Becky Buller has known almost unparalleled success as a musician for decades. Ten time IBMA award winner, member of the ground breaking First Ladies of Bluegrass, solo artist and bandleader, she nevertheless felt undeserving and anxious. Her mental health hit a major setback during the pandemic when she lost half her band and all her livelihood. She is not alone in this circumstance as a majority of independent musicians struggled with their mental health during this trying time. Not everyone turned this tumult into art however. With the help of a Freshgrass Commission, Becky and her band recorded “Jubilee” at North Adams’ Studio 9 last year.

The album is a song cycle of her journey through this crisis; the ups and downs of her depression are chronicled throughout “Jubilee”. It is an astounding piece of work, lyrically and instrumentally. It’s a brave and honest look at this artist in crisis; along with her hopeful prayerful recovery.

The segment includes the entire “Jubilee” cycle interspersed with Becky’s honest assesment of the songs on this latest Dark Shadows Recording. Highly recommended.

Session Americana has long been a loose collective of Boston-area players collaborating; the Anti-band philosophy serving them well. Nine (and soon to be 10) albums with world-wide tours belie the concept that they’ve avoided all the industry “shoulds” and gone with the “joy of the music” as the north star. The latest retrospective, “The Rattle and the Clatter”, is great place to start if you missed the early years in small Cambridge clubs crowded at tables with notable guests and buzz.

The band makes a New England run including the newly renovated Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Ma on 5/23. Billy Beard, drummer and co-founder of Session Americana, joins Eleanor Buckland in a conversation about the band’s origins and development and their twenty years on the road.

Give the segment a listen. It includes “Pack Up the Circus”, “Merrimac County” from Rattle as well as Eleanor’s “You Don’t Have to Know”.

Lisa Bastoni has just released a gem of an album, “On the Water”. She joined me in-studio with Sean Staples who produced the album and plays multiple instruments throughout. With Sean on mandolin and Lisa with her guitar; they charmed the listening audience with their sincerity, modesty, and a batch of new songs.! They begin with a live version of the album opener, “Right Side of the River”. Studio cuts of “Waxwing” and “Let’s Look at Houses” follow emphasizing the variety of tone and subject matter. “Waxwing’ was the result of a songwriting prompt while the fun “Houses” the result of a co-write with Willi Carlisle. We listened to a Sean Staples co-write with Mark Erelli called “Blacktop Parade” next along with a discussion of the role of songwriter retreats to the creative process. Lisa and Sean performed “I Wish It Would Last” and “Cheap Wine” live from “On the Water”. We finished with “Bluebonnets” from the studio version.

Lisa and Sean will perform a CD release show at the Parlor Room on Sunday 4/21. ParlorRoom.org for info

Christa Joy & the Honey Bees return to Northampton’s Parlor room on Feb 24. I got an amazing preview of Christa and Lisa Marie with four lovely songs in-studio along with four more from previous recordings. We began with the duo singing “Time and Luck”, followed by a new song from an upcoming EP called “Stars”, Throughout the segment, I asked about Christa’s musical journey, her songwriting process and her hectic schedule with three youngsters at home all the while teaching kindergarten! We chatted about the Honey Bees including Lisa Marie Ellingsen on guitar, Matt Madeiros on bass, Michael Stephens on dobro, Tim Bowles on pedal steel and Brian Marchese on drums.

There are two new releases in the works. One is a solo-centric folkier Ep while a full band release with the Honey Bees is scheduled sometime Summer 2024 after the release of a handful of singles. All the new material will be on display at Northampton’s Parlor Room on Feb 24th.

We heard two more live cuts, “On the Shunpike” and “Don’t Write Me off” as well as “She’s Enough”, “You’re Not There” and “Honey Bee” from the most recent album, “Get On, Heart”.

A lovely set of songs from a masterful songwriter with heart. Grit and honey.

Appalachian Still will perform Friday night 2/16 at Northampton’s Parlor Room which in many ways has become the band’s home. Jared Libby, as sound engineer, is a staple of the venue over many years. Members of the band routinely show up for concerts in the area as friends and music enthusiasts. Friday night will be their night to be the focus. NineVoltHeart got a fabulous preview of that when three members of the band joined me in-studio; Jared Libby on guitar and vocals, Andrew Woodland on banjo and vocals along with Derrick Bove on bass and vocals.

The band opened our segment with their version of Steve Earle’s “Hillbilly Highway” live in NineVoltHeart studio. Throughout the segment we played from Appalachian Still’s records, “Feelin’ Alive” and “Live From the Parlor Room” to augment the live cuts. The band gave us their cover of The Devil Makes Three’s “Old #7”, “Hangman’s Reel” along with originals “Straight On to Morning”, fiddle bonanza “Cross Bow” , “Ain’t No Use in Trying Anymore” and we finished with their take on “I’m Coming Back, Just Don’t Know When”.

Throughout our hour segment, the band chats about their musical journey, their creative process, and their dislike for social media /website updates! Since 2005, Appalachian Still has been entertaining audiences which is their very favorite part of the experience. It will be yours too. See you on Masonic Street Friday night.

