Spokane Public Radio would like to thank everyone involved with the 2023 KPBX Fall Folk Festival Studio Broadcast.
Thanks to the performers, Arvid Lundin and Deep Roots, Betsy Rogue, Brittany Jean, Dry & Dusty Country, Ernie Verdugo, High Valley Mountain Boys, and The Radio Helpers.
Additional thanks to event Donors – Northern Quest Resort & Casino and the Spokane Folklore Society.
Thanks to the Fall Folk Festival and Sylvia Gobel, and broadcast hosts Steve Jackson and E.J. Iannelli.
Finally, thanks to Spokane Public Radio volunteers John Vlahovich, Verne Windham, Martha Severn and Kevin Jones
Find out more about the Fall Folk Festival at spokanefolkfestival.org.
About the Performers
Brittany Jean: Brittany Jean is a folk singer/songwriter currently living in a little apple town in North Central Washington, and her style is rooted in the folk and Americana music she has loved all her life. During the past few years, her performances have ventured farther and farther from home (including playing the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, opening for Three Dog Night’s sold out concert in New York City, performing at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas… to name a few adventures!). Brittany has released five studio albums and one EP—all recorded in Music City. Her Lightfoot EP was released Summer 2023, and this project is her “thank you” to an all-time favorite songwriter. Brittany’s sixth album (Colors & Covers) will be released Fall 2023.
Arvid Lundin and Deep Roots: With fast fiddling, rollicking rhythms and beautiful ballads, Deep Roots plays a high energy mix of instrumental music and songs drawn from traditional and contemporary sources. You’ll hear Celtic, Canadian, Scandinavian and American roots music that will have your toes tapping and your heart soaring, as well as some tunes from other genres. They bring a show that has something for everyone! Arvid Lundin leads the band with his superb fiddling style, husband and wife team, Dave and Char Beach add depth and energy to the mix with hard-driving guitar, melodic, fast-moving mandolin, and guitar, harp and bodhran.
Radio Helpers: The Radio Helpers are a sister duo from Spokane. The girls started playing instruments at age four and now play together at ages 12 and 14. They also play with their parents in a family band. The band’s musical focus is on folk songs and Americana, often covering and adapting tunes from local musicians. The kids play fiddle, violin, mandolin, accordion and washboard.
One of the distinct sounds of the group is their harmonies. The sisters sing together all the time, many times practicing harmony when doing other things, like board games or just hanging out. It’s become a cherished sound around their house and on stage when they perform.
High Valley Mountain Boys: High Valley Mountain Boys is a group consisting of whoever is available from a jam that started back at VFW Post 1435 with Frank Wagner. That jam moved to the Tamarack and several other places. Now they get together every other Monday at various locations. HVMB play a variety of songs based mostly on the influences mentioned below.
Group members Sam Saxton, Daniel Burdett, Shaun Thompson Duffy, and Cherie Lyman will bring dobro, guitar, banjo, bass, and fiddle to this year's FFF broadcast.
Ernie Verdugo: At age 13, Ernie's first guitar was retrieved from a trash can. At the same time the Ed Sullivan Show featured a Spanish guitarist by the name of Manitas de Plata (Hands of Silver). His passion was lit and for the next 53 years, he's tried to emulate the master. Still trying.
Dry and Dusty Country: Dry and Dusty Country is an oldtime and country family band from Spokane, WA. Ruthie and Sally Jablonsky grew up playing music with their parents, hiking around in the desert singing cowboy songs, and learning the old tunes from their extended family at fiddle festivals. The sisters are joined by Ru's husband Ben Feldman, a guitar noodler/pedal steel wiz kid from California.
Betsy Rogue: Spokane trio Betsy Rogue is a cool mom mixtape of pop and folk-genre-influenced original songs and eclectic covers. Made up of Spokane teachers Liz Rognes, Heather Montgomery, and Jerilynn Harris, their sound ranges from late 90’s Lilith Fair era to indie bluegrass to millennial chamber pop, marked by their three-part vocal harmonies, instrumental versatility and string arrangements.