Laurie Lewis' Bluegrass Love Letter to California, ep. 337

About this episode

Laurie Lewis discusses her new album 'Oh California!' and her experiences in the bluegrass music scene.

A foundational participant in the '70s Bay Area bluegrass scene, Laurie Lewis knows the power of collaboration. She's been a part of an ensemble in recent years that's called "Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands" with Laurie on fiddle, guitar, and vocals, Brandon Godman on fiddle, George Guthrie on banjo, and Hasee Ciaccio on bass. That group plays a huge part in her new album, 'Oh California!,' a collection of songs that explore our own places in the natural world and in each other’s hearts. It also serves as a love letter to her home state. One standout track, the traditional "Fair and Tender Ladies," is a duet with Ciaccio, which brings the song's cautionary tale to life. In our Basic Folk conversation, Laurie talks about what it's been like to learn traditional songs before actually catching their meaning, long after figuring out the tune. Lewis emphasizes the communal and collaborative nature that defines her musicianship. She recounts her early exposure to music played socially when her father and his friends gathered at their home to play classical music when she was young. She credits that experience with solidifying her decision to learn to play, so she could have as much fun…

People in this episode

Guest: Laurie Lewis

Topics covered

• bluegrass
• collaboration
• music
• nature
• personal journey

Keywords

• bluegrass
• collaboration
• music
• nature
• California
• traditional songs
• personal journey

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Oh California!, Fair and Tender Ladies

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