Catherine the Great is a project by Catherine Backus that primarily exists as a repository for her feelings. Her sad songs have drawn numerous accolades, including 1st place at the Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, 4th place at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase, and finalist in the Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. Over the course of her career, she’s shared stages with folks like Molly Tuttle, Kim Richey, Willie Watson, and Ben Sollee. She performs her song ...

Novembers theme is reflecting on the idea of home and how we connect to our communities. My guests include Doc McClintock, a trans woman folk singer songwriter from Roanoke, Virginia who’s music focuses on addiction loss and working class struggle, she’s joined by Alaina Crackoviack on fiddle. Her songwriting is deeply influenced by her experience living on the fringes of rural Appalachia with a focus on addiction, loss, queerness and working class struggle. She ignites a fusion of rowdy trad...

Chanell Burnette is a newly returning citizen to Roanoke after serving 19 years in an Appalachian Virginia prison. She is a mother to two, and a grandmother to three. She is an author and her mission is to bring awareness to the suffering endured behind bars in hopes that people will remember our shared humanity. This episode of Appalachian Vibes was recorded in front of a live audience at 3rd Street Coffee House in Roanoke, November 1 2025. You can learn more about Chanell at ht...

Doc McClintock is a folk singer-songwriter born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. Her songwriting is deeply influenced by her experience living on the fringes of rural Appalachia with a focus on addiction, loss, queerness and working class struggle. She ignites a fusion of rowdy traditional Appalachian string music and introspective folk. Novembers theme is reflecting on the idea of home and how we connect to our communities. This episode of Appalachian vibes was recorded in front of a ...

I’m thrilled to announce our first Appalachian Vibes Radio Show LIVE episode! Recorded and filmed October 4, 2025 at 3rd Street Coffee in Roanoke, Virginia, this episode of Appalachian Vibes Radio Show features dark tales and murder ballads on MURDER in the MOUNTAINS! Amelia Empson opened the evening with her mellifluous voice, delivering traditional murder ballads and songs that reflected her kinship with nature. Adria Accomando, author of Violets Grey, followed with her story The Sigh...

Elsa Howell Trio is a roots and Appalachian family band comprised of Elsa Howell (daughter, song-writer, vocalist and guitarist) Chris Howell (Mom and upright bass player) and Isak Howell (Dad who plays a myriad of instruments, but mainly banjo) from Roanoke, Virginia. Our interview and their performance was recorded in front of a live audience October 4 2025 at 3rd Street Coffee in Roanoke, Virginia. In this mini segment they perform the song "Dogs". Learn more about Elsa Howell: https...

Mysti Mayhem is a Durham, North Carolina blues singer-songwriter who was mentored by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley. Through loss, chronic pain, and resilience, Mysti has forged a soulful, healing sound that transforms every stage into a sanctuary. Learn more about Mysti: https://mystimayhem.com/tour-dates?calendar_page=2 Appalachian Vibes Radio Show from WNCW is listener nominated, you can nominate an artist by emailing Amanda at appalachianvibes@gmail.com. Appalachian Vibe...

Virginia Tech student and recovery advocate Meredith Lane joins me to share her project on incarceration and family connection in Appalachia, featuring conversations with Beckie Rose-Bowman (Calls From Home WMMT), artist/activist Dionte “Taye the Truth” Hall, writer/musician Chanell Burnette, and sociologist Dr. Heidi Williams. Together, their voices reveal resilience and healing across our region. Learn more about the guests: Meredith Lane; https://instillmindfulness.org/team/lane-me...

Addie Levy grew up bluegrass — picking mandolin and guitar alongside her musician dad in Radford, Virginia. Now based in Nashville, she’s a full-time touring artist, a powerhouse performer with The Brothers Comatose, and a rising voice in the next wave of Appalachian-rooted music. On this episode of the Appalachian Vibes Radio Show, Addie opens up about life on the road, being married to her high school sweetheart (also a musician), and the joy, grit, and determination it takes to chase your ...

Will Henson is a tangerine dream rock singer-songwriter and personal narrative non fiction author from Roanoke, VA. He shares his story, Night of the Comet and Dean Ween. If you have any stories about Dean Ween, please share with me at appalachianvibes@gmail.com Appalachian Vibes Radio Show from WNCW is listener nominated, you can nominate an artist by emailing Amanda at appalachianvibes@gmail.com. Appalachian Vibes Radio Show is created and produced by Amanda Bocchi, a neo soul singer-...

