The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/18 - Lightnin’ Charlie / Chris Castle
2024-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Lightnin’ Charlie is a recording artist, author, and entertainer extraordinaire, delivering a cheerful earful of soul-stirring roots music. Describing LC’s mighty mix of music in a few words is impossible…but when Charlie is asked what kind of music he plays, he says simply, “Good Music for Good People!”

Chris Castle builds the kind of songs that three generations of America grew up with. His music is an homage to the archetypal elements found in the past century of popular music, drawing from classic Country, early Rock & Roll, Bluegrass, Folk, Blues, and traditional Pop. Castle’s ability to seamlessly blend these genres into something all his own is a testament to his deep love and understanding of the tapestry of American music. These aren’t period pieces; they’re living, breathing songs, that carry the DNA of American roots music.​
It’s no surprise then, that he has found himself at home alongside some of the godfathers of modern Americana music. Castle has shared stages and studios with legendary artists like Garth Hudson (the Band), Chris Hillman (the Byrds), Tommy Ramone (the Ramones), Jimmy Webb, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson). His 2012 release, Last Bird Home, was recorded at the storied Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY and broke the top 10 on multiple roots radio charts.​
Castle’s latest release, Long Way to the Bottom, is his first full-length studio album in over a decade. Tracked with the three-time Grammy winning studio duo of engineer Justin Guip (the Black Crowes, Hot Tuna) and producer Larry Campbell, it showcases the strength of Castle’s songs, and sees them dressed in their finest clothes.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/19 - Scott Clay
2024-06-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Scott Clay’s sixth studio album ‘Jade’, due for release in May 2024, peeks underneath the layers of traditional Americana to reveal the Nashville songwriter in the midst of his alchemical storytelling.
Complex yet uncomplicated, the album’s eleven tracks roam from funky 60s inspired riffs to modern experimental folk ballads, while his unabashed lyrics and distinctive voice invite listeners on an introspective journey.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/20 - Noel McKay / Josh Morningstar
2024-06-20 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
When preparing for an album, some songwriters carve out specific times in a day to sit down and work on music. Not Josh Morningstar. The Maryland native is constantly writing songs—while he’s driving, while he’s on the road, while he’s at home—and stockpiling ideas for future tunes.
“I’m pretty much always writing in some form or fashion,” he says. “It’s not like, ‘Okay, June 1, I’m going to sit down and I’m going to spend the next 10 days writing a record.’ That’s not really how I operate. I just write, and write, and write, and then eventually, I’ll hit a point where I decide, ‘Okay, I probably need to record and release something.’”
Luckily, that meant Morningstar had plenty of options as he approached Josh Morningstar, his Late August Records debut and first full-length since 2018’s The Plea. Morningstar went through the abundance of recordings on his phone and picked out his favorites, the ones that he thought would go well together. “There’s some storytelling on there,” he says. “There’s love songs on there. There’s some funny songs on there. I really wanted to show the different aspects of who I am as an artist and as a songwriter—and this group of songs really represents that probably better than anything I’ve done. These songs come from my heart and my mind.”
That naturally translates to a diverse album that encompasses blazing honky-tonk with a sinewy groove (“Get By (We’re All Just Tryin’ To Make It)”), smoky blues rock with subtle organ shading (“Livin’ the Dream”), and conspiratorial folk music (“To Seek the Devil”). The songs’ arrangements are concise and elegant, decorated with just enough shading and texture to tease out subtle emotional nuance; for example, gentle piano and percussion cushion “Anywhere With You,” while desolate pedal steel and fiddle drive “Even As a Ghost.”
Morningstar recorded the album at Nashville’s Pentavarit Studios with Jay Tooke, a producer who formerly played with the Steel Woods. The two became friends after crossing paths on the road; Morningstar, who much prefers playing live to being in the studio, thought Tooke could make the recording experience an easy one. “I wanted as laid-back of an environment as possible,” he says, “and I knew Jay was a pretty laid-back guy, so I knew he’d be good for that.”
Morningstar’s instincts were right: The pair spent just two or three days laying down tracks and then an additional day polishing off three more songs. “After the first day I knew that it would be a good fit,” Morningstar says. “If a studio environment is very uptight and too professional, I feel very out of place. So it was really just Jay and I in there for the most part, and I could just be myself and try things. It was the right way to do it.”
Songwriting-wise, Morningstar was also selective about his co-writes, collaborating with Brent Cobb (“Livin’ The Dream”), Hayes Carll (“As Fast As She Can Go”), and Kendell Marvel and Waylon Payne (“Eyes on Forever”), and covering “Baltimore Jack” by Rorey Carroll. The result is an album brimming with relatable characters and lyrics that read more like rich, elegant prose. “Anywhere With You” is about treasuring what matters in a relationship—being together—while the earnest “Even As A Ghost” wears its romantic heart on its sleeve. Elsewhere, the main characters of “Get By (We’re All Just Tryin’ To Make It)” make bad decisions but are treated with empathy, as the song is a pointed critique of society’s power imbalances. “To Seek The Devil,” meanwhile, is a cautionary tale about sacrificing your morals or integrity to make dreams come true.
“Each one of those songs on the album comes from my life in a different way,” he says. “No, I didn’t meet my future self in a bar, like I say in ‘To Seek the Devil.’ But that song comes from the frustration of being an artist and feeling like you’re spinning your wheels. ‘Baltimore Jack’ is about a pretty notorious hiker on the Appalachian Trail. But even in that, I could see parts of myself.”
That Morningstar was here and present to record these songs was a blessing: In March 2020—just as the COVID-19 pandemic started—he nearly died due to an infection that arose after a tooth extraction went awry. “I went into the hospital and the world was normal,” he says. “I came out of the hospital and everything had changed.” In the last few years, he’s also dealt with the painful experience of losing friends and loved ones. Morningstar opted not to include the songs that dealt directly with these matters, preferring to hold them for a later date. “They were at the end of the record,” he explained, “and the end of the record felt more downtempo than I wanted it to be. But there’s lines and parts through all of the songs that reflect those losses.”
Other moments on the album provide levity—such as the jaunty opening track “The I Can’t Write A Song Song,” a lighthearted, stream-of-consciousness acoustic song that confronts his bouts of writer’s block with wry, good-natured humor. “I sat down one day and got very frustrated because I couldn’t write a song, and then I just started writing exactly what the song is,” he says. “It really didn’t take too long to do; it just came pouring out of me. Those are my favorites when I’m writing, the songs that feel like they come from somewhere else and you’re just a conduit.”
Morningstar is no stranger to resilience. A recovering heroin addict with more than a decade of sobriety, he weathered challenging times (including no less than six stints in different county jails) before finding a home in music. Morningstar has toured with or opened for Todd Snider, Shooter Jennings, Bobby Bare, and Jason Isbell, and made his name as a songwriter, with tunes recorded by Sunny Sweeney, Vince Gill, and others. Along the way, he’s found a kindred spirit in outlaw country artist Cody Jinks, who owns Late August Records. Jinks has recorded Morningstar songs on every one of his records starting with 2018’s Lifers, on which he cut “Must Be The Whiskey.”
Morningstar is grateful for their business relationship—but is even more thankful for their friendship. “Outside of anything business-related, Cody is one of my dearest friends,” he says. “He is a genuinely good person, and goes above and beyond not just for me, but anyone in his life. I’m grateful to be on his record label, and I’m grateful to have had him record my songs. But outside of any of that, I’m grateful to be able to call him a friend. That means more to me than any of that other stuff.”
For Morningstar, gratitude is indeed a common theme—for songwriting, for touring, and for the opportunities that music has given him. He cherishes the songs he writes and makes every single day count. “To really understand my music, I feel like you have to see me live,” he says. “But this record is as close to seeing me live—or understanding what it is that I’m about—more than anything I’ve done. I consider myself a troubadour. I write songs. I sing them, and I pack up and go on to the next gig. That’s what I like to do. It’s what I’ve done for 20 years at this point. It’s what I’ll do, God-willing, until I’m not here anymore.”

