The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/15 - Liv Greene / Drew Crawley
2025-02-15 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Liv Greene is an Americana singer/songwriter, producer, and guitarist based in Nashville, TN, whose music “envelops a forlorn loneliness that’s at once poignant and crushing.” – American Songwriter. Deep Feeler, her sophomore album, is a reckoning with reality, a vulnerable snapshot of hard-won self-acceptance. It’s feminine, queer, and defiant. It also heralds the arrival of Greene as a powerful new voice who joins the songwriting tradition of Emmylou, Patty, Gillian, and Lucinda – in her own way. Greene self-produced and recorded Deep Feeler primarily live to tape in Nashville’s Woodland Sound Studios, with collaborator Matt Andrews (Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, O Brother Where Art Thou) and a dreamy band of friends including Jack Schneider, Sarah Jarosz, Dom Billett, Elise Leavy, Jordan Tice, and Christian Sedelmeyer. The resulting collection of lilting melodies and poignant storytelling is a bold achievement: a piece of art that matters culturally, musically, and personally. Greene is also a passionate educator, with experience teaching songwriting and guitar in private lesson settings, online classes, and group instruction through the Passim School of Music in Cambridge, MA, and at Interlochen Arts Camp in Northern Michigan.

Drew Crawley is a songwriter/singer based in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky – Louisville to be specific. My roots run back to the red soil of Oklahoma though, where growing up I fell in love with the sounds of Country and Americana music – the likes of John Prine and many others.
I play a blend of what some call Dirt-Emo (sad music on acoustic guitars) and Americana. The thing I’m most passionate about in the world is writing good songs and playing them with my best friends. I hope you’ll come see me and the boys play or listen to my music. The greatest gift I’ve been given through music is that of hope, recovery, and redemption. I hope that my songs will do the same for you.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/17 - Stevie Jones
2025-02-17 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
East Tennessee’s Own Stevie Jones joins us today!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/19 - Clay Johnson - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Clay Johnson & the Hard Promises, From Spartanburg, SC, were formed in the midst of 2020 as the backing band for solo musician, Clay Johnson. Tying together the classic traditions of southern folk music along with modern takes on Country/Americana; the band brings together sounds across multiple American genres with an earnest southern flavor.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/20 - Joey Collins
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Based in lower Alabama, singer/songwriter Joey Collins plays a meaningful brand of country with a soulful feel. When his voice fills a room, you can feel the pain and emotion behind it. He truly takes on the lyrics and projects them in a way that leaves the audience feeling them as well.

The WDVX Big Plate - 2/21 - Vertical Birds
2025-02-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Vertical Birds are Funky fine-feathered friends based in E. TN Knoxville area. Lots of bluesy, funky, soulful originals and tasty covers.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/22 - Parker Pressley / Wilson and Cross
2025-02-22 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Parker Pressley joins us this day for The Blue Plate Special!

Wilson and Cross is a bluegrass band from East Tennessee. They play traditional and gospel bluegrass.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/24 - Mark Henes / Wasp Eater
2025-02-24 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Wasp Eater is the musical project of songwriter Makena Brown. Her songs are influenced by the folk sounds of her Kentucky hometown, blended together with rock, ambience, and honesty. Her debut EP “January Bugs”, was released July 13th 2024.
Wasp Eater was born in 2023, after five years of coaxing her songs and visual world into existence. To Makena, Wasp Eater is the symbol of overcoming fear, alchemizing it into something larger.

INDEPENDENT ARTIST MARK HENES.…is a Performer, Singer-Songwriter, Accomplished Guitar Player, Working Musician and Music Teacher. His reputation speaks for itself, and his love for the art of music is clearly noted in his works.
Henes is taking listeners on a journey into the soul of Americana music. Identifying under the genre of Country Music in general, there is no mistaking that this artist has a keen baritone voice showcasing his talent. From his Nashville roots, this gifted musician exudes in living color where his flavor and sound were developed. Being driven to create unique and creatively structured compositions is recognized as well, as Henes delves into his feelings and emotions with honesty and clarity. In his storytelling, this composer breathes life into the past, present and future in hopes of painting a picture with words and song. He is a warm performer; but can make his instruments sing! The moment Mark Henes takes the stage…..He commands attention.
Having years of experience in his crafts and the dedication to thrive in the music industry today….this artist has arrived.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/25 - June Star / The Co-Conspirators
2025-02-25 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
June Star was formed in 1998 by singer/songwriter Andrew Grimm. Since then, they have put out 16 records, toured a good bit of the U.S., and have gone into debt. There have been many members of June Star; the current line up is: Andrew Grimm, Dave Hadley, and Mike Kuhl.

