The Darnell Woodies

How do you define the music of The Darnell Woodies? Is it bluegrass, punk, rock, jazz, blues? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you've got at least an entrée into the unique sound that is Darnell Woodies: fiddler Bryan Gallimore, guitarist, singer/songwriter Matt Smith, Brad Cokendolpher on banjo, mandolin, etc., William vonReichbauer is the bassist, and on drums, the Rev. Doug Hawkins. They visited WFDD in July of 2012 to kick off the official release of their CD Dancing on Your Grave. The official party took place at the Winston-Salem venue The Garage, but the official pre-party took place Live in Studio A. 

 
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M.C. Taylor Hiss Golden Messenger
 
July 2012 was a hot summer for music in Winston-Salem with the Crossroads Concert Series in full gear.  Patterson Hood & the Downtown Rumblers headlined their July concert at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Opening for the Rumblers was Hiss Golden Messenger led by Mr. M.C. Taylor. M.C.'s one of the finest songwriters in America today. The band's fourth release titled Poor Moon was given a nod by none other than Davie Bowie who called it “mystical country, like an eerie yellowing photograph”. M.C. Taylor joined David Live in Studio A.
 
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Ken Frazelle and Laurelyn Dossett
 
Soprano Kathryn Findlen will perform Ken Frazelle's "Songs in the Rear View Mirror" on Monday night, March 11 in Watson Hall on the UNC School of the Arts campus. She'll premiere it in Carnegie Hall this May. UNCSA faculty Ken Frazelle is one of the country's most important living composers. Back in 2010 he accompanied singer songwriter Laurelyn Dossett in the world premiere of "Songs in the Rearview Mirror". Their decades old friendship and intense commitments they've both made to this evocative and haunting portrait of the South makes for a truly memorable performance. David Ford caught up with them in between rehearsals on stage at the Reynolda House.  Triad Arts Weekend contains Parts 1 and 2 of their conversation.
 
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Janus 414
 
“Indie pop that won't make you cringe”. That's one recent self-description by members of the Mount Airy band Janus 414. It's a pretty humble assessment given their stellar reviews by Relish Entertainment Weekly, and webcutsmusic.com says their songs are “well-crafted, harmony rich treats, almost as if years were spent studying the classics to a fine art”. Their infectious melodies and real people charm make their way to the Triad often. Janus 414 singer and rhythm guitarist Chad Barnard and lead guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist Shane Mock spent some time Live in Studio A back in May of 2012.    
 

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