Name: Caroline Keys

Birthplace: Bamberg, South Carolina, USA

Currently residing: Missoula, Montana

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence:

Bamberg, South Carolina
1975 – Hello, world!
Charlotte, North Carolina
1976 – First musical memory: my parents singing John Hartford’s “Don’t Leave Your Records in the Sun.”
1977 – Dad records he and I singing a song about moonshine to tape.
1978 – Learn to operate tape player myself, turn the page when the bell chimes.
1979 – Pick nose through preschool Christmas program while dressed as a red jingle bell.
Statesville, North Carolina
1980 – Learn to operate record player.  Use that power to play “Mickey Mouse Disco,” “Sgt Pepper(side A),” and “The Chipmunks go Hollywood.”
1981 – Class learns birthday song for our school principal.  Why I can still sing it today I do not know.
1982 – Parents buy piano (probably to get me to quit picking out tunes on the telephone), put me in lessons.
1983 – Suzuki violin lessons on full-sized violin my Great Great Great Uncle in West Virginia built.  His daughter refused to take it to Julliard because it was too heavy.  So it was, like, perfect for a seven-year-old, right?
Lynchburg, Virginia
1984 – Become obsessed with musical comedy “The Pirate Movie” starring Kristy McNichol and loosely based on “The Pirates of Penzance.”
1985 – Izzy Parker’s & my parody of “We Are the World” entitled “We Ate the World” is denied entry in school talent show.  “We ate the world / ’cause we were hungry /we’ll eat you too if you don’t give us some more money…”
1986 – When allowed to pick out one book from Sweet Briar University bookstore, choose “The Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan.”
1987 – Sing scales to the surnames of classmates in 7th grade chorus.  Favorite name to sing: Rumney.
1988 – Three words: “Endless Summer Nights” by Richard Marx.
1989 – First overnight choir trip w/ highschool Glee Club.  I learn a lot.  Like that upperclasswomen can lure upperclassmen into motel rooms by sweet-talking to them through the bathroom vents.
1990 – First rock concert: Crosby, Stills, and Nash at arena in Roanoke, Virginia.  The band thought they were in Cincinnatti.
1991 – See Paul Simon on “Born at the Right Time” Tour at DeanDome in Chapel Hill.  Do not faint and end up on his couch, per fantasy.
1992 – Check Yer Head, A Picture of Nectar, Automatic for the People, Body Count, Amused to Death, This One’s Gonna Hurt You, The Power of Pussy, Cereal Killers, Nothing’s Shocking, Breakfast Club Soundtrack, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, Gish, One From the Vault
Hertford Heath, United Kingdom
1993 – Sing Elgar’s “The Kingdom” in British prep school choir.  Sneak into boy’s dorm at night to listen to Alec Anderson play guitar.
Linville, North Carolina
1994 – Stay up too late singing duets with “Country Bob,” a dishwasher who is twice my age.
Jupiter Island, Florida
1995 – Go clubbing w/ fake ID. Buy Joe Montana a beer.
Chattanooga, Tennesee
1996 – Use tax return to buy first guitar.
1997 – Learn fancy chords from Grateful Dead & Indigo Girls songbooks
1998 – Send guitar (no case) to Montana sandwiched between a pillow and the ceiling of a Buick.  Follow behind it two weeks later on a Greyhound.
1999 – Wrap belongings in a maroon shower curtain, tie it to the roof of Kelli’s Subaru, and head West for good. Catch Phish play w/ Tim O’Brien, Bela Fleck, and Jerry Douglas in Nashville on the way out.
2000 – Decide that New Orleans is, indeed, on the way from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to Glacier National Park, Montana. So why not attend Jazzfest?!
Many Glacier, Montana
2001 – Live out John Hartford’s dream: “all I want to do in life is to pick and drive an old boat.”
Missoula, Montana
2002 – Enroll at University of Montana.  First week: attend Top Hat Picking circle without guitar.  Following weeks: learn a song a week to take to Top Hat Picking circle with guitar.
2003 – Join first band: Broken Valley Roadshow. Play guitar and sing.
2004 – Play first bluegrass festival.
2005 – Go to Weiser for the first time. Start writing music reviews for Missoula Independent and editing Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association Newsletter.
2006 – Marry lefthanded redheaded old time mando playing mountain man.
2007 – Broken Valley Roadshow represents USA at Nanning International Folk Festival in China.
2008 – Tour Holland with Whiskey Puppy.
2009 – Go to Mt Airy for the first time.
2010 – Take RPM (Record Production Month) Challenge. Write and record album in my living room.  Decide the RPM finish line is actually the starting line for a new project: Stellarondo.  Record Stellarondo album at Type Foundry in Portland with Adam Selzer.  Join New Hijackers. Start Top Hat’s Family Friendly Friday and Artist-in-Residence programs.
2011 – Play over 200 gigs with Broken Valley Roadshow, Him & Her, New Hijackers, The Tulis, Wise River Mercantile, Stellarondo, Whippletree, Big Kids Band.  Release Stellarondo record, take two tours of Pacific Northwest, artist residencies Seeley Lake (BVR) and Hobson, Montana, collaborate with Rick Bass scoring his short fiction, serve as Martha Scanlan’s back-up band.  Play first ever solo set.

