Michigan Music Box

The Anatomy of Frank, an indie pop-rock group from Virginia, stops by the Michigan Music Box Studios while on what seems like a never-ending tour of the globe. They tour with up to 6 people, or as few as one, when founding member Kyle Woolard takes the solo Frank show out on the road to Iceland and elsewhere. Listen for their in-studio stripped down versions of their power-pop song-smithing and plans on recording an album on every continent, starting with North America.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.michiganmusicbox.com/audio/mmb-AnatomyOfFrank.mp3

Kris Hitchcock is a native boy of Grass Lake, Michigan, and splits his time between his home in Grand Rapids with his dog Fender, and Nashville where he performs, writes, and records with his band Small Town Son.  His pop take on country and folk are sure to get this guy some serious attention beyond these Michigan borders.

Don’t miss your chance to see him live!  Check here for tour dates and upcoming projects!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/MMBxKrisHitchCock.mp3download

Wanda Degen is a veteran folk musician who has helped build the scene we know and love here in Michigan.  She crafts songs and delightful stories of traveling abroad, building, (and accidentally ruining) dulcimers, alongside tales of festivals and teaching.  She plays and sings live, is a trove of knowledge, and a gracious woman to continually share with us.

You can find out more at her website.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/MMBxWandaDegen.mp3download

Doug Mains brings along a couple members of the City Folk to talk about songwriting, touring, open mics, and the chance encounters that lead to the formation of friends, who also happen to play music together as a band.

Check out his tour dates and music here!

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/MMBxDougMains.mp3download

Photo: City Pulse

Derek Smith brings a guitar and Sally Potter along to discuss reprising his role as Hank Williams for a Ten Pound Fiddle show.  He first portrayed the legendary singer on stage for LCC’s production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, and again at Williamston Theatre for a night with the Drifitn’ Cowboys.  He walks, talks, and sings like him, and even the publicist couldn’t be sure which photo was the real Hank when sending out flyers.  He shares the stories and songs of his research into the man and the myth.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/MMBxHankWilliams.mp3download

Lora Helou and Pat Power join in the studio to talk about the MSU Museum Great Lakes Folk Festival coming up August 10-12 in East Lansing.  We talk culture and diversity from food-craft to song-craft and travel from Slovenia to Ethiopia to Persia, north to Ireland, south to Tennessee, and back home again to Detroit.  This premier international festival celebrates community and culture in  our own backyard.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/MMBxGLFF.mp3download

Mike Stratton, host of The Vinyl Side of Midnight on LCC Radio and Jazz aficionado comes in to the studio to discuss 18 years of the Jazz Festival in Lansing, its changes, its legacy, and what it means to the community.  We have a few laughs as we tell stories and play a series of tracks from this and last year’s line-up.http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/MMBxJazzFest.mp3download

The show begins with a short tribute to celebrate Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday, and transitions into an interview with Australian blues singer, turned Nashville resident by way of Vietnam and L.A.  We talk about travel, what it means to really “get” the blues (turns out the chords aren’t enough) and how creation takes many forms in anticipation of her upcoming film work and concert at the East Lansing Pump House Concert Series.  http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/mmb13.mp3download

Dylan and about half of the 12 piece larger-than-life band, The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle comes into the studio to talk community, home, friendship, showmanship, costumes, sets, and the circus, complete with jugglers and fire-eaters!  http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/mmb12.mp3download

Michigan-based Dave Samano comes in to the studio to play live and talk about creative processes, Folk-Step, and the dangers to your circadian rhythm when owning editing and processing software in a home studio.  Check him out on ReverbNation and on SoundCloud. http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nateblitonmusic.com/mmb/mmb11.mp3download