WE GET TO THE REAL AND GO TO THE DEEP WITH GRASSROOTS SINGER-SONGWRITERS, TRAVELING TROUBADOURS, NOUVEAU BARDS. HOSTED BY MICHELLE MCAFEE. LISTEN TO EPISODES BELOW.
Welcome back! This is PART TWO of my interview with horn player extraordinaire, Mikey Stevens. If you’d like some backstory on Mikey, take a listen to Episode 10, Part One. In this episode, Mikey talks about a harrowing drive to the best gig of his life, and dives deep telling us about a dramatic event that changed the course of his life and how he is dealing with it as a musician.
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Mikey has a quiet confidence, slightly shy, and doesn’t like to go on about himself. In Southern Oregon or Northern California, if you’re a musician, a songwriter, or have a band, you’ve likely played with Mikey Stevens. In part one of this interview, Southern Oregon’s well-loved trumpet and guitar player pulls back the curtain on his life and reveals a collection of songs he wrote and recorded but never shared…until now.
Read MoreRobin Jackson is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed with March Fourth Marching Band, Vagabond Opera, and most recently, The Polish Ambassador. He has released two albums, Dark Stars (2017) and Dust Diaries (2012), with his band The Caravan, and created the Songwriter Soiree - Portland’s most beloved acoustic open mic. He also hosts the Soiree Retreat, a four-day event open to anyone interested in art, the craft of songwriting, or enjoying community and connection.
Read MoreJohn Elliott is a San Fransisco based singer-songwriter who doesn’t pull any punches lyrically. The man has a lot of heart, and it really comes through in his songs. John has toured the country and recorded several albums. He is focused on making a difference, with his latest tour featuring benefit shows he organized for nonprofit groups trying to make positive change in the world.
Read MoreThe first time I heard Bob Beach blow the harmonica was at a David Jacobs-Strain show. He played rhythmic patterns that I didn’t know were possible on the tiny instrument and played more notes than the thing could possibly contain. The sound he made that night on stage completely redesigned my understanding of harmonica and what it could do musically.
Read MoreThis woman is a powerhouse. Not only in vocals and performance, but also in how she communicates and sees the world… and she has the most enviable mane I’ve ever seen! When she’s on stage she gives herself completely to the performance. She was half the duo Kris & Adam when she arrived in the Northwest, which later became Sweetjuice. Decades of touring and living the troubadour lifestyle came to a halt when her mother became ill and she had to remain in Portland to caretake. So… she created a 10-piece soul band called Kris Deelane and The Hurt and played about as much regionally as a band can play.
Read MorePaul Benoit, co-founder of the band Haunaman, has been touring for over 20 years, performing with songwriters including Chris Chandler, Dan Bern, Reggie Garrett and Laura Love. In June 2019, Paul released his 11th album Lost Days, Long Nights. After a string of shows from Southern Oregon to Seattle, I caught Paul at home just before he ran off to work. We talked of the travel bug, touring, and making the troubadour life work.
Read MoreHave you heard Foghorn Stringband? Then you’ve heard Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms. Their vocal blend is uncanny and dreamy and makes me want to kick off my shoes, pull up a swinging chair on the front porch and sip lemonade. I spent the afternoon with them, talking about songwriting, learning to sing, juggling projects, dealing with fear and The Great Big Fais-do-do.
Read MoreHitchhiking to gigs, the craft of songwriting, The Muses, and Kory sharing his songs up close with Mickey picking dobro - not only do I dig his songs, but his voice is disarming and full of no bullshit.
Read MoreBeth Wood and Ara Lee James of the new vocal duo Stand and Sway, let it rip in this boisterous conversation. Unruly at times, super fun and full of laughter, these women playfully dive deep into the waters of fame, the value of live music, and the process of creating their upcoming new duo album Deep Blue.
Read MoreAnna Tivel shows little movies in every one of her songs. Stories of extraordinary characters living ordinary lives. She is mostly on the road these days and a world of folks are discovering why this disarming singer-songwriter with the sky in her voice is melting hearts from every stage she graces. We sipped tea while sitting on her living room couch in Portland, Oregon and she shed some bright light on living the life of a touring Troubadour.
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