Website: stellarondo.com

1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Past:
John Hartford, Gilbert & Sullivan, Uncle Dave Macon, Roger Miller, Stephane Grappelli, Edward Elgar, Shannon Hoon, Open Road, Jay Reatard, John Coltrane, Hazel Dickens, Frank Zappa, Harry Nilsson, Vic Chesnut, The Asylum Street Spankers, Bongwater, Mozart, Ollabelle Reed, Townes Van Zandt

Present:
The Heartless Bastards, Skerik, Bethany Joyce, Martha Scanlan, Richmond Fontaine, Grace Decker, Laura Viers, Gibson Hartwell, Wilco, Angie Biehl, Bobby Bare Jr, Lana Rebel, Nate Biehl, Graham Lindsey, Caleb Klauder, Travis Yost, Paul Brainard, Kelly Hogan, Amy Martin, Aaron Parrett, The Wilders, Brian Herbel, Charlie Parr, Yo La Tengo, Will Oldham, Chelle Terwilliger, Michael Hurley, Tom Catmull, Tuatara, The Magnetic Fields, Nick Jaina, Tyler Ramsey, Caliphone, Ivan Rosenberg, Sallie Ford, John Sporman, Leah Keys.
2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?: When Skerik comes in after Stanton Moore’s drum solo on “Angel Nemali” from the “All Kooked Out” CD.

“Tea in the Sahara” by The Police

When John Coltrane comes in towards the end of Miles Davis’ “Someday my Prince Will Come.”

“Fearless” by Pink Floyd

When “China Doll” finally arrives at the D.

“Seeds of the Pine” by Martha Scanlan.

Listening to “Rhythm of the Saints” in headphones.

The Red Hots.

Most all the sounds I am surrounded by in Stellarondo.

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

1. Take dog walk to swimming hole.
2. Eggs.
3. Write song.
4. Hot yoga.
5. Not have to talk until noon.
6. Play music with people.
7. Cuddle kitty.
8. Walk with a friend.
9. Spend time in canoe or soak in hot spring, depending on season.
10. Eat Cioppino at Scotty’s Table.
11. Talk to sister in Memphis on the phone.
12. Go for moonlit cross-country ski.
Most days I get do 3 or 4 of these things.  Grateful!

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Maybe listening?

5. What is your most valued material possession?

Right now I really love my banjo and Gibson GA-15 RV amp.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I have a hard time recognizing faces, so I feel socially nervous a lot. I don’t think I would be able to say a thing to Gillian Welch.  Or maybe I wouldn’t recognize her and we could carry on a normal conversation?

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

In a canoe at midnight at the outlet of Lake Josephine. In summer, on a full moon. With Robert Duvall.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

I would like to see more of my family. I would like to drop thumb. I would like to spend more time on boats. Get more experience recording. Go for longer tours with Stellarondo. Volunteer more.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

In ten years I hope I will have created something pretty. I would like to have made, and to continue to make good things. I would like to be doing my best work in 10 years. And even better work in 20, and so on. And I would like part of that best work to be in service of easing human suffering. The only way I would believe I’ve accomplished this if I were to open The New Yorker and find an Andy Friedman cartoon of Bono, Desmond Tutu, and me twisted up in some sort of yoga pose. Just kidding. The music community in Missoula amazes and inspires me today. I cannot wait to see where we all are 10 years from now.

