East Tennessee's Own WDVX

Kidstuff Live - 8/10 - Sarah Pirkle & Students from Junior Appalachian Musicians
2024-08-10 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
East Tennessee native Sarah Pirkle is a multi-instrumentalist, music instructor, and songwriter. In 2021 she was inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame, songwriting category. She is a 2021 recipient of the South Arts Folk & Traditional
Arts Master Artist Fellowship She is the program director and fiddle instructor for 2 affiliates of Junior Appalachian Musicians in the Knoxville region.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/10 - Charlie Maples
2024-08-10 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
A stray cat runs away and leaves behind her name in the aether, waiting to sing and play.
A pause in the routine. The shorter days of 2020’s Autumn call for music to be played in a living room. Gather together writers, singers, piano players, string strummers, a drummer.
Singer, arranger and songwriter, Erin Dalton (arr. for Amythyst Kiah, Bill & The Belles) with husband Andrew Gibbens, drummer (of previous band projects this mountain, Amythyst Kiah, Listener), join in melodic and harmonic rhythm with fellow singer-songwriters Isaac Ratliff (Sorrel, Florencia & The Feeling) on electric piano with some smooth BGVs, and Phil Ling (Tree Hollow) on bass and reverberating guitar. But then, like a Charlie Maples cat, Phil moved to New England. In steps multi-instrumentalist Taylor Green (also formerly of this mountain, Amythyst Kiah, and currently Mind Modes) to hold it down on bass.
Charlie Maples mines the classic jazz catalogues, calls out with the Rhythm and the Blues, and flirts with the wavelength of Michael McDonald. The band’s members represent combined decades of musical exploration, performance, touring, composing, and recording in genres ranging from jazz, classical, folk, and hip-hop, to R&B, old time, rock, and ambient.
Like the namesake feline, Charlie Maples was born in East Tennessee.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/12 - Naomi McMahan / Morgan Orion & The Afterburners
2024-08-12 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Morgan Orion is a singer and poet residing in New Orleans that delivers countless indie rock and roll and folk classics with his backing band The Afterburners.

One of East Tennessee’s Own, Singer Songwriter Naomi McMahan join us this day as well!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/13 - Ben Blankenship
2024-08-13 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Ben Blankenship
I grew up in Enid, an Oklahoma town of about 45,000 people surrounded by wheat fields and known for huge grain elevators and a boom and bust oil economy, the middle son of the town urologist. Although no one in the immediate family is a musician, there was always music around our house. In the music I play today, I recognize the influence of my parents vinyl record collection…large doses of Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Charlie Rich, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings, a love of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash I absorbed from my uncles, the sounds of Neil Young, Bob Marley, Frank Zappa, the Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, the Meat Puppets, Husker Du, the Replacements, the Beatles and the Stones through musical friends, and my mother singing Patsy Cline and Hank Williams songs she learned from her mother and father. At 10 I was given a Fender acoustic guitar and began to play.
I attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, graduated with a B.A. in Letters in 1988, and played guitar for a locally popular reggae band, Streetpeople. In 1989 the band moved to San Francisco in a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to transplant Okie reggae to the Golden Gate. In my short time living in Frisco, I played on the streets of Chinatown with the Sharp Cats, a band led by Lee Keskela, who had been a player in the Haight Ashbury music and art scene since the 1950’s.
Upon moving back to Norman, I and some fellow college town ne’er-do-wells founded the country rock band the Silver-Tongued Devils. The Devils’ rough blend of classic country and rockin’ blues, with front man Doyle Primm’s voice demanding listeners to drink and drink plenty, was a hit with fans and bar owners from the first gig until our break-up in 1994. Over the band’s four years together, besides the regular central Oklahoma haunts, we played clubs in Denver, Dallas, and Kansas City, capped by an appearance at La Zona Rosa in Austin at the South By Southwest Music Festival. I continued playing with members of the Silver-Tongued Devils after the band’s break-up, recording and releasing my first solo CD, Black Lipstick, in 1997 with their help.
Leaving Norman in 1998, I travelled through continental Europe for a few months, busking and playing clubs nearly everywhere I went, spending a lot of time in the German university town of Goertingen, as well as Prague and Amsterdam. When I returned to the States, I settled in New York City, took a job as an English teacher in a Bronx high school and continued to play the bars, coffee houses, and sometimes the subways of the city. I recorded a second solo album, Solitaire, in my apartment in West Harlem with a four track recorder bought with money from my teaching job.
After three years of teaching and playing in New York, it was time for another move, this time to Nashville, to play with the best and be pushed to write better songs. In Nashville I’ve continued to write, play, and teach English. I co-founded the rock and roll band the Double Intenders with the help of fellow songwriter Tony Garcia and in 2014 began playing lead guitar for local swing band, the Miltons. I still like to play solo gigs when I can. My wife Carol Jane and I play out sometimes as the duo the Newlyweds, and recently we’ve joined up with Jim Alderman and David Martin to form the Bee Benders. We play original rock-n-roll and weave in Carol Jane’s sweet jazz crooning just when the crowd thinks they’ve got us all figured out. I’m as happy with the way the Bee Benders sound as I have been with any previous band, and I’m ready to see where this music takes us next.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/14 - Caleb Caudle
2024-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Just as the marbled salamanders emerge from under damp logs and leaves, the mushrooms—smooth, pearlescent ones and spongy morels—turn on like nightlights glowing in the dark, and the long-horned beetles and regal moths begin buzzing. The fiddlehead ferns and trout lilies curl inward, a copperhead slowly swerves, and a fox steps into the moonlight looking for prey. It is here, in that restless middle of the night, under cover of darkness, where Caleb Caudle’s sixth studio LP Sweet Critters is nestled. Like Molly Sherlock’s beautifully illustrated flora, fauna and creatures adorning its cover, Sweet Critters is a nocturnal collection of songs about the things that keep you up at night by an artist deeply in tune with himself. It is an exercise in finding clarity at that ungodly morning hour when memories of the past and anxiety about the future slowly fade into something more like precious, peaceful alone time in the present.
Through sometimes shadowy arrangements that creep and lurk, Caudle continues to mine both the brightest and murkiest corners of his imagination, finding that purest of points where tenderness and grit collide, inspired by musical heroes like Buddy Miller and Guy Clark, and mentors like Elizabeth Cook and John Paul White. It was White who Caudle tapped to produce Sweet Critters, along with Ben Tanner, at the duo’s Florence, Alabama studio Sun Drop Sound. “I was very excited to work with Caleb on this record. Iʼve been a fan for years and count him as a friend,” White says of working with Caudle. “Heʼs a stellar songwriter, so I knew heʼd bring the goods. And he did.”
“It felt really hands-on in a way that I have not experienced before,” Caudle recalls. “I felt like John Paul really pushed me. He’s such a good singer and his ears are crazy. He hears things that a lot of people wouldn’t hear.” Caudle says, “I hear us pushing what I was doing in the past to a new space where there’s more atmosphere and more room.”
White adds, “Iʼm very proud of this record from top to bottom, and of Caleb for letting me push him a little out of his comfort zone. He has a unique knack for writing songs that feel timeless, worn in, comfortable—like new friends you feel like youʼve known forever.” Literal new friends Aoife O’Donovan and Allison Russell also contributed their voices to two of Sweet Critters’ prettiest cuts, “The Brim” and “Heaven Sometimes,” respectively.
These songs are a showcase of Caudle’s singular command of language. He sees the world through a hyperreal lens wholly unique to him, one that renders dank humidity “horsefly heat,” a moody sky “cast iron skillet” dark, or a loved one’s “wind chime of a smile.” For Caudle, details are the last frontier in a world where thousands of new songs are created every day. As such, he weaves his intricate tales of redemption, sacrifice, forgiveness, and loss with the colorful threads of living, breathing characters and all the rich idiosyncrasies and ephemera that fill out their worlds.
His own personal details—the challenges of a life lived largely away from home, an unshakable awe of the natural world, his demons and shame, the untimely death of friend and bandmate Alex McKinney (to whom Sweet Critters is dedicated)—peak through, too. The string-laden ballad “River of Fire” is a sobering recollection of a time he was robbed at gunpoint, an experience he had to fully process for the empathy needed to write about it. “The Devil’s Voice,” with its foreboding and slinky melody, grapples with a life’s potential obscured by addiction, material that was once painfully close to home for Caudle. And “Knee Deep Blues” builds tension with stop-and-start percussion and fiery dobro riffs as Caudle yearns for peace of mind amid the tumult surrounding him on all sides. That same turbulent inner dialogue is captured in his simmering take on Keith Whitley’s “Great High Mountain,” opening the album with a dramatic ascending harmonium. Caudle delivers this hymnal mantra for navigating life’s greatest obstacles in a deep, meditative register, like he’s singing it to himself as much as to his listeners.
But if those moments are the inky subconscious of Sweet Critters, its beating heart lies in the gentle call and response with O’Donovan in “The Brim,” the warm devotion of “Kentucky When You Called,” and the lilting guitar notes that punctuate the story of the folks at the center of the dreamy title track—people who have been perfectly seasoned by life’s countless pleasures and pitfalls. It is in the soft forest floor that beckons Caudle’s frayed nerves in “Mountain Laurel,” and the familiar embrace of a friend not often seen in “Where We Left Off.” And it is embedded in the cinderblock walls of the local Winston-Salem venue that saw him come of age at open mics and warm-up slots for artists like Jason Isbell and The Felice Brothers, the first place he felt truly accepted and one he lovingly pays tribute to in “The Garage.”
The implication of the album title is, in a way, a distillation of Caudle’s philosophy not just as a songwriter, but as a person. “I just started thinking about the innocence of everyone when we come into all this. I always view animals in that way,” he says. “No fear of judging or being judged. The worst of humanity is taught and a lot of people who get caught up in that probably didn’t have a chance.”
When it comes to the complicated, flawed subjects taking up residence in his songs, Caudle reserves judgment and avoids villainizing them. Instead, he gives them space to expand and change, and eventually to dissolve and make room for other characters, new stories. “I’m really trying to inject as much of the human Caleb as I possibly can, rather than just focusing solely on the artist. It makes your art better when you’re focused more on the human side of it,” he says. “I just want to make sure that I’m open and willing to constantly change because I think that’s what life is calling me to do, to remain in a constant flow. The river is going forward and you can either fight it or let it take you away.”
The seed of this realization may be rooted in that charged moment of nocturnal awareness, when the world is still steeped in darkness and uncertainty. But in the clear light of day, it comes into sharp focus for Caudle. “Writing songs has taught me that life doesn’t have to be so rigid. It can be way more fluid, tender, vulnerable, and kind.”
Written by Maeri Ferguson

