Wispy Mop Music Acoustic Radio Podcast

John DuRant Jr - Renaissance Fair Veteran... Maryland to Ireland & Beyond

John DuRant Jr, son of John DuRant (the Troubadour), grew up playing guitar and saxophone.  He describes his musical upbringing, performing Jazz with Howard Burns and performing in Ireland, plus recording his wonderful CD 'Elevation Road'.

Mark McKay - National Performing Songwriter Talks Songwriting, Performing & Family

Mark McKay is a nationally ranked performing singer-songwriter who juggles his life between New York City and Frederick MD.  He discusses balancing live performing, songwriting, family and his day job that is based in NYC.  His songs have been compared to Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen.

Safe Harbor - Classical Music Mixed With Southern Rock Equals 'Safe Harbor'

Popular performing duo Safe Harbor is a marriage of two talented people brought together by a Gibson Les Paul guitar and a love of music.

Dr Doug Smith - Studio Recording Science, Vintage SONY Mics & Analog vs Digital

Dr Doug Smith, owner of Shab Row Recording Studio in Frederick MD, enjoys recording live bands and using vintage microphones.  He explains the transition from analog to digital recording and what the difference is.  His history of early 1970's recording using simple equipment transitioned into both an undergraduate and doctoral degree in Physics, then a career at NIST.  Great info for the audiophile and those of us fairly ignorant of the technical aspects of recording.

Ken Demith - Roy Orbison, Zyde-Billy and DIY Recording

Ken Demith is an interesting fellow.  A graphic artist by trade, but a songwriter at heart.  He discusses growing up in Nashville, rubbing shoulders with Reba McEntire and Roy Orbison, touring in a Zyde-Billy band, songwriting and recording from a distance.

Michelle Swan - Songwriting, Clarinet and the Love of Performing

Northern Virginia based singer-songwriter Michelle Swan talks about playing her Dad's giant guitar when she was five, her first guitar (a Seagull), her new Gibson J45, songwriting and her love of the clarinet and live performing.

Sammie J - From Rock School to Chords of Courage to Recording In The Basement

Middletown MD based singer-songwriter Sammie J burst onto the local acoustic music scene as winner of the Chords of Courage songwriting competition, but she has been singing since a young age.  Listen to her talk about her musical journey, how she acquires guitars and being her own sound engineer in her basement studio.

Les Hatley - Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame Member & "WAMMIE" Winner

Les Hatley is a member of the Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame, he's a "WAMMIE" award winner, and has a rich musical history, starting in 1964 with his first guitar lesson. His second solo CD 'Surge' stayed on the Americana National Chart for almost all of 2013.  His third CD 'Chocolate' also placed on the Americana National Chart.  He has opened for Roberta Flack, Gary U.S. Bonds, Steppenwolf and more.  His songs have been included on television soundtracks for the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, MTV and The Learning Channel.

 

Todd C Walker -Songs from his 2006 'Stories To Be Told' CD

Indulge the host (Todd C Walker) as he introduces songs from his unreleased 2006 CD 'Stories To Be Told'.

 

Michael Kent O'Brien - Harpsichords to Harp Guitars... From The Farm to Vienna, to the Smithsonian and Horseshoes

Virginia based luthier Michael Kent O'Brien is a fascinating man.  Listen to him discuss how he transitioned from his childhood on the farm to Vienna, Austria, back to the DC area, the Smithsonian, to horses and horseshoes and finally to his workshop where he builds artisan guitars.