Name: Brock Gleeson

Birthplace: Grand Junction, Colorado

Currently residing: Jackson, Wyoming

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I’ve been a semi-pro musician for ten years, I’ve lived all over the US playing music in such cities as Nashville, Austin, Phoenix, and Denver.

Website: facebook reverbnation myspace

1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

My favorite musicians are typically the ones I grew up on, it’s their music that has really created me as a musician from childhood, ie. Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Joan Baez, but recently I’m deeply into Justin Townes Earle, Josh Ritter, Joe Firstman, The Damnwells and Jason Isbell and the 400 unit.

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Ray LaMontagne’s line from the song ‘Empty’ always kills me, “She lifts her skirt up to her knees, walks through the garden of roses with her bare feet laughing”

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

I would say my perfect day starts and ends with coffee and my beautiful wife, doesn’t really matter where that is.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

I suppose you have to ask my friends that, but I’d hope it was loyalty and kindness.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

There are more than a few possessions I am extremely attached to (my uncles banjo, my 25 anniversary Gretsch, and my hummingbird) but unfortunately it’s probably my cell phone.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I would be nervous to meet Bob Dylan, just to shake the hand of the man that wrote all of those amazing songs might be overwhelming.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

I’m pretty sure I haven’t been to my favorite place as of yet. But if I would blink my eyes and end up next to a warm ocean, well that’d be just fine.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

I would like to do some more writing in the future, whether that is music, movies or novels. I just hope to write more.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see my wife and I in Africa helping out in a medical clinic. That’s the plan anyways!

Name: Aran Buzzas

Birthplace: Helena, MT

Currently residing: Missoula, MT

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I started playing guitar when I was 15, forming a classic rock cover band with my best friends that lasted just over two years.  After high school and the band’s end, I went in a more singer/songwriter oriented direction, playing acoustic guitar and hitting the open mike scene.  For years I played mostly for myself, producing a (very) rough cassette demo in the late 90’s that I gave to close friends and family.  It wasn’t until late 2007, at the end of a long musical dry spell that new inspiration struck.  I began writing and singing traditional country music, released a homemade CD, Just Bein’ Here, of mostly old songs I needed to get out of my system, and began practicing in earnest with the plan of forming a band and conquering the world. Or at least western Montana.  Unfortunately it was about this time that I developed recurring tendonitis in my forearms, and that has slowed my musical ambitions the past three years.  However it’s allowed me to focus on my vocals, and write a collection of new songs, more in the honky-tonk vein than my older stuff.  In summer of 2010 I released a four song demo, The Niki’s Closet Demo, which showcases my new direction.  Since fall of 2010 I have opened for several touring roots music bands, including two of my very favorites the Clumsy Lovers and Hellbound Glory.  My songs have been played extensively on underground country podcasts, and just in the last month I’ve begun work on a full length professionally recorded album.

Website: facebook  reverbnation

 1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

I am such a music nerd that you would really have to break it down by genre!  Since I’m a country musician, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams (Sr.), Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard are huge influences on me.  The Dubliners, The Pogues, Flogging Molly’s early stuff, and Altan for the Irish trad.  CCR, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Steppenwolf, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson etc.  Contemporary artists include Hellbound Glory, Whitey Morgan & the 78s, Caleb Klauder, J.B. Beverley & the Wayward Drifters, Cutthroat Shamrock, Calamity Cubes, Clumsy Lovers, .357 String Band, McDougall, Rachel Brooke, Wayne Hancock, Dale Watson and too many more to list!

 2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

There are many of them, in many different musical genres.  “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams comes to mind.  Certain Irish rebel songs stir things deep inside of me.  Soundtracks to certain movies, and so on…

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

This is a tough question, but it would involve a large home cooked breakfast, lots of guitar time, family, friends, sunshine and homemade beer.

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

You would really have to ask them this question!

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

Besides old journals and photo albums, it is without a doubt my guitar.  Predictable, but true.

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I was nervous when I met Wayne “The Train” Hancock.  I would be really nervous meeting Willie Nelson.  Probably Merle Haggard as well.

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be? 

Since it’s cold weather out right now, I’d say Makena Beach on Maui.  If it were warmer it would be somewhere in the west of Ireland.

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

More music.  Always striving to play more.  Maybe more traveling as well.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

I would like to have a reasonably stable band unit that is well established in Missoula, and maybe tours occasionally around the northwest, west coast, or even to some of the more prominent roots music festivals in the U.S.  I can’t imagine living somewhere besides Missoula!

