This week on Deering Live we're really happy to feature Chris Pandolfi. Chris is a founding member of the Infamous Stringdusters, a group that has been bringing music that features bluegrass music instrumentation to audiences far beyond the confines of traditional bluegrass, and who won the Grammy award in 2018 for Bluegrass Album Of The Year. As well as playing in the Stringdusters, Chris is busy with his solo musical projects, producing other bands, and hosts a fantastic podcast "Inside The Musician's Brain" (of which Deering is a proud sponsor). Chris has also written extensively on the state of bluegrass and in 2011 he delivered a keynote speech at the IBMA World Of Bluegrass. Chris is also a proud endorsing artist of our ProPik Heritage picks!

With the Americana Folk gathering just around the corner, we invite George Grove, Jens Kruger, and our very own Greg Deering to talk about this year's event.

During the conversation, we will undoubtedly have great fun sharing stories, memories of previous camps, as well as discussing the 2023 camp and the Kruger Brothers concert that Greg Deering will be hosting!

Click here for more info! https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/kruger-brothers-americana-folk-gathering-concert

This week we are excited to feature award winning banjoist and Compass Records founder Alison Brown on Deering Live. In this episode Alison will demonstrate different ways to play blues tunes on the banjo with different soloing and comping ideas. We’ll also be talking about Alison’s new record that came out this past May called “On Banjo” and more! Be sure to tune in!

Cory Walker, banjoist for East Nash Grass—their new album Last Chance to Win is coming August 18th via Mountain Fever.

East Nash Grass is a supergroup of sorts... a supergroup of young side players for some of the most notable names in bluegrass.

The lineup includes bassist Jeff Picker (Ricky Skaggs, Sarah Jarosz, Nickel Creek), Harry Clark on mandolin (The Dan Tyminski Band, The Wooks) who received IBMA's Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year Award last September, Cory Walker on banjo (David Grier, Tim O’Brien, Jason Carter), vocalist James Kee (longtime host of the American Legion's Bluegrass Wednesdays), dobro player Gaven Largent (Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper) and fiddle player Maddie Denton (2016 Grand Master Fiddle Champion + State Champion of 14 States.)

Ashley Campbell and Thor Jensen form a unique meeting of musical genres as the duo Campbell/Jensen. This week, they join us to talk about their new self-produced album, the joys of making stripped-back music together, and how their musical differences intertwine to create a beautiful sound.

Campbell/Jensen is currently fundraising for the costs of producing the album via IndieGoGo. If you like what you hear, please consider helping them out!

Mark Johnson is the creator of the Clawgrass style of playing clawhammer banjo which allows him to play in the clawhammer style in other genres than old time, such as bluegrass and more.

In this episode, Mark will play some tunes and discuss incorporating triplets and other licks in double tunings such as double C, D, and E. Be sure to tune in!

Ketch Secor is a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning Old Crow Medicine Show. Ketch is a multi-instrumentalist whose first instrument was a banjo but is also a fantastic fiddler, harmonica player, and more!

He has a deep understanding of American folk, country, and old-time music and is a dynamic entertainer. Among his many accomplishments, he might be best known for co-writing the hit song "Wagon Wheel".

https://www.crowmedicine.com

https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/goodtime-americana-banjos/products/goodtime-americana

International Banjo Champion Kyle Tuttle is shredding his way through the jamgrass scene. Since moving to Nashville in 2012 Kyle has shared the stage with many epic performers, most notably as a member of the Jeff Austin Band for 3 years.

Kyle has also worked closely with Jamgrass legends Larry Keel, Travelin’ McCourys, Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, and Railroad Earth. In addition to being seen around the jamgrass circuit, Kyle is a studio musician in Nashville, and recently produced the Chain Station album ‘Backroads’. Currently on tour with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway!

Evie Ladin’s polyrhythmic clawhammer banjo style, resonant voice, and percussive dance have been heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Celtic Connections, Lincoln Center to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Known as a driving force behind San Francisco’s Stairwell Sisters, Evie has four solo CDs that feature her banjo playing and songwriting. Raised on fiddlers’ conventions and square dances, Evie’s playing is firmly grounded in tradition, while taking the instrument into new territory.

A popular instructor at many music camps, Evie is also a clawhammer banjo instructor for Peghead Nation . Join us this week on Deering Live to listen to Evie play, talk about her process, and to learn some fantastic clawhammer banjo tips!

We are happy to have songwriter, singer, 5-string banjo player, and banjo uke player Valerie June back on Deering Live. Valerie recently wrote a children's book that is published by Third Man Books called "Somebody To Love: The Story Of Valerie June's Sweet Little Baby Banjolele". Valerie will play some tunes on her banjolele, read some from the book, and talk about it's creation.

Joining her on Deering Live will be Marcela Avelar who created the illustrations in the book. Marcela is a fantastic artist, designer, and more. Her work can be seen in advertisements as well as album covers for musicians like Special K’s, Aloysius 3, So Brown, Wes Hutchinson, and Norah Jones. She also designed the stage for Norah Jones’ 2017 Day Breaks World Tour.

Valerie's energy has some of the most positive vibes you'll ever meet and listening to her play and talk about her book will send you back into the world with a smile on your face.

valeriejune.com

marcelavelar.com