explorer, a rescuer, naturalist, and an active member of her creative community. Born and raised by the venerable bluegrass songwriter, Irene Kelley, Sara loves wild plants and animals and music and people and has the scars and stories to prove it. Sara’s songs are conceptual, yet relatable. Her voice is timeless, yet singularly her own. And her delivery can shift, like the weather, from dark and sultry, to light-as-a-feather.
A lover of wild things— plants, animals, people, and music— Nashville native Sara Jean Kelley crafts songs that combine upbeat, pop-inspired country hooks with thoughtful, often philosophical lyrical themes that explore our human connection to the natural world. Due to her dark sensibility and slightly melancholic sense of humor, Kelley’s particular brand of alternative country is multidimensional, with one foot firmly rooted in her Nashville Country/Americana background, another foot exploring the realms of alternative rock, rock and roll, pop, and even hip hop influences. Her voice, at times husky, dark and sultry, at times floating light-as-a-feather, has been compared to celebrated female country stars Brandi Carlisle, Patti Griffin, and Lucinda Williams. She’s opened for country music icons Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, and her songwriting reveals a clear, intuitive understanding of what makes a song work. Her latest EP Black Snake, is about life and death, transformation and rebirth, strength and resilience; all the things you experience in your early thirties that you wish you had known a decade earlier.

Brian Revels is energy and angst in a comet trail of music that is as perceptive as it is entertaining. His observations of Americana ring with authenticity. He’s a wily veteran of the Atlanta, Georgia music scene, a multi-instrumentalist, and a natural-born storyteller with a poetic edge. Before forming his current ensemble, The Heat Lightning, he helped to build the folk trio, City Mouse, into a regional force, sharing stages with acts like The Steeldrivers, Parker Milsap, The Whiskey Gentry, and Faye Webster.
Brian Revels & The Heat Lightning made their streaming debut on 2020’s “Jasper County Blues” which Immersive Atlanta called “a collection of stories set between the opening of saloon doors and the desperation of last call.”
Revels draws from folk and blues and country and bluegrass, is an alternative to them all and a better man for their influences. The hole he’s worn in his guitar is not as large as the one he’s worn in his heart with the care of the lives he hopes he can redeem one song at a time. His timeless musicality will touch your soul with the drama, and the significance, of love lost and regained, of the human frailty that reduces and yet ennobles each of us.

The WDVX Big Plate - 10/11 - India Ramey
2024-10-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
India Ramey blazes a trail through cinematic spaghetti western landscapes to wood floored Honkytonks and the Appalachian foothills. Saving Country Music describes her as “like Loretta Lynn grew Betty Page bangs, and a habit of using bad words” and No Depression says of her newest album, “On her new album, India Ramey is here to kick ass, play honky-tonk and chew bubblegum and she’s all out of gum.”
Featured as one of the “Must See Acts at SXSW “(No Depression, Austin Chronicle), a Nashville’s Lighting 100 artist of the week, a three-time Americana Fest showcasing artist, and one of NPR’s “10 Nashville Artists on the Rise”, India has only continued to rise among the ranks of as one of Country and Americana’s brightest up and coming artists. Ramey’s last two albums’ mix of Americana noire, country and southern-gothic songwriting helped expand Ramey’s reputation far beyond the Deep South and she’s toured heavily around and beyond those releases. Her 2020 album, Shallow Graves debuted at number six on the Euro Americana Charts and landed a song as Rolling Stone’s pick of the week.
Ramey has just released her newest and biggest album yet, Baptized By The Blaze, produced by Grammy award winning producer, Luke Wooten (The SteelDrivers, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Sunny Sweeny, Jim Lauderdale). The new album combines India’s classic country sound with her dark cinematic imagery cohesively and seamlessly and it is already off to an impressive start, blowing up from number #90 to #8 in just one week on the Alt. Country Charts, landing at #1 most added the first week on Americana Radio and #1 on the Bubblin Up Americana Chart list in the second week on Americana Radio.

Kidstuff Live - 10/12 - Sean McCollough
2024-10-12 10:00 - 11:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Sean McCollough is a National Parent’s Choice Award winner, a children’s radio host, a multi-instrumentalist, and a seasoned performer. He also teaches musicology at the University of Tennessee and is a teaching artist in the schools.
He is, in part, cut from the clothe of the likes of Pete Seeger and John McCutcheon with a passion for American folk music and a desire to play music that brings people together. He also loves rock ‘n roll, world music, and writing his own songs.
His family shows range from deep dives into the hollers of Appalachia to trips around the world to romps through fun and educational original songs. While guitar and banjo are always on hand, you may also catch him playing mandolin, piano, dulcimer, jaw harp, hand drums, spoons, and more. His shows are participatory at every turn – whether it’s singing or banging along, performing motions to go along with songs, or helping to make-up songs on the spot. And while you’re having fun, he’ll slip in some tidbits about the history of the instruments, the development of musical styles, and basic music education.
Sean has over twelve albums to his credit, including three records for kids. His most recent family recording, Earworm, won a National Parent’s Choice Award, a National Parenting Products Award and received honorable mention from the national Fids and Kamily Music Awards. The album includes nine original songs, four covers, and appearances by Grammy-nominated Molly Ledford and well-known children’s artist Billy Jonas.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/12 - Chris Long / Mace Hathaway
2024-10-12 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Singer-songwriter Chris Long, music is an adventure that keeps getting better and better. He grew up with a father who was a musician, and learned to play guitar at age 12. Since then, the adventure’s just kept going. Chris Long writes and performs music from the Heartland, Roots Rock & Americana genres.
Chris played in two bands with his father in the late 90s and early 2000s. They played together in the bands Sloe Ginn and Stonewall Gray. Since then, he’s moved away from performing with a group to focus on a career as a solo singer-songwriter. He has performed across the US and internationally, including performances at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe and The Commodore. Chris has graced the stages of Dollywood’s famed DreamMore Resort, Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse and the infamous WDVX “Blue Plate Special” along with radio & television appearances.
Chris’s music blends Americana and rock to create a rough yet classic sound. His focus is on telling stories of everyday life and the world around him through his songs. He’s heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The sounds of classic rock come through in his music. He’s also a history teacher, something that’s had a strong impact on his songwriting. He says, “For me, music has to mean something. I love songs that speak about life and the world we live in. That’s the music that tells our story. That’s the music we carry with us throughout life.”

