Music of the River City

Shelby Martin Anderson is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and teacher who cut his teeth in the Austin music scene and now performs as solo acoustic act around central Mississippi. We talk looper pedals, guitar magazines, and Shelby's approach for solo performing.

Together, singer and guitarist Julie Harrison and her husband and drummer Josh Harrison are Opalescent Sky. Performing acoustic renditions of 90s hits and singer-songwriter favorites, they always get the audience singing along. In this interview we talk about how they got started performing together and the music that engages them.

Pianist, organist and choir director Julia Blake and violinist Nick Blake join me for an interview. We talk about playing music in church, genre purists, raising a musical family, and how Irish music - and a plate of cookies - brought them together.

Death Throes from a Star are a Vicksburg-based band that features Adam Rogan on drums, Jordan Wilson on bass, and Palmer Shiers on guitar. Their music is pensive and powerful, and in this interview we talk about their songwriting process, approach to jamming, and reverb pedals!

Jerrel Cooper has been playing music in and around Vicksburg for decades, performing as a singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, and bandleader. Now, as the leader of the Levi's Gathering Place, he still does it all for the people - to connect with the musicians and music fans of his community. I had a great time talking to Jerrel, and I know you'll enjoy listening!

Don Hill is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and leader of the jam sessions on The Roof at 1311. In this interview we talk about songwriting, jam sessions, Don's band the Down Hill, and the growing Vicksburg music scene.

Zechariah Lloyd is an singer, guitarist, and award winning songwriter from Vicksburg, MS. In this interview we talk about how he got into writing songs, his approach to music and songwriting, and Zechariah talks about making his first music video after becoming Mississippi's songwriter of the year in 2022.

Andy Arthur has run sound for Grammy winning artists like Jason Crabb and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. He's also the drummer for Howl and the Big Bad Wolves. In this interview, Andy talks about how becoming a Christian changed his music, some of the great artists he's worked with, why he enjoys running sound, and, for the drummers out there, the Purdie shuffle. 

Ashley Dawson books talent and organizes jam nights and singer-songwriter sessions at one of Vicksburg's best music venues - The Roof at 1311. Ashley is working hard to provide a fun atmosphere for the people of Vicksburg to enjoy live music by local musicians. We talk about The Roof and all the great things they have going in this episode.

Doug Spires and Tim Goodson are music ministers in Vicksburg, Mississippi who have written some great songs, individually and as a team. In this episode we talk songwriting, music ministry, and debate song lyrics.