WDVX Summer Nights - 8/14 - Martha Spencer’s Wonderland Country Band / Five Mile Mountain Road
2024-08-14 19:00 | Yee Haw Brewing Co, 745 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
Martha Spencer’s Wonderland Country Band / Five Mile Mountain Road as part of The Crooked Road’s 20th Anniversary.
Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician and dancer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She grew up in the musical Spencer family and learned to play several instruments (guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, dulcimer, mandolin) and flatfoot/clog at a young age. She performs and has recorded with various groups and has been involved with several roots music projects. She has played shows, festivals and led workshops across the US, Australia, UK, Canada, and Europe. Martha’s first solo album 2018 and latest release “Wonderland” in 2022 have been featured in articles in Rolling Stone Country, No Depression, Holler, Wide Open Country, Bluegrass Situation, Americana Highways, PopMatters and more. She also has been included in articles in the NY Times, Austin Chronicle and Billboard and was a part of the Fiddlin’ documentary movie.

Five Mile Mountain Road is a Franklin County, VA-based Old Time, Blue Grass, and classic Country band.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/15 - Neil O’Neil
2024-08-15 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Carrie Schneider is a multi instrumentalist based out of Nashville.

Neil O’Neil joins us this day.

The WDVX Big Plate - 8/16 - Carolina Bluegrass Style
2024-08-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Carolina Bluegrass Style is a unique blend of young and old past present and, maybe the future. When Tommy Thomas asked Tyler Chasteen, Don Ashley and David Prosser to get together and play some music they had no idea that they would be creating a new group, But the popularity of the group has passed all expectations. While all the members of the band live in the Columbia SC area they have been honing their sound in restaurants, clubs and other Venues around Ashville NC.
The band’s eclectic mix of members has brought about a fusion of both musical style and musical selection. A little of everything from old Western Swing music to Jazz to Reggae and of course Traditional and Contemporary Bluegrass. The band has become known for not only their sound and mix of music but also their warm and endearing stage presence that keeps people entertained and involved in what they do.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/17 - Rebecca Frazier / Rachel McIntyre Smith Band
2024-08-17 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
With her lyrically driven songs, Rachel McIntyre Smith’s comfort twang music reminds listeners of the classics while also adding a relevant and fresh perspective. Holler magazine calls her “Loretta Lynn for the TikTok Generation.”
Raised in the small East Tennessee town of Oliver Springs, Rachel began piano lessons at 9 years old. She won the Tennessee State Piano Competition twice and earned the Paderewski Medal for Guild for 10 years of superior ratings in a row. This strong background of music theory allowed Rachel to excel in other areas of music. She taught herself ukulele and guitar and also served as clarinet section leader in her school band. She made her debut singing “Please Mister Postman” in the high school theater arts production.
Upon graduating from college, she compiled 13 demos of her original music and began sending them to venues. Due to the quirky subject matter of her original “The Kitten Song,” she became a regular performer at cat cafes. In early 2020, she launched a concert tour of those feline-friendly venues.​
In 2022, Rachel independently released her debut EP “Glory Daze”, which went on to be featured on BBC Radio, Spotify’s Best of Fresh Finds Country 2022, and Grady Smith’s Youtube Channel where he named the title track one of the best country songs of 2022.​
Now in 2024, Rachel is gearing up to release her second EP, “Honeysuckle Friend”, which features her most poignant lyrics set to banjo, mandolin, and three-part harmonies.
Her brightly colored style, smooth vocals, and small-town charm leave a lasting impact on audiences. Americana Highways states she is “a vocal descendant of Alison Krauss.” Rachel’s had the privilege to share the stage with some impressive names in country music, including Gabe Lee, Lee Roy Parnell, Larry Fleet, Paul Thorn, Boy Named Banjo and Caleb Lee Hutchinson.

Rebecca Frazier’s lifelong journey between mountains and coastal waters is the backdrop for her flagship album releasing Sept. 13 on Compass Records, BOARDING WINDOWS IN PARADISE, a tour de force of bluegrass and acoustic roots music which celebrates the here and now. Frazier’s compelling original songs range from hard driving to thoughtful emotive folk, and her bluegrass interpretations of diverse classics from Madonna to Uncle Dave Macon fill out the album in a fine-tuned way that only experienced musicians can deliver. A bevy of acoustic A-listers such as Béla Fleck (banjo), Sam Bush (mandolin), and Stuart Duncan (fiddle) flavor her music with the wisdom and grace she was striving to present as she captured life’s juxtapositions with her new music.
Frazier’s bond with GRAMMY-winning producer Bill Wolf, known for working with Tony Rice and Grateful Dead, was the catalyst for the significant caliber of musicianship on the album. Her guitar instrumentals such as “Cantie Reel” give a tip of the hat to guitar legends Tony Rice and the late jazz guitarist Emily Remler, about whom Frazier wrote her Honors Senior Thesis at the University of Michigan.
A bluegrass luminary herself, Frazier gained notoriety as the first woman to grace the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. In 2018, the Virginia native also became the first woman to earn a Guitar Performer of the Year nomination from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA), an honor she received again in 2019. Frazier is widely known for her work with Colorado-based outfit Hit & Run, the only band to score the bluegrass-world trifecta of winning Rockygrass, Telluride and SPBGMA festival band competitions. A single mom of two teens, Frazier continues to divide her time between Nashville and Virginia. Like generations of her ancestors who have lived along Virginia’s coast, she, too, has weathered life’s hurricanes and battering winds — and witnessed its luminous beauty — and she wanted to capture that juxtaposition with her new music.
GRAMMY-winning banjoist and producer Alison Brown notes, “Rebecca Frazier is an important voice among the group of women whose musical talents and creative visions are recasting bluegrass. A triple threat, she sings, plays, and writes with fire and grace, and her new record is not to be missed.”

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/19 - Luke Windland / Kyle Lacy Band
2024-08-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Luke Windland is a singer-songwriter from Covington, KY, USA. His focus is on staying authentic by layering folk with blues, americana, bluegrass and hip hop. His goal is to create an organically unique sound experience for his audience.