Mace Hathaway is a singer/songwriter from the heart of the midwest, & he can really tell a story. Driven by his soulful voice, the energy in his delivery and clever lyrics have been known to consume the listener. Mace is What some might call a prolific writer, with over 200 songs to his credit.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/14 - K.L. Rose / Grant Maloy Smith
2024-10-14 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Grant Maloy Smith is a Billboard Top 10 recording artist and MusicRow Country Breakout charting songwriter of American Roots music. His Americana theme albums, including DUST BOWL: AMERICAN STORIES, APPALACHIA: AMERICAN STORIES, and MISSISSIPPI: AMERICAN STORIES have all earned rave reviews from Americana Highways, MusicRow Magazine, Bluegrass Today, Roots Music Report, and more. Over the years his albums have spent 17 weeks on the Billboard charts, including eleven weeks in the Top 10 on the Americana/Folk album sales chart and #12 on the Country album sales chart. Grant has performed twice at Carnegie Hall and has won numerous awards, including two Grammy® certificates.

K.L. Rose is a country music songwriter and singer based in Chicago, Illinois. K.L was born into a country music tradition and has been playing and singing country music his whole life. He started writing songs after moving to Nashville as a teenager, inspired after ages of sitting in honky tonks and bars listening to writers pour out carefully crafted stories. K.L.’s songs are lyrical and introspective, investigating complex and often painful emotions, and the common human experience of hiding them away.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/15 - Tanner Bingaman / Brenda Lynn Allen
2024-10-15 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Tanner Bingaman plays writhing folk from the hills of Appalachia via guitar, banjo, & harmonica. Tanner’s songs are an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink gumbo, with explorations ranging from poignant punk melodies to rapturous and uncanny instrumental meditations, oftentimes finding himself perplexed by the task of coming down from yet another improvisational meandering. Tanner prefers barefoot walking and once saved the family dog from a rattlesnake.
Tanner has been happily featured on NPR stations throughout Pennsylvania, and he has shared stages with some of his favorite songwriters including Charlie Parr, Darrin Hacquard, and Sam Bailey. In 2021, Tanner was awarded Emerging Artist of the Year by the Susquehanna Folk Music Society, and in 2023, Tanner played his first international show with his New Zealand family of musicians (the Pakipakis), raising funds for flood-relief efforts on the North Island. He is currently playing shows all over the Lower 48, touring in support of the projects Tanjo & Crow and Tanner Bingaman’s Pretty Big Garden. The debut album, “Everything & Nothing” from Tanner Bingaman’s Pretty Big Garden is now available on limited edition vinyl, CD, cassette, and streaming everywhere.