Was born and raised in Lubbock and the Hill Country of Texas. Noel McKay has traveled the world, singing his songs and playing a self-built acoustic guitar on world stages from Nashville, TN, Austin, TX, California, Ireland, Spain, and the U.K. Noel has co-written songs with David Olney, Guy Clark, Richard Dobson, Becky Warren, John Scott Sherrill, and Shawn Camp. His songs have been recorded by Sarah Borges, Sunny Sweeney, and Guy Clark.​
Noel picked up the guitar around age nine. By fifteen, he was playing the beer joints and honky tonks in Bandera and the surrounding hill country. In the Middle of High School, he landed a job at Flying L Dude Ranch, which proved to be a great training ground. In his early twenties he met Guy Clark while playing at a festival in Kerrville, TX. They formed a friendship and Clark provided a mentorship that still resonates with Noel to this day.​
Forming a band with his younger brother Hollin was a no-brainer. The two enjoyed a long collaboration at one point finding themselves in The New York Times talking about grub on the road. The duo released four full albums (one produced by Gurf Morlix and the other by Lloyd Maines) and one EP between 1994 and 2003. Their songs garnered much attention from Texas radio and press. The legendary Ray Wylie Hubbard called them “absolutely phenomenal!”​
McKay took a break for about four years, spending time in carpentry and guitar building over at the famous Collings Guitars in Austin, TX. Noel found himself daydreaming about getting back on stage, and that’s when he recorded his first solo album, Sketches Of South Central Texas, in 2011. Around 2010, he met Brennen Leigh, and they formed McKay and Leigh, an alliance that took them around the world. They released three albums until about 2020 and were always an anticipated highlight wherever they played.​
During this time, Noel was still hanging out with Guy Clark in his guitar workshop when he built a guitar he still plays today. Sadly, Clark died before he could hear it finished, “the specific skills I learned from him are things I’ll treasure for the rest of my life,” smiles McKay. The guitar is modeled after the Martin 00-000 series, and it’s his number-one go-to acoustic.​
Moving to Nashville meant getting involved with the vast songwriter community. While he was off the road these past few years, he’s taken part in many songwriters’ rounds at various venues like The Bluebird Café, Brown’s Diner, Robert’s Western World, and his stint as host at the weekly songwriting in the round at the American Post Legion #82 in East Nashville. As many as 25 songwriters would show up to take part on a Thursday night. They would end the evening with a full show by an artist handpicked by McKay himself.​
Noel has shared the stage with the best of the best: James McMurtry, David Olney, Sunny Sweeney, Guy Clark, and Whitney Rose. Some of the stages and venues over the years have been the 30A Songwriters Festival (Destin, FL), Westport Bluegrass Festival (Ireland), Riquela Club (Spain), Hill Country BBQ (Washington, DC), Levon Helm Studios (Woodstock, NY), Gruene Hall (Austin, TX), and The Bluebird Café (Nashville, TN) and many more. He toured Florida with the late great David Olney a month before he died in January 2020.​
Two cool facts about Noel: his grandfather started a radio station in Frío County, TX. KVWG (Pearsall, TX), “The Kind Voice of the Winter Garden,” a station that played everything from easy listening to country and western and Mexican music. Two songs he co-wrote with Guy Clark are now in the archives at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN.​
Noel spends time on the road and hangs his hat in Nashville, Austin, and Spain when he’s not.

The WDVX Big Plate - 6/21 - My Brothers Keeper
2024-06-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
My Brother’s Keeper is a progressive bluegrass band from Cincinnati OH that draws inspiration from rock, gospel, bluegrass and everything in between.
My Brother’s Keeper consists of brothers Benjamin, Titus, and Joshua Luckhaupt on guitar, mandolin, and fiddle respectively. Wyatt “Sawmill” Murray completes this ensemble on the upright bass. MBK features four part family harmonies, soulful lead vocals, thoughtful original music, and an energetic live show that appeals to fans of any genre. Unique and exciting, My Brother’s Keeper has brought their fresh blend of original acoustic music to fans all over the United States.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/22 - The Laurelys / Josh Bruce
2024-06-22 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Taking cues from centuries of folk music, The Laurelys use interwoven harmonies and the clawhammer banjo to tell stories about love, life’s challenges, and finding solitude in nature.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/24 - Olivia Ellen Lloyd / Debra Griner
2024-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Olivia Ellen Lloyd will try anything once. From flight attendant school in Dallas to producing theater in New York and teaching in Guatemala, Lloyd sought adventure but struggled to find a greater sense of purpose – until she found her way back to music.
Her self-funded and independently released debut album Loose Cannon has been quietly winding its way into the hearts and minds of Country and Americana music lovers all over the world. Currently sitting pretty at over 1 million streams on Apple Music and Spotify, Loose Cannon was featured on numerous best-of lists (Ear to the Ground notably named it their Album of the Year), received praise from Nashville Lifestyles, Rolling Stone Country, Holler Country, and The Bluegrass Situation, and made it onto editorial playlists on Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. Her 2020 single “Shepherdstown’“ was named one of Tidal’s best songs of 2020 on their Rising Folk playlist.
She was a 2024 Songwriter Serenade finalist (top 6) 2021 NewSong Music finalist (top 3), and was named a 2023 Newfolk Winner at the legendary Kerrville Folk Festival.
Her 2022 release of a duo of Hazel Dickens songs received attention from Bluegrass Today, the Bluegrass Situation, and made Spotify’s GrassRoots and Women of Bluegrass editorial playlists. Her sophomore album is currently in production, produced once again by her dear friend and creative collaborator, Mike Robinson.
Lloyd is a West Virginia native and proud of it. Raised by a musician and a public school educator in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, her sound is a combination of her deeply rooted past and her fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants present. She’s continuing to mine that divide as she tours the country full time in her 2010 Toyota Sienna.