Father-son comedy rap duo, Knucklehedz, takes parenting and childhood teasing to a new level with their diss track, na-na-na-na-boo-boo. Stephen Davies (father) is a well known comedy rap artist making people laugh for decades with his band, Illbotz. Knuckleheadz's inception came about when Jackson Davies (son) went to an Illbotz practice and decided he wanted to join the band. Because Jackson was a mere 3 year old lad, Dad decided to start a rap duo for the two of them. In 2023 they had the ...

Corey Ward is an alternative pop singer-songwriter from the Durham-Raleigh area of North Carolina. A semi-finalist on Season 20 of The Voice, Corey is currently working on his debut full-length album in collaboration with Dan Pohl Studios in Walterboro, South Carolina. We discuss his single, "Wasn't Enough". Learn more at https://www.coreywardmusic.com/ Learn more about where "Wasn't Enough" was recorded: https://dpohl.webflow.io/ Appalachian Vibes Radio Show from WNCW is listener nomin...

Stephen Davies, AKA Stevie D, is an accomplished comedy rap artist and the creative force behind the duo Knuckleheadz, which he formed with his 3-year-old son, Jackson Davies. Professionally, Stephen has spent the past 25 years as an activities director and administrator in nursing homes. Throughout his career, he collected dozens of hilarious stories and recently released, "Granny’s Got a Fart Gun: Hilarious and Heartwarming Tales from the Nursing Home. Buy Granny's got a Fart Gun https...

My guest this week is Stephen Davies, a comedy rap artist best known for his work with the cult-favorite group Illbotz and his father-son duo, Knuckleheadz, alongside his son Jackson. Off the stage, Stephen has spent the last 25 years as an activities director and administrator in nursing homes. Drawing from decades of real-life experience, Stephen recently published Granny’s Got a Fart Gun—a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories from the nursing home. It’s a laugh-out-loud celebra...

Joshua Strachan is an experimental, industrial, atmospheric black metal, dark folk, and ambient songwriter and producer living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He grew up in Iowa and Virginia, moving to NYC in the early 2000's where he experimented in various genres for a decade. There he became involved with Wierd Records, a label and weekly party founded by artist Pieter Scoolwerth - which became instrumental in creating a new and vibrant global community built around obscure ...

Kaily Schenker (AKA Solar Hex) is a classically trained cellist, harmonium player, singer and self-proclaimed Appalachian dirt goblin. She lives in a 150-year-old brick hut in the middle of a cow field. We discuss how classical music education shaped her experimental cello folk compositions, how the Universe brought her a harmonium and her rendition of the ballad of the House Carpenter written in the mid 1600’s. You can learn more about Solar Hex at https://solarhex.bandcam...

Kaily Schenker, also known as Solar Hex is a classically trained cellist and a harmonium player. Hailing from Blacksburg, VA, she considers herself an experimental folk musician. "We discuss the song she performs called The House Carpenter. The earliest known version of the ballad "The House Carpenter" was entered in the Stationers' Register on February 21, 1657, making it a popular ballad from the mid-seventeenth century. The first recorded version of the song was made in America by t...

Appalachian Vibes Radio Show from WNCW is listener nominated, you can nominate an artist by emailing Amanda at appalachianvibes@gmail.com. Appalachian Vibes Radio Show is created and produced by Amanda Bocchi, a neo soul singer-songwriter, multi instrumentalist and journalist hailing from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.

Amelia Empson is an indie Americana and folk artist from Christiansburg, VA. She discusses the dangers of playing saw, and her album, Overalls and Lingerie. Learn more about Amelia at https://www.ameliaempson.com/ Appalachian Vibes Radio Show from WNCW is listener nominated, you can nominate an artist by emailing Amanda at appalachianvibes@gmail.com. Appalachian Vibes Radio Show is created and produced by Amanda Bocchi, a neo soul singer-songwriter, multi instrumentalist and jou...

Last weekend I traveled out to Natural Bridge, VA for MidMountain Fest, an event focused on reclaiming Appalachian murder ballads. I had the chance to catch up with Elsa Howell-a roots and old time inspired singer-songwriter from Roanoke, VA; and Amelia Empson, an indie Americana folk singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist. Learn more about Elsa Howell's debut EP, Eyes Wide on all streaming platforms. Amelia Empson shares the caveats of playing saw and her album, Overalls and Lin...