Name: Jeremy Sibson

Birthplace: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Currently residing: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I started playing drums professionally in 1980 when I was 12 years old in theatre musicals and when I was 17 joined the Australian Army as a musician where I stayed for 8 ½ years and when I got out I started playing in an original Prog Rock band and then a succession of jazz, funk, and big bands all the while keeping on playing in pit orchestras and highland pipe bands until in 1999 I discovered my love of the Bodhrán which I have been playing in various Irish groups since and in 2008 I went back to University to gain my Bachelor of Music and Teaching.

Website: http://jeremysibson.com

1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Phillip Glass, Duke Ellington, Bill Whelan, Danny Elfman, Dr. John, Flook, Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Genesis, Solas, John Joe Kelly, Cormac Byrne, Martin O’Neill, Beethoven,

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

“Bridge Attack” by Bill Whelan from the film “Some Mother’s Son”.

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

Waking up to my son and wife and then going and playing a session at the pub with good mates.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My musical knowledge and accompanying skills.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

A toss-up between my wedding ring and my collection of family photos going back 7 generations.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I was nervous meeting Dave Weckl for the first time.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Inis Oirr at Craiceann.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Go to and play at festivals in Ireland.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

With my family living in Ireland (where my wife is from).

Name: John David Limbert Kirby

Birthplace: Burlington Ontario Canada

Currently residing: Borington (Burlington)

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: Starting, stopping, maintaining balance.

Website: kirbysings.com 

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Loaded questions, but off the top of my head, The Beatles, Zepplin, Corwin Fox, Lindy, The 80s Pop movement, the numerous musicians I’ve met on the road, Coldplay, Barry Manilow, Phil Collins, Motown…most music in general or anything that moves me.  

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

I swear to god…I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan. It really is a great song. Over played to the point of near irrelevance, but man…it gets you there.  

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

Wake up at 10, coffee,  compose a song for a movie or commercial or something, LLLLLUNCH, walk or hike or something, NNNNNNAP, rocking sold out show somewhere. Free Beer. Party. Bed, 4am.  

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My beard. But most of my music friends say I’m funny, or at least I can make them laugh. So I like I can do that. They might say, “He’d never take your last beer unless you insisted on it.”  

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

There are 3. Guitar, Computer, Car. In that order.  

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I would get gitty meeting Dave Grohl. Or physically paralyzed around Natalie Portman. 

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be? 

Asking myself that every day. But I’d say right now, on tour, somewhere in Europe or Australia or something.  

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Tour internationally more. I’ve really gotten to know Canada well travelling it so much. Love to do that around the world.  

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Somewhere where I’m happy, not worrying about money and able to play/make music.

Name: Sarah Burton

Birthplace: Ottawa, ON

Currently residing: Toronto, ON

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: piano student turned guitar grunge kid at 13, but didn’t perform til age 21 and now sings her heart out almost every night in alt-folk format but wishes she was a dance/rap star.

Website: sarahburton.ca

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1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Gram Parsons, Ryan Adams, The who, Sloan, Belle & Sebastian, Muse, Weezer

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Too many to mention but the first that comes to mind right now is Billy Bragg – “I saw two shooting stars last night, I wished on them, but they were only satellites, It’s wrong to wish on space hardware, I wish, I wish, I wish you cared.“

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

Wake up from the sun shining through the window, drink a good coffee, eat some fruit, walk down to the beach, go swimming, take a ride in a boat, play some music, meet some funny strangers, ride bikes, laugh my ass off, try parasailing, eat spicy foods and take a ride in a helicopter. Or a unicorn

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My sense of fun and adventure. And my rapping skillz.

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

I should say my guitar, but it’s probably my phone…

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

A shark or an octopus

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Hawaii!

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Swim

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

On a boat, muthafucka!