Kyle Lacy is a guitarist and singer from Atlanta, Georgia and was born in 1990; however, his time machine made a quick refueling stop in 1956 and he was quickly infected with the DNA that gave birth to Rock’n’Roll.

With his original rockabilly band, Harlem River Noise, he developed a blues and soul driven guitar and vocal style that has been the cornerstone of his songwriting. After 2 years of full-time touring, and after performing at the legendary Rockabilly festival Viva Las Vegas in 2019, he came back to NYC and formed the Kyle Lacy Band. His debut album “The Road to Tomorrow” was released in 2020 by Brooklyn-based Dala Records. The album was described as “A fine mix of soul, blues, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll that deserves a larger audience” (AddtoWantlist), and the single “Low and Slow” earned multiple spins on The Craig Charles Funk and Soul show (BBC).
Kyle is currently the musical director and touring guitarist for the Harlem Gospel Travelers (Colemine Records). He also has cheekbones for days and hair that Elvis stole (remember that time machine?) His 2nd solo album, Pleasurecraft, is available everywhere, and most Saturdays, you can find him performing with the KLB on vocals and guitar at their residency: Club Groove in the West Village of NYC. His record label, Lacy Records, has released albums by singer songwriter Warren Malone and Mel and the Tall Boys. A new EP by Gibson Malone is in the works.
He also teaches voice and guitar at his studio in Harlem, NYC. Prior to entering the music world, he was a professional actor and worked in the shows Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story and Pump Boys and Dinettes at regional theatres: Alhambra, Gateway Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, The MUNY, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/20 - Jake Gray / Kirk Fleta
2024-08-20 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Jake Gray has been writing songs since he picked up his first guitar at ten years old. His style is a crossbreed of Rock and Americana. It is the country rock sounds of the Eagles, meets the storytelling of John Hiatt, with a slice of Foo Fighters attitude.​​
Jake has a gift for storytelling through song – each song tells a story coupled with a catchy hook that you’ll find yourself humming afterwards.​
Jake is an American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) artist, songwriter, and producer and publishes music under his Trailer Trash Records label. He is currently recording his 7th full length album, cleverly titled, “Jake’s Rock Album”, due in 2024.

East Tennessee’s Own Kirk Fleta joins us today for the WDVX Blue Plate Special.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/21 - Donna Frost
2024-08-21 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Donna Frost is a traveling troubadour with decades of performing and touring experience. Expertly weaving folk, blues and pop, she creates memorable concerts that champion the human spirit. She logs thousands of miles each year, performing across the U.S., solo and with her band. With over 300 songs in her catalog and ten albums, her music has received airplay, charted and garnered awards worldwide. Recently, Donna won the Mississippi Music Foundation Best Americana Artist award in April 2023. She has performed a tribute to the late Skeeter Davis at Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; and has performed live on Chicago WGN TV. Giving back to the community, she is an active performer with Music for Seniors, “Musicians on Call” and “Songs of Love.” She is endorsed by Kamoa Ukuleles and Luna Guitars; and is an ambassador for True Joy Acoustics which donates ukuleles to pediatric hospitals for music therapy programs across the country. Her latest album The Beautiful Unseen is a collaboration with her longtime friend Jack Howell, and recorded in Joshua Tree, CA.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/22 - Dylan Taylor / Tiffany Williams & Dalton Mills
2024-08-22 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Born in Atlanta, GA, but raised in Nashville from the age of 11, Dylan Taylor has unapologetically explored herself as an artist/writer on the stages of Music City while growing into the artist she is today. Dylan credits her writing ability and style primarily to her father, Karl Braun, (formerly a rock singer/songwriter now turned entertainment attorney), and singer/songwriter, Harley Allen. Harley ended up being her father’s best friend when they got to town.
Dylan also credits her own life which has already been filled with the experiences that inspire classic songs. Most of which have to do with the world of mental illness and addiction, something she’d been exposed to and in turn, learned to navigate at a younger age than most. She later survived her own rock bottom and found herself in recovery at age 20 while in the middle of her first pub deal, her first tour dates and shortly after releasing her first EP.
Dylan’s next 2 projects were described as dark, moody, almost disturbing but with undeniably unique and masterful lyrics set to melodies that crossed genres enough to become her own thing. This difference became one of her greatest qualities but also her biggest frustration. As she grew as an artist, and Nashville began to change, it seemed harder and harder to find an established industry place to call home; people didn’t understand Dylan and Dylan didn’t understand why they wouldn’t try. So she abandoned the path she’d grown up watching her friends travel (and expected to travel herself) for a path guaranteed to be more difficult, but which would allow her to be herself and, as she would say, “make for better writing material.”
That decision lead her through a multitude of good and bad situations that seemed to shape her into somewhat of a Nashville music industry rebel, pushing the limits with her lyrics and subject matter, while also refusing to adjust her naturally unique appearance at all. Like any true artist, you can hear Dylan’s journey in her music and feel her passion when you see her perform live. She released two singles in 2018, “Sarah Dreaming” and “Get High,” and then went on to release a full 6 song EP with 3 music videos and a movie like trailer, calling the project “Keep Wondering” in 2019. She organized an EP release event that September and debuted her new band Hippie Speedball which became her main focus for 2020.
The group recorded and released a total of 5 songs in 2020 with 2 music videos, “Fuck The Police,” “People 2020,” “Don’t Think Twice,” “Trouble,” and what Dylan likes to call their Christmas song, “Acid Rain.” 2021 didn’t slow her or the band down. The band now plays every other Monday at Betty’s Grill in Nashville with road dates sprinkled throughout their tour schedule. They also released 3 new songs; “Good For Wreckin” “Best Shit Around” and “Stereo Type.” They’re working on a music video now.

Tiffany Williams is a Singer-Songwriter & Fiction Writer from Appalachian Kentucky.
Dalton Mills is from Middlesboro, KY. He writes songs and sings ‘em.