From the opening notes of Debra Griner’s new A Place To Start, it’s clear she is on a journey to look inward and communicate. “I love to express a feeling in a room filled with people so that we can all experience it together. Kind of like saying ‘You know what I mean, right?’ I see my songs as a vehicle for that.I try to present things as I see them. I write from a place of wanting to share something and say things that are important to me.”
Track after track is anchored by that commitment. Folk icon Tom Paxton, recognized Griner, calling her “A new and welcome voice. A careful and thoughtful writer has joined the conversation!” Recorded in Nashville and co-produced with Grammy-winning songwriter, Steve Leslie, A Place to Start features seven original songs that range from pop-country to bluegrass to a Cajun-flavored remembrance of Griner’s Louisiana roots.
Her new release follows Griner’s 2011 album, Bound to Rise, and 2013’s On the Bluegrass Trail.
Like her debut, A Place to Start shows the influence of such 1970s-era singer-songwriters as James Taylor, John Denver, Paul Simon and, most of all, Joni Mitchell.
The collection begins with “What I Wouldn’t Do,” a rolling country-folk-pop song about the first blooms of a potential relationship.
“It’s about feeling attraction, but not rushing in; about savoring the moment and the anticipation of something wonderful.”
“Beautiful Music” was written in 2020 during the darkest months of the coronavirus pandemic. In her clear, crystalline voice, she sings of music’s ability to heal.
“Laughter, Weed and Wine,” co-written with songwriter friend, Bob Sutton, pays tribute to the late singer-songwriter John Prine, the everyman poet whose songs so poignantly expressed the sentiments of the common man and woman.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/25 - Grace Pettis
2024-06-25 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
“Grace has a melodic way of writing that not only stays in your head but reads what’s sitting in your soul. She writes what I’ve always wanted to say.” — Ruthie Foster (Grammy®-nominated blues artist)
Grace Pettis‘ much-anticipated sophomore MPress Records release, Down To The Letter, captures the Nashville-based (formerly Austin-based) singer-songwriter at the peak of her songwriting powers. Chronicling the end of a marriage and the reclamation of self after betrayal, codependency, and loss with heartbreaking detail, the lyrics deftly toe the line between personal pain and universal catharsis.
Mary Bragg — who also produced Pettis’ debut album on MPress, 2021’s Working Woman — was Pettis’ first choice for Down to the Letter as well, in spite of their second album calling for a markedly different approach. “I knew this album would be challenging,” says Pettis. “I was too close to these songs and the subject matter to be all that objective with things like song and production choices. But I was in good hands with Mary.”
Bragg and Pettis, along with good friend Josh Kaler (Frances Cone, Heather Nova), who contributes the majority of the electric and acoustic guitars on the album as well as pedal steel, make up the musical heart of the project. The three of them tracked much of the album in five days while holed up at musician/producer Jon Estes’ home studio in Nashville, when Jon and his family were out of town. While Grace played and sang and Mary contributed back-up vocals and acoustic guitar, Josh did the engineering until it was his turn to play something. Then Mary took over the engineering while he laid down his guitar parts.
Pettis reveals: “It was a very different process from the way Mary and I made our last record together. We recorded Working Woman at Sound Emporium, which is this big, beautiful, historic studio in Nashville. We brought in a raucous rock and roll band and we tracked it live, for the most part.” But Bragg’s instinct for Down to the Letter was ro record the project somewhere more familiar and intimate in a cozy and personal atmosphere. “It was just the three of us working on it for days,” Grace explains: “That was smart, because it was the kind of safe and supportive environment I needed, where I was among friends and could be emotionally vulnerable with in the way I needed to be, to get the vocals we wanted to get.” She concedes that she cried in her car after some of those days in the studio, so cathartic was the experience for her. “Mary was so great about allowing me to be human, while also encouraging me to make the best art possible.”
Grounded by Pettis’ vocals and acoustic guitar along with notable contributions from Bragg and Kaler on acoustic and pedal steel guitar, respectively, the album also features Owen Biddle and Jordan Perlson on electric bass and drums. Jon Estes contributed upright bass, cello, piano, and B-3 and Will Hawley added horns to “Joy.” With final overdubs at Bragg’s own project studio, they were able to achieve both the aching intimacy of ballads like “Horses” and “Sobering Up,” and the pull-no-punches attitude of tracks like “Rain” and “I Didn’t Break This.”
On the last day of tracking, the studio was full to the brim with Pettis’ Nashville musician friends, supporting the tender “Joy,” and exuberant “I Take Care of Me Now” as a makeshift choir and then with gang vocals. Guest vocals from Mary Bragg, Robby Hecht, and Emily Scott Robinson round out this collection of twelve original songs, two of which are co-writes (“When Nobody’s Watching” – Gary Nicholson; “The Year of Losing Things” – Tom Prasada-Rao).
A year-round touring artist equally at home on a big festival stage as in a listening room in Ireland, Grace Pettis has also been a member of Austin-based trio Nobody’s Girl with Rebecca Loebe and BettySoo since 2017, releasing their first EP in 2018 and full-length studio album in 2021 to critical acclaim. And while those musical friendships remain a big part of her landscape and have helped ground and inspire her along the way, this record is all about one woman’s journey through tough times, coming out on the other side all the more herself – vulnerable but triumphant, bruised but in possession of her own, solitary strength.
Produced by Mary Bragg (Natalie Price), mixed by Jon Estes (Robyn Hitchcock, Dolly Parton), and mastered by John McLaggan (Parachute Mastering), the album showcases Pettis’ rich voice, perhaps one of the most dynamic and agile of her generation.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/26 - Maria Keck / Jim Myers
2024-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Maria Keck is a classically trained flutist turned songwriter and folk-pop artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. In her live performance, Maria uses a loop station to layer flute, vocals, synth, and guitar under her folk-influenced lyrics. She crafts soulful and captivating songs that illustrate a vast landscape of romance, sensuality, and a love for the natural world. Maria released her debut LP, The Gardener and Me, in June of 2023, and released her latest single, Free Like You, in March, 2024.