The Co-Conspirators is a Hemmingford, QC based duo playing folk/singer-songwriter music with elements of country, rock, blues, gospel, bluegrass, spiritual, and general roots music. With heavy emphasis on vocal harmonies, this duo had been compared to The Weavers, Ian and Sylvia Tyson and Richard and Linda Thompson. They perform mostly original music along with some traditional and contemporary covers.
Founded in 2012 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Will Richards, The Co-Conspirators really took off when Richards met Katherine Simons and they began performing together. Simons comes from a very musical family and is a classically trained french horn player and percussionist. Her pure, angelic voice stands in contrast to the more raw style of Richards’.
Mostly performing as a duo, they do occasionally add various instruments available to them such as bass, drums, percussion, flute, clarinet, lead guitar, violin, cello, harmonica, banjo, auto harp, and vibraphone.
At the end of April 2019, they released their first full length recording: Shadowing the Organ Tuner (with full band accompaniment), and have been touring across Canada ever since; performing 100s of shows in all provinces.
The Co-Conspirators toured almost non-stop until March of 2020 but have since – like all musicians – been on a greatly reduced schedule.
On January 5th 2022 they released their second full length album, The Unreliable Narrators.
They continue to tour extensively.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/26 - Roger Wallace
2025-02-26 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Roger Wallace has something rare in country music today: honesty, creativity, and more than enough talent to back it all up. You could say it’s all in the voice — and not just the powerful, rangy singing voice that has gained acclaim in roots-country circles for well over a decade. That voice attempts to speak not only in notes and words, but in a distinct musical vision, as well as unique views on the world around him. His latest CD, aptly titled It’s About Time, includes 12 of the 13 songs written or co-written by Wallace, as well as a more stripped-down musical approach from his previous three CD’s (Hillbilly Heights-1999, That Kind Of Lonely-2001, The Lowdown-2002) that exposes the most basic elements of country music, from its purest tones to its barest bones. In the summer of 1994, Roger Wallace left his hometown and musical roots of Knoxville, TN at the age of 22 to pursue music as a way of life in Austin, TX. Unknowingly, he became part of a mass migration of alt-and-roots country artists to move to Austin in the early ’90’s, in his case literally passing right by Nashville to come to Austin — because, as he put it, “that’s where the music is.” Around 1997, musical karma and music lovers’ own good fortune brought Wallace together with guitar legend Jim Stringer, whose Music Room label and studio, along with his own AM Band, has since housed, honed and brought together many of Austin’s best real-country artists. Wallace and Stringer, along with Wallace’s steady ensemble of some of the world’s finest and most respected, prolific, and sought-after roots musicians — including Stringer, drummer Lisa Pankratz, bassists Brad Fordham and Kevin Smith, pianist T Jarrod Bonta, fiddlers Erik Hokkanen, Elana James, and Eamon McLoughlin, and Marty Muse on steel, as well as guests such as Toni Price, Derek O’Brien, and Dave Biller — have produced four highly acclaimed CD’s since 1999. “Hillbilly Heights” in 1999, “That Kind Of Lonely” in 2001, “The Lowdown” in 2002, and his new 2007 release “It’s About Time” continue to solidify the slightly-older and ever-wiser Roger Wallace as one of the premier real-country artists of the modern roots music explosion, and audiences look forward to hearing much more of the same for years to come.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 2/27 - Ken Waldman
2025-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
March 2, 1996, Ken Waldman survived a plane crash on a flight from Brevig Mission to Nome, which makes for a good story. Yes, he was lucky–the photo of the airplane above barely begins to tell it.
He has plenty more stories, and is always happy to talk to print journalists, do radio call-ins, visit radio or tv studios. Here’s Ken’s bio.
Below are links and photos, and there’s additional material on request. For now, here are quotes about his music, his writing, his work with kids, and his knowledge of this business. Here’s a page with even more quotes.
Also, from a fall 2010 residency at Lakewood Cultural Center: A Denver Post newspaper feature. (And to bring this full circle, here’s an endorsement letter from Ken’s spring 2021 return to Lakewood through the same organization.)

