Our PNW Music

We recorded this interview before Caitlin had to cancel this tour

due to restrictions from Covid-19

What a fun discussion and great tunes on this episode! Really too bad she had to cancel this tour, but she will be back!

From her website-

To experience a Caitlin Jemma performance is to witness an artist blossoming in real time. Her sound fills the room with an assertion that remains open to all that it encounters, and each song is a living, growing entity that reflects the melding of a myriad of influences. Her versatility emerges through an honest exploration of her art, and her identity remains steady as she traverses the musical spectrum of soul, country, and mystical folk.

As an artist, she runs away from nothing: the wild stands alongside the polished, the intimate beside the far-reaching. At the heart of each song is a story: one we all live, relate to, celebrate and mourn… stories told with transparency that ignites the imagination of the lands she’s traveled and the people she’s gathered as her own. 

Whether as a solo act or with her band, Jemma is constantly examining her work from every angle, while maintaining the raw emotion that provides the bedrock of both her songwriting and performance. 

While music increasingly scoffs at the genres and labels one might try to slap on it, Jemma embraces the melding of a myriad of influences that inform her work. Rather than trying to drive her songs toward a destination, she sustains the courage to follow them and discover what they need to be. From the position of the audience, we get to watch, to feel, and ultimately contribute to where the path leads. 

Website- https://www.caitlinjemma.com/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/caitlinjemma/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/caitlinjemma/

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HoLKkz2xfqo7LaveUkFkI?si=3G-Hu3XCTiuxsmEUU1Y7nA

The Enthusiasts, coined as the “Skagit County band to watch in 2020” and the “best band you’ve most likely never heard of” are based out of Anacortes, WA. The core of the band are siblings,  Sommer Velin-Carter and Andrew Velin, transplants from Southern California. 

In this episode of Our PNW Music, you will hear Sommer and Andrew talk about their musical up-bringing, their journeys that brought them to the PNW and the formation of their phenomenal Indie Folk/Gypsy/Rock/Roots band, as well as hear some acoustic versions of their songs. 

The Enthusiasts are the embodiment of a close knit family band whose music focuses on their surroundings in West Skagit County. They speak about how they are influenced by everything from the people down to the landscape and wildlife in Anacortes and surrounding areas. 

We’re positive that after you’ve listened to this podcast, you’ll agree that The Enthusiasts are destined for great success in the future .... and you can tell everyone that you knew them back when they were THE BEST band that no one knew about.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/The-Enthusiasts-386609182157539/

Article - https://skagitbreaking.com/2020/01/06/band-to-watch-in-2020-the-enthusiasts/

Cory Vincent of Oak Harbor played a Facebook Live show that blew our expectations out of the water.

His setup put out great sound quality, so good that we pulled his songs out of the actual video from Facebook to put on the show. Hope you enjoy his guitar playing and singing as much as we do!

Link to his performance- https://www.facebook.com/cory.vincent.589/videos/3217350048284297/

Website- https://coryvmusic.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/coryvincentofficial/

What do you get when you mix a velvety, down home vocal tone with melodious flowing lyrics, spectacular guitar riffs, smooth, rhythmic bass and powerfully thunderous percussions? You get Lazy Acres, a burgeoning band from Sedro-Woolley, Washington. 

Join co-hosts Rudy Giecek and Kristine Miller Cartwright as they sit down with Lazy Acres front man and songwriter, Wes Jones, and his ax-slinging lead guitarist, Jeff Spradlin. Don’t be fooled by the small town boyish charm of these musicians. They’re unwaveringly focused on driving their rock & roll style right to the top. Find out what makes these guys tick, their musical progression individually, as well as together, and what makes Lazy Acres a premiere PNW band. 

Website- https://thatlazyacresband.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheLazyAcresBand/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1AlfAtohBSNCRBhR9oyNPt?si=tmdM7NxQTSCf6SS5W4uf3A

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lazyacresband/

We were at Birdsview Brewery to watch Jack Mattingly and Kristin Allen-Zito Zito play a show. A couple of Barfeet Band guys, Josh Fichter and Jim Fichter, were there as well as singer songwriter Brittany Collins. 

We recorded a short discussion on the back porch. You never know who is going to show up when you go see live music!

Barefeet Band - Wandering

Website - http://thebarefeetband.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thebarefeetband/

Instagram - https://instagram.com/barefeetband?igshid=ah7w3lkm92u9

Brittany Collins- Demons

Website - https://brittanycollinsband.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BriCollinsMusic/

Instagram - https://instagram.com/brittmakesmusic?igshid=j44s9uttuw4n

Whiskey Fever- All Hands on Deck

Website- https://jackmattinglyandwhiskeyfever.com/media

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyFeverBand

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/whiskeyfever

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/45pnrlSFQJsWeuEWbDD3Fx?si=5-Lnf1O3RVC1KEmtGCmRzg

Kristin Allen-Zito- The Gardner

Website - http://www.kristinallenzitomusic.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kristinallenzitomusic/

Instagram - https://instagram.com/kristinallenzito?igshid=b534per2cbq4

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/1H2vaILXsKWRZEvzSo4YhT?si=a5RDmS5TQa-34Zl7GeabrQ

We recorded this interview before David had to cancel this tour due to restrictions surrounding Covid-19.

David Starr possesses “a compelling voice, something truly special, both accessible and passionate” (Elmore), that has been honed releasing nine albums, touring internationally, and opening shows for esteemed artists such as John Oates (Hall & Oates), Karla Bonoff, The Steel Wheels, Survivor, and more. 

