This week, Colorado old-time and progressive bluegrass singer-songwriter duo Lizzy Plotkin and Natalie Spears recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these promising new artists.

“Lizzy Plotkin and Natalie Spears revel in the endless groove of Appalachian fiddle/banjo duets, funky blues bass lines, and soulful harmony singing. Their original compositions and reverent interpretations of old-time and bluegrass standards draw from a rich history of listening and learning from great American music of the past. They have appeared on the stages of The John Hartford Memorial Festival, Jammin at Hippie Jack’s, BlackPot Festival, Swallow Hill, Steve’s Guitar’s, The Jalopy Theatre, and can be seen touring around their homes on the Western Slope of Colorado and beyond.”

https://www.lizzyandnatalie.com/about

“Natalie’s original compositions are a home-grown recipe of honest lyricism, soulful melodies, and placed-based inspiration. Drawing on the roots of Americana, including Old time and Jazz, she brings to life the history of these traditions with her own voice and quiver of instruments (banjo, bass, piano, and guitar). Her music offers listeners the space to both venture into the intimate corners of humanity and to rest easy under the strength of strings.

Born and raised in the heart of Washington DC, Natalie took after her father, a Jazz and Classical pianist, and began playing piano at age five. By fifth grade she was schlepping her upright bass on the school bus, playing saxophone in her school band, and taking drum lessons. Music fell by the wayside after high school but in her early 20’s, Natalie stumbled upon American Roots music. While playing bass in an Old-Time string band, she became enamored by the driving rhythm of the clawhammer banjo, and since then, has dedicated herself to learning the instrument and its history.”

http://nataliespears.com/welcome

“Lizzy Plotkin’s place-based songwriting and fiddling is as exuberant as is it graceful. With reverence for the natural world and a humble, yet wise human perspective, Lizzy shares with listeners her joy and connection through original story, melody and voice.

The sounds of Appalachian fiddles and banjos enliven Lizzy’s music, while she is equally drawn to the groove of old-jazz, blues and swing. Seamlessly combining a rich heritage of musical influence, she has sewn a folk fabric of her own. In 2012, Lizzy co-founded Colorado folk trio Free the Honey, released three records, reached #1 on the folk dj charts with their album Fine Bloom and performed nation-wide until 2016. As a guest instrumentalist, she has performed with a number of electronic, blues, jazz, bluegrass and country outfits such as The Polish Ambassador, Martha Scanlan, Drew Emmit Band, Ragged Mountain Bluegrass, Pure Prairie League, Gypsy Jazz Social Club and Trout Steak Revival . She lives full time in Almont, CO where she is an active community member and music instructor.”

https://lizzyplotkin.com/bio/

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of himself and Ozark original Frank Ellis performing the traditional tune “The Chicken Reel,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. In this episode, Charley discusses a metaphysical aspect of hearing loss.