The WDVX Big Plate - 2/28 - The Merlin’s Nest
2025-02-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
1000% homegrown and original. Currently this channel represents merely a fraction of what The Merlin’s Nest is capable of. All photos are original artwork by the founding member and the recordings were painstakingly carved out in his bedroom. As this band grows the quality will continue to improve. Catching our live shows is the only way to truly experience the Nest currently, but over time as the production value continues to improve the Merlin’s Nest will prove to be a powerful narrator of epic collisions of song and story in video and audio format.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/1 - Danny Schmidt / Nash Hamilton
2025-03-01 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Named to the Chicago Tribune’s list of the “50 Most Significant Songwriters in the Last 50 Years,” Austin, TX-based singer/songwriter Danny Schmidt has amassed a cult following for his poetic, poignant lyrics. With a craftsmanship and emotional depth drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt, Schmidt is considered a preeminent writer. Sing Out Magazine proclaimed that: “Schmidt is a force of nature: a blue moon, a hundred-year flood, an avalanche of a singer-songwriter. His songs are a flood of poetry, mythology, folk wisdom, and surprise. He is perhaps the best new songwriter we’ve heard in the last 15 years.”
Performing solo most often, armed with just his voice, his acoustic guitar, and his acute insight and commentary, Schmidt’s an authentic timeless troubadour, one man sharing his truth in the form of songs, in unadorned and intimate fashion. The understated effect can be powerful. As songwriter Jeffrey Foucault put it: “Everything about the man is gentle, except for his capacity for insight, which is crushing.”

I’m Nash from Nashville. Listen to my songs, tell me what you think. If you like them, share ‘em with your friends. Y’all come back now!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/3 - Dave Owens
2025-03-03 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Dave Owens will join us this day for the WDVX Blue Plate Special.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/4 - Buford Watson and Southern Scars
2025-03-04 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Buford Watson and Southern Scars consists of:
Buford Watson – Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals
David Whaley – Banjo/Vocals
Chris Rogers – Bass Guitar/Vocals
Nicolas Stephens – Percussion

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/5 - Rick Barnes & Cheyenne
2025-03-05 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Rick Barnes & Cheyenne, we are dedicated to delivering Country Music at its finest. With our unique blend of Outlaw Country and Southern Rock, we Bring a fresh and Authentic Sound to our Audience.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/6 - Timothy Chandler Hicks / Olivia Wolf
2025-03-06 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Immersed in bluegrass culture while growing up in Northern California, Olivia Wolf is a storyteller with an eye for the otherworldly. Having spent time living in Virginia and now hailing in Leiper’s Fork, TN, Wolf possesses an uncanny ability to mesh her California roots with Appalachian stylings. Wolf’s debut album ‘Silver Rounds’ (January 17th), produced by Sean McConnell (Brothers Osborne, Brittney Spencer), is an intimate journey of loss, resilience, escapism, healing and spiritual connection. At its core, the album explores Wolf’s own experiences with grief, portraying the bittersweet nature of memory and the longing for connection with those who have passed on to the next life. Throughout the record, she grapples with existential questions, inviting listeners to reflect on their own lives and the universal struggle for understanding. Wolf also emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and embracing self-care, encouraging listeners to prioritize their own needs amidst societal expectations. She underscores this theme with a sense of community and shared experience as she draws inspiration from her relationships, her surroundings and the universe at large. As ‘Silver Rounds’ unfolds, it balances light and dark, capturing the essence of life’s cyclical nature. Wolf’s storytelling invites listeners into her world, where vulnerability meets strength, and where every song serves as a reminder that even in our deepest struggles, there is beauty to be found. This album is not just a collection of songs; it is a heartfelt navigation of life’s challenges while holding onto hope and connection. Wolf’s songs resonate with a universal truth: amidst life’s challenges, beauty awaits discovery, and music serves as the bridge to that beauty. Olivia Wolf is managed by Tracy Gershon and partners with Al Moss for radio promotion, Shore Fire Media for press and Starfish Marketing for digital.

Timothy Chandler Hicks brings psychedelic indie folk country.