Brenda Lynn Allen is a Singer*Songwriter*Show Host*Content Creator* Co-Founder of MuleTownSound Inc/Southern Roots Radio.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/16 – Mean Mary / Kim Richey
2024-10-16 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
In January 2024, Kim Richey found herself in Mexico, gazing out at a sea of people singing along to “I’m Alright,” one of her classic tracks. The three folks on stage with the veteran, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter were also raising their voices in harmony. To her right sat Brandi Carlile, to her left, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Brandy Clark. The formidable foursome was participating in a songwriter’s round only half-jokingly dubbed “Titans of Americana” at Carlile’s female-forward Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.
“That was nuts looking out and seeing everybody arm-waving and singing along,” says Richey, still both incredulous and cheered by the memory of performing with that supergroup and later appearing alongside other Girls Just Wanna Weekend-ers Annie Lennox, Lucius, Allison Russell, and Sarah McLachlan among others. “It was just like, ‘wow’!”
The good news for fans of this particular Titan is there will soon be a whole new batch of songs to sing along with and arm wave to with the forthcoming release of her 10th studio album Every New Beginning.
Due out May 24, 2024 the album features 10 tracks, written, or co-written by Richey with a coterie of characters, over the course of several years, and produced by critically lauded multi-instrumentalist and producer Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, John Hiatt). It was recorded at Skinny Elephant studio in Nashville with engineer Dylan Alldredge in August 2023 with musical assistance from longtime collaborators like Dan Mitchell and Neilson Hubbard — who produced Richey’s 2013 album Thorn in My Heart — and newer friends like Nashville neighbor Aaron Lee Tasjan, who lends his irrepressibly sparkly musicality to the proceedings. Every New Beginning manages to continue the throughline of Richey’s nearly 30-year career while simultaneously adding a new chapter.
The songs represent the full spectrum of the Ohio native’s gifts as both a revered songwriter who can leap from melancholy to mirthful in a single couplet — whose songs have been recorded by the likes of Brooks and Dunn, Patty Loveless, and Mary Chapin Carpenter — and owner of one of music’s truly celestial voices.
That voice, which Brandi Carlile has cited as formative in crafting her own style, is a widely sought after harmony instrument and has been featured on scores of albums including Jason Isbell’s acclaimed Southeastern, Trisha Yearwood’s Everybody Knows, Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams, Reba McEntire’s Starting Over, and Has Been by Capt. Kirk himself William Shatner, among many others. Richey’s music continues to loiter at the Americana intersection of country, folk, pop, and rock conjuring everything from Lucinda’s humanity, the Beatles shimmer, Tom Petty’s effervescent stomp and Joni Mitchell’s laser-sharp lyrical craft.
Given that Richey’s last release was 2020’s Long Way Back… the Songs of Glimmer, an intimate reimagining of her acclaimed 1999 album, Every New Beginning is an apt title for the new album.
It sprang from something Richey heard in the 2023 documentary King Coal. “It was really great,” she says of the meditative examination of the cultural legacy of the coal industry. “A little girl narrates the film, and it starts out with a funeral procession, and she says, ‘My dad used to say every new beginning starts with an end.’ And I was like, ‘I’ll have that. Thank you very much.’ And now it’s the name of my record and what this record means to me.”
Accordingly, Richey starts at the beginning with the aching rainy-day remembrance of “Chapel Avenue.” Written with Don Henry, the pair combined childhood memories to capture a universally recognizable series of flashbacks, easing into the album with a bittersweet ballad, a Richey special.

“Mean” Mary James, youngest of six children, was born in Geneva, Alabama, though her family lived in Florida, a couple miles below the Alabama line. Her mom (author, Jean James) and dad (WWII veteran, William James) lived a very nomadic lifestyle. On one occasion they packed up the family (Mary was four at the time) and moved from Florida to North Minnesota, near the Canadian border, to rough it in the wilds.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/17 - Old Souls / Wilson Springs Hotel
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Old Souls, based out of the North Georgia mountains, Jenu Six and Chantal Lynn bring to town their dive bar music. Sharing a love of country and the road, several years and many weathered miles, they’ve spun their ghost stories into songs. Reincarnated to play for sinners and honky tonk angels searching for something real, proving Old Souls never die.

The Wilson Springs Hotel are rooted in folk music and hail from all parts of Virginia.

