Artists:Larkin Poe & Nu Deco Ensemble Hometown: Atlanta, now Nashville (Larkin Poe); Miami (Nu Deco Ensemble) Song: “Every Bird That Flies” Album:Paint the Roses (Live in Concert) Release Date: September 17, 2021
In Their Words: “Before we could even speak in full sentences, our introduction to the language of music began with classical violin and piano lessons; ever since then, music has been the bedrock upon which we’ve built our lives. Over the years we have drawn inspiration from a wide range of genres, but it has always been a dream of ours to find a way to honor our classical upbringing. Paint the Roses was born out of a fortuitous, one-night collaboration with Nu Deco Ensemble. In hearing our Roots Rock ‘n’ Roll repertoire reinterpreted through an orchestral lens, it felt like a creative circle was being completed; we wanted to share the performance on a grander scale and, thus, our first-ever live album came into being. We are deeply indebted to Sam Hyken for writing such incredible orchestra arrangements and also to Jacomo Bairos for conducting such a magical evening of music.” — Rebecca and Megan Lovell, Larkin Poe
“During the challenging times of this past year, music served the critical purpose of connection to one another. Among those valuable connections was our first collaboration with the amazing duo Larkin Poe and the live album that resulted from it. ‘Every Bird That Flies’ was a song that we immediately knew had to be a part of this collaboration. One of our favorite moments of production week with Larkin Poe was watching Rebecca and Megan’s faces when they first heard how massive the lap steel solo section of this combined with an orchestra.” — Jacomo Bairos and Sam Hyken, Nu Deco Ensemble Co-Founders and Artistic Directors
Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?
I am inspired by so many amazing musicians, but if I had to choose one it would be John Mayer. It is super inspiring for me to see someone who incorporates a hint of blues and folk music in their style become one of the world’s biggest artists. It is not often where you find people of his caliber carrying on the sounds of authentic music and incorporating it into their own songwriting and musical style. I also love the way he uses his instrumentation in his songwriting, and that is something I aspire to do as well. In my mind, he is one of the greatest guitar players alive. While his songs aren’t all super complex he succeeds at creating hits with simple soulful music. He does just enough to get the point across. I also love watching him blur the genre boundaries within the mainstream music industry, and that is something that I think about often too because I am inspired by so many different musical styles.
What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?
My favorite live performance I have done was a Ted X showcase at the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall here in Nashville. Even though that performance was a couple years ago, and I have improved so much musically since then, it was such a special memory. I had gone to the symphonies ever since I was 2 years old. I remember one time going to the Schermerhorn to watch the symphony perform, and after I got to meet some of the players. I was always in awe of that stage, and I never would’ve imagined getting to play it some day. I had gone to see Punch Brothers and some other amazing acts perform on that stage when I was a little older. For me, when I got on stage I was so nervous just knowing that this was the exact same stage I had idolized since I was around 4. It was an amazing show that I will never forget, and it gave me inspiration to keep going knowing that I was able to make a dream come true.
What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?
I have been a music lover ever since I was born. I moved to Nashville when I was 4 years old, and I started taking violin lessons as soon as we moved. I then picked up mandolin, and later the guitar. I eventually moved away from classical music and I have been experimenting with different styles ever since. Only recently have I felt like I truly found my sound and style. Most of the music I write is within the folk/Americana genre with influences from other styles and sounds. I was around 4 or 5 when I first started going to concerts and as soon as I watched amazing artists, I knew that I was going to be a musician. My mind to this day has never changed. It was only when I started getting older, and when I began venturing into different styles such as bluegrass that I decided I wanted to be a touring musician. Someday I hope to tour the world with my guitar and my violin, and share my songwriting across the globe.
If you had to write a mission statement for your career, what would it be?
There was one time a few years ago when I was getting down about wanting to be a musician. At the time there were many problems going on within the world, and I wanted to do something about it. I felt like my life would be useless unless I could help the world, and leave a mark somehow. At the time, I was lost regarding how I was going to do that with my music, but right around that same time I discovered songwriting. Ever since that day, I decided I would write about real world problems, and that when I didn’t write directly about world issues, I would use my music as a platform to do my part in making this world a better place. Even though I am still at the beginning of my journey in doing that, I will never lose sight of that vision. My songwriting is also my way of coping with life and the experiences I go through. Often I find that many other people feel the same way or have been through similar experiences. It is so amazing to me how songwriting has the ability to connect everyone no matter who they are, where they live, what they believe, or what they look like; and I believe that it is the greatest tool we can use to help connect human civilization.
Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?
I love the sun. Light gives me so much inspiration and happiness. There is something so inspirational about watching the sunrise and the sunset everyday. For me it never gets old. Especially while watching the sunset, I have found that I create my best work. It is a small reminder of how beautiful the world is out there, and it is hard to remember that nowadays because most of us have been stuck in our homes for more than a year. I love writing songs during the sunset, and I get the perfect view of it everyday from my room. I always try to get as much writing or recording done while the sunset is happening simply because it brings out the best artist in me.