The WDVX Big Plate - 8/23 - Michael Reno Harrell
2024-08-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Michael Reno Harrell is an award winning songwriter, a published author, a nationally known storyteller and a visual artist. And he’s from the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina where all those things are as much a part of life as breathing. Michael’s talents in the aforementioned Fields have taken him to forty-four states and several foreign countries over his over Fifty plus year career. His work is based in life experiences that reflect the culture of his mountain roots, which go back eight generations. But, Michael’s stories, songs and artworks reflect not only the southern experience, but also American’s story. His work, in whichever form it may take, all comes down to one thing…story.
One could compare Michael’s performances to his granddaddy’s pocket knife: well worn and familiar feeling, but razor sharp and with a point. His brand of entertainment appeals to a very diverse audience.
Michael’s natural knack for storytelling, in print, song and spoken word has earned him praise from not only the music community but from the literary and storytelling worlds as well, having had the honor of being a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival and to be Teller In Residence at the International Storytelling Center, as well as performing at major music events like MerleFest and the Walnut Valley Festival. Along with his performances, Michael often conducts workshops in songwriting and storytelling as well.
His humor and wit, as well as the emotional depth of his work, keep his fan base growing and staying tuned in for whatever comes next. Don’t miss the chance to experience what those faithful fans keep returning again and again to enjoy.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/24 - Phillip Lammonds / Los Swamp Monsters
2024-08-24 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Phillip Lammonds
Decades after carving out the reputation of a songwriter’s songwriter – a dedicated country tunesmith with as much poetic skill as commercial common sense – he’d settled in to his role as a behind-the-scenes hit maker paid to do what he loves … and if he’s honest, that was enough.
Combining an insightful creative spirit with a love of Southern sonic tradition (and a bit of meandering good ol’ boy whimsy), his world revolved around the twin poles of penning tunes in Nashville, and then heading home to fish and raise a family. But even so, the results were undeniable. Success came with cuts by Hootie & the Blowfish (“One Love”), Lee Brice (“Best Part of Me,” “My Carolina”), Craig Morgan (“Love Loves a Long Night”) and many others, and over the years, many of those collaborators had turned into close friends. Best of all, he didn’t have any of the hassle that came with being an “artist.” No interviews. No travel. No ego driven power struggles. … No drama.
Looking back now, it’s actually kind of impressive he pulled it off for so long. But after more than 4,000 songs and decades of under-the-radar appreciation, Lammonds has been pushed out his shadowy comfort zone. The rootsy-yet-refined Cowboy Things marks his long overdue album debut – and the rare moment an unsung hero steps up to the mic.
He blames it all on Brice, the multi-Platinum country star (and good buddy) who became the project’s producer. The two had a brotherhood born of shared loves – songwriting and the outdoors – and Brice had cut many of the songs he and Lammonds co-penned together. Then he decided to turn the tables.
“I just hadn’t done [my own album] because I didn’t want be that guy,” Lammonds explains. “I didn’t want to be in the spotlight or in the middle of it – because I was feeling pretty cool where I was. It was like ‘You’re the racehorse, I’m the jockey’ [laughs] … But Lee is like Santa Claus. I mean it.” He may see the project as a personal gift, but it’s everyone else who gets to enjoy it.
Inspired by “the big three” – Randy Newman, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bill Monroe – the North Carolina native began his career with a homespun Americana roots outfit called The Blue Dogs. By the ‘90s he was in South Carolina, and began visiting Nashville for regular writing sessions. Scoring cuts with everyone from country hitmakers like Kip Moore and Josh Turner to progressive bluegrass stalwarts like The Infamous Stringdusters and Steep Canyon Rangers, he did it for the love of the craft, and other milestones followed. Charity fundraisers, a gig as the host of the Hope Town Rum Music Festival in the Bahamas – even an ongoing songwriting series on Instagram, the BedHead Sessions.
By 2017 Lammonds was in Music City full time and writing 150 songs each year … with no thoughts of messing with the gravy train. But in 2021, Cowboy Things began to coalesce – pulled together by a bit of cosmic magic and his pushy friends. As Lammonds recalls, Brice had just finished building a home studio at his Tennessee farm, and wanted to start producing. All he needed was a guinea pig to break it in, and luckily, he knew a guy. One with insightful vision and authentic style, who’d never been put in the spotlight.
“I said, ‘Look Lee, I’m not ready to do that. I’m flattered, but I don’t know,’” Lammonds explains. “And he said, ‘Fuck yeah you are. Let’s do it.’ He just pushed me over that edge and made it too easy.”
Meanwhile, Lammonds had a friend on the industry side who’d been standing by for just such a moment, and she jumped at the news. Then, days after Lammonds reluctantly agreed, another longtime buddy called to say he was retiring – and that all he wanted to do was make a record for his friend, just like they always dreamed. Suddenly the tunesmith had production, promotion and proceeds all lined up, without even trying.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Cowboy Things came out with that same sense of ease.
Choosing 11 heartfelt, plainspoken tracks from across his career, Lammonds shows off his well-established penchant for worldly wisdom and casual country-boy flair – boiling the big picture down to bitesized chunks of unadorned truth, and featuring his A-list group of friends. Along with Brice, Darius Rucker, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and even actor Bill Murray get involved, all helping showcase Lammonds’ unique spark in unfiltered style.
“This album is everything I can’t write for radio,” he says with a laugh.
Recorded live over two laid-back days in Brice’s new space, dubbed Pumphouse Studio for its rustic barn setting, the set also comes with a loose, organic sound – and the weathered (but tender) vocal of a million songs sung. Working in full takes and without a click track, each tune started off with Lammonds’ voice and guitar, and was then filled out with an earthy, “red dirt gypsy wagon” arrangement courtesy of the Klien Brothers and their musical wizardry. It ebbs and flows with a down-home vibe perfect for the country songs of a “brand new” artist, who has nevertheless seen it all.
“It feels like it [was recorded] in your den,” Lammonds describes. “I didn’t know that’s what we were doing, and I didn’t know that’s what would happen. But when it did happen, I guess I’d have to admit that I love it.”
Imparting each song with playful passion, the set begins with an inclusive opener full of empathy, as country star and Hootie & The Blowfish front man Darius Rucker jumps in on the serene “Love Is Love.” Co-written with Hannah Dasher and Tiffany Gross, it’s a colorful, matter-of-fact anthem of diversity – and a slow build of country, rock and roots spirit. Rucker drenches his verse with effortless South Carolina soul, offering a stunning intro to a no-nonsense project.
“I know Darius would come running if I was going to fight, and that’s what he did,” Lammonds says. “I just turned him loose. And it’s real honest. I love the message in that one.”
Likewise, ‘90s hit maker Pam Tillis adds a touch of open-road optimism to the well-traveled country rocker, “Forever Ain’t That Far Away,” and the honesty often comes from enlightening everyday circumstance. The reflective “Cowboy Things,” for example, was inspired by his young son’s Halloween costume, and ends up following an old rough rider not long for the trail, taking comfort in the things that make us feel alive. Meanwhile, Lammonds relates a gritty tale of rural realism in the brooding “Hell’s Kitchen” – a based-on-a-true story opus of modern day moonshiners, going too far in meeting their dry county’s black-market demands. That one features ZZ Top front man Billy Gibbons on a devilish lap steel.
Not to be outdone, “Supposed to Fall In Love” was penned with Bill Murray, the legendary actor who’d never written a song, but always wanted to. After attending The Blue Dogs’ annual show in Charleston (and hearing “Love Is Love”), Murray figured Lammonds was the guy to learn from – and their quiet contemplation on romantic destiny is just another example of why this album needed to happen. The stories are just too good.
Others like “Coffee Black” strut with simple-life soul and a rusty sense of tried-and-true pride. “Light at the End of the Tunnel” buzzes with bluesy distortion, a timeless story of hard-times hustle. And “Train of Tomorrow” rolls on with steady forward momentum and a rootsy Americana sound, an encouraging reminder to keep your bags packed, for nothing in this life lasts long.
In many ways, that may be a fair shorthand for this album as a whole. Lammonds didn’t see this coming. And he isn’t trying to get famous – but he does intend to enjoy the ride.
“It’s been cathartic, and I don’t feel like it’s the last time I’m going to do it,” he says. “I think that’s the point. Worrying about what everybody thinks of me? That never mattered. But making a record is a good feeling. And I like doing it so much.”

Formed in 2012 by frontman and multi-instrumentalist C.J. Benoit, Los Swamp Monsters is an eclectic and electric band that fuses Rock and Roll, Cajun, Blues, Tejano, Soul, Zydeco, Honky-Tonk and Swamp Pop for a unique sound that’s right at home in the Cowboy Bars, Juke Joints, and Punk Clubs where they cut their teeth as they are at the Street Festivals and Stages alongside both icons like DC Blues legends the Nighthawks, Alt-Country hero Jason Ringenberg, Gulf Coast icon Nick Gaitan (Los Skarnales, Umbrella Man, Billy Joe Shaver) and Art Punk icons Half Japanese to up and coming artists like Marshall Falcon, Catfish Seminar, Shantelle and the Juke Joint Band, Andi Jane & the Honky-Tonk Cabaret, Tennessee Troubadour Rabblers, Blackwater Down, and more . . . and with fans and friends including Wild Bill Perkins (Rumen Ramos & the Mexican Revolution), Shawn Sahm (Texas Tornados, Shawn Sahm and Friends), and Randy Lee Ashcraft, the boys are showing no sign of slowing down!​
Los Swamp Monsters also has appeared in the Studio too, being one of the first (if not the first) Tex-Mex band to record at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL, joining such icons such as Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Wilson Pickett, and Jason Isbell as well as releasing live bootlegs independently on livestreaming and Bandcamp (their most recent streaming bootleg, Live in Texas, is compiled from the five-record series available on Bandcamp, recorded live on their January tour of the Lone Star State joining a studio record, two eps, a single and three full-length bootlegs . . . not bad for an independent band) and achieved chart success in France and Belgium and Radio play as far out as Australia!​
But LSM’s sound isn’t some run-of-the-mill sound. Fusing Saxophone, Harmonicas, Maracas, and the occasional Rubboard as well as C.J.’s trusty Hohner Accordions alongside Rock and roll Guitars, Bass, and Drums, the band’s “Swamp Tejano Boogie” sound brings comparisons to the Texas Tornados, NRBQ, and the Grateful Dead. If you’re looking for a rockin’ good time, Los Swamp Monsters is here!