Beauty And Ruin, Starr’s latest project, is a musical and literary adventure, produced and arranged by John Oates and co-produced by himself and David Kalmusky. The collection of songs was inspired by Of What Was, Nothing Is Left, a novel written by his grandfather in 1972. “It is like watching a movie,” says Oates. "The cinematic aural landscape visually evokes a classic tale of tragedy, love gone wrong and an exploration of human nature and all its flaws." Beauty and Ruin and a new edition of Of What Was, Nothing Is Left are set for release in February 2020.

“A collection of beautiful, poetic and somewhat sad songs with a warm and organic production that draws you in and wraps around your heart,” writes Americana Highways of Starr’s 2018 record, South and West. The record follows an acclaimed EP, The Head and Heart, also produced by John Oates, and the full-length Love and Sabotage with special guests like John Oates, Richie Furay, Dana Cooper, and Steve Cropper.

Starr’s prestige extends beyond the stage as well, having launched Starr’s Guitars in Little Rock in 1998, then relocating to Cedaredge in 2001. Today, the store is such an institution that Cedaredge proclaimed the musician’s birthday as David Starr Day in 2016. Starr was also instrumental in the 2018 opening of the Grand Mesa Arts Center, an intimate event space brought to fruition through strong community support in Cedaredge, CO. He helped design the space in order to attract musicians and visual artists to Southwestern Colorado. 

Starr says of his upcoming Beauty And Ruin project, “This project is important to me for several reasons. There’s the family connection through my grandfather’s book, the songs that were born out of his story and the intensely collaborative nature of the whole project. I can’t wait to share it with the world!”

-Text from of David’s website

Website- https://www.davidstarrmusic.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/DavidStarrMusic/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/davidstarrmusic/

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/6PJuDsfOF3dpzVpdrUIRw1?si=xFavLr5RQ2S_xvosa_5_Sg

Our PNW Music co-hosts, Rudy and Kristine, were expecting just another average singer-songwriter interview when they sat down with Havilah Rand. Just a few short minutes into the conversation, they knew that Ms. Rand was much more than just your run-of-the-mill Americana/Folk artist. 

In this episode, you will learn about Havilah’s introduction to music and education ventures at the Interlochen Arts Academy and Manhattan School Of Music, where she obtained training in both Jazz and Classical music styles. Ms. Rand will also speak about her travels across America and Europe and discusses the vast differences between being a musician abroad vs here in the United States. 

What stood out the most in this interview was learning about Havilah’s amazing programs she has developed. Between her LifeSong Project, where she preserves the experiences of our elders through song, to her youth programs, consisting of summer songwriter camps and home schooling programs, which work to instill confidence in kids as well as teaching music, Ms. Rand has proved herself as much of a humanitarian as she is a musician.

Also included in this episode are clips from Havilah’s live performance at Birdsview Brewing, where she amazed listeners with her soulful melodies and thought provoking lyrics. Please make sure to check out Havilah Rand’s links to learn more about her altruistic programs as well as upcoming shows.

https://holisticartventures.com/young-singersongwriters-workshops/

Website- https://www.havilahmusic.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/havilah.rand/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/havilahsings/

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/46z6vwA1PZ1bcAAixca42K?si=3gnjk4N-Tk-2Aj0ODbGB9g

Beggars Canyon is a three piece band who label themselves Dark Folk. We talk about who they are and play some of their music.

We recorded this because they will be playing Woolley Market on February 21st.

Website- https://beggarscanyonchoosers.bandcamp.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/beggarscanyon69/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/beggars_canyon/

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/4q6SYdyrRaHOxJfc2Uhmgn?si=PqZfOhmbRAOLXegz1AKxEQ

Clyde and the Milltailers is an Americana and folk adjacent trio that has featured a rotating line up of musicians since it's formation in 2016. The songwriting and style is heavily influenced by early American swing, folk, and Appalachian old time music. The Project’s core songwriter Clyde started writing songs while traveling in his youth. The band name is a reference to the uranium mill tailings that were used for sidewalks and house foundations in his hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. The first group recorded their first full length, self-titled album in 2016, and the five song EP “.root.” a year later with Taylor Riley of Fusion Audio Solutions. Both albums feature album art by Lindsay Falsone and are available though most streaming platforms. The most recent lineup is currently based out of Portland Oregon and features members Michael “King Strang” Flecha and Lightnin’ Luke of the Bridge City Sinners.

Website- https://www.clydeandthemilltailers.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/clydeandthemilltailers/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/clydemcgeemusic/

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/7zBpuTvYYgN8A4KA6PnzUA?si=Df2GtLKxRsO-na4f1SSCmA

We talked with Alex Paul from the band Birds of Play who reside in Colorado. They played a show at the Firefly Lounge in Bellingham on January 24th and the interview was for a spot on KMRE radio.

We talk about how they became to be and featured a few of their tunes.

From their website-

Birds of Play is a musical collaboration born from a mutual love of desert canyons, raging rivers, rocky mountaintops, and juice picnics.  After many years of gatherings that have revolved around adventuring by day and playing tunes around campfires by night, ‫the time has come for the birds to leave the nest and share their music with the world‪

‪With a dynamic mix of sentimentality and playfulness, Birds of Play's original music will take you‪ on a joyous journey filled with tales of love lost and found, ballads of wild places, and the radical idea that being happy for no reason at all is reason enough.

Add in a smattering of bird calls and crowd-inclusive banter and an evening with Birds of Play will surely leave you feeling all the feelings and wanting more.  

‫Influences include the Wood Brothers, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mandolin Orange, and so so many more.

Website- https://birdsofplaymusic.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/birdsofplaymusic/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/birdsofplaymusic/