The WDVX Big Plate - 3/7 - Jeanine Fuller
2025-03-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Jeanine Fuller is a vocalist, songwriter and performer from Brooklyn, New York, but is now based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Jeanine uses her vast musical influences in Soul, R & B, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Gospel & Rock to fuse her eclectic vocal sound.
She has been singing as long as she can remember, since about the age of four or five for family, family friends and neighbors. However, Jeanine really began singing since the age of eight in the C.O.G.I.C., Pentecostal, as well later on in Baptist, Methodist and Non-Denominational churches, leading songs in the choir and singing solos.
Being reared for a while in Fayetteville, NC, it was in NC, where her talents were groomed. She was taught to play the violin and later a little bit of piano. However, it was her classical voice training from private teachers as a teenager, that eventually led to her winning a national music competition and a four year scholarship to attend the duration of her high school career and college at the arts conservatory, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She earned a special concentration in Classical voice performance in addition to her high school diploma.
She was also a college student at the music conservatory, Manhattan School of Music in NYC, but it wasn’t before long she was in demand as a touring artist.
Jeanine draws inspiration from greats like, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Dianne Reeves, Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and most definitely Prince.
She has had the pleasure of performing for countless festivals, such as featured artist for the Women in Jazz Jam Festival, Knox Pridefest and the honor of sharing stages with notable, Grammy award artists, such as her jazz idol, Dianne Reeves, Brian Blade and Son Little.
Jeanine draws her soulful,engaging performances from vast experiences in theater,jazz, gospel and classical ensembles, touring the US and abroad in professional touring companies, as well as cover bands & her own cabaret style shows.
In 2019, Jeanine founded a working Soul/Funk Tribute band, Jeanine Fuller & the True Funk SOULdiers. She is bandleader, front person and often features local music talents in this dynamic, fun and engaging tribute band.
Jeanine is a mother, a daughter, sister, spouse, auntie, your homegirl, just sharing the love of music. “I didn’t find music, music found me”. I just want to be an inspiration to everyone, from all walks of life. I want to bridge the gaps through the power of music.
Jeanine was finally brave enough to present her own music that was released in September 2024, with her debut EP album entitled, Endurance.
This debut EP album, has recently earned her 8 international award nominations, including Vocalist of the Year!

First Friday Live - 3/7 - The Collective Unit Revival Band
2025-03-07 18:00 - 19:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
The Collective Unit Revival Band is part of UT Appalachian Strings. A student ensemble at the University of Tennessee directed by Musicology Lecturer and local musician Sean McCollough. The ensemble currently includes six bands that play bluegrass and other music rooted in Appalachia.
The Collective Unit Revival Band features several of the ensemble’s most experienced players. In their set you can expect some bluegrass standards, but you’re also likely to hear songs tinged with jazz and rock along with a few originals. The band is made up of Levi Hansen (banjo/vocals), Jay Lloyd (fiddle/mandolin/vocals), Eli Thompson (dobro/guitar/vocals), Tucker Jones (mandolin), Jensen Halsey (guitar) and Ryan Cliff (bass).

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/8 - John Michael Ferrari & Sophie Love
2025-03-08 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
John Michael Ferrari is a highly acclaimed singer-songwriter and entertainer who loves being on stage. He believes that there are no strangers in the audience and shares his emotional songs about life’s experiences with sophistication and childlike wonder. His latest single, “Music with You,” is all about his audience, and he hopes they can feel the love he has for them through his music. He writes emotional storytelling songs. He loves what he does. There is no place he’d rather be than on stage.
Named Crossover Artist of the Year by three different organizations over the years, John Michael pens crossover genre soft yacht rock pop country songs, sometimes with jazz, blues, or Motown influences. He arranges the music how he and his music producer, Pepper Jay, best think communicates the story. It’s the John Michael Ferrari genre about life’s experiences. John Michael splits his time between Nashville and on a ranch in Pahrump, Nevada.

Sophie Love is a Singer, songwriter, harmonizer, musician 🎸🥁 loves acting, modeling and photography.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/10 - Kid Billy
2025-03-10 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Kid Billy is the solo project from Billy Litz, a multi-instrumentalist and singer with a lust for songwriting and member of the Asheville, NC based band Hustle Souls.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/11 - Kayleigh & Kaine
2025-03-11 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
East Tennessee’s own Kayleigh & Kaine join us this day.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/12 - Year Of October
2025-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Year of October is a fuzzed out rock band from Nashville, TN. They travel the U.S. in a minivan to bring their dirty riffs and dark grooves to people everywhere. Made up of Phlecia Sullivan (vocals), Josh Sullivan (guitar), and James Varner (drums) their original music has been described as a Black Sabbath sound with Amy Winehouse in the lead. They have become a staple in the Nashville rock scene by putting on a powerful show that pulls people in with their dynamic and energetic performance. Their fifth album entitled, ‘Keep on Fighting’ continues to grow their sound. The storytelling on this record covers a variety of topics from anger & depression to folk tales of ancient gods. Album out now.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/13 - Davey and the Midnights
2025-03-13 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Davey Allen is a versatile songwriter, musician, and artist. His work is deeply rooted in the vast American songbook. Allen has played music professionally for the past 20 years, the last six with Davey and The Midnights. The band formed on the west-side of Los Angeles, California in 2017. The group immediately set out to establish themselves as one of the hardest working Americana bands in Southern California. They’ve toured up and down the Western US coast, the deserts of the Southwest, the Rocky Mountains, the cornfields of the Midwest, and through the musical heartland of the US South. Since 2021 the band has called Indianapolis, Indiana home.
Davey and The Midnights have shared the stage with acts such as Kelsey Waldon, Dale Watson, Jesse Daniel, Nikki Lane, TK and the Holy Know-Nothings, the Cordovas, Cristina Vane, Chris Pierce, Rob Leines, and Izaak Opatz. Their emotionally charged, high energy performances are not to be missed.
Davey has also toured extensively as a solo artist and as keyboardist for rock hall of famer Eric Burdon. In addition, he has toured as a member of the San Francisco rock band The Stone Foxes. Davey is an advocate of many social causes and has previously donated a portion of his album sales to the Dolores Huerta Foundation and the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Center.