The WDVX Big Plate - 10/18 - Daniel Kimbro / Jay Clark promoting Benefit Shows
2024-10-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Daniel Kimbro will be promoting Appalachian Allies Benefit Show.
I live in East Tennessee. I have two kids, a whining, braying hound dog, and I have a wife who tolerates my making the pursuit of music my career and lifestyle.
I play the bass, mainly. I started out on the guitar, but the first cover band I auditioned for said, “we could use a bass player.”
I grew up in places called Morristown and White Pine in East Tennessee.
My parents fed me on a steady diet of bass and crappie fishing, The Stanley Brothers, Van Halen, Flatt & Scruggs, W.A. Mozart, The Police, New Grass Revival, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt, among many others. Mom taught me the recorder and I played the trombone in the 5th grade. We had a family bluegrass band called “Mountain Soul” in which I played mostly guitar, and then some bass. Dad drove us all over East Tennessee with our plywood bass strapped to the roof of our car. One time we drove into a parking garage and forgot it was up there. I stopped playing trombone in college and immediately got laid. Speaking of getting laid, back to bluegrass…
Our family band played only the finest backwoods general stores, swap meets, cake walks, Civil War reenactments, volunteer fire-halls, tanning bed salons, Cocke County family reunions (we crashed one just to meet a really good clawhammer banjoist), and one massively awkward Seventh Day Adventist church service…I wouldn’t trade the times on stage with my parents and brothers for anything in the world. I would trade some of the food though.
I began my “formal” music education in 2001 at the University of Tennessee, which is where I began studying the double bass. I went to school for way too many years and managed to graduate with a degree and a half in Strings Performance and Studio Music and Jazz, though I’ll say I’ve learned more in the last 10 years than I did in the previous 25. I’m grateful to my college bass professor, Rusty Holloway, for the invaluable lessons he taught me about how to learn and perform music, and how to be a team player.
During college and after, I’ve been fortunate to travel and play with many different groups all across the U.S. and Canada, Northern Europe/Scandinavia, and Japan. During a tour with the Lovell Sisters Band I had the privilege of playing in front of perennial Grammy award-winning resophonic guitarist Jerry Douglas, and he asked me to join his band in 2013. I’m grateful to Jerry, and thanks in no small part to him I’ve been fortunate enough to share the stage (or at least sit around and pick) with many of the folks I grew up listening to.
In March of 2017 I was asked to handle bass duties on the Transatlantic Sessions 2017 US Tour, where I had the honor of subbing for bass great and personal hero Danny Thompson. During that tour I found myself accompanying Sir Aly Bain, James Taylor, Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Roseanne Cash, John Paul White, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, The Milk Carton Kids, Declan O’Rourke, Karen Matheson, Maura O’Connell, Joe Newberry, Russ Barenburg, John Doyle, James Mackintosh, John McCukser, Michael McGoldrick, and Donald Shaw. That was a whirlwind full of amazing music and lovely people. It is really fun to ask for more James Taylor in your monitor.
In 2014 or so I was introduced to Martin Harley by our mutual friend Sam Lewis. Martin and I hit it off and made a couple records, and now I go to England and Canada a fair bit. There’s lots of rule following, traffic cameras, and boot/hat fashion advice flowing both ways (oft ignored).Sam, Martin and I are currently working on a trio record. That’s right ladies. Trio.
In 2018 we in the Jerry Douglas Band were nominated for a Grammy award in the the “Best Contemporary Instrumental Record.” We lost.
In late 2018 I was asked to join the Flatt & Scruggs tribute band The Earls of Leicester. I said yes.
In early 2019 I was asked to once again step into Danny Thompson’s huge brogues and perform with the Transatlantic Sessions for the UK tour throughout Scotland, England and Ireland, alongside featured artists Tim O’brien, Molly Tuttle, Gretchen Peters, Cara Dillon and Paul McKenna. Then we did it again in 2020, right before Covid, alongside Tommy Emmanuel, Cahalen Morrison, Sierra Hull, Rachel Sermanni, and Cathy Jordan. I asked Cathy Jordan to marry me. She said no.
Though they don’t likely remember me, I’ve been able to make music with the likes of Brendon James Wright, Sam Lewis, Martin Harley, Robinella, Hector Qirko, R.B. Morris, Casey Driessen, Larkin Poe, Thom Hell, John Frazier, Matt Menefee, The Whistles & The Bells, Jeff Sipe, John Medeski, Jason Isbell, Maggie Longmire, Your Mom, John Hiatt, Sarah Siskind, …and I’ve been able to play some remarkable venues: The Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, The Tennessee Theater, Bonnaroo, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, MerleFest, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, StordFest, The Vancouver Island Folk Festival, The Kate Wolf Folk Festival, The Edmonton Folk Festival, New Orleans Jazz Fest, The Blue Note Tokyo, Chateau St. Michelle, Jammin at Hippie Jacks, The Bijou Theater, Rochester International Jazz Festival, and a bunch of others I can’t remember right now…anyway, it’s been fun, and it’s getting better all the time. Thanks for listening, and I hope to see you somewhere.

Although Jay Clark went to college for 11.5 years and has a PhD in wildlife ecology, he somehow ended up striking a balance between careers in music & science. Jay grew up in Winchester, Tennessee, near where the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau crosses from Tennessee into Alabama. His dad was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister for 42 years. His mom an English teacher. Church played a huge roll in Jay’s upbringing. It was in the church where Jay learned to sing & in the mountains where he felt closest to God. Jay wrote his first song in 1990. He didn’t know how to play guitar, so he taught himself to play in order to put music to his first song. That song was the first of many.
Jay has been a staple in the East Tennessee music scene for more than 20 years. During his college years, Jay not only trapped & conducted research on black bears in the Smokies, but also played in a couple of different bluegrass bands, most notably a brother-style duo with Keith Garrett (currently of The Boxcars) and later in a bluegrass band, The Stringbeans, with Robinella and Cruz Contreras (currently of The Black Lillies). Since releasing his first record in 2004 (Pen to Paper), Jay has supplemented his career as a scientist with performing his songs across the Southeast & southern Appalachia. Presently, Jay plays a number of his shows with his band, Jay Clark & the Tennessee Tree Beavers, which features Greg Horne on lead guitar & Daniel Kimbro on upright bass. Jay recently released his fifth recording, Of Mountains & Heartbreak (2016). He still uses the other side of his brain as an adjunct professor in the Biology Department at Maryville College. Jay resides in the foothills of the Smokies on 31.5 acres in Rockford, TN, with his wife, Stacy, and their pack of rescue hounds. For more info, visit www.jayclarkmusic.com.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/19 - Tim Chandler / Molly Frances
2024-10-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Good songwriting matters to all of us whether we know it or not. It tells the truth in a way that keeps us all moving towards something better. When songs become laundry lists and trend chasers, they become nothing and so do we.
Tim Chandler is a songwriter dedicated to telling the truth in song in an out of the box way. Combining his influences of bluegrass, country, and folk, his music is drawn from life in work, family, and frustrations with songs that don’t say anything.
Growing up a preacher’s son in Western Kentucky, Tim’s first exposure to music came through the traditional hymns that made up every service. Now, his influences range all over the board, drawn from the places and people he has worked with, roamed with, and written with. From West Coast cover bands to Rocky Mountain forestry crews, swampy Florida factory floors to construction sites in Alabama. Now, he wants to share those stories with you.
Tim has a whole catalog of songs to his name and now his self-titled record is available to purchase or stream. You can keep up with him and his bandmates on Facebook, Instagram or wherever you stream music. For inquiries about booking or collaborating, please contact below.