Name: Richie Reinholdt

Birthplace: Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan

Currently residing: Missoula Montana

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I played in a bunch of bands and recorded a bunch of albums

Website: richiereinholdt.com

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?  

uh…..Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Bill Monroe, Neko Case, The Band, Robbie Fulks, Buddy Miller, Bob Marley, Buck Owens, Marshall Crenshaw, Buffalo Springfield

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

wow…so many…Neko Case-Wish I Was The Moon Tonight……..Buffalo Springfield-Broken Arrow

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

A cold Sapporo and a sushi roll on the beach at Hanalei Kaua’i

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

I have no idea 

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

my 1945 Herringbone Martin D 28 

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

Bob Dylan 

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Kaua’i 

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

play more shows were people actually listen 

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

alive

Name: Heather Lewin

Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI USA

Currently residing: West Allis, WI USA

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: Music was always a big part of our family gatherings…everyone sang & danced & played instruments (Hee-Haw and Lawrence Welk were always on at grandma’s house)…so around age 9, I started singing & dancing with a variety group called The Sunshine Kids, which inspired me to take vocal lessons…& about that same time, my parents bought an organ, which came with a half-year of free private lessons & my older sister refused to play it, so I took organ lessons… In summer of that year, I tried trombone & it was way too big for me (& tasted horrible), so I returned it and asked for something else, but the only instrument they had left was a viola (which I’d never actually heard of before, but I was just glad I didn’t have to blow into it)… so I played viola throughout middle school, then I went to High School of the Arts as a vocalist & I started playing cello while I was there (& loved it!) &  played in lots of orchestras (MYSO,  Central Wisconsin Symphony, Shorewood Players, Whitefish Bay Players, Concord Chamber Orchestra)  then went to college to study cello & music education & eventually started teaching music & began fiddling & started playing for dancers & joined lots of different bands (The O’Shyttes, the Consorte of Somesorte, Bounding Main, The Romaniax, Roberts Quartet, West of Ennis, The Mighty Lumberhorn, Athas, Slainte L’Chayim, Irish Fest Ceili Band, Astral Subastral, Andreas Transo’s Handful of Earth Band), some of which I still fiddle & sing with today.

Website: heatherlewinmusic.com

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Composers: Arbeau, Praetorius, Playford, Telemann, Vivaldi, Corelli, Bach

Fiddlers: Liz Carroll, Casey Driessen, Bruce Molsky, Ben Sollee, Trevor Exter, Chris Bain, Franklin George, Henry Reed

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Bill Withers- Ain’t No Sunshine

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

Waking up in another country with a pocketful of cash, a fiddle and nowhere in particular to be. Going sightseeing, making music and sampling local cuisine. Stumbling upon a used bookstore, where I’d find a rare antique book that I’ve always wanted. Eventually meeting up with friends or family & going to a museum or festival. Ending the night in a cosy bed with my recently acquired book & some great tunes playing quietly in the background until I fall asleep.

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My fearlessness?

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

Old family photos

6.  Who were you, or would you be, nervous to meet?

I love meeting new people. I’m completely fascinated by everyone.  Not nervous, just curious. That said, the highest profile people I’ve met & played for are the governor of Chiba, Japan & the President of Ireland. Both are great gals.

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Ireland

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Sing more & play the blues.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Still fiddling.

Name: STEVE MITCHELL

Birthplace: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Currently residing: Nashville, Tennessee

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: An ongoing experiment in musical chemistry, including The Wounded Cheesies, 1982-1983; The Tree Of Plenty, 1985-1987; Ernie’s Coffee Shop, 1987-1990; The Festive Eddies, 1990-1992; Travels With Charley, 1992-1995; Yardsale, 1995-2000; The Paperboys, 1999-2005; The Haphazards, present.

Website: the haphazards

 1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Gram Parsons, The Grateful Dead, Emmy-Lou Harris, Neil Young, John Hiatt, The Staples Family, Willie Nelson, Andrew Bird, Taj Mahal, Death Cab For Cutie, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, Dave Brubeck, Doug Sahm, Talib Qweli, Kanye West, Sufjan Stevens, Miles Davis, NRBQ, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, Feist, U2, The Rolling Stones, Don Williams, Elton John (before 1975) and the Talking Heads.

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” and “Surf’s Up”, The Grateful Dead’s “Stella Blue” and “Box Of Rain”, Lee Ann Womack’s “The Bees”, “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon, “Hot Burrito #1” by Gram Parsons.

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

Finishing up a new song, charting it for the demo musicians, having a glass of red wine, and then playing the song for my wife.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

I do my best to really listen. And I provide healthy snacks.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

My Goldtone resophonic guitar.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I met one of my musical heroes and biggest influences, Emmy Lou Harris, and we talked about homeless dogs. I can’t imagine that it would feel comfortable to meet Bob Dylan.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

In the Kendrick Cabin, next to Cameron Lake, Vancouver Island, on the patio, with my guitar and a hot coffee.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Learn how to use power tools and renovate old homes.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Anywhere, as long as I’m accompanied by my wife Leslie, my daughter Molly and our mellow long-haired chihuahua, Acorn.