Summer Sessions - 8/24 - Wood Box Heroes / Shawn Camp
2024-08-24 18:00 | Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN, 37716, United States
Support for WDVX comes from ORNL Federal Credit Union presenting the Summer Sessions on Saturday August 24th at six pm at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris just off exit 122 of I-75.
The show is free featuring Shawn Camp and his band plus the Woodbox Heroes. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and friends for live music with WDVX!
Wood Box Heroes, the American acoustic super-group, is hardly anything like the bluegrass music you used to find in the cassette player of your grandad’s old chevy pickup truck. Deeply rooted in tradition while melding together an eclectic-array of sounds from the country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, rock, and classical varieties, paired with crafty and authentic songwriting, the band delivers a piercing listening experience that plunges deep into the caverns of the soul.
Bringing together some of the world’s most highly lauded musicians in Matt Menefee (banjo-Mumford & Sons, Cadillac Sky, Warren Haynes), and Barry Bales (bass-Alison Krauss & Union Station) backing up the vocal magic of Jenee Fleenor (fiddle-Blake Shelton, Larry Cordle) and Josh Martin (singer/songwriter/guitarist), this unit has over a century of musical seasoning between them. Yet, it is quite astonishing that the years spent on separate roads, accompanying a spectrum of incredible artists and receiving some of the most sought-after honors and awards in the business, has led to this enigmatic musical intersection.

Some careers can be described with a couple of words, but Shawn Camp‘s isn’t one of them. A bold and distinctive singer, a songwriter who’s provided material for artists ranging from Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs to Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn and Brooks & Dunn, with hits such as “Two Pina Coladas” (Garth Brooks), “Nobody But Me” (Blake Shelton), “Would You Go With Me” (Josh Turner), “River Of Love” (George Strait), and Billy Currington’s hit single “Love Done Gone”.
Along with being a hit writer, he is a gifted multi-instrumentalist who’s played as a touring/recording musician with everyone from Jerry Reed, Trisha Yearwood, Shelby Lynn, and Alan Jackson to the Osborne Brothers, Guy Clark and John Prine.
Camp also co-produced a compilation tribute album for his friend and hero Guy Clark, which was #1 on the Americana Charts for several weeks in the spring of 2012, and voted Americana Album Of The Year 2012.
Entitled, Guy Clark: This One’s For Him.
This Album was also Grammy nominated for Folk Album Of The Year 2012,
It is a virtual who’s who of Americana/Texas/Country music including everyone from Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Verlon Thompson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Shawn Colvin, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Ray Wylie Hubbard, etc… (too many to name, 33 artists in all)
Then Shawn co-produced and won the Grammy for Folk Album Of The Year-2013, for Guy Clark’s “My Favorite Picture Of You”.
Camp’s music sprawls across the lines that divide Country, Americana, Bluegrass and roots Rock. His solo records, The self titled SHAWN CAMP (Warner Bros), Lucky Silver Dollar, Fireball and 1994, further prove Camp to be one of Nashville’s most unique talents.
He also is a member of The World Famous Headliners; an All Star Band made up of Camp and veteran writers Big Al Anderson and Pat McLaughlin, along with Michael Rhodes and Greg Morrow.
He is also the lead singer for The Earls Of Leicester, an all acoustic band that consists of legendary Bluegrass musicians Jerry Douglas, Jeff White, Daniel Kimbro, Charlie Cushman and Johnny Warren.
The band performs and records only the music of Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. They capture the essence of the sounds and that period of time in an effort to bring the old style back into the psyche of the modern world.
The Earls Of Leicester won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album 2015 Then, The Earls Of Leicester made a huge sweep at The International Bluegrass Music Association’s IBMA Awards Show winning, Entertainer Of The Year Album Of The Year Instrumental Group Of The Year Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year with Shawn Camp – Male Vocalist Of The Year & Jerry Douglas – Dobro Player Of The Year
0ctober 1st 2016, THE EARLS OF LEICESTER were awarded IBMA’S ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR 2016 AND 2017.
SHAWN WAS THE MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 2017, AND WAS NOMINATED AGAIN IN 2018.
Any time day or night, he is either writing songs, performing shows, or recording. His life’s work, speaks for itself.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/26 - Shayla McDaniel
2024-08-26 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Shayla McDaniel is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer crafting guitar-driven indie pop to soundtrack your life. The Knoxville, TN-based artist’s music has been featured in MTV’s “Siesta Key,” Disney+ “Big Shot,” The CW’s “Nancy Drew” and retail and dining spaces around the world.
The laid back artist’s honeyed vocals and indie pop-rock hit that sweet spot between major and minor tonalities with a pan-genre appeal. Pristine vocals, breezy pop grooves, big hooks, and soaring melodies contribute to her pop allure and soulful, guitar-driven alt-rock sensibility.
In a short period of time, the young artist has garnered prime accolades. She has opened for Joy Oladokun, performed at Rhythm N’ Blooms Music Festival with the likes of Young the Giant, Dave Barnes, Gogol Bordello, Birds of Chicago, and others; Sunset on Central; Dogwood Arts Festival; the Waynestock Festival; Women in Jazz Jam Festival; and live on-air at WUTK 90.3 FM, WDVX 89.9 FM, and WOZO 103.9 FM, among others. Shayla has been in Knoxville Music Warehouse’s Top 16 song charts; been voted by fans as Knoxville’s Favorite Band; won numerous Knoxville Music Awards; and earned prestigious awards nominations from CityView Magazine and Knoxnews.
Shayla’s catalog is vast, however, several recurring themes surface, thematically as well as musically. The tracks showcase her purposeful and generous songwriting skills—she’s a boldly vulnerable and expressive writer who never hides behind vagueness.
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“I process my feelings through my songs,” Shayla divulges. “Sometimes, I start off feeling confused or neutral, and I let the music take me away. In my songs there are recurring themes of loving others, loving yourself, and mental health. I feel like if you look after yourself, you’ll be equipped to take care of others. I struggle with depression, and now that I have more of a platform, I want to share my story and shine a light on mental health issues,” she says.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/27 - Connor Daly / EmiSunshine
2024-08-27 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
“If you didn’t know the name Connor Daly before, that ends today. The 25-year old Virginia native just dropped his debut album, Colors Fade, a collection of lived-in tunes about love, heartache and the hues of emotion that shade our lives. The dozen-track release marks a long time coming for the singer-songwriter, who has, for years, been honing his song-spinning craft… What has resulted is an album full of honest and intuitive songs, many stripped bare to let their gripping words take hold… Daly flexes his skills across the entire release, deftly traversing weighty themes and artfully weaving personal experiences into striking sing-alongs that not only resonate but seem to understand.” – Holler

EmiSunshine is one of East Tennessee’s Own. A Singer Songwriter, Musician, Producer, Tiny Art Artist, Tiny Shop Owner and she tours solo & with her Family Band.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/28 - Ash Taylor / Troy Castellano
2024-08-28 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
It has been said by many that Ash Taylor is the most hardworking, down to earth girl you will Ever meet. Growing Up in her hometown of Bakersfield, California she was heavily influenced by artists like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Brandy Clark, and Gretchen Wilson. After her growing interest in the music industry led to a friendship with hit songwriter Clay Mills (“Don’t Think I don’t Think About it” by Darius Rucker), she made a difficult and life-changing decision to sell everything she owned, Jump on a plane, and move across the country to Nashvile, Tennessee to pursue her dreams.​
From sleeping on couches and even in her car to long nights playing in the Honky Tonks of Nashville’s lower broadway or touring the country playing Bars She began to craft her career one stage and one fan at a time. Since The beginning of This journey she has been Working Consistently In The Writing Rooms On Music Row. As a result She Has had Songs recorded By Multiple Artists Including A&E TV Star & Average Joe’s Recording Artist Big Smo, Warner Chapel Recording Artist Ryan Larkins, Country Artist Noah Smith, Guitar Legend Johnny Hiland & More.

