McFadden and Friends Band was formed in 2018 and brings together five seasoned musicians with more than 150 years of combined experience. With deep roots in Jazz and Blues, the group calls the Roanoke and New River Valley home and has become a familiar presence in the region’s live music scene.

Over the years, the band has performed at a variety of popular venues and events, including Fatback Soul Shack, Old Salem Brewery, Parkway Brewery, Big Lick Brewery, Twisted Track Brewpub, Mac and Bob’s Restaurant, Joe’s Deli, Homeplace Vineyard Music Festival, Brady’s Distillery, Eastern Divide Brewery, Jazz in July at Longwood Park, and Radford Coffee Company. They are also regularly invited to play private events, showcasing their versatility and broad appeal.

The lineup features Roscoe McFadden on keyboards, vocals, and harmonica; Davel Burch on saxophone; Jimmy Dickason on bass; David Gregory on drums; and Glen Holmes on keyboards.

Matt Shay is a Roanoke native and lifelong musician. He started playing the drums at a young age and surrounded himself with music throughout high school, taking multiple band classes and performing in the marching band. Currently, he plays with his jazz fusion/funk and soul group, CopyCat Syndrome, the occasional jazz dinner gig at the Hotel Roanoke, and with whoever needs a drummer! 

Peyton Gentry currently resides as the Director of Bands at Liberty High School in Bedford, VA. This is where he teaches courses such as: Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep-Band, Music Theory and AP Music Theory. Peyton holds a Bachelors of Arts with a duel-focus in both Music Education and Percussion Performance and a MA.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. In addition to teaching music, Peyton is an active performer in the  Roanoke area performing with groups such as Mill Mountain Theatre, the Roanoke Opera, In The Meantime, Hollins University, Celtic Steel, Winds of the Blue Ridge, and more. Peyton has competed in PASIC’s Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition placing 3rd and 4th on separate occasions.

John Pence is a Roanoke, Virginia-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music advocate. Born in 1993, he grew up on mix CDs, Tony Hawk soundtracks, and early MySpace uploads. After graduating with a BA in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in 2015, he returned home and became deeply involved in the local music scene. He went on to help launch and eventually manage The Spot on Kirk, a cornerstone nonprofit arts venue in downtown Roanoke. John also served as an Artist-In-Residence at Carilion Clinic’s Healing Arts Program, engaging with patients through music at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

He has performed over 500 shows, most notably as keyboardist and co-producer for the instrumental exotica dance band Cinémathèque, drummer for The Young Sinclairs in the post-pandemic, and as a solo singer/songwriter. John produces electronic music under the name Decampi and DJs as The Grand Total, often parsing through record crates and VHS tapes for sample material and hidden gems. Whether on stage, staying up late nights recording music, or hosting musicians at The Spot on Kirk, John continues to explore music in all its forms, with a deep love for texture, tone, and community.

Doug Settles | Beats, Brews & Buddies | S4 EP12

Candace Blair has been sharing her love of music with kids and families for over 20 years, and she still lights up every time a student discovers the joy of making music. From her days studying Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University to teaching in Roanoke’s studios and classrooms, Candace has always believed music should be fun, accessible, and full of heart.

She’s certified through the American Montessori Society and MusikGarten, and has created engaging, creative classes that have been featured in  The Roanoker Magazine  more than once. Whether she’s leading a group of preschoolers in song, showing a morning show host how to play ukulele on TV, or directing a community concert, Candace brings energy, warmth, and a sense of play to everything she does.

She’s also taught future educators at Virginia Western College and introduced countless little hands to their first piano keys at Treble Maker’s Music. Named one of “Roanoke Women Under 40 Making Waves,” Candace isn’t just teaching music, she’s helping build a stronger, more connected community through it.

If you're looking for someone who’s as passionate about kids as she is about music (and maybe someone who can get you singing, too), Candace might just be your person.

Marie-Claire Evans is a singer/songwriter based in Roanoke, VA. Originally from Hampton Roads, she comes from a musical background of classical piano and vocal training but found a love for writing and performing indie/folk/rock music. Known for her wide vocal range and smoky lower register, her songs incorporate intimate lyrics and wistful melodies to produce a simultaneously powerful yet easy-listening experience for any audience to enjoy.

When she isn't writing and performing, Marie-Claire spends her time coaching field hockey teams and reading as much as possible.

Like many musicians, Kerry started singing and performing when he was a kid in church. At age 7 he was singing solos in front of the entire congregation. Then came piano lessons to learn to read and write music. He really loved to sing though, so he concentrated on his vocals. He performed all throughout his school years, all the way up through college at George Mason University. The West Coast was calling him so in 1988 on a wing and a prayer he heads out to L.A.!! He settles in and meets some great musicians and starts to perform out there, singing in some experimental Rock bands like Acid Clown. In 1991 he came up with the concept of The Thrillbillyz and, along with the help of some great musician friends, was able to record a four song demo at Fox Studios in Glendale, CA and work with the owner/engineer Rich Fox. In 1993 ,after several years of performing around Southern California as The Thrillbillyz, Hurley moves back to the East Coast and his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. Roanoke definitely is not as big of a market as L.A. but it has a growing music scene and Hurley jumps in head first. He re-forms The Thrillbillyz and starts playing shows like crazy. He continues to write and work on his originals and in 1994 takes his band into Flat Five Studios in Salem, VA and records the album “Romp!” and releases it in 1995. Ten of the eleven songs are originals and a few of the songs (Franklin County Moonshine & Sweet Leaf) wind up on the radio in regular rotation on the area’s biggest Rock station 96.3 WROV. The band played constantly in support of it’s record and through it’s association with Buzz Casey and WROV was able to open up for quite a few National acts like Government Mule, Storyville, Foghat, Loverboy, Johnny Winter, Matchbox 20 and many more!!! The band played and enjoyed success for the next 5 years and in 2000 everyone went their own musical ways. Hurley had been singing on the side for a Blues band called Blues Hangover from 96 to 98 and traveled quite a bit with them, winning several Blues Contests and traveling to Memphis, TN in 97 to compete in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. It was a great learning experience. In 2001 Hurley wound up joining The Fat Daddy Band and that very same year went down and won the Charlotte Blues Society’s contest and in 2002 went to Memphis again to represent them at the IBC and made it to the finals (one of ten bands out of 150). For the next 14 years he would front that band and continue to write songs. He put out 2 cd’s with The Fat Daddy Band - “From The Soul”(2003) and “Live & Lovin’ It!”(2005). 

Bonus episode featuring our host, Travis Schmitt!

William Seymour is a singer-songwriter originally from Snow Hill, NC but currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. His sound can be described as a mix of Country, Blues, Soul, and Americana.

His influences come from artists such as Jackson Browne, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, and more. William plays bass and tours with the rock n roll band Caitlin Krisko The Broadcast. He has recently released his 3rd solo album, entitled "Ride Along".

Episode 7 from Season 4 is out now! Featuring Paul Salvey.