BGS and the Philadelphia Folksong Society, who are presenters of the oldest continuously run music festival in North America, are proud to join together to virtually present Cabin Fever Fest on February 20 & 21. This fully digital, interactive musical experience will include multiple streaming stages, performances by international stars and local favorites, music workshops and lessons, and more. (See the full lineup below.)
Tickets to Cabin Fever Fest are available now, full weekend passes are available for just $45 for PFS Members and $50 for Not-Yet-Members. Your ticket gives you full access to the event from February 20 until February 28, to watch at your leisure and convenience.
To get excited for the launch of the festival this Saturday, we wanted to introduce our BGS audience to some of the amazing folks on the lineup. Hopefully you’ll find a few favorite artists and performers — new and old — to catch this weekend on Cabin Fever Fest, presented by BGS and the Philadelphia Folksong Society!
Avi Kaplan
We first turned our attention to former Pentatonix low-end Avi Kaplan when he released his first rootsy foray, I’ll Get By, last February. In our interview last year, he spoke about his time with the internationally-renowned a capella group, growing up on bluegrass, and how is journey back to folk took shape. We were excited to have Avi on Whiskey Sour Happy Hour episode 3 last spring and we’re so excited to have him on Cabin Fever Fest, as well!
By now a longtime friend of BGS as well as a stalwart of the Americana-blues scene, Keb’ Mo’ has been our Artist of the Month, has been on our podcasts, our live lineups, and our year-end and holiday playlists, and now will join us and our Philly Folksong Society friends for Cabin Fever Fest! Whether he’s sharing a stage with Taj Mahal or swapping licks with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Keb’ Mo’ is an extraordinary picker and collaborator.
Bluegrass family band turned modern blues-rock shredders Larkin Poe are a constantfavoriteon the pages and social media channels of BGS — and we totally see why! They combine fiery, impassioned energy with bluegrass technique and virtuosity for a brand of southern rock and blues that appeals to all kinds of roots music fans. They’ve kept up a constant “touring” calendar despite COVID-19, and we’re so grateful to have them join our virtual festival.
A cosmic, mystical force on banjo, with her songwriting pen, or within the pages of her poetry notebook, Valerie June is another Whiskey Sour Happy Hour alumnus joining us on the Cabin Fever Fest lineup. Her upcoming Jack Splash-produced album, The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, is generating quite a bit of buzz in folk circles — the single, “Call Me a Fool” features Stax legend Carla Thomas! — so of course we’re looking forward to her Cabin Fever performance!
What would a folk festival be without sibling harmonies!? The way The Secret Sisters — Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle — blend their songwriting styles, their production and arrangements, and their voices is so effortless — while laser-precise, deliberate, and painstaking.
Lockdown shows from Nashville’s self-professed banjo house (and basement) have kept all of us going through the past year or so — or at least, all of us at BGS and Philly Folksong Society! We’re tickled they’ll be bringing more of their humorous, engaging, double-banjo content to Cabin Fever Fest.
Perhaps the world’s foremost ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro represents quite a few American roots music traditions often left to the wayside in folk circles. Shimabukuro has performed with many bluegrass, old-time, and Americana greats including Sierra Hull, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Alison Brown, Béla Fleck, and more. His prodigious approach to the ukulele — an instrument with skyrocketing popularity at the moment, especially among Gen Z — will surely wow new and old fans alike, no matter your entry point to roots music.
Speaking of Sierra Hull! One of our all-time favorite mandolin maestros, this thoughtful composer/songwriter will headline one day of our BGS stage. Every chance we get to work together, we take it! We can’t wait to see what new, astounding cover songs — like her Whiskey Sour Happy Hour rendition of “King of Anything” — fantastic musical acrobatics, and bluegrass nuggets she’ll pepper throughout her performance.
Our Philly Folk Fest friends turned us onto local favorites, Mwenso & the Shakes, and we’re awfully glad they did. Led by Michael Mwenso, the troupe of global artists present music that’s entrancing, entertaining, and as they put it, “A formidable timeline of jazz and blues expression through African and Afro American music.” Their debut album, Emergence [The Process of Coming Into Being], is available wherever you get music now. We can’t wait to hear from Mwenso & the Shakes!
Based in Santa Cruz, California these fixtures in the Northern California bluegrass scene are making a splash on a national scale, despite the pandemic throwing a wrench in their ascension. Blue Summit’s music is modern, crisp, and precise with a songwriting heart that feels fully realized and mature, despite their relative youth as a group. Lee’s vocals and originals spearhead the ensemble, reminding of Alison Krauss and her former bandmate Molly Tuttle, too. BGS has been waiting for the opportunity to get Blue Summit on a lineup and Cabin Fever Fest was the perfect opportunity!