Troy Castellano is a multifaceted country artist, songwriter, and passionate advocate for music education. With a career that spans genres and decades, Troy has carved out a unique space in the music industry, blending the raw energy of rock with the heartfelt storytelling of country music. His journey is a testament to his versatility, dedication, and unwavering love for music.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Troy Castellano discovered his passion for music at an early age. Influenced by the rock sounds of the ’70s and ’80s, he quickly became proficient in guitar, developing a style that would later define his sound. Troy’s early years were marked by his deep dive into the world of rock, where he honed his craft, both as a musician and a songwriter.
Troy’s early music career saw him making waves in the rock scene, where he had the opportunity to open for legendary bands like Cheap Trick, Styx, Black Oak Arkansas, Warrant, Slaughter, and Firehouse. These experiences allowed him to refine his stage presence and connect with diverse audiences. His talent also led to a significant collaboration with Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee on the Methods of Mayhem album in 2010, further cementing his reputation as a versatile and skilled musician.
In the years that followed, Troy’s musical journey took a turn towards country music. Relocating to Tennessee, he immersed himself in the rich traditions of country songwriting, bringing with him the energy and authenticity he had cultivated in the rock world. His music, characterized by catchy melodies and relatable lyrics, quickly resonated with country fans. Troy’s ability to blend rock’s edge with country’s storytelling has made him a standout artist in the genre.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/29 - Kyran Daniel
2024-08-29 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Guitarist, Composer, Producer and Musical Director, Kyran Daniel began his career performing alongside Grammy Nominee Tommy Emmanuel on stages spanning the globe. His debut album ‘Per Se’ became a highly influential work in the acoustic guitar world, opening the door to his attendance of the prestigious Berklee College of Music studying under the greatest songwriting & production professors in contemporary music.
Following his time at Berklee, Kyran focussed on the roles of songwriter & producer for a cohort of Australian artists including G Flip, Gretta Ray, and Kingswood. His diverse musical palette and superlative musicianship saw him fast become one of Australia’s finest studio talents, and a go-to for artists & labels domestically & abroad, with credits including Gretta Ray’s ARIA Nominated Album ‘Begin To Look Around’ (EMI), G Flip’s #1 ARIA Charting Album ‘Drummer’ (4x ARIA Nominated), and Australian & European tours and televised performances with legendary rock group Kingswood.
2022 saw Kyran return to his most authentic musical form as a solo artist, with sold-out concerts including the opening of ‘The Picasso Century’ at NGV International, and a triumphant return to European and American stages alongside mentor Tommy Emmanuel.
Kyran is currently completing his renaissance solo album amidst a string of 2023 European performances. Expect a new chapter of emotive compositions drawing upon rich global influences, cinematic soundscapes, and virtuosic performances from the heart.
Kyran is a Member of The Recording Academy, Los Angeles Chapter.

The WDVX Big Plate - 8/30 - Wasted Major
2024-08-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Wasted Major burst onto the scene in 2021 as their first show was to an over capacity crowd of over 500 in Knoxville, TN, where the 6 of them met in college. Since then, they’ve been entertaining all sorts of audiences playing the music they love most. Their genre is difficult to narrow, as their songwriting is rooted in sounds from country music, soul, classic and southern rock, and many more. Lively performances at bars and parties, riverboats and rooftops, and Nashville’s lower Broadway have spread their soulful, positive vibes to growing audiences. Having multiple vocalists and a broad range of instrumentation has allowed them to capture a variety of sounds. Wasted Major appeals to a wide variety of tastes, and brings a modern but rooted, rocking vibe that never fails to entertain.
The group consists of frontmen & vocalists Tim Jones on acoustic, Simon Heeran on lead/rhythm guitar, & Richie Miller on bass. The natural chemistry between the 3 allows for creative songwriting and ‘Eagles’esque harmonies. The group isn’t complete without beautiful guitar leads from Connor Hatala and sweet sounds out of keyboardist Andre Bucks.
Summer of 2021 found the band recording in Inglehood Studios with producer Cowboy Keith Thompson in Nashville, and in January of 2023 they recorded at Wild Road Recording with Max Rubel. Since then, they have released their first 4 original songs on all streaming platforms that are being listened, danced, and sung to by many.
They have recently returned from their first tour across the pond in Europe, where they ventured into Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands with the mission of spreading their unique sound to new, curious ears. There, they were met with much love and awe, as crowds and venues have begged them back to rock the continent a second time. On that account, wasted major will be returning to europe in the fall of 2024.
the band is now based in Nashville, TN, rocking lower broad sunday through wednesday and touring the southeast on the weekends, but they continue to rock around the world, scheduling tours local and abroad. Be sure to catch a show in a town near you.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 8/31 - Darrell Wallace and Kevin Mahoney / Maddie & Jordan McCullough
2024-08-31 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Darrell Wallace is a 10 time award nominee and an international award winning singer songwriter from East Tennessee. His dynamic style engages audiences where ever he plays. He is a member of the International Singer Songwriters’ Association and the Tennessee Songwriters’ Association. After meandering through a couple of states and several cities, he headed to Nashville. He found himself as one of the up and coming writers with numerous appearances at the Bluebird Cafe. Nashville never found a niche for Darrell’s eclectic style. However, in 2023 he was awarded Musician of The Year by Fairplay Country Music Awards and in July of the same year, Darrell had his first #1 co-write for the song Hope Wins (Independent Music Chart) .​
Darrell’s early musical influences were Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Earle and all of the Out Law Country folks, Waylon, Willie, etc. Today he is living the dream (the life of a rock star), playing venues throughout the south, parts of the north and Europe!! His music is mixed with sounds of Folk, Americana and Country Rock(ish). He currently lives in Spring City, TN writing songs, playing music and loving life on the lake with his amazing wife!!!
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Kevin Mahoney is a powerful singer and songwriter gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics.
With a career spanning 20 years, the versatility of his music touches genres of folk, rock, soul, folk funk and somehow all these still cannot define the spirit of his music. Festivals, Radio, TV & proud of the partnerships made with endorsements from pedal & pick companies helping to round out his talents while enhancing his welcoming & supportive nature to all he comes in contact with.
He has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerizing live performer and stands in his own light. A unique talent driven by passion, social awareness and love for his trade, his music manages to empower and speak for the many. He’s a jaw dropping guitar player who has developed a unique percussive style, teamed up with a powerful show stopping voice.
Concerned with making music that is relevant and vital to his audience, he engages with challenging narratives tackling the complexity of the human condition underpinned with a promise of hope.​
There is a versatility to Kevin’s music that is hard to categorize. Many have tried, resulting in labels such as Folk, Rock, Soul, Folk Funk and Americana; all of which somehow miss the mark. But sometimes music doesn’t need a defining genre and with the ability to articulate a sense of the bigger picture.​
Kevin’s music and social commentary manage to empower and speak for many. His songs are pictures, and stories, and feelings all put to music and delivered by a master craftsman.
He is a tireless performer & supporter of things good due to his belief in we make a small difference out of great love and commitment by challenging injustice wherever it’s found, educating via advocacy, campaigning for human rights, and raising issues that have been forgotten or ignored via fundraising initiatives, thus bringing about greater awareness for beautiful people in powerless situations.
Kevin Mahoney. A unique talent driven by passion and love for his trade, continues to write, sing and play from the heart. It’s a road he’s been travelling for most of his life and, as he often tells his audience, ‘you keep turning up and so will I.’

Maddie Carpenter McCullough is a native to Blount County, Tennessee, and has been involved in her local music community for nearly 20 years. Maddie has a passion for Old-Time and Bluegrass music along with Appalachian music history, and loves to share her passion with others via her music. Since 2015, Maddie has been playing music with her husband, Jordan, by her side. Their duo is often known as “Maddie & Jordan”.
When asked how Maddie got her start playing music, she says:
“I’ve been performing music locally for as long as I can remember! I think my first “gig” happened when I was 8 or 9 years old. I’ve been playing ever since! When I was that young, I was performing over karaoke tracks, mainly at places like local churches or retirement homes, but I did have a few bigger gigs. As I got older, I taught myself to play guitar and started to branch out. Now, I play at a lot of different local spots for different types of gigs. I met my husband, Jordan, in 2014, and we played our first gig together in Spring of 2015. I love gigging and performing music by myself, but playing music with him is so much more special. I haven’t played a show without him since our first gig in 2015.”
Most recently, Maddie has been pursuing a number of musical endeavors. She has formed several impromptu bands over the years, including the Penny Dreadfuls and Geographical Oddity. She and Jordan also enjoy sharing tunes as a duo from an educational context, providing insight about Appalachian music history; they spend a good amount of time studying and learning Appalachian music history together.
Maddie has also been working on writing and recording original music for her debut album, Wildwood. Maddie plans to release Wildwood in late 2024 on all streaming platforms.
When Maddie isn’t playing music, she enjoys photography, hiking, and spending time with her dogs (and Jordan).