Jim Myers aka Uncle Jimmy Pie joins us this day as well!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/27 - Jamie Adamson / Shake It Like A Caveman
2024-06-27 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Shake it like a caveman is no stranger to the highway. He’s a one man band dance party, thrusting somewhere between poolside film scores and early American work songs. Its Sonic and Visual dynamite that makes you move that thang. SILAC is an artist, songwriter, voyager and painter. Shake it like a caveman has been touring the world since 2006. His home base is nestled in The beautiful hills of East Tennessee.

Jamie Adamson joins us this day as well.

The WDVX Big Plate - 6/28 - Brendon James Wright & The Wrongs
2024-06-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
East Tennessee’s Own Brendon James Wright & the Wrongs brings original Americana Music.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 6/29 - Bill Moore / Rounder’s Station
2024-06-29 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Bill Moore is a Chapel Hill based guitarist and singer-songwriter attending the University of North Carolina. He typically works in Piedmont Blues traditions but incorporate elements of old-time, Western swing, delta and vaudeville blues and other early 20th century genres of music. His primary influences are Bob Dylan, Reverend Gary Davis, Charlie Poole, Blind Willie McTell, Ma Rainey, Bob Wills, Elizabeth Cotten, Blind Boy Fuller and Blind Blake.

Rounder’s Station is four neo-traditionalists playing the acoustic music we love!!
https://youtu.be/1XMn4_-gsnU?si=YQGYexk_qPUUHpQo

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/1 - Randy Ross Band
2024-07-01 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Randy Ross is a musician/band from Nashville, TN.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/2 - John Alvis & The Sleepy Eyed John Band
2024-07-02 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
John Alvis & The Sleepy Eyed John Band:
Sleepy-Eyed John’s Music and Clogging Locally owned and operated by John & Alicia Alvis since 2010, Sleepy-Eyed John’s offers a variety of Music Lessons & Instruction School. 2830 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN, United States, Tennessee (865) 414-5825.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/3 - Julia Still / Roland Dixon
2024-07-03 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Julia Still is an up-and-coming country artist born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains. She is a powerhouse vocalist who expertly navigates from Country Music classics to 80s pop and everything in between. Her voice has been described as “angelic” and “smooth”.
Whether she’s singing Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All” or Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, her soulful Appalachian tone shines through.
She grew up along Country Music Highway, also known as Highway 23. So, naturally, she spent 2023 touring Highway 23. From Wise County, Virginia to Kingsport, Tennessee, Julia sang for the folks back home.
What has continuously set her apart on the road is her original music. People from all walks of life have connected to a song or two.
She is an accomplished songwriter, boasting twelve independent writing credits on her debut album “Hard to Believe”. Two of which have made their way to Country Music Radio with one reaching number 77 on the Music Row Breakout Charts. Her heart-felt lyrics, quirky stories, and beautiful melodies invite the audience to laugh, cry, and experience love and life alongside her.

Roland Dixon Joins us as well!

The WDVX Big Plate - 7/5 - The Wandering Hours
2024-07-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
The Wandering Hours are based in Tampa Bay, Florida, The Wandering Hours are an original take on traditional American string music combining old-time, early bluegrass, and folk into a dancey and lyrically deep band that always entertains fans of string music and first-time listeners.​
Formed in 2018, they harness powerful lyrics and uplifting melodies using fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, and upright bass. They write original music in this vein, as well as playing some of the important songs and tunes from these eras.

First Friday Live - 7/5 - Hearts Gone South
2024-07-05 18:00 - 19:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Hearts Gone South, based out of Asheville and the Tri-Cities, plays original classic-style country and honky tonk full of heart and soul, laced with wit and woe. Bringing fire and feeling to the age-old stories of heartbreak, love,and victory for the underdog. Hearts Gone South shoots straight from the hip with impassioned vocals, a tight rhythm section, and smoking leads, to hit their target dead on. Shining like diamonds in a rhinestone world.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/6 - Tedd Graves and the All-Star Band
2024-07-06 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Tedd Graves & The All Star Band are professional musicians playing the songs we all love to hear. From Country classics to today’s country to Elvis!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/8 - Billy Jones / June Star
2024-07-08 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Billy Jones has been making his way across the Carolinas with a six-string guitar and a suitcase full of well-crafted tunes for the last two decades. Whether he’s performing solo or in his dynamite trio (The Pocket) or his other low country bluegrass trio (Broken Arrows) , Jones always delivers with danceable rhythms and an intimate delivery that makes every venue a living room. Jones pens songs that reflect the deep musical roots of his native Carolina Piedmont. His ears are tuned to a broader, global wavelength. Equal parts folk and rhythm and blues; his songs paint streetscapes of downtown Americana and offer reflections of a journey well traveled.

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 WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/9 - Ashton Browne / Horatio Monroe
2024-07-09 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Ashton Browne joins us this day for The WDVX Blue Plate Special.
https://youtu.be/USZK5JcFfD4?si=g__nWesfekL826OJ
Singer-Songwriter Horatio Monroe is an independent acoustic artist offering a range of laid back originals as well as popular songs from all eras. Performing for over 8 years, Horatio’s perfect combination of soulful indie vocals and versatile guitar has always been his strong-suit. With influences ranging from Rihanna, and Johnny Cash, to Coldplay and Nirvana. He provides a soothing air to the local music scene.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/10 - Rebecca Porter / Dirty Dan & the Basketball Boys
2024-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Rebecca Porter, originally from Guam and now based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, brings raw authenticity to her music, defined by her honey-smooth voice and sharp, irreverent songwriting. Her lyrics courageously explore personal themes such as trauma, discrimination as a Pacific Islander woman in rural Virginia, and the complex challenges of motherhood.
Her musical journey began over a decade ago as a member of local cover bands, where she honed her skills and gained local acclaim. However, it was during the pandemic that Porter redirected her creative energy, eventually releasing two EPs: “Prime Rainbow Conditions” and “Queen of the Local.” The latter marked a pivotal move towards independence, propelling Porter to national and international recognition through her grassroots efforts.
Recently, Porter joined Rissi Palmer’s esteemed Color Me Country Class of 2024 and made her debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage. Her music also captured the interest of Ed Helms, editor of Good Country, who selected her for his curated playlist, ‘Ed’s Pick’. These achievements underscore Porter’s artistic evolution and the broad appeal of her music, touching listeners well beyond her local beginnings. In essence, Porter’s musical journey epitomizes unwavering determination, creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling through music.