Check out the full lineup and schedules for Cabin Fever Fest below and don’t forget to head to the CFF website for more information — discover workshops, get your Philly Folksong Society membership, find FAQs, and more!
Saturday, February 20, 2021
(all times EST)
CAMP STAGE presented by the Philadelphia Music Co-op
11:00AM Katherine Rondeau 11:30AM Jason Ager 12:00PM Hot Club of Philadelphia 12:30PM Rebecca Lang Fiorentino 1:00PM Ami Yares 1:30PM Bethlehem & Sad Patrick
CAMP STAGE presented by the Bluegrass Situation
2:30PM The Wandering Hearts 3:15PM AJ Lee & Blue Summit 4:30PM Jontavious Willis 5:45PM Jon Stickley Trio 7:00PM Sierra Hull
MARTIN STAGE / MAIN STAGE
3:30PM Emily Drinker 4:15PM OKAN 5:30PM James McMurtry 6:45PM Mwenso & the Shakes 8:00PM The Secret Sisters 9:15PM Keb’ Mo’ 10:15PM Avi Kaplan
Sunday, February 21, 2021
CAMP STAGE presented by the Philadelphia Music Co-op
11:00AM Ken Ulansey 11:30AM Huston West 12:00PM Rachel Eve 12:30PM Todd Fausnacht 1:00PM Ants On a Log Presents the World Premier of CURIOUS: The Movie 1:50PM Valentina Sounds
CAMP STAGE presented by Eisteddfod Amgen
2:30PM Tŷ Gwerin o bell featuring Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, Tant, VRi, Pedair
BGS has partnered with the Philadelphia Folksong Society, presenters of the oldest continuously run music festival in North America – the Philadelphia Folk Festival – on a special, winter digital music event, Cabin Fever Fest, to place February 20 & 21, 2021! Pandemic or not, this winter, everyone will have a cozy front row seat as PFS and BGS present this fully digital, interactive musical experience complete with multiple streaming stages and featuring performances by Avi Kaplan, Keb’ Mo’, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Valerie June, Larkin Poe, The Secret Sisters, and many more. (See full lineup below.)
Tickets to Cabin Fever Fest are available now, including early bird pricing valid until end of day tomorrow, January 30. Details and tickets are available at folkfest.org. Early Bird weekend passes to Cabin Fever Fest are available for just $35 for PFS Members and $40 for Not-Yet-Members. Your ticket gives you full access to the event from February 20 until February 28, to watch at your leisure and convenience.
Building on what they’ve learned from their virtual festival forays last summer, PFS & BGS will once again bring a vibrant, online music festival experience directly to music enthusiasts’ homes to mark only six months left in the long wait until the 60th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival in August of this year. Like the festival, Cabin Fever Fest will feature unforgettable original performances from national headliners, international stars, and local talent. Branching out from past Folk Festival programming, Cabin Fever Fest will also feature an emphasis on music workshops and performance that digitally bring us closer together during these difficult winter months of isolation.
Whether you’re a seasoned performer wanting to strengthen your skills, curious about an instrument or style, want your children to participate in a music lesson, or just want to sing along, ALL attendees will be able to watch these amazing workshops, while VIP attendees will be able to participate in all of the workshops they choose.
Cabin Fever Fest will include performances by: Avi Kaplan, Keb’ Mo’, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Valerie June, Larkin Poe, The Secret Sisters, James McMurtry, Jake Shimabukuro, Sierra Hull, Mwenso & the Shakes, Gangstagrass, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, Jontavious Willis, Midnight Skyracer, Bella White, Wesli, OKAN, and more to be announced.
All ticket purchasers will be able to watch Cabin Fever Fest on demand until February 28, 2021. FAQ here.
Photo credit: Avi Kaplan by Bree Marie Fish; Keb’ Mo’ by Ryan Case.
Blues is alive and well with sister duo Larkin Poe. In December, the pair were featured on Paste Studio on the Road: Nashville, an adapted version of Paste’s normal video concert series from New York City. This installment comes from Instrumenthead Live Studio in Music City and safely presents the roaring, gritty style of Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Although the audience is smaller than their usual draw, Larkin Poe perform the only way they know how: at full blast.
With more time for writing and recording falling into their laps over the course of the last year, Larkin Poe were hard at work, releasing not one, but two full-length studio records in 2020. The most recent, a covers collection called Kindred Spirits, was released on November 20 on Tricki-Woo Records. It comes on the heels of the June release of Self Made Man, which climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard blues chart. Visceral energy, raw emotion, and pure, unadulterated badass-edness jump out of the screen in this Paste session, satisfying the craving if only for a moment, for live entertainment that we’ve been so deprived of this year. Watch the exhilarating duo below.