Molly Frances is an indie pop singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. Known for her blend of feel-good instrumentation and deeply heartfelt lyrics, she gained traction online after the release of her song “Meet the Devil” in 2022. Growing up in Annapolis, Maryland, Molly relocated to Nashville in 2018 to study at Belmont University’s School of Music, where she quickly became a standout in the local indie pop scene. With influences like Holly Humberstone, Indigo De Souza, and Leith Ross, she is inspired by her heroes as well as her own community of local musicians and friends. In May 2024, she released her latest single, “Holding Your Hand,” an ambient ballad that reflects on themes of love and loss.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/21 - Stone Silo
2024-10-21 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Mike Silovich, born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota and Robyn Aristone Silovich from the small town of Elm, NJ were pursuing separate careers in Nashville when they found themselves sharing the stage. It wasn’t long until they joined forces to form the duo Stone Silo in 2011. The chemistry between Mike and Robyn didn’t end on stage and their relationship grew into a love for more than music.
While still performing alongside Robyn, Mike continued as a “guitar player for hire”. During this time he accepted the position as the lead guitarist for Mark Wills, affording him the opportunity to play at historic places like the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry. In October 2011, after an Opry performance, Mike proposed to Robyn in the only place he saw fit..at the Grand Ole Opry! They would marry the following year.
Over the next few years, they would continue to write songs and perform hundreds of shows per year in the Nashville area and beyond.
Ready to plant their roots and start a family, they bought a 12 acre tobacco field on the outskirts of Nashville. Fulfilling their dream of building their own home, they purchased a 5th wheel camper to live in and began the process. Over the next year, with Robyn helping when able while carrying the first of their three children, Mike would build their home. With their homestead taking shape and their family growing, Mike and Robyn would maintain a presence and continue singing in Nashville.
In 2020, they felt a strong conviction to shift towards writing and performing original music. Getting inspiration from their country lifestyle they began recording and releasing a string of singles, to later be compiled as a collection of songs entitled “Things I’ve Learned”. Gaining momentum as songwriters, their latest EP “Where I’m Bound” (June 2024) is their most intimate project to date. Mike recalls, “I remember something just clicked with us while writing these songs, and we felt like we were able to write down what we were really wanting to say. And that’s an amazing feeling as a songwriter.”
The songs on “Where I’m Bound” reveal their broad range of influences. Robyn fell in love with the music and style of Honky Tonk singers like Hank Williams, and the storytelling of songwriters like Radney Foster made a huge impact on her as a young musician, as well. In Robyn’s words, “My dad would take me to see a local band when I was in grade school. From the first time I saw them, I felt the magic in the music. As I grew and dug further into more songwriters and artists, from the light hearted lyrics of Jimmy Buffett to the honky tonk, rockabilly sounds of BR-549 and the deep musical expressions of Keith Gattis, I knew I wanted to make people feel the way I felt when I heard the stories in and behind the songs.” In contrast, Mike cut his teeth on a deep dive into Blues and Soul musicians such as Sam Cooke, BB King and Al Green. “I loved everything about it.” Mike remembers. “Immediately I connected with the energy and the emotion of the music. To this day, every time I take a guitar solo or sing a line, I’m drawing inspiration from people like Bobby Womack, The Staple Singers, or Clarence Carter.” Eager to learn all he could about the music he loved, Mike would spend a number of years in both Minneapolis and Chicago before calling Nashville home.
Though the two have their own unique influences, they have openly embraced the other’s tastes in music and adopted them into their sound as a duo. “It’s a really cool feeling when you can listen to a James Brown boogie woogie, and then play a Lefty Frizzell song and understand that they’re really no different from each other. It’s all just music, and it all melts together.” Mike explains.
Navigating the waters of being independent artists as well as husband, wife and parents, they welcome the challenges each day brings with the life they’ve chosen. “At the end of the day, there’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing you and your family are living out God’s plan for your life.” Mike shares. “Not saying it’s always certain or always easy, but we can’t rightly tell our kids to chase their dreams in this life if we aren’t practicing what we preach. So we choose to lead by example.”

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/22 - Michael Dinallo / Phoebe White
2024-10-22 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Michael Dinallo is an award winning Producer, Guitarist, & Songwriter.