Whether pondering the emotions of a radish or pleading with an unresponsive God, Dirty Dan & the Basketball Boys finds its comfort zone in the turbulent — often inconclusive — internal monologues we find ourselves in when we combine a quiet moment with just the right amount to drink.
Multi-instrumentalist band members meld DIY punk sensibilities (and merchandising) with more soulful, funk-filled musical strands. They’ve even been known to play the occasional proto-punk SpongeBob cover when the stars are right.
Based in Denton, TX (40 miles northwest of Dallas), the band consists of siblings Zach (Dirty Dan, himself), Jessa (Lady Wail), and Patrick Lussier (Chicken Patty), as well as found-family members Isaac Palermo (Little Italy), Rae Callies (The Bebop Botanist), and Dave Weaver (The Brass Lung).
Since forming in 2019, the band has played dozens of professional live shows across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as a gig in Austin during SXSW.

WDVX Summer Nights - 7/10 - Po Ramblin’ Boys / Wyatt Ellis and Alex Leach
2024-07-10 19:00 | Yee Haw Brewing Co, 745 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity and straightforward honesty are paramount. There’s something about the music of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys that cuts right through the noise of the world and speaks plainly to the soul. Formed in the Smoky Mountains, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys are at once exactly what you would expect and not at all what you would expect from a tattooed East Tennessee Bluegrass outfit. No strangers to hard work, the boys are as much at home riding in their restored Eagle tour bus as they are crawling underneath to fix it when it needs maintenance. But they take pride in being ambassadors of their genre, and the group has brought their music from rural bluegrass festival stages to the rock clubs of Europe, and even the GRAMMY Red Carpet, with stunning results. “I think to a certain extent everyone is just craving music that they can feel, and any music that feels real will reach any audience” says CJ Lewandowski, the groups founder, “We want to put bluegrass right where it’s least expected”. Perhaps this mindset is why the group earned the title of Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2018 IBMA Awards.
In 2014, Lewandowski was working at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Sevierville, TN when the band first formed. The distillery employed musicians to play for visitors seven days a week, and Lewandowski, who primarily plays Mandolin and sings, was occasionally hired to fill in when the entertainment didn’t show. Eventually, the distillery approached him about forming a band for a full time slot, so he reached out to long time music friends Jereme Brown, who plays banjo for the group, and Josh Rinkel, who plays guitar. “Jereme was doing a lot of welding work at that time, and Josh was running a sign company”, says Lewandowski, “I think we were all ready to do something new, something with our music but we didn’t know when or how”. Bassist Jasper Lorentzen happened to be working in the tasting room at the distillery, and he turned out to be the perfect addition to the band. The four friends played multiple times a week for a year and half, honing their band sound, meanwhile word was spreading about their music. “The first gig we played out of town was a festival in Alberta, Canada, and a week later we went on a two week tour of Europe, it was crazy”, says Lewandowski. In 2020, the finishing touch, the cherry on top if you will, was added to the quartet. Laura Orshaw, a seasoned fiddle player and singer joined the Boys after contributing her talents to the Sound Biscuit Productions’ full Gospel album, “God’s Love is So Divine” and “Toils, Tears, & Trouble.” On the addition C.J. exclaims “after 5 1/2 together as a four piece, we needed that perfect fit that would not only fit us on stage and recording, but a personality that would add to the band and be a part of the family we have created. Laura was that person and we can’t think of anyone else that fits our music and our family better than her. The show has benefitted so much from Laura and the chemistry we have between the now 5 of us.”
Material for the group’s freshman Rounder Records album “Toil, Tears & Trouble,” was a combination of original songs and old numbers that honor the group’s mentors and bluegrass heroes. “We love to dig up old songs that haven’t been heard in years and bring them back into the spotlight”, explains Lewandowski. In fact, two of those gems on the Rounder album, “Next Train South” and “Hickory, Walnut & Pine,” were nominated for IBMA Song of the Year along with “Next Train South” taking the trophy for SPBGMA same category in 2020. The momentum of “Toil, Tears & Trouble” has continued to grow with the band’s first GRAMMY Nomination for Best Bluegrass Album.
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys passion for bluegrass is as clear as it is contagious. With a heavy touring schedule across the United States and Europe and recent Grammy Nomination with Rounder Records, the Boys are well on their way to becoming the quintessential bluegrass band of their generation. Despite all of their recent success, they maintain a humble perspective. “Bluegrass has left such a mark on us that we feel like we owe something back to the music”, says Lewandowski. “We want to do something for the music to show our appreciation… There’s no telling what could have happened to us, what we would have become if we hadn’t found this music. It’s gotten us through a lot, the good and the bad. When I think about all of the damn medications that I didn’t have to take because I had music to turn to. We didn’t have to go to the doctor and pay for something to make us feel better, because we had this music, so we really want to honor it by bringing it out of the shadows and onto new stages and wider audiences. Because we know that if we can bring Bluegrass to new folks, those folks will come with us and support the bluegrass community.”

Alex Leach and the eponymous band he fronts are joining contemporaries like Billy Strings in redefining what modern roots music and bluegrass are through originality and a purposeful evolution away from long held stereotypes. Alex and his band are a multi-talented bunch who bring exceptional musicianship and high energy to any stage they play. As Bluegrass Today reported, “It’s little wonder why Alex Leach has emerged to the forefront of today’s young up-and-coming bluegrass vanguard. He and his band possess the skill and savvy needed to go all the way. Their set lists are flush with all the exuberance one might hope to find in a young outfit with such obvious ability and affinity for the form.”
Alex is back in the studio now, working on his next project which will feature all original songs that takes the acoustic music of the traditional bluegrass and Americana world that he grew up with and moves it into the future, featuring his signature ‘new traditional’ sound.

