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Roots Culture Redefined

Sitch Sessions: Anderson East, ‘What a Woman Wants to Hear’

During AmericanaFest earlier this Fall, Anderson East graciously stopped by Nashville's famed Station Inn to give us a private performance of "What a Woman Wants to Hear," one of the stand-out tracks from his excellent 2015 release, Delilah. For this Sitch Session, East opted for a solo acoustic performance, letting his velvety vocals and the tune's heartfelt lyrics speak for themselves over a backdrop of gentle strumming.  

Anderson East 2016 "Devil in Me Tour" Dates
January 28—Louisville, KY—Headliners Music Hall*
January 29—Birmingham, AL—WorkPlay Theatre*
January 30—Atlanta, GA—Terminal West at King Plow Arts Center*
February 4—Richmond, VA—The Broadberry*
February 5—Baltimore, MD—Sound Stage Baltimore*
February 6—Charlottesville, VA—The Southern*
February 9—Vienna, VA—Jammin’ Java*
February 11—Philadelphia, PA—World Cafe Live*
February 12—New York, NY—Bowery Ballroom* 
February 13—Boston, MA—Brighton Music Hall*
February 14—Northampton, MA—Pearl Street* 
February 16—Pittsburgh, PA—The Club at Stage AE* 
February 18—Cincinnati, OH—20th Century Theater*
February 19—Indianapolis, IN—The Hi-Fi*
February 20—Milwaukee, WI—Shank Hall*
February 21—Evanston, IL—SPACE*
February 23—Minneapolis, MN—Varsity Theater*
February 24—Des Moines, IA—Vaudeville Mews*
February 25—Kansas City, MO—The Riot Room* 
February 27—Denver, CO—Larimer Lounge† 
February 29—Salt Lake City, UT—The State Room†
March 3—Spokane, WA—The Bartlett†
March 4—Seattle, WA—Tractor Tavern†
March 5—Vancouver, BC—The Cobalt†
March 6—Portland, OR—Mississippi Studios†
March 8—Sacramento, CA—Harlow’s†
March 10—Mill Valley, CA—Sweetwater Music Hall† 
March 11—San Francisco, CA—The Independent†
March 12—West Hollywood, CA—The Troubadour†
March 13—Solana Beach, CA—Belly Up Tavern† 
 
*with special guest Andrew Combs
†with special guest Dylan Leblanc
 

Directed and shot by Ryan Silver. Edited by Richard Downie. Presented by Bedell Guitars.

Sitch Sessions: Lera Lynn, ‘Standing on the Moon’

During AmericanaFest 2015, Lera Lynn stopped by an empty Station Inn for her Sitch Session with guitarist/producer Joshua Grange in tow. The pair offered up a captivating take on "Standing on the Moon," off Lynn's 2014 album, The Avenues. "One hand holds the pulse, the other a steerin’ wheel. On one hand it is his curse, on the other it’s what is real," she sings to a room filled with only the memories of so much music that has happened within its walls.

Lera Lynn Fall 2015 Tour Dates
Nov. 10 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
Nov. 11 – New York, NY – Joe's Pub at The Public Theater
Nov. 12 – New York, NY – Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater
Nov. 13 – Ithaca, NY – The Dock
Nov. 14 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe
Nov. 16 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
Nov. 17 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Nov. 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
Nov. 20 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
Nov. 21 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
Nov. 22 – Goshen, IN – Ignition Music Garage
Dec. 10 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Dec. 11 – Charleston, SC – The Pour House
Dec. 12 – Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre


Directed and shot by Ryan Silver. Edited by Richard Downie. Presented by Bedell Guitars.

Sitch Sessions: Kelsey Waldon, ‘Dont Hurt the Ones Who Have Loved You the Most’

When you come from Monkey's Eyebrow, KY, you surely must have some stories to tell. And what better way to do that than through songs. Such is the case for Kelsey Waldon, a country upstart who made her way from Monkey's Eyebrow to Music City to pursue her musical dreams.

Steeped in the country music of days past, from Loretta Lynn to Guy Clark, Waldon released her debut album, The Goldmine, last year. Rolling Stone says of the set, "Waldon makes music like someone raised on both 'White Lightnin'' and Wilco, tackling troubled pasts, cheatin' hearts, and what happens when we don't all worship the same American dreams."