Phoebe White has performed on the GRAND OLE OPRY with Grammy award winners Riders in the Sky. She was presesnted with a special exhibit at the KENTUCKY MUSIC HALL OF FAME in 2023. She has also performed with Suzy Bogguss, and shared the stage with Michael Johnathon, David McLean, Bluegrass band of the year: The Farm Hands, members of Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, New Grass Revival, The McLain Family Band, & more. She has performed multiple times on WOODSONGS OLD TIME RADIO HOUR and WOODSONGS KIDS as well as Best of America by Horseback on RFD-TV; The country music capital of Kentucky: Renfro Valley, The Kentucky Opry, and more. She is a proud member of the INTERNATIONAL WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION, BMI, AND MUSIC CITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION
A 14 year old from the foothills of Appalachia, Phoebe is inspired by music pioneers who have gone before her such as Roy and Dale, Patsy Cline, Jimmie Rogers, and Patsy Montana. Sharing the music of America’s cowboy past is one of her passions.
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Phoebe is an accomplished yodeler with an extensive range. Her bubbly personality, poise on stage, powerful voice, & energetic performances are simply captivating!​ Phoebe is a MULTI INSTRUMENTALIST, SINGER, SONGWRITER; who loves to entertain live audiences which she has enjoyed doing since since the age of 8.
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2023 – Album UnXpected ranked #7 on the Western Charts
2023 – Song “Boo Hoo Blues” ranked #10 on the Western Charts
2023-2024 featured in Kentucky Music Hall of Fame exhibit
2023 featured on Spirit of the Bluegrass on WDKY Fox56​
2023 featured on Best of the Bluegrass on WLEX18 NBC affiliate
2023 featured in Kentucky Monthly Magazine
2022 International Western Music Association Yodeling Contest Janet McBride Best-of-the-Best Award!

Pickin’ Up The Pieces Fundraiser at Yee Haw for Mountain Ways - 10/22
2024-10-22 16:00 - 22:00 | Yee Haw Brewing Co, 745 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
WDVX & Yee-Haw Brewing Company Partner for an All-Star Bluegrass Hurricane Helene Benefit Concert Featuring Wyatt Ellis, Sierra Hull, and More!
KNOXVILLE, TN – WDVX & Yee-Haw Brewing Company are proud to announce “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”, a Hurricane Helene benefit concert featuring an all-star lineup of bluegrass favorites. Hosted at Yee-Haw Brewing Co., “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” will include over 5 hours of live music from Bluegrass musicians from across the region. Concert attendees are encouraged to donate to Mountain Ways, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance to the victims of Hurricane Helene flooding.
“Pickin’ Up the Pieces” will be held October 22 from 4-10 pm at Yee-Haw Knoxville, 745 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. A donation is suggested for attendees at the door as well as donation QR codes located around the property. The concert lineup includes East Tennessee Bluegrass All-Stars Wyatt Ellis, Barry Bales, Alex Leach, Justin Moses, Biscuit Davis, Billy Contreras, and features special guests Sierra Hull, Cruz Contreras, Tim Stafford, Robinella, Ralph Stanley II, Jay Clark, and more.
Wyatt Ellis heard about the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Helene fresh off of receiving his first International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award in Raleigh, North Carolina. Soon after the ceremony, it was clear that, for many of the musicians at the annual Convention, disaster was impending. Wyatt quickly realized that the hardest-hit areas were in the heart of the bluegrass music community.
“WDVX is looking forward to a special day with incredible talent for a very worthy cause. Our goal is to raise money and awareness for the needs of our friends and neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene,” says WDVX General Manager Tony Lawson. “We are excited to work with Wyatt Ellis and all the incredible musicians donating their time and talent. We thank Yee Haw Brewing Company for supporting the efforts and providing a wonderful venue for the event. A big thanks to Mountain Ways for bringing us all together to generate support through live music.”
100% of donations acquired from the concert will benefit Mountain Ways, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance to the victims of Hurricane Helene flooding. Mountain Ways is committed to providing ongoing disaster relief, coordinating efforts with local organizations and officials to ensure that essential resources reach the most affected areas efficiently. “One hundred percent of donations will be used to directly help victims of this disaster,” said Lori Moore, Executive Director at Mountain Ways. “We are honored to serve the people of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, and thankful to these talented artists and to Yee-Haw Brewing Co. for helping with recovery efforts.”
This isn’t just a concert—it’s a heartfelt effort to unite local artists and music lovers to support those in need. Don’t miss this special night of bluegrass, community, and giving back.
For more information on how to donate to Mountain Ways, please visit https://mtnways.org/
For more information about the concert, “Pickin’ Up The Pieces” please visit yeehawbrewing.com.
About WDVX
WDVX was started in 1997 by a grassroots effort of passionate, like-minded people who wanted a radio station that represented the culture of the mountains and celebrated its music. WDVX was inspired by the songs that came from generations of people swapping tunes and picking on the porch.
WDVX promotes the cultural heritage of East Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region with original musical programs showcasing live radio performance, under-represented arts, and emerging and local talent. WDVX broadcasts on 89.9 FM, 102.9 FM in Knoxville and 93.9 FM Seymour/Kodak
About Yee-Haw Brewing
Founded in 2015, Yee-Haw Brewing Co. started in a historic railroad depot built in the late 1800s in Johnson City, TN. Quickly growing from a start-up to one of the fastest developing craft breweries in the southeast, Yee-Haw Brewing currently has locations in Knoxville, TN, Johnson City, TN, Pigeon Forge, TN, Gatlinburg, TN, Nashville, TN (a campus shared with Ole Smoky Moonshine), and Greenville, SC.
Yee-Haw is an award-winning brewery with several beer championship awards at the state and national level. Built on a strong foundation of core beers and rotating seasonal beers, each location has experienced brewers on-site that develop specialty craft beers reflective of their local markets.
Yee-Haw Brewing is about more than beer, it’s about creating an environment for good times with good people. Yee-Haw’s focus is to create a space where communities have a place to gather and create memories with family and friends, old and new.
About Mountain Ways
Mountain Ways’ mission is to help support relief and recovery efforts in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and the greater Appalachian region.
In response to the flooding, Mountain Ways has coordinated multiple relief efforts, including the distribution of food and water. Mountain Ways has partnered with local nonprofits and government officials to ensure that funds and resources reach the most affected areas. In addition to partnering with local government and nonprofits, Mountain Ways has partnered with Dolly Parton to announce a $1 million donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation.
About Wyatt Ellis:
Born in the rich music bed of East Tennessee, Ellis has quickly become one of the most-watched young musicians in bluegrass music. In a recent review, Billboard stated, “Ellis has quickly cemented himself as a sterling newcomer in the bluegrass scene,” a prescient assessment as evidenced by his debut single, “Grassy Cove,” going to #1 on the Bluegrass Today charts. The week of March 5, Ellis had five singles on the Bluegrass Today charts. Ellis’ recent appearances included opening for Marty Stuart and Molly Tuttle and performances at an array of major music festivals including Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Fest. On November 10, 2023, Ellis made his debut on The Grand Ole Opry at the age of 14.
A devotee of Bill Monroe, Ellis has been mentored by many iconic musicians, including Sierra Hull, Bobby Osborne, Mike Compton, and others. Ellis has studied with mandolin masters, composed his own original instrumentals, and transitioned from playing alone in his living room to performing seamlessly alongside bluegrass legends and Hall of Famers. In his two short years on the scene, Ellis has become a multi-instrumentalist and has been invited to perform on stage with some of the most iconic musicians of this era, including Billy Strings, Dierks Bentley, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, Dailey & Vincent, Ernest and Marty Stuart.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/23 - Re Mattei / Jack Endelouz
2024-10-23 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Re Mattei:
She’s a real smooth Pinot Noir, mixed with a little dirt, an ice cube, and stirred up real hard!
Re Mattei is a music scholar, global entertainer and guitar player. She launched her successful music career as the lead guitar player for the all female top-40 band The Uptown Girls. Redirecting her concentrations toward her own independent recordings, Re is poised to introduce her unique brand of musical talents as songwriter, composer, and instrumentalist. The “must-see” entertainer, who has toured the world playing in Japan, the Phillipines, Singapore, and Hawaii, celebrates a new single and EP to be released this Spring.