Born not far from the Great Smoky Mountains, Wyatt Ellis‘ first recollection of hearing the mandolin was Bobby Osborne’s iconic solo on the Osborne Brothers’ bluegrass classic “Rocky Top.” Hearing the Tennessee bluegrass anthem echo throughout the early years of his childhood is what led Wyatt to set his sights on learning to play mandolin. With his schedule packed with school, Boy Scouts and team sports, it was hard to find time for music.
When he was almost 10 years old, Wyatt talked his dad into buying him a used mandolin so he could learn to play it just like Bobby. Soon, he began weekly mandolin lessons in his hometown and quickly developed a strong desire to attend local bluegrass jams. He told his non-musical parents that he wanted to play his new mandolin alongside other bluegrass pickers.
The COVID lockdown began just as he was forging those real-life musical friendships. Team sports, local lessons and bluegrass jams came to an abrupt end. At the same time, festivals and in-person recording sessions suddenly stopped, parking the most in-demand bluegrass musicians at home. Many of his favorite mandolin players started teaching or simply spending more time connecting within the community online.
In the fall of 2020, Wyatt was chosen by his hero Sierra Hull, herself a former mandolin prodigy, for a Tennessee Folklife apprenticeship. Eager to improve under the watch of a true virtuoso, Wyatt describes those one-on-one tutorials as “working on exactly what I needed to work on at the time. Details. Timing. Tone. Getting all the little things right by slowing down was a really big deal in that situation. Sierra has taken bluegrass mandolin to another dimension and I was excited to start my journey with her. I’ve played my mandolin every day since then.”
Having never been a fan of watching television or playing video games, playing mandolin became Wyatt’s preferred pastime. With no close neighbors and the music world suddenly at his fingertips, his passion for the instrument grew. As word circulated in the bluegrass community about his accelerated abilities, Wyatt befriended many of the genre’s top mandolin players through camps, workshops, and individual lessons.
In October 2022, Wyatt performed alongside former Bluegrass Boy Peter Rowan and Grammy winner Molly Tuttle at Rowan’s induction into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Wyatt was invited by his ultimate mandolin hero, Marty Stuart, to help kick off the Grand-Reopening of the Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, Mississippi. In February 2023, at 13 years old, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut appearance with bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent. Moments after his debut appearance he was jamming backstage with acoustic icons Vince Gill and Mark O’Connor. In March 2023, Wyatt joined the genre’s newest superstar, Billy Strings, to honor Doc Watson at his 100th birthday celebration. The now fourteen-year-old was recently invited to play the iconic Merlefest event Mandolin Mania with five of his mandolin heroes.
As a young musician just starting out on his musical journey, Wyatt has found that the bluegrass community is full of supporters, kind words, and encouragement. He has accrued more than 100,000 followers on combined social media before ever releasing a single.

Make plans to join us for the entire concert series with:
August 14 – Martha Spencer’s Wonderland Country Band / Five Mile Mountain Road
September 11 – Amanda Anne Platt and the Honeycutters / Sam Quinn’s Cartwright Brothers
October 9 – The Tim O’Brien Band / The Songs from the Road Band
WDVX Summer Nights supported by ORNL Federal Credit Union and Yee Haw Brewing Company.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/11 - Alice Wallace / Maygen & The Birdwatcher
2024-07-11 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Here I Am, Nashvillian songstress Alice Wallace declares on her new album, set for a spring 2024 release via Mule Kick Records. It’s a title that hints at her deeply personal, confessional songwriting style, one that invites the listener to gaze at her beating heart as each intimate secret pours out, propelled by a powerful, expressive delivery that marks her as one of the true vocal talents of her generation.
Alice does not hide behind the microphone, but uses it to amplify everything inside her champing to get out. She’s survived the highs and lows of life, love, and the music industry and finally produced the album she feels she was destined to make. Here I Am, she says, the real Alice Wallace.
This album marks a return to themes of self-examination after several collections that featured predominantly story songs. “I needed to make a record that was really true to myself, both for me and for my fans who have encouraged me in ways I am so grateful for,” Alice explains. “Songs are how I process. And writing this album helped me process so much of what has happened in the last few years.”
Alice moved to Nashville four years ago after more than a decade in southern California, and Here I Am is the first of her albums to be recorded in true Music City style, backed by a lineup of world-class musicians and recorded in two whirlwind days with no rehearsal, just the way the best session players like to do it. Produced by Nick Buda (Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Dolly Parton) the album features some of the most talented musicians Nashville has to offer. In addition to Buda on drums, the record features Grammy-winning guitarist Kenny Greenberg (Willie Nelson, Wynnona Judd, Hayes Carll), bassist Ted Pecchio (Doyle Bramhall II, Susan Tedeschi) and keyboardist Jimmy Wallace (The Wallflowers). And although Alice had never played with any of the musicians before, the combined talents in the room made for an electric experience that brought her songs to life in vibrant and unexpected ways.
The album opens with a lone, droning organ note behind Alice’s voice as she tells of a secret she’s scared might someday be discovered.. But as the song “Imposter” builds to its celebratory peak, the listener learns it’s only Alice’s own self-doubt she’s afraid will come to light – that insidious inner voice that still tries to tell her she isn’t qualified to do what she does so well. It was actually the impending recording session with such musical powerhouses that triggered her to write about this lifelong feeling that has resonated with fans at every live show. Instead of succumbing to the fear, the song embraces it with confidence – “it’s time someone found me out.”
Other highlight tracks include “Bonfire,” written with Melody Walker. Alice was experiencing a bout of romantic heartbreak, but sought something more than the tired cliche of a woman bearing a torch waiting for her man. So she went bigger, with the metaphor of a beachside bonfire acting as a makeshift lighthouse harkening her lover back from sea, her clarion voice calling out over syncopated percussion and musical waves.
“Looking,” written with Eliot Bronson, also focuses on the search for love, but using a more modern metaphorical device, the device that’s ever-present in Alice’s hand. “Maybe the reason I haven’t found that elusive love of my life is because I walk around looking at my phone all day and am not paying enough attention to what’s around me,” Alice explains. Within the strong beat and poppy, radio-ready delivery, she vows to make an effort to see what’s right in front of her eyes, hoping the love she may have missed the first time will come around again.
The album’s remaining tracks touch on Alice’s move to Nashville with an ode to “Fireflies,” lean into pain while finding joy with “Dancin’ to the Beat of My Heartbreak,” lament not trusting her intuition on “I Was Wrong,” and celebrate the connectedness of the natural world with the title track “Here I Am.”
Wallace was named 2017 Female Vocalist of the Year by the California Country Awards and her voice has been called “a powerful natural occurrence… an awe-striking wonder” by Saving Country Music. She previously released four solo albums, the latest of which, 2019’s Into the Blue, earned recognition from Rolling Stone Country with the title track being named one of the Best Americana Songs to Hear Now. This was followed by Lucky Break via Side Pony, a duo project with friend Caitlin Cannon that took the pair across the United States and Europe.
Cuttingly self-exploring, delivered with emotionality, and with just the right pop Americana sensibilities, Here I Am is Alice Wallace’s most expansive album yet. For fans of songwriters who turn personal heartbreak into musical gold and for anyone who loves a powerful, full-ranged, expressive voice, Here I Am is not to be missed.