Abbie Gardner is an amazing resonator guitarist and singer, formerly of the excellent Americana trio Red Molly. She’ll be appearing at the Parlor Room Sat 2/10 for a solo show as well as a songwriting workshop prior. We began our segment with “Down the Mountain” from her latest release, “Dobrosinger”.

We began by discussing her early musical journey with classical flute while her Dad played jazz piano at home. Early musical direction came there at home with her continuing through high school band on flute. She also attended an early bluegrass festival which opened her ears to new possibilities. After recording an album of jazz standards with her Dad on piano, she sought out classes with mentors such as Sally VanMeter and Rob Ickes on this new instrument, the resonator guitar (sometimes referred to by a brand name, dobro). Songwriting and collaboration followed eventually leading to teaming up with talented singers and pickers Laurie MacAllister and Carolann Solebello (eventually Molly Venter)forming Red Molly.

Our conversation covers Abbie’s Patreon community, her songwriting workshops and classes (both online and in summer camps). We talk about collaborating with Tom Rush on his latest album and some of her favorite resonator guitarists she’s worked with. We finish the segment with a batch of songs from Abbie’s “Dobrosinger” and her work with Red Molly. “Only All the Time” from Abbie and “Do I ever Cross Your Mind” from Red Molly. We finish with “Three Quarter Time” from Abbie and Red Molly’s “She’s Got You”.

Check out the segment above for audio but consider joining me at Northampton, Massachusetts’ Parlor Room on 2/10 for Abbie’s amazing solo show.

Ben Wright, founding member of Chicago based bluegrass band, Henhouse Prowlers, joined me on NineVoltHeart. We talked about the history of bluegrass in the Chicago area, his first banjo purchase, his current band, and their local appearance at Northampton’s Parlor Room on Dec 16.

The band is committed to a global approach to spreading the bluegrass message; having toured extensively world-wide, initially as part of the State Department program but continued exploring cultural diplomacy as a band. Congo, Liberia, Niger began the journey but Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia have been destinations. The band will be heading a workshop called “Music as Diplomacy; Cultural Ambassadorship Around The World and At Home”. This workshop will precede the concert on Saturday.

The band’s sound is traditional but their songs reveal a broader more progressive message. Songs about world politics and gun violence sit side by side with tunes from the road warrior experience. They have recently signed with Tn.-based Dark Shadows Recording and have released an excellent album called “Lead and Iron”. Our segment began with “Subscription To Loneliness” and ends with Ben Wright’s composition, “Forgotten Gravestones”. We add the title cut ,”Lead and Iron” to the encore part of the segment.

Ticket info at Parlor Room.org

Tom Rush has been performing for over sixty years and is vibrant as ever. He’s got a new album of original songs and his tour takes him to the Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity on December 3. Our conversations spans the decades including Tom’s humorous stories about his TWO “first gigs” back in 1961. Topics include his recollections of the early 60’s coffeehouse scene in New England, his first recording, done live at one of those venues; Boston’s Unicorn Club. We chat about the changing role of songwriting during this transition from Brill Building/NYC songwriting teams to the singer-songwriter era. Tom denies “ushering in this songwriter era” that Rolling Stone magazine credits him with; rather, he was just trying to acquire material for an overdue recording contact commitment. A true storyteller, Rush gives us a glimpse int the early contacts with Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Jackson Brown.

Tom Rush kept in touch with his audience in a pandemic live stream series called “Rockport Sundays” with fifteen minute segments of stories and song. It’s still ongoing and available by subscription at TomRush.com. We talk about his original songs including his first original song to be recorded by numerous acts called “No Regrets”. We finish our conversation with Tom’s recollection of the legendary “Festival Express” trans-Canadian railway concert run with the stars of the day including Janis Joplin, The Band, the Grateful Dead and more. Great stories throughout the segment as well as songs! We open with “Rockport Sundays” “Lost My Drivin’ Wheel” “The Circle Game”, “No Regrets” and “The Urge For Going”.

I thank this legendary folksinger and storyteller for his career and his generosity of time on NineVoltHeart.

Maya DeVitry joined me on NineVoltHeart today. Rarely have I had a more insightful and self-aware guest. Thoughtful and in-depth answers with sincerity apparent throughout. I recommend giving this chat a listen. We open with a pair of songs “Dream in Blue” from 2012’s Stray Birds and a new song “Stacy, In Her Wedding Gown” from the latest “Infinite”. Our conversation covers her recovering her mojo in live performance during this past year or two; her co-writing with local Nashville musicians, and more. We hear “Infinite”, the title cut as well as a version of her song “Nothing Else Matters” sung by Lindsay Lou. The segment finishes up with a new song, “Are You Happy” and “Best Medicine” from the Stray Birds’ catalog. November 15 at Northampton’s Parlor Room, 11/16 Exeter NH Word Barn, 11/17 Maine Craft Distillery and 11/18 Acousticool House concert in Bristol Ct.