(Editor’s Note: BGS has partnered with AEA Ribbon Mics and AmericanaFest to share special live sessions shot at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville, Tennessee during AmericanaFest 2025. Over the next few weeks, enjoy select performances from AEA Ribbon Mics’ sessions in Nashville premiered right here on BGS.)
Artist: Donovan Woods
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Songs: “Our Friend Bobby,” “Grew Apart,” “I Talk About You,” “Back for the Funeral”
In Their Words: “Donovan Woods is our video director Michael’s favorite artist. So much so that Michael and I actually gave each other Donovan’s merch for Christmas a few years ago. I still have a Donovan Woods air freshener hanging in the bathroom at home. As soon as his name was added to AmericanaFest’s lineup last fall, we were determined to book Donovan for a session. When we found out that he wouldn’t be flying into Nashville in time for our scheduled sessions at Welcome to 1979, we reached out to our friends at Ocean Way, who were kind enough to let us shoot there.
“Just being in Ocean Way Nashville Studios, with its fabled history and all the A-list artists that have come through, was a transcendental experience. But listening to Donovan play as we were sound checking, it was clear that we were a part of something exquisite. Every note just sounds and feels like it resonates in your body when you’re in that space. It was as if the room was alive and contributing its own personality to the session. The mics were picking up everything from a muted floor creak to a whispered breath in that hallowed space. There is a little bit of squeaking that comes in and out, if you listen carefully in the first song, that we couldn’t figure out. Turns out it was the sound of Donovan’s guitar strap rubbing up and down on the side of his guitar. That was how active and present every sound in the room was.
“Donovan is who we all hope our heroes would be. Completely down-to-earth, personable, and loves his craft. He hung out and chatted with us before and after his session. He put us on the guest list for his performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and we chatted some there as well. I am so excited to share our perfect day and dream private concert with you all. This session features his new single, ‘I Talk About You,’ on his soon-to-be-released EP, out February 27, 2026.” – Julie Tan, AEA Ribbon Mics
Video Credits: Audio recorded by Wolf Robinson & Tate Sablatura.
Mixed by Brandon Bell.
Video directed and edited by Michael Perlmutter, assisted by Patrick Dwyer.
Hosted by Julie Tan.
To purchase AEA Ribbon Mics or other gear, contact your local dealer. More information is available at AEARibbonMics.com.