The past few years have been quite a stir for the Minnesota progressive folk-rock-country sextet Maygen & The Birdwatcher. In late 2021 they released their debut full-length album, Moonshine, (which Americana UK wrote is “stunning”), earning them Midwest Country Music Awards for Album of the Year and Americana Artist of the Year) and landed opportunities to join festival stages with bands like Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Cauthen, Grace Potter, and even support a childhood favorite, Travis Tritt.
They continued the momentum in late 2022, releasing Moonshine’s companion EP, with the “lively and charming” (Adventures in Americana) Bootleggin’ At The Flower Shoppe. With Maygen & The Birdwatcher taking home wins for the 2023 Album of the Year and Americana Artist of the Year at the Midwest Country Music Organization’s annual awards for Bootleggin’ At The Flower Shoppe.
The Americana folk band adventurously blurs the sounds of country, bluegrass, folk, and blues. Lead singers Maygen Lacey, and Noah Neumann intentionally work to draw on their vastly different musical influences and vocal styles to bring a fresh and unexpected mix of songs to light. From beauty to grit, sadness to silliness, the common thread is that this crew loves music, and playing it together, and it shows.
In October 2023, Maygen & The Birdwatcher hosted and curated the inaugural Amerigrass Fest at The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge in Minneapolis. Maygen Lacey cherishes the special community of musical artists in the Midwest, and looks forward to celebrating what each genre, and fusion of genres can bring about at the new event Amerigrass Fest — “We are big fans of collaboration and love to play with the bands we share the stage with. Music is our love language and we’re very excited to play Amerigrass with the talented array of artists.”
That same year, Maygen & The Birdwatcher teamed up with the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition, a non-profit organization to help save North America’s most threatened ecosystem: its native grasslands. Together, they released an original song and music video, titled “Where Good Things Grow,” that they hope will raise public awareness regarding the importance of grassland ecosystems and generate support for programs and activities to encourage farmers, ranchers and state officials to develop programs and policies that preserve and restore the health of North America’s grasslands. The original song and music video for “Where Good Things Grow,” have earned them the 2023 Video of the Year award from the Midwest Country Music Organization as well as 2023 Entertainer of the Year.
Maygen & The Birdwatcher’s music is Americana that isn’t afraid to embrace eclecticism, but it’s also firmly rooted in folk and country. To achieve their rich, full sound, the band fills out the sonic details, with multi-instrumentalist Nik Pellinen adding banjo, lap steel and electric guitar. Along with bassist Chase Rabideau, who rounds out the bottom, mandolin player Jesse Moravec, who also contributes vocals, fiddle player Evin Haukos, and drummer-percussionist Peter Anderson create a new take on bluegrass-folk-country. It’s a hyphenated hybrid that can come only from a seasoned—and tightly knit—band.
It leaves music fans wanting to hear more as Maygen & The Birdwatcher leap forward this year, and take their original music to the next level.
Maygen & The Birdwatcher have released two single tracks— “Full Moons (Leap Year Session)” and “Jericho” from their forthcoming Leap Year EP available August 2, 2024. Leap Year was recorded by Minnesota native, acclaimed artist and guitarist-extraordinaire, Erik Koskinen.

The WDVX Big Plate - 7/12 - Morgans Mill
2024-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Morgans Mill joins us this day for The WDVX Big Plate live inside Barleys.

Kidstuff Live - 7/13 - Blue Ridge Gathering
2024-07-13 10:00 - 11:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Blue Ridge Gathering is an Old Time band from Knoxville, TN featuring Cody Bauer, Jessica Watson, and Duck Ryan.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/13 - Nancy Manet
2024-07-13 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
There are times when art and creativity are forced to develop over a prolonged period of time. And yet, when it finally does appear, it arrives fully formed.
Nancy Manet can be considered an ideal example. Although she’s celebrating the release of her first album, self-titled Nancy Manet, she’s actually been a performing musician for over 35-years. Yet it’s only now that her vision has finally been realized. The songs she writes were spawned from a life that found trouble and trauma – her continuing constants. Consequently, it’s a credit to both her talent and tenacity that’s she’s not only managed to persevere and accomplish all she has, but also to the fact that she simply survived.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/15 - Tristen Gressett / Soul-R Fusion
2024-07-15 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Born & Raised in Pell City, Alabama, Tristen Gressett was inspired by the sounds and influences of the 60s. With a voice that strides the ranges of Folk, Blues, Rock & Soul, he never fails to pay homage to the likes of Billy Joel, Bob Dylan &Tom Petty.
His life has taken him through rigid circumstances which he says has made him the storyteller that he is today. In 2022, he made it to Top 11 on American Idol, where he showcased a more fun & lighthearted side of his artistry.
After this feat, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he resides today. He continues to hold the personas of a poet, and an eccentric, but nevertheless he juggles them effortlessly.

Soul-R Fusion is Tim Koehler (acoustic guitar / vocals) and Alex Goodell (fretless bass). They started collaborating as a duo in 2015 and developed an original sound by blending diverse musical influences and unique approaches to their instruments and to songwriting. Perhaps best described as modern bluesy-folk with a touch of singer-songwriter storytelling, Soul-R Fusion’s music highlights ethereal fretless basslines and rhythmic acoustic guitar, that together complement intelligent, heartfelt lyrics.​
Based in Wilmington N.C., the duo are focused on writing and performing their own original music. Soul-R Fusion’s songs and live performances are uplifting, positive experiences that pull people in and make them feel good.
Soul-R Fusion’s large repertoire of original music ranges from the humorously quixotic Slack Cat Blues to the elegant poignancy of Simple. The duo has three studio album recordings, all recorded in Wilmington, NC: their eponymous debut Soul-R Fusion, (2016) with drummer Roger Manning, a double CD Like a Circle ‘Round the Sun, (2019), and their newest release, Everybody Knows, (2023). And they have a whole new batch of songs that they are looking forward to recording soon!​
The duo performs regularly at their local listening room, Live at Ted’s, and at the Beale Street Barber Shop, Wilmington’s Elvis themed barber shop / original music venue. They have been featured in local original music showcases and festivals, including Laura McLean’s Songwriters Showcase, Voice and the Pen, the Hope Concert Series, and Alt-Zalea Fest.​
Soul-R Fusion’s music is optimistic and highlights the common experiences and connections people share. The duo is currently looking to expand their range and book performances in original-music friendly venues beyond Wilmington, in order to share their music and connect with a wider audience.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/16 - Jen Howard / Andrew Wakefield
2024-07-16 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
The beautiful town of Asheville, nestled in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and noted primarily for its beer and bohemian atmosphere, now boasts a burgeoning contribution to American roots music in the name of Andrew Wakefield. Growing up in a musical family with a religious background, Andrew gained his first vocal experience singing hymns with family and in church choirs. That same passionate feeling within himself has prompted Andrew’s emotional singing power and style throughout his life.
After leaving home at the age of sixteen he spent years honing his guitar craft and living a gypsy life of travel, adventure seeking, and soul searching(with a few bumps along the way). In 2020 Andrew landed a coveted weekly performance with the house band at Jack of the Wood, an Asheville bluegrass institution. Soon after he joined The Well Drinkers, a progressive bluegrass band based in the area.
Performing and touring relentlessly with these acts eventually gave Andrew the confidence to step into the limelight with his own songs and unique style, and the Andrew Wakefield solo project was born.
Catch Andrew at Jack of the Wood in downtown Asheville every Sunday 1-3pm with the Bluegrass Brunch Boys!

