History Lesson

Check out the BBC documentary, "Folk America" on YouTube. It's all there! This clip shows the the origins of "song-catchers" and folklorists searching the mountain south for examples of "local color" that they could sell to early record labels.



Alan Lomax narrates a history of Appalachian music:


Download a compilation of Smoky Mountain Ballads

Middle Brother

A collaboration between members of Dawes, Deer Tick, and Delta Spirit. Middle Brother, with a little help from Jonny Corndawg, crank out great songs with catchy melodies and feel-good authenticity.

From the Band's website:
In a time when synthesizers and laptops are taking over stages, Goldsmith, McCauley and Vasquez are leading the pack of young rock songwriters who strive to carry on the tradition of figures such as Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty.



Check out a free download of their Daytrotter Session

Jonny Corndawg

Jonny "Corndawg" Fritz might just be the freshest, most fun-loving, and genuinely funny singer/song-writer I've heard in a long time. A central Virginia native, Corndawg offers a 21st century hybrid of Porter Wagoner, Tom T. Hall, Billy Joe Shaver, and Steve Goodman; but with enough hipster flair to satisfy even the coolest bran in Brooklyn rollin' on his fixie for a sixer of PBR. Corndawg's the real deal.

"Ain't It Your Birthday?"



"When a Ford Man Turns to Chevy" (from a few years back)



"Keep Your Body Happy Through Exercise"
(oh yea, Corndawg's also a marathon runner!)



Official Website - TeamCorndawg

Check out this story in American Songwriter.