Lexington, KY!
I’m bringing my band to the @greenlanternbarlex on August 2nd! We’ll be celebrating the release of my third record, “There’s So Many Ways to Live a Life,” available on digital and vinyl on August 1st! This is my first time ever touring with a band and you won’t want to miss it.
The charming, mighty-voiced @blakeodhester will be joining the festivities, as well as the bewitching @hanniesturg . It’s going to be a beautiful night. We’ll see you there!
#ohiomusic #kentuckymusic #songwriter #touringartist #livemusic #folk #altcountry #countrymusic
The flowers are blooming, birds are singing, sun is shining, and the Eastern Redbuds are in bloom on our little piece of paradise so I decided to get outside and sing a little Jubilee. It wouldn’t be a banjo if it was perfectly in tune.
Fool’s Hope the final song on the Fool’s Hope EP and the entire Fool’s Hope EP is out now!
Fool’s Hope is a song I wrote years ago as the result of watching a Wendell Berry interview that I can no longer seem to find. From the best of memory which is poor these days, Wendell is asked do you have hope when you look at the current state of the world or hope that things will get better. Wendell responds along the lines of saying that looking around and considering the facts he doesn’t have much hope, but not having hope is not an option. He says he finds hope in the small, simple things like the land beneath his feet, the people, creatures and land that make up communities. He says I do have hope that the world can turn from its path towards destruction even if it is a fool’s hope.
When I think of one word that is the undercurrent of all the songs that make up this EP it would have to be hope. Hope of one day waking with an evergreen state of mind. Hope of being the most loving, kind, empathetic, and peaceful version of yourself that is possible. Hope of shedding all hate, doubt, and burdens that hinder us from lifting others up. Hope is at the heart of this EP, even if it is a fool’s hope but hope all the same. I’m very happy with the way this EP turned out. It sounds like me, nothing more nothing less, for better or worse.
I’m incredibly thankful that I got to make this EP with some of my best friends, and grateful that they contributed their amazing talent. I love you all big time. ❤️
Producer: Stoll Vaughn
Drums: Jacob Warren
Bass: Jacob Gahn
Pedal Steel: Tim Lancaster
Vocals: Emma Whitt
Piano: Lee Carroll
Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Vocals: Blake Hester
Find your hope, then, on the ground under your feet.
Your hope of Heaven, let it rest on the ground underfoot.
The world is no better than its places. Its places at last are no better than their people while their people continue in them.
When the people make dark the light within them, the world darkens.
-Wendell Berry
Morning Bugle by John Hartford. This version is from the Steam Powered Aereo-Takes record.
No musical artist has inspired me more than John Hartford. His ability to write deeply poignant to slapstick silly songs has often left me in awe and has felt like a great way to approach life. His music takes me to times gone by, places I’ve never been, and makes me feel like I’m living a way of life that will never come around again.
I hope that when I’m gone John and I can ride on a steamboat in that big river in the sky and talk about the “goodle days”.
#johnhartford
Feed My Heart is out now!
This song is very dear to me with some of my favorite lyrics I have ever put to paper. It’s a song of hope and gratitude. A hymn for a time filled with worry and woe that hopefully offers some peace.
Thanks to my wonderful and talented friends who contributed to this track. I love you turkeys. ❤️
Producer: Stoll Vaughn
Bass: Jacob Gahn
Drums: Jacob Warren
Pedal Steel: Tim Lancaster
Piano: Lee Carroll
Vocals: Emma Whitt
Vocals & Guitar: Blake Hester
Be kind ❤️
Incredibly excited to share the stage with my good buddies @rockmehamadeus and @rrranderrr at the always wonderful @greenlanternbarlex on February 28th. Don’t miss out on this one turkeys! 🦃 ❤️
In the Meadow is out now!
In the Meadow when played live with a full band has an undeniable groove and momentum behind it. However, when it came to recording the song, a stripped back, vulnerable version that highlighted the song itself is what resonated and felt right.
@honky_tonky_donkey and I sat across from each other, playing the song together live and all the way through, capturing a moment in time between friends making music together that I’m proud to share.
Producer: Stoll Vaughn
Pedal Steel: Tim Lancaster
Acoustic guitar, Vocals: Blake Hester
Spread your love and kindness all. ❤️
Baby Blue is out now!
A huge thanks to my wonderful and talented friends that contributed to this track. ❤️
Producer: Stoll Vaughan
Bass: Jacob Gahn
Drums: Jacob Warren
Pedal Steel: Tim Lancaster
Vocals: Emma Whitt
Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitar: Blake Hester
Blessings and love to you all.
They say a banjo player spends half of the time tuning a banjo and the other half playing out of tune. This is my song Baby Blue that I will be releasing soon. Here is a clawhammer version, mistakes and all that sounds nothing like the recorded version. Please enjoy and love each other. ❤️
