wonderful cover art by james pitilli

Hi friends, this is a new endeavor in a year of new things and writing is always an adventure (take5) . Last fall I added WNCW radio 88.7 FM joining “What It Is” Conversations with Joe Kendrick and a lot of other fun folks (10:15 a.m. Monday -Friday) and now co-host  “Goin’ Across the Mountain” from 3-7 p.m. every Saturday. I have taken a three month break from music gigs to heal a sprained wrist and record. We start back up this month at the Fiddlin’ Pig with a Gospel show Sunday March 15, and  Wild Wings on Tuesday March 31. During the break i recorded the first four songs (all original) of my next CD with Evan Bradford engineering, Micah and Caleb Hanks singing, Micah playing and producing and Jamie Soesbee on bass. Check our calendar page for concert postings. Don’t forget to put Saturday night April 18 on your calendar, it’s the yearly Shindig fundraiser and in these woeful economic time, it’s important. I’ll keep posting, stay in touch by coming to see us play live! Or see you in print or on the radio.

Troy Harrison has joined Jamie Soesbee (bass) and me on banjo and lead guitar, he’s a great musician who is really a funny person, a lot of fun. Check out the “ABOUT CAROL” and the “ABOUT THE BAND” pages for more information about us. I’ll be posting favorite things, band events and favorite music so check back. Lately i’ve been listening to regional bluegrass, especially Balsam Range, Steep Canyon, High Windy (Shane Lail is great, he used to be a regular with us at Mrs. Hyatts in the old days, really the whole band is great), Tom Godleski’s new recording (engineered by Evan Bradford and produced by Micah Hanks). There’s a lot of great songwriting going on around here. On the old time front, I’ve gone back to listening to old favorites lately like Tommy Jarrell, Charlie Poole and Walter Smith and the Carolina Buddies.  I continue to learn Arvil Freeman tunes on fiddle. He’s a patient teacher. A favorite musician lately is Jay Brown, go to see him if you have the chance. He’s moved to Asheville from Boone and is a great guitar player and songwriter. His CD with the Lazybirds and Brian Yerman is awesome and nostalgia producing for old refugees from the early Boone, N.C. ”Dick Tarrier era”. I also like Jenny Greer (Jen and the Juice), Laura Blackley and Brian McGee, got to meet Brian and a lot of other folks at a recent songwriters session and really enjoyed it. Tonight i ran into Kat Williams downtown and had fun with her, she’s coming to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium soon.

I remember Tommy Jarrell whenever someone sends me a link to “Down Home Appalachia to Nashville“. Filmed in 1985, it shows me dancing while Tommy fiddles with Aly Bain and some other great players. It was a remarkable experience. Tommy  passed away not long after the filming. The clip is approaching 20,000 views.