The WDVX Big Plate - 3/14 - Four Leaf Peat / Daniel Kimbro
2025-03-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Four Leaf Peat is Tennessee’s premier Traditional Irish Band and has been performing locally and regionally since 2004! Traditional Irish music ranges from vibrant dance tunes to soulful songs, and Four Leaf Peat’s performances are always marked by a keen sense of the tradition, mixed with just the right amount of influence from the rich musical history of East Tennessee. Four Leaf Peat’s unique sound is a result of its members’ various musical backgrounds, and their continued passion for traditional Irish music. By taking all of their years of musical training, and building on Irish influences like The Bothy Band, Planxty, Flying Cloud & Silly Wizard, to more modern twists on Traditional music such as Dervish, Open the Door for Three & Lunasa; Four Leaf Peat has built its own brand of Irish music which celebrates the musical bridge that spans the Atlantic.

Daniel Kimbro:
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.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/15 - Laura Sawosko / Chris Long
2025-03-15 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Laura Sawosko‘s songs not only reflect her personal journey, but draw you into your own, through ruthless honesty and vivid imagery. Her vocal technique is raw and unrehearsed which parallels her guitar, while the piano introduces another unexpected layer of melodic and technical grace.
Laura was the keyboardist in her former band Surrender Dorothy that opened for the 1999 Phoenix Lilith Fair with Sarah McLachlin, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride and Dido. She began her ambitious solo career as a singer/songwriter in 2000 after she graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Broadcasting and Music Composition from Arizona State University.
https://youtu.be/xN_EIJ_cf9U?si=sV8aHcA29Fyt2Wr9
Chris Long also joins us this day for The WDVX Blue Plate Special.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/17 - Chatham Rabbits
2025-03-17 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
We named our band after the wild rabbits that once ran rampant in Chatham County, North Carolina. Over a century ago, rabbits were the prized cash crop. Folks would come from all over to hunt and harvest the rabbits. Many decades later, we bought mill house in Bynum, North Carolina, on the banks of the Haw River. The house was once the home of a mill working family. They played music and the husband was a member of the mill-sponsored stringband, The Chatham Rabbits.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/18 - Jennifer Alvarado / 20cats
2025-03-18 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
At just four years old, Alvarado started writing songs. Her passion for songwriting only comes second to her love for God. As a teenager, she began leading worship in her church and felt a call to ministry. Her first single “Relentlessly” was released in 2015 followed by her first Christian album “Hello Life” that consisted of 13 original songs.
She returned to her country roots with her single “I Break Things” that was released in early 2020. She released four additional singles during 2020. She has a passion for recovery ministry and wants to help give a voice to the voiceless through music.
Her first EP project titled ”Playing with Fire” was released in April 2021. Her “Songbird” Project is a two part collection of songs that shows Jennifer’s growth as a writer and is sonically much different than her earlier projects. Part One was released in July 2022 and Part Two was released in July 2023.
She released a holiday EP “Christmas in Carolina” in December 2023 and is currently working on two new projects to be released in 2025. Her music has a country sensibility with a pop current running through it. Her voice is smooth and passionate with a sweetness and power that merge seamlessly into satisfaction for the listener. Her sound is a mixture of country, pop and blues that reflect an eclectic blend of influences.
She has been recognized locally for her songwriting and was named ”One to Watch” by Nashville Songwriters Association in 2021, 2022 and 2024. She was named the “2021 Country Artist of the Year” by Indie Star Radio. Her song “Curious” won “Best Pop Song” for the Indie Songwriting Awards in Winter 2022. Her song “Rock This Way” was named “Best Pop Song” and “Best Overall Song” by the Indie Songwriting Awards in Spring 2022. Her duet “Starz Collide” with Canadian band, The Whythouse, was named “Best Duet” for the Summer 2022 Indie Songwriting Awards. She was a finalist for five International Singer Songwriter Awards, a Josie Award for Female Music Video of the Year, and a Carolina Music Award for Country Female Vocalist of the Year in 2022. Her song “Catfish” recently won a World Songwriting Award for Best Modern Country Song and she just received three Rampage Music Awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.​
She won Silver “Entertainer of the Year” at the International Singer Songwriter Awards in 2023, where she was nominated for seven awards total and was nominated for several of industry awards (see Awards page for full details).​
She is currently nominated for two Carolina Country Music Awards for Christian Country Single of the Year “Jesus in a Bar” and Humanitarian of the Year. And recently won “Album of the Year” for her “Playing with Fire – Deluxe” at the Who’s Hoo Country Awards.​
Psalm 37:4