Jen Howard joins us this day as well for The WDVX Blue Plate Special.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/17 - Ryan Biter / Halena Hallberg
2024-07-17 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Inspired by the 7000-foot elevation of his Flagstaff, Arizona home, Ryan Biter loves nothing more than taking audiences on adventures scaling emotional heights and depths. Ryan immerses listeners in his warm, compelling, and deeply affecting music; he will have you flying high one song and break your heart the next. Heavily influenced by American roots music, his sound combines soul, blues, and rootsy Americana. From those roots he expands to deliver a strong Indie-Rock sound. His masterful guitar work partners with his poignant songwriting, and a powerful emotional voice that cuts to the core. His music amplifies something deep and spiritual.
Biter is a nationally touring artist and a four-time featured songwriter at the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, a 2022 Kerrville New Folk Finalist, a 2022 Songwriters Serenade Finalist, a 2023 Red Lodge Songwriting Competition Finalist, and a 2023 finalist at the Wildflower Festival Al Johnson Songwriting Competition. He has been featured on both nationally and internationally syndicated radio. He has shared the stage with numerous acts including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. His third studio album Training Wheels, featuring an ambitious full-bodied indie-rock, Americana/blues sound, is slated for release in 2023
You can find Ryan Biter sharing his music across the United States at a mix of house concerts, listening rooms, and festivals across the United States. Find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube, or sign up for his email list!

Born to Swedish parents in picturesque Zurich, Switzerland, Helena Hallberg‘s journey as an artist is as unique and diverse as her background.
Drawing inspiration from Folk,Jazz, and Pop, she seamlessly combines these elements to create a musical tapestry, exploring themes of mental health, female empowerment, and multiculturalism.
Originally trained as a vocalist (University of the Arts Zurich, Manhattan School, BerkleeNYC), Hallberg’s musical path took a fascinating turn when she fell in love with American folk music and the traditional instruments that accompany it. With her beloved Appalachian dulcimer, Henrietta, in hand, Hallberg brings this age-old instrument into the 21st century, spinning enchanting melodies into the fabric of her songs. “I know some people have millions of streams on Spotify, but I’ve convinced at least seven people to buy a dulcimer, so that’s pretty good in my book”, she says with a laugh.
In March 2024, Hallberg released her debut album EPITHET. Recorded at the iconic Power Station at BerkleeNYC in New York City and recorded by an all-female production team comprising of Hallberg, Mary Bragg, and Gloria Kaba, EPITHET promises to be a musical journey like no other. It’s a transformative adventure through the captivating landscapes of her music and storytelling.
Drawing inspiration from iconic artists like ABBA and Joni Mitchell, Hallberg connects the nostalgic sounds of the 70s with the contemporary production elements of today. EPITHET delves into Hallberg’s own experiences of growing up between three different cultures, breaking free from comfort and conformity in pursuit of authenticity and impact.
It’s a heartfelt dedication to the winding roads she has traveled as a thirdculture kid, as a woman, and as a songwriter. EPITHET serves as a call to action for those in search of a bolder, braver, and more authentic life. It’s a delicate yet powerfultestament to empowerment, the pursuit of purpose, and the art of positive resistance.
It encourages us to face life’s challenges head-on, extending ourselves the grace to confront them and emerge stronger than ever. Hallberg’s songs are universal, and their catchiness is sure to leave you humming for weeks on end.
EPITHET is more than just an album; it’s a reflection of the human experience, a narrative of the obstacles we all encounter on our path to something better. Each track offers a fresh perspective on the adventure of life, with its stumbles, failures, lessons, growth, and unwavering perseverance.

The WDVX Blue Plate Special - 7/18 - David Easterling / Dan Raza
2024-07-18 12:00 - 13:00 | WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
Dan Raza’s eponymous debut album was produced by Charlie Hart (Ronnie Lane, Ian Dury, Eric Clapton, Mose Allison).
The self-produced follow up, ‘Two’, was released in 2017 and features his band, The Shrouds, as well as appearances from Geraint Watkins (Van Morrison, Paul McCartney), BJ Cole (Dolly Parton, Martin Simpson), Steve Simpson (Eric Bibb, Ronnie Lane), Frank Mead (Albert King, Eric Clapton) and Mosi Conde (Mory Kante, Salif Keita). Thanks to our partners, you can find ties online to suit every preference and budget, from budget to top-of-the-range super stylish models.

David Easterling is an Americana singer/songwriter/storyteller living in Oak Ridge, TN. His folky Appalachian tales are often comedic, sometimes little bit scary, but always connect with the head and the heart! Spooky Songs Live is his newest CD and he has recorded 5 more CD’s of original music. David’s music can be found on the usual media outlets including ReverbNation, YouTube, Facebook, etc. and has been played on radio stations from WDVX in Knoxville, TN to K2K radio in London, England. He has performed at festivals and many venues as diverse as Madlife in Georgia, Moonlight on the Mountain in Alabama, Stones Throw in Wisconsin, Capones in Indiana, Iron Horse in North Carolina, and Sugarlands and The Listening Room in TN. And Nashville gigs including 12 Keys Saloon, Sam Ash Music, The Commodore and Millennium Maxwell House!

The WDVX Big Plate - 7/19 - Steph Cabell / Sarrenna
2024-07-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Barley’s, 200 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Sarrenna is an East Tennessee singer songwriter.

Steph Cabell: For the better part of two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to make music around the greater Knoxville area. I’m grateful to share stages and spaces with so many other creatives in this city. Catch me where the beer is.