Name: ray johnston

Birthplace: Montgomery, al

Currently residing: dallas Tx

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: college and early corporate career spurty cover musician then made NBA team then battled leukemia on and off thru 4 relapses then formed ray johnston band in sep 09′

Website: rayjohnstonband.com

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Bands: allman brothers, dave Matthews band, average white band, Stevie wonder, zac brown band.

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

“Don’t you think life would be awfully boring, if the good times were all we had” (pat green – Crazy)

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

Early morning duck hunt, mid morning quiet time writing or praising God, darn good lunch, hour siesta, afternoon quail or pheasant hunt, date with a cool cute girl, then our band has a show at red rocks.

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Enthusiasm

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

A Rolex that my dad’s men in Vietnam gave to him then he passed it down to me.

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

Jennifer Anniston

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be? 

Snow skiing in park city

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Dougie

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

As a humble giving man who has a band that plays 100 fun shows to (5000-7500 capacity) venues a year and still stands for what’s right and for the Lord above

photo: elmo tham

Name: Terry Clark

Birthplace: Honolulu, HI

Currently residing: Richmond, VA

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: After being in this band for the last 18 years, I can safely say that Carbon Leaf represents my musical past, present and future.

Website: carbonleaf.com  facebook

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present? 

Neil Young, Cream, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Rush, Marillion, Uncle Tupelo, Ray Lamontagne, The Decemberists

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally? 

The second half of the guitar solo in Hells Bells by AC/DC and the third chorus of The Pogues version of An The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.  Also, when Mariah Carey hits “that high note”

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

A day spent with my family… with no chores, email, or deadlines of any sort!

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My general good nature and my work ethic.

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

My 1975 Gibson ES335

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

Neil Young or Angus Young

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be? 

My family’s summer cottage on the Chesapeake Bay. Or St. Barts.

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Create more music!

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

The big house on the hill! (not big house as in prison)

Name: Leslie Alexander 

Birthplace: Calgary AB 

Currently residing: Ashcroft BC  

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I grew up on a sheep farm and couldn’t wait to hit the road, make mistakes and writing songs about them, which turned into four independent records and international touring with the likes of Jane Siberry, Barney Bentall and my own band the Wild Rose Hippies. 

Website: lesliealexander.com 

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Bruce, Joni, Bob, Wilco, Ray LaMontagne, Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Lynn Miles, Corb Lund 

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally? 

Born to Run 

3.  How would you describe your perfect day? 

Friends, food, sun, music, and no agenda. 

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you? 

My endless supply of fodder for speculation and gossip. 

5.  What is your most valued material possession? 

My guitar, followed closely by my computer. My phone doesn’t rate! 

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet? 

Nobody, unless they were going to hurt me. 

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?  

Carthew Ridge, Waterton Park, AB 

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future? 

Play big shows 

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years? 

In a cabin by a creek unless I’m on the road playing big shows.

Name: Jeremy Breaks

Birthplace: Prince George, BC Canada

Currently residing: Vancouver, BC

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I was born into a musical family and had a father that built a shack dedicated to playing music in our back yard, he later opened a music store in Prince George and I worked and networked out of there for 5 years while I was still playing Disco Punk music, but eventually decided that I had out grown my home town and needed to move to Vancouver to pursue music further and distance myself from “bad influences”, after tree planting for 1 season I developed a love for roots/rock bluegrass and folk music and picked up the banjo which redirected me musically, also I met Scott Perrie “the other half of Redgy Blackout” and have been writing and playing music with him for 6 years now and we have made 1 record and 3 EP’s.

Website: redgyblackout.com

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Ryan Adams, Crooked Still, The Avett Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Devotchka, The Beatles, Pink Floyd…I will stop now

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

The score in the movie “Gladiator” always makes me cry

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

Finishing a song that your really happy with and then going for a swim in a Kootenay Lake with my lovely…

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Apparently I am a very sweet man…lol

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

Probably my 80’s Squier tele that my dad gave me and my cat “Doug”

6.  Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

David Suzuki

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Sitting on a beach on the Oregon coast.

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Travelling, All over………

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Healthy and living in a small town in the Kootenay’s writing music professionally and raising a family;)

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