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 9/2 – No Live Show – Labor Day
2024-09-02 00:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
The WDVX Blue Plate Special returns on Tuesday 9/3 with another great live performance from Chris Wilhelm.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 9/3 - Chris Wilhelm / Roger Wallace
2024-09-03 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Chris Wilhelm is known for bringing positive vibes and an uplifting message to his audience. He plays Americana, folk rock originals that are infectious and insightful, and sprinkles in covers too. Worldwide airplay brought his latest album “This Too Shall Pass” to be one of the Top 100 Alt-Country Albums of 2020, and it spent several months on the national folk charts as well.
Chris Wilhelm is a songcatcher and live performer. He made guitars out of cardboard before getting his first one at 13. Born in Hudson, NY, he later moved to Albany, NY, then Boston, and currently lives in Asheville, NC. He has released nine records and played thousands of shows. He has performed in theaters, concert venues, festivals, clubs, bars, libraries, retirement homes, subways, performed on the street and even played at a marathon. He played over 200 shows a year for several years.

In the typical fashion of teenagers, Roger Wallace turned his back on the music favored by his mom and dad. Rather than embrace the traditional country music of Willie Nelson or Hank Williams as his parents had, during his early teens he closed his ears to the sounds coming out of his parents’ radio and instead opened his heart to the blues. And in the typical fashion of parents, mom and dad ultimately knew best. They predicted that their son would one day be a country music artist, and they were right. Until their prediction came true, however, Wallace remained fixed on the blues for a number of years. During his student days spent in the halls of the University of Tennessee, he spent time as host of the school radio’s blues program. He also became a member of several different local groups that primarily played rockabilly and blues. He finally discovered what his parents knew all along, thanks to a friend with a penchant for Willie Nelson. She was fond of the country giant’s Red Headed Stranger album, and being with her meant exposing himself to Nelson’s brand of country music. That’s when the light bulb clicked on for Wallace, and he finally started to appreciate his parents’ music.
Hillbilly Heights
But his transformation from blues to country was not yet complete. With the blues still calling to him, he set off for Austin to check out the city’s blues artists. Along the way, he listened to a tape of Hank Williams’ music, which someone lent him for his car trip. Listening to “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” Wallace was awestruck by the emotion the country legend could pack into a song. While country music was making headway, the blues still held sway with Wallace. In 1994, with a degree from the university in hand, he again went to Austin, this time to work for Antone’s Records as a blues promoter. Unfortunately the job didn’t pan out. Wallace was out on the town practically every night, drawing inspiration from the rich Austin music scene and such performers as Junior Brown, Ted Roddy, and Wayne Hancock, among others. Within a couple of years, he was holding a contract from Antone’s sister label, and he was ready to sing country music, exactly as his mom and dad had predicted years earlier. In 1999, the singer/songwriter made his debut with the release of Hillbilly Heights.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 9/4 - Michael DeLisle / Josee Molavi
2024-09-04 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Josee Molavi brings powerful soul-inspired vocals to center stage in her genre-bending, artful music. Molavi is a vocalist, songwriter, self-taught multi-instrumentalist and arranger grown from blues rock roots. To support her colorful lyrical reflections on relationships, travel, and personal discoveries, Molavi’s sound combines intricate melodies and acoustic textures against an indie-alternative backdrop. Josee Molavi keeps her audience watching and listening with her captivating performance skills and
experimentation in and between genres.

Michael DeLisle:
My music has some deep roots, i.e., blues, old folk, Texas singer songwriters, and acoustic adaptations of 60s and early 70s tunes (I’m a genuine old fart, turned 70 a while back), as well as several dozen tunes I wrote myself.
I began performing in my teens and played regularly through the 60s, 70s, 80s, and early 90s, starting up in the midwest with bands like Appaloosa, Pythea’s Tribe, Briarwood Thyme, and the Smokin’ Grays, and working as a solo artist, too.​
Upon moving to Tennessee in 1982 I put together a great blues and southern rock band, the Michael Brothers Band, with Knoxville lead guitar stalwart Michael Jordan. We rocked it till the early 90s, and after stints with Mojo and The Works, I kinda retired when son Jesse was born, and didn’t pick it back up till about 2015. But as soon as I started back, I started playing every day, actually more than when I played out so much.​
You’d think that somebody who’d been playing 55 years oughta be damn good by now, but I’m living proof that’s not always true. I consider myself fair to middling: I can hold a decent rhythm, know quite a few chord voicings, and can forge my way through a few leads and fills now and then.
I’ve done well over two hundred open mic performances over the past couple years, along with dozens of gigs and house concerts. Jesse comes out to most of the shows and has almost as much fun as I do. Bottom line? I’m loving it all and intend to keep at it as long as I’m able.

The WDVX Big Plate - 9/6 - Wild Ponies
2024-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Doug and Telisha Williams, partners in love and music, have spent the last 20 years building their careers as the Nashville-based country-folk band Wild Ponies. They’ve released five albums, hosted the long-running Wild Ponies Happy Hour radio show on WSM, led nine annual distillery tour Trail Rides for fans and friends, and garnered devoted musical audiences all over the world. Their live shows, which have often totaled into the hundreds per year, are notoriously personal. Whether it’s Doug and Telisha with their acoustic guitar and upright bass, respectively, or a full rock ‘n’ roll outfit with drums and electric guitar, everyone is welcome at a Wild Ponies show and in their community.
Over the last decade, Doug and Telisha have also built the life they’ve always wanted — one they’re wildly proud of and ready to share with the world. Their new album, Dreamers (out on 8/23/24 on No Evil Records), is the result of all their living, loving, and dreaming until now. Recorded and produced by singer-songwriter Brandy Zdan, featuring co-writes with Chely Wright, Ben Glover, and Nora Jane Struthers, and alongside guest musicians like The Sea The Sea (Chuck and Mira Costa) and Nashville pedal steel legend Fats Kaplin, Dreamers is Wild Ponies’ most ambitious record yet. These 11 songs explore what exists beyond the traditional nuclear family and detail the joys and heartbreaks they’ve experienced as part of a queer, polyamorous family undergoing fertility treatments and becoming foster parents in the state of Tennessee.
Sometimes these topics are abundantly apparent in song. For example, the ballad “Heartbeat” is about their FET (fetal embryo transfer) baby, Iris, and even features her in-utero heartbeat. “Love You Right Now,” with its counterbalance of mournful pedal steel and sing-song storytelling to the beat of a bouncing baby, details the challenges of the foster system in America; it serves as a tribute to their partner Laura and son River. And the twangy, shuffling, upbeat title track references not just their pandemic-era Dreamers Food Truck but all the dreams that came before and are yet to arise.
Years ago, on tour in Germany, a fan asked Doug and Telisha a question that stuck with them: Where are your dreams now?
Not what are your dreams, but where.
“Our dreams are everywhere, buzzing around like energetic bees,” Doug and Telisha begin, “They’re deep in the earth, sprawled and gnarly like the roots of an ancient Catawba tree. They live in and out of our own bodies, making their way to the backyard in the most unconventional way and pulling to stand only minutes after being born. At times, our dreams are hard to wrangle — a wild pony on the Carolina coast wandering the dunes.”
These dreams have manifested in song, captured on record in musical gallops and emotional wallops. By growing both their nuclear family and wider community, especially in LGBTQIA+ spaces, Doug and Telisha have come to the realization that time may be finite, but love is infinite.
“Our understanding of love has changed. It’s expanded. It’s huge and vast and so hard to hold. It spills over in ways it couldn’t have before — the way Iris topples over and laughs with her whole body at the sound of a few strums of a guitar. Or the way River croaks out a tiny whisper of ‘more hug’ before going to bed,” Doug and Telisha say.
“Singing together on a dusty stage, feeling our voices do that thing that we don’t understand, but that feels so good and weaves them into one. Looking out over a little crowd of people to our partner, Laura, with Iris strapped to her chest. She’s squatting down with her arms around River, and they’re smiling back at us. Our little family. Our big family. That’s where our dreams are now.”