20cats will also be joining us! Meow!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/19 - Jacob Paul Allen
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
“Appalachian Red Dirt,” That’s how Jacob Paul Allen describes his brand of Country Music. It’s a style and sound that he has crafted on stages large and small from coast to coast for the past 15 years. From the neon lights of Lower Broadway in Nashville, TN to the famed Whisky-A-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip in California, Jacob has been carving out his path and creating a sound that blends Country, Rock, Bluegrass and Americana in a way that is true to his Appalachian roots, yet feels so familiar that listeners are easily drawn in and left wanting to hear more. Whether he is playing a solo show or getting rowdy with his band, Jacob captures the audience with his infectious stage presence and reels them into the stories that he tells, both in his songs and his stage banter. Jacob released his debut EP “Southern Love” in January of 2023 and in May of 2023 he released his highly anticipated hometown anthem “Tyro” which has quickly become a crowd favorite.
His music caught the attention of Freight Train Management, an artist development company based out of Richmond VA, and he has recently partnered with them to take his music to the next level. With new songs being written and recorded and new venues being booked, 2024 is shaping up to wild ride for the JPA camp.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 3/20 - Three Times A Lady
2025-03-20 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Three incredible female solo artists together called “Three Times A Lady” present the most timeless show in country music with unmatched three part harmonies to boot. Initially starting out as a just-for-fun tribute to their all time favorite “Trio” albums (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris), the combo grew artistically as the girls started playing their own original songs and adding in their own trio-inspired covers. Between them they have toured nationwide with the best in the business such as Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lady A, Alabama and Blake Shelton as well as performing on the Opry 20+ times.
Already, the trio is playing across the country including iconic venues such as The Mulehouse Theatre, a residency at the legendary 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN. They have also landed a residency at Dollywood. The iconic park built the show, “Trio Again”, around the band and they are set to perform there for the second year in a row this spring at The Showstreet Palace Theater.
Three Times A Lady released their first album in 2024 “Three Times A Lady: Live at 3rd & Lindsley,” which was named “ALBUM OF THE YEAR” by blog “That Nashville Sound.” They are also set to release an acoustic EP in the coming months.
Their show is filled with captivating storytelling and also includes their own award winning works such as “Married Alone” album title track by Sunny Sweeney & Vince Gill, Grammy nominated album title track “Stronger Than The Truth” by Reba McEntire and top 20 radio hit “Amen”.

The WDVX Big Plate - 3/21 - Tim Decker & Tennessee River
2025-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Tim Decker is originally from Jonesborough, TN now resides in Erwin Tn, with his wife Crystal. He started playing Piano at the age of 9. Progressing to Banjo and Guitar in his teen years he won 2nd place in the Kentucky State Banjo Championships in Middlesboro, Ky junior division. He attended East Tennessee State University (E.T.S.U.) as a music major and performed with the E.T.S.U Bluegrass Program under Jack Tottle. He played country music on the road on semiprofessional circuits and showcased twice in Nashville, Tn for major record labels with 2 different country acts in the early 1990’s. In 2012 Tim was half of the duo of “Decker and Skinner and the Blue Ridge Cut Ups” which appeared on the Song of the Mountains television show with Tim White. During that time, he raised a family and worked until taking early retirement and reentered the genre of Bluegrass Music. Tim’s influences are Bill Monroe, John Duffey, Charlie Waller, Red Smiley, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, J.D Crowe and Don Reno.