Jack Endelouz is a multi-instrument musician and has been in the music business for 20+ years.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/24 - Josh Lovelace / A Tale Of Two
2024-10-24 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Josh Lovelace is a proud work in progress: whether it’s quitting drinking to be more present for his kids, quelling panic attacks before stepping on stage, or just figuring out what he believes after a childhood of being told that there’s only one way to pray. Through all this turmoil, though, he’s had his touchstones, his shelters: loved ones, friends, and, of course, music.
“Writing has always been something that feels like a best friend in some ways; I’m able to lean on that any time,” Lovelace says. “I’ve never felt like I was ready to share where I am. Who I am at this moment feels like the right time to let all that out.”
And let it all out he does on landmark album Shelters, an 11-song suite of achingly personal tracks that ping-pong with alacrity between self-doubt, angst, and a stunning kind of hope. An album close to the heart that’s also deeply, deeply relatable to anyone who’s ever felt lost, Lovelace’s solo effort drops on October 25.
“Growing up as a preacher’s kid, we were taught that an invisible force in the sky was the ultimate shelter when things get rough. But as I got older, I started seeing holes in the foundation,” Lovelace says. “And so the reason why I call the album ‘shelters’ instead of just ‘shelter’ is because there’s not a one stop-shop for salvation. Different people became shelters for me — and also my work. There’s beauty in that.”
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Lovelace — who also plays keys and sings in South Carolina rock band NEEDTOBREATHE — grew up making music. He’s been a musician basically since birth, fed on a steady diet of rock, soul, gospel, folk, Elton John, and Bob Dylan—anyone with a story to tell. Lovelace has been touring in bands since high school ended, the only place he’s ever really felt at home. “I’ve been on the road most of my life, playing music and trying to keep the rock & roll dream alive. It’s what I’ve always done,” he says.
Working on the album, then, was like therapy. In 2022, he took a solo trip to Roslyn, Washington — where one of his comfort shows, Northern Exposure, was filmed — to finally put those 11 songs down on tape. “It was kind of a watershed thing for me,” he says. “I was able to really reckon with some of the things that have happened to me, whether it’s my fault or not, and start to deal with those things and not keep them hidden anymore.”

A Tale Of Two:
Combining the best of Americana and blues melodies with timeless Southern storytelling, award winning vocalist Stephanie Adlington and guitarist Aaron Lessard draw influence from the likes of Tom Waits and Ray LaMontagne, along with bedrock artists such as Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr. A Tale Of Two has opened for notable artists such as Mary Gauthier, Grayson Capps, and Peter Mulvey. Not unlike the artists who inspired them, the duo’s songs frequently dabble in stories of revenge, drinking and feature sinners of all stripes and persuasions.
Oozing an infectious stage presence and chemistry that carries over from the music to the back and forth banter between songs, “A Tale Of Two” offers a different kind of Americana – storytelling by a swampy pair of retro raconteurs spinning blues arias with soul, intrigue and power.