First Friday Live - 9/6 - Justin Fedor
2024-09-06 18:00 - 19:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Singer. Songwriter. Concert Organizer. Social Activist. Actor. Festival Organizer. There are few hats Americana troubadour Justin Fedor hasn’t worn since the early 2000s; touring the US on his own, fronting his group The Denim Denim & the now defunct The
New Familiars, touring & recording as bass player with Ancient Cities as well as spending two tours as bass player for The Shinn Band (no, not The Shins) alongside Rock’N’Roll Hall of Famer Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam) & Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon). Fedor has shared the bill with many legendary artists over the years including Gregg Allman, Levon Helm, Taj Mahal, Billy Joe Shaver, & Del McCoury to name a few, as well as performed at some of the nation’s most prestigious music festivals including Newport Folk Festival (RI), SXSW (TX), Master Musicians Festival (KY), Merlefest (NC), Bristol Rhythm & Roots (TN/VA), Shakori Hills (NC), FloydFest (VA) & beyond.
In 2013, Fedor created Tribute To Benefit, a concert series based out of Charlotte’s historic Neighborhood Theatre that now, for over a decade has continued to raise thousands of dollars annually for Levine Children’s Hospital & in recent years, Roof Above, Charlotte’s frontline nonprofit combatting homelessness. In 2021, Fedor was nationally recognized by Matthew McConaughey & Wild Turkey for Tribute To Benefit & they donated $10,000 to support Fedor’s endeavors. In 2017, Fedor was cast in the film ‘Born In Bristol – The Untold Story Of The Birth Of Country Music’ where he played Claude Grant of The Tenneva Ramblers & performed “The Longest Train I Ever Saw” in the film, playing a guitar used in the original 1927 Bristol Recording Sessions. The film not only features Fedor, but also features in depth conversations with Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart, Steve Earle, Sheryl Crow & other notables regarding the historic Bristol recording sessions.
In 2022, while working for MaxxMusic, NC’s premier independent concert promoter, Fedor helped create the Queen City Jam Session Music & Arts Festival, a 3-day event held at Charlotte’s NoDa Brewing (2022) & Neighborhood Theatre (2022/2023) featuring
headliners such as Oteil & Friends, The Infamous Stringdusters, Greensky Bluegrass, Leftover Salmon, & more as well as lineups that included Grammy Award-winning artists & over 30 fellow Charlotte artists.
In 2023, Fedor released a series of singles recorded at the famed Sioux Sioux Studio in Charlotte, NC with renowned & respected producer Chris Walldorf at the helm. Fedor’s song “No Chorus” released in March of 2023 features legendary blues guitarist Bob
Margolin (Muddy Waters) alongside his band The Denim Denim. To this very day, Fedor makes Charlotte, NC his home where he lives with his loving wife, children, & two dogs as he continues to write, record, & perform the music he loves.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 9/7 - Will Paustian / The Lubbin Brothers
2024-09-07 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Will Paustian has always been musically gifted. Since he was young, he has loved the limelight and was always singing, performing and playing a variety of instruments. However, it wasn’t until after undergoing some major upheavals in his life that he became a professional Musician.
Throughout the course of his musical career, he has had the support of dedicated fans from all walks of life as he performs and record studio albums. Feel free to reach out to learn about how to collaborate.

Triplets and high-energy musicians from the farmlands of Iowa, The Lubben Brothers have spent the last 15 years pioneering an original sound steeped in lyrical sensitivity, rich vocal harmonies, and the multi-instrumental flair of the American folk tradition.
The Brothers have soloed at venues ranging from South Florida’s Meyer Amphitheater and Broward Center for the Performing Arts, to The Gardens Hockey Arena of Northern Minnesota. Their music has aired on radio stations across the United States, while they have developed a committed, grassroots following in their current state of Florida; as one reviewer put it: “The Lubben Brothers are to Florida as the Lumineers are to Denver, Colorado” (Maritza Cosano, West Palm Beach Magazine). Music by the Lubben Brothers was chosen as an encore for NPR’s “Live from Here” with Chris Thile, and featured in Netflix’s premiere film of the 2021 Christmas season, “Love Hard.” Composers as well as musicians, the Lubben Brothers have written multiple musicals, and actively record, write, and release new music when not performing on the road. Their latest album, “Dream Free,” is slated for release June 2024, with new singles being released every month available on all streaming platforms.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 9/9 - Glenn Thomas
2024-09-09 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Glenn Thomas writes songs that cut straight to his truths. By putting his life and the human condition under the microscope, Glenn’s songs articulately observe the big questions with small details. Raised in a small New England town, Glenn writes with careful attention to his understanding of himself and the seasonality of life.
Glenn’s songs have been praised by press and songwriting veterans alike and have led him to perform across the country with national acts such as Edie Brickell, Langhorne Slim, The Barr Brothers, Blitzen Trapper, Joe Pug, The Ballroom Thieves, Eve6, Watsky, Rubblebucket, and many others. With the alternative-rock outfit he fronts, Wild Sun, his music has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Spin, and Entertainment Weekly, as well as a cover of Elliott Smith’s “Easy Way Out” on the nationally acclaimed “Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith” album featuring J. Mascis, Julien Baker, and Amanda Palmer.
He is currently living in Nashville and working on his followup album to his debut LP Reassure Me There’s a Window, released in 2020 via Palace Flophouse Records to praise from Billboard, Bluegrass Situation, PopMatters, and more. His subsequent singles have landed on several Spotify editorial playlists and SiriusXM.
The latest single, “Between a Steeple and a Satellite,” an energetic, rolling examination of the paradox of life, was released in June 2024.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 9/10 - Andy Sydow / The Lone Canary
2024-09-10 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Americana, rock, folk, singer-songwriter, Andy Sydow is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who’s lyrics paint a picture of poetic realism. Touring consistently both solo and with a backing band, Sydow is known to sway an audience with acoustic guitar ballads, sing a few numbers on his lap steel, and even sit down at the keys to show off his surprising boogie-woogie piano chops. He draws comparisons to voices like Paul Simon and Jackson Browne, mixed with a roots rock vibe reminiscent of Tom Petty or Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
In a career spanning over a decade, Sydow has released several albums and singles, toured internationally, received Triple-A airplay (Alibi, 2022 and Keep On Driving, 2023), been a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Competition (twice!), and supported numerous acts including: Shane Smith & The Saints, Dick Dale, Chuck Prophet, Tab Benoit, Samantha Fish, Lucero, and Anders Osborne.
After going back to school to take online classes in orchestration and film composition, Sydow put his new skills to good use by arranging and scoring several of his original songs (as well as one Pearl Jam cover) for an orchestra. He worked with classical musicians in Denver to record a six-song EP entitled, Measure 1: Orchestral Arrangements by Andy Sydow, which was released to critical acclaim in December of 2023.
2024 will see the release of a full length album with Anders Osborne that was recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, LA. Osborne produced as well as played guitar and sang backing vocals. Mike Dillion provided the percussion, and Casandra Faulconer completed the quartet on bass.
Aside from his own career as an artist and songwriter, Sydow has production credits that include: Lauren Frihauf (The Voice, Season 19), Payge Turner (The Voice, Season 19), Ian Mahan, Andy Sydow/AJ Fullerton, Racyne Parker, Veronica May, and Jcallen. He has also worked with several artists scoring horn and string arrangements.
When he’s not touring, writing, or recording, Sydow spends time talking to other creatives and music industry professionals on his podcast, Middle Class Rock Star. The hour”ish” long program can be found on all streaming platforms, and segments of the show have also been featured on over 30 FM radio stations. MCRS has played host to the likes of: Andy Frasco, Shane Smith & The Saints, Sunny War, Dango Rose (Elephant Revival), Jeremy Lawton (Big Head Todd & The Monsters), Todd Smallie (Derek Trucks, JJ Grey & Mofro), Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson), Leftover Salmon, and Phil Cook.

Anchored in the rich loam of Folk/Americana music, The Lone Canary embodies the harmonious talents of Heather Camacho and Jesse Fox. Camacho graces the stage with her rich vocals, dynamic fiddle, and rhythmic percussion, complemented by Fox’s gruff voice and acoustic guitar resonances.
Their captivating sound has been likened to artists such as The Civil Wars (Joy Williams & John Paul White), Jason Isbell, and Brandi Carlile. Heralded by Americana UK for their “absorbing and beautiful songcraft,” The Lone Canary has had the privilege of sharing the stage with notable acts including Three Dog Night, Over the Rhine, Pieta Brown, Lilly Hiatt, South for Winter, Zach Pietrini, Haunted Like Human.
Their latest offering, “Leave the Gray,” features the expertise of GRAMMY-winning maestro David Donnelly, who has mastered for iconic artists Journey, Chicago, Aerosmith, and projects including Garden State – Music From The Motion Picture and Forrest Gump – The Soundtrack (and many others).
Lauded by A&R Factory for their “hypnotically suspenseful Americana folk.” The Lone Canary’s vocals are compared to the evocative tones of Stevie Nicks, culminating in an ethereal soundscape teeming with suspense and emotion.​
Based in Rockford, IL, The Lone Canary is a long-standing musical alliance between Fox and Camacho, dating back to their high school years. Their collective journey resonates musically, delivering an authentic sound that is equal parts haunting and captivating.
