16 years ago today: Flatpicking Guitar Magazine‘s all-woman feature. Kudos to editor Dan Miller for starting the conversation about women in flatpicking. This issue brought many of us together, and I’ve enjoyed connecting with many of these talented ladies across the country. I’m told that it was the first FGM issue to sell out in print. Any one of these women deserved to be pictured on the cover, and now there are many more names to add to the list. Rock on, ladies.

We haven’t been able to gather at festivals this summer, but I hope you are experiencing music in other ways that bring peace and joy. And most importantly, I hope you are safe and healthy. This is my virtual set for Blackberry Jam 2020, which didn’t happen physically this year.

It was a crazy week, but it was a good week. Leadership Bluegrass 2020 will always be remembered as the week of the tornado. We East Nashvillians came together to support one another, and we in bluegrass came together for a conference of the highest caliber at the boardroom of BMI in Music Row. I am grateful to be part of these two communities; they are both strong and made up the finest people I’ve ever met.

I’m thrilled to release this fun new video! Click HERE to watch! Shot in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, ‘Clifftop’ evokes the story of the new friendship between a guitar-picking farmhand, played by mw, and a traveling fiddler who is making his way to a music festival in West Virginia. Actor/fiddler Jesse Wells expresses the spirit of the rambling mountain musician, while videographers Dillon Bock and Alison Goedde capture the essence of my tune and my love for playing music with newfound friends, while journeying to music festivals.

Here’s the Podcast! I’m still floored that I was asked to represent Colorado in the ambitious “50 Women, 50 States” project that the lovely women of Beautifully Equipped have been producing. These B.E. gals have impressive backgrounds and resumes, and their intuitive intelligence shines through in their questions and interview skills. They brought out stories I’ve never told before, because they wanted to zone in on that definitive moment of committing my life to music. Here, we explore my story with the goal of relating to anyone pursuing a passion. 

Thank you SPBGMA. It is an honor to be listed alongside men of great talent. Music has given me personal rewards this year, and I’m grateful every time I pick up my guitar.