Studio B

Singer/songwriter/guitarist/former violinist Annie Lynch first met and formed The Beekeepers while at the Berklee College of Music around 2006, and soon began drawing a devoted following around Boston.  Their recent album My Bonneville is a tasteful blend of Americana and indie-rock.  They play Asheville Saturday night.  “Lynch’s understated vocals and songwriting are reminiscent of Jolie Holland or the Be Good Tanyas…” -The Boston Globe.

We are excited to welcome one of our favorite bands, Blue Highway, back to Studio B for a great hour of live bluegrass.  Since they first graced a stage on New Year's Eve 1994, these same five guys - Tim Stafford, Rob Ickes, Shawn Lane, Wayne Taylor, and Jason Burleson - have been at the top of their game.  Tune in for a great session with Dennis Jones before they head to concerts in Asheville Friday night and Knoxville Saturday night.  

The Howlin' Brothers come to us from Ithaca, NY by way of Nashville, TN (on their way to shows in Charlotte, Greenville, and Asheville this weekend.)  The trio plays a mashup of bluegrass, blues, a touch of jazz, and old-time vaudeville on a variety of stringband instruments plus harmonica.  Warren Haynes takes part in their new release Howl, which was produced by Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs. 

Studio B with Mill Billy Blues on April 4, 2013.

Mill Billy Blues in Studio B on April 4, 2013.

Mill Billy Blues visit Studio B on April 4, 2013.

Scotty Robertson's interview with Mill Billy Blues in Studio B on April 4, 2013.

Is there a musician that captures the conscience of early-21st Century America better than James McMurtry?  We at WNCW are skeptical there could be.  With his hard-hitting arsenal of biting, tell-it-like-it-is prose, he is one of our most requested songwriters.  As another of our favorites, Drive-By Trucker Patterson Hood says, “McMurtry might be the best topical writer performing right now."  We welcome him back to Studio B before his Tuesday night Asheville show.

"Food and music bring people together" is the motto of Frank Solivan.  We like the way this guy thinks!  And picks... He and his DC/VA band Dirty Kitchen serve up a live set of bluegrass and more before heading to East TN for shows in Knoxville and Johnson City.  Their new release On the Edge (Compass Records) is getting strong reviews, and they were recently nominated for an IBMA Emerging Artist award.  Solivan is also known for his cooking classes, and his caprese salad in particular.  What's he bringing to Studio B?  Tune in...

The April Sessions is a quartet of familiar Asheville musicians, essentially a jazz piano trio with Dobro.  Billy Cardine, Chris Rosser, Zack Page and River Guerguerian came together for a benefit concert a couple years ago (The Odyssey Community School in Asheville), and were subsequently inspired to record an album that April that was, according to their liner notes, "imaginative, live, and without the use of a click track."  No question they'll feel right at home during their live session in Studio B!  Their CD release show is Saturday night at The Altamont.