The WDVX Big Plate - 10/25 - RB Morris & Band
2024-10-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
RB Morris is a poet and songwriter, solo performer and band leader, and a sometimes playwright and actor from Knoxville, Tennessee. He has published books of poetry including Early Fires (Iris Press), Keeping The Bees Employed, and The Mockingbird Poems (Rich Mountain Bound), and music albums including Spies Lies and Burning Eyes, and his most recent solo project Rich Mountain Bound. He wrote and acted in The Man Who Lives Here Is Looney, a one-man play taken from the life and work of James Agee, and was instrumental in founding a park dedicated to Agee in Knoxville. Morris served as the Jack E. Reese Writer-in-Residence at The University of Tennessee from 2004-2008, and was inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame in 2009. He currently lives in Knoxville with his wife and daughter.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/26 - UT Appalachian String Band / UT Appalachian Strings
2024-10-26 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
UT Appalachian Strings is a University of Tennessee student ensemble directed by Sean McCollough that is made up of multiple bands that play bluegrass, old-time and other Americana music. Two of the bands will be featured on this show.

Appalachian Allies Benefit Concert
2024-10-27 18:30 | Bijou Theatre, 803 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, October 16 at 10 AM EST
WDVX is a media sponsor for Appalachian Allies, a special benefit show for East Tennessee Hurricane Relief on Sunday, October 27 at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville. The show will include performances by Adeem The Artist, Andy Wood, Darrell Scott, Jerry Douglas, Larkin Poe, R.B. Morris, and Sarah Jarosz. All proceeds will benefit the East Tennessee Foundation.
Hosted by Daniel Kimbro and Sam Lewis, this benefit concert promises to be an unforgettable night of live performances, celebrating the resilience and strength of the Appalachian community. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the East Tennessee Foundation’s Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Fund, supporting both immediate and long-term recovery efforts in the region.
The concert is expected to sell out, so don’t wait! Secure your seat today and be part of this meaningful effort to aid our friends and neighbors in East Tennessee.
For those unable to attend, donations can still be made directly to the East Tennessee Foundation here.
About the Cause:
The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) is a nationally accredited community foundation, providing critical support to impacted areas following Hurricane Helene. The recovery effort includes long-term disaster relief aimed at rebuilding and restoring affected communities throughout 25 counties in the region.
Come celebrate the power of music, community, and giving back—every ticket purchased helps those in need.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, October 16 at 10 AM EST

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/28 - Aimee Bobruk / Dylan Cronk
2024-10-28 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
My name is Aimee Bobruk. I am an American songwriter and performer based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Dylan Cronk will also be joining us.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/29 - Ashley Virginia / Crawdaddy Jones
2024-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
From Greensboro, North Carolina, Ashley Virginia is an artist who has gained attention for her unique songwriting style of introspective poetry and interesting harmonic structure. Her sound has been described as “raw, contemporary angst” by Americana Highways.
Like the spiritual daughter of Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney, her style falls somewhere between ’70s Country cool, West Coast cosmic Americana, and ‘60s Rock ‘n’ Roll. While attending a masterclass in Greensboro, 14-Grammy award winning songwriter, Emmylou Harris, categorized Ashley Virginia’s writing as “unique and unusual”. In 2021, she released her debut album, “and life just goes on living” tackling themes of mental health, healing, and social-political commentary.
Ashley’s second album, “the colors in my dreams” will be released on February 16th. This project was funded in part by the North Carolina Arts Council. Recorded in a historic farmhouse in Glendon, North Carolina, by Black Rabbit Audio, Ashley Virginia was joined by 15 different musical friends and collaborators. Together, they lived on the property for eight days to immerse themselves in the creative process. Rehearsals for the session were intentionally excluded beforehand. Rather, Ashley Virginia created and distributed charts and demo recordings, resulting in the collaborative and improvisational recordings that make up the album.

Crawdaddy Jones joins us today as well!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 10/30 - Chloe-Beth / Brian Glover
2024-10-30 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Brian Glover is a Country/alternative rock singer-songwriter from central Kentucky.

Chloe-Beth possesses some kind of innocent wisdom, the same that invented the necessity for Hallmark cliches like “old soul” and she is talented enough to be burdened or maybe cursed with the weight of another profanity: that of “potential.” What a nasty word. Still, she’s revelatory now with a whole world in front of her, and it’s a mistake to underestimate her because of her age; her feistiness and defiance betray a stubbornness well past her years, and her understanding of the human condition is doggone gorgeous.
She laughs a lot -it’s contagious and freeing in conversation- but her songs break your heart if you’re not careful. She perches barefoot balanced on the teeter-totter of strength in her voice and vulnerability in her lyrics. Or maybe vice versa. And whatever she’s seeking, hopefully, she finds her way there and then writes a song about it.
Chloe-Beth recorded Grief, Love, and Other Gifts with Chris Blevins in 2021. She has subsequently released two singles in 2022: “Be Alright,” a sweet reflection of the vulnerabilities that come with love and “Goodwill,” a gritty study of her self-worth.