For her Sitch Session, Waldon offered up "Dont Hurt the Ones Who Have Loved You the Most," a thoughtful reminder to remember what's real and true in the world. 


Sitch Session shot and edited by Mason Jar Music.

Sitch Sessions: Kristin Andreassen, Aoife O’Donovan & Sarah Jarosz, “Simmon”

We ventured into the woods just outside Telluride, CO, to capture a beautifully intimate performance from Kristin Andreassen, Aoife O’Donovan, & Sarah Jarosz.

Andreassen (Uncle Earl) brought us a song from her 2015 solo release, Gondolier. O’Donovan and Jarosz you may recognize from Grammy-winning I’m With Her, their trio with Sara Watkins which was spawned at Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2014. Though both have quite the solo resumes, it’s hard to ignore how great they sound together. Add in Andreassen, and the result is serene and sublime.

 

 

Sitch Sessions: Tim O’Brien, “You Were On My Mind”

With naught but a clawhammer banjo and a svelte mountaineering outfit, Tim O’Brien walks down a dusty road just outside of Telluride, CO singing an original, modern classic in this archived Sitch Session. The longing, heartfelt number, “You Were On My Mind,” was also recorded on Hot Rize’s 2014 release, When I’m Free.

Born in 1950s Wheeling, WV, O’Brien grew up singing in church and school, and devoted himself completely to bluegrass and old-time music upon seeing Doc Watson for the first time on TV. After starting the Boulder-based, IBMA Award-winning Hot Rize in the ’80s, O’Brien has become an important figure and role model in today’s acoustic music world. His songs have been recorded by Kathy Mattea, Nickel Creek, and Garth Brooks, not to mention all of the success he’s had with his solo and collaborative recordings over his 40+ year career.

Enjoy one of our most popular Sitch Sessions of all time, featuring O’Brien’s pure, unfiltered magic in a solo performance.

Sitch Sessions: Greensky Bluegrass, “Burn Them”

Greensky Bluegrass has done about as much to welcome new fans to bluegrass as anyone out there. After 18 years on the road together, seven studio albums, and even more live releases, the band has gone on to headline Red Rocks on numerous occasions, now hosting their own Camp Greensky festival in their home state of Michigan.

We caught up with the Greensky boys just outside of Telluride, CO for this video of “Burn Them” from their 2014 release, If Sorrows Swim. 

GSBG is certainly no stranger to BGS however — check out our conversation with mandolinist Paul Hoffman, as well as parts one and two of our SOUNDCHECK interview with the whole band.

Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer’s CHILD SONGS

When ANAIS MITCHELL and JEFFERSON HAMER sat down with us on a chilly March afternoon in Santa Monica, we had no idea we were in for one of the most in-depth and fascinating interviews and private performances we’ve ever captured.

Hope you enjoy these two incredible performers as much as we did…

PERFORMANCE OF ‘CLYDE WATERS’:

To learn more about Anais and Jefferson’s album Child Songs, visit anaismitchell.com

PACIFIC ELECTRIC SESSIONS: The Dustbowl Revival

Here at The Sitch, we aim to bring you not only the best in bluegrass talent appearing and touring in the Southland, but to also highlight the best in local music.  Which is why we started THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC SESSIONS.

It’s a stripped down live performance featuring LA-based bands playing the city’s best venues.  And to kick things off, we’ve got our friends THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL performing their tune ‘Be My Baby‘ at Venice’s Del Monte Speakeasy.  The video was directed and edited by the enormously talented Natalie Fava and produced by Amy Reitnouer.

To learn more about The Dustbowl Revival and hear more of their tunes, be sure to check out their site http://dustbowlrevival.com/

     

SOUNDCHECK: Black Prairie

Let’s start the week on a high note with this two-part SOUNDCHECK from Portland, Oregon-based band BLACK PRAIRIE.  Recorded live at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica in March, the group shows us their very unique instrumentation (they’re also part of our BONNAROO stage lineup this June!).

SOUNDCHECK: Greensky Bluegrass

When the guys from GREENSKY BLUEGRASS rolled through town a few weeks ago to play LA’s THE MINT, you can be sure The Sitch was there to hang out with this fun, quirky, and riotously talented group.

Get introduced to Anders, Paul and the rest of the gang in Part One of our latest SOUNDCHECK segment, and check back tomorrow for Part Two!