This week, we finish off this season of The Show On The Road with a powerful, Southern sister act that has been wowing audiences around the world with their transformative take on stomping blues and cagey, slide-guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll: Larkin Poe.
As it is nearly Halloween it would behoove us to mention that Rebecca Lovell (who sings lead) and Megan Lovell, (who commands the stellar slide-work) are indeed distant relatives of Edgar Allan Poe. Their name came from another long-gone grandfather, however, after their eldest singing sister Jessica stepped away from the band, leaving the younger sisters to contemplate if they wanted to continue playing bluegrassy, harmony-rich folk music — which had gotten them on shows like A Prairie Home Companion — or to strike out in a new direction.
Taking inspiration from their frontiersmen-inspired family, who often built and made everything themselves, Rebecca and Megan indeed took DIY to a new level: they have written, produced, and performed nearly all their own records and EPs themselves. They often pay homage to legends like Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, and more modern greats like The Allman Brothers and The Moody Blues, while they also put their own rawboned stamp on stellar ZZ-Top-esque originals like “Self-Made Man,” which is also the title of their newest record.
While the sisters admit that doing almost everything in-house can be like walking a tricky tightrope, the results have been encouraging. From show-stopping appearances at festivals like Glastonbury, to opening for the revivified touring version of Queen (Brian May is a new fan), to headlining the 2020 Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai, India, to snagging a Grammy nom for their hard-stomping record, Venom & Faith, one would think that they should keep on following their DIY instincts.
Larkin Poe doesn’t plan on taking it easy even though they haven’t been able to tour in 2020 — in November they will release Kindred Spirits, a collection of beloved stripped-back covers. Stick around to the end of the show to hear their acoustic version of Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away.”
Artist:Larkin Poe Hometown: Atlanta-bred, Nashville-based Song: “Easy Street” Album:Self Made Man Release Date: June 12, 2020 Label: Tricki-Woo
In Their Words: “Every now and again, we all need a little dose of raw optimism to help us get through the darker days. We wrote ‘Easy Street’ direct from the heart and we hope that it’ll be a rainbow for your ears.” — Megan Lovell
“Lyrically, I think Self Made Man is our most uplifting album to date. With so much uncertainty in the world, it feels really good to unleash some unapologetic optimistic.” — Rebecca Lovell
With Band of Horses headlining, and Billy Bragg getting all protest-y on us, the second of year of the Black Deer Festival more than lived up to the promise of the first. From its gloriously eclectic line-up – including brilliant sets from Fantastic Negrito, Kris Kristofferson, Yola, The Sheepdogs and Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton – to its special partnership with Nicolas Winding Refn, screening restored vintage Americana films handpicked by the director of Drive, this was an event ready to flex its creative muscles. It even introduced a new Livefire stage, dedicated to cooking demos and BBQ contests.
Walking around Eridge Park you couldn’t get over spacious feeling, with the beautiful green hills of Kent rolling away in every direction. Despite increasing capacity to 10,000, Black Deer still feels like one of the most pleasant and laid-back festivals on the UK circuit. This should be no surprise given that its creators, Gill Tee and Deborah Shilling, worked on the late lamented Hop Farm Festival, which always put music first and commercial considerations second. Here’s hoping Black Deer will be around a long time — and in the meantime, revisit the fest in photographs.
Shreddin' blues sisters Larkin Poe take the Black Deer stage.
Photo by Louise Roberts
The crowd gets into Gospel Brunch.
Photo by Louise Roberts
Billy Bragg
Photo by James Kay
Fantastic Negrito.
Photo by James Kay
A drum circle for the young and young at heart.
Photo by Ania Shrimpton
Band Of Horses
Photo by James Kay
The festival was truly a ... "Triumph."
Photo by Louise Roberts
Purveyor of old-time and down home blues, it's Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton.
Photo by James Kay
Black Deer is for everyone!
Photo by Louise Roberts
The Sheepdogs
Photo by James Kay
The breakout Americana star of 2019, Yola.
Photo by James Kay
It wouldn't be a music festival without drool-worthy cuisine.
Photo by Ania Shrimpton
The legendary Kris Kristofferson with a rapt audience.
In Their Words: “’Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues’ is a punchy little number that lends itself to a stripped-back performance. We really had fun working it up just the two of us — this is the first time we’ve ever sung three-part harmony with Megan’s slide joining in as the third vocal! During the writing process, the rhythmic imagery of the lyric came so naturally to me that it almost felt like this song wanted to be written; it feels like a reminder of the importance in choosing to vibrantly live our lives while we have them: ‘You’ve gotta ride, feel the fire like a first kiss… you’ve gotta ride at your own risk.’” — Rebecca Lovell
Photo credit: Robbie Klein
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