The Martha Bassett Show

Amythyst Kiah visited the show on September 1, 2018, along with Riley Baugus, Joe Thrift & Russell McCumber. We knew  Amythyst had a powerhouse voice, but we were still amazed to stand alongside her. Riley Baugus is a longtime fixture around these parts, but is also known for his work on the movie “Cold Mountain” and for his work with Willie Nelson. He also makes banjos, so with the inclusion of f...

The Martha Bassett Show welcomes John Howie Jr. and Sonny Miles to the Reeves Theater in Elkin, NC. John brought along some of his poignant and heartbreaking country songs, and Sonny got the house dancing with his signature soulful sound. Martha and the band jump in as usual, and Martha does a beautiful version of “Cry Me a River,” which features Rex McGee on fiddle. Rex also performs a piece from...

Accordionist and pianist Sam Reider brought his band, The Human Hands, from Brooklyn, NY, to the show for a high-energy, spirited evening. The iconic North Carolina singer-songwriter and poet Bruce Piephoff also joined the show, and Martha teamed up with Sam and his band on "Viente Anos" and "The Nearness of You."

The Martha Bassett Show welcomes pianist Jeff Little and singer-songwriter David Childers to the show. This was the first of our Streaming Series at the Reeves Theater, and due to Covid, we all had a great time getting back to some music-making with old and new friends. Jeff brought along his son Luke on mandolin, which was an extra treat, and Jeff joined Martha on a stellar version of her song “S...

We welcomed the iconic and mesmerizing alt-pop genius Jim White to the show. Jim has long been one of our favorite songwriters, and it was a thrill to get to make some music with him. Also, one of North Carolina’s finest young guitar players, Presley Barker, visited for the first time and brought the audience to their feet. Presley was 13 and has since become one of our regular guests. Martha also...

A night of classic blues and country! Ella Patrick, also known as Momma Molasses, visited from Johnson City, TN, and shared some of her classic country sounds. The music of North Carolina blues troubadour Jon Shain rounded out the night, and he also chatted with Martha about winning the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

Mollie is one of Martha's favorite singers, and she was absolutely thrilled to welcome her and her husband, Rich, on guitar. They are not only a charming husband-and-wife duo, but they also interpret the American folk songbook like no one else. Rex McGee also joined the show, bringing his trademark adventurous spirit on banjo and fiddle. Together, they played everything from Bach and murder ballad...

Here’s a very special episode featuring Martha singing some of her favorite holiday songs, including performances with some of the finest area ensembles and a guest appearance from the Dan River Girls.

Chance McCoy (Old Crow Medicine Show) shared some great new songs and filled us in on his recent work in film, both as an actor and composer. Matty Sheets hails from Greensboro and has been a pillar of the NC scene for years. He brought along Ben Singer and Laura Jane Vincent for the fun and also premiered a beautiful new song, “Hit the Road.”

The Martha Bassett Show welcomed Joe Topping from the UK. He was on the UK’s “The Voice” and is uniquely soulful. TMBS also welcomed troubadours, The Resonant Rogues, and the spectacular outfit Klezmer Local 42 from Athens, GA. As usual, Martha and the band hosted the entire evening!

The band Victoria Victoria, led by Tori Elliot, makes its first appearance on the show. Good friends Jonathan Byrd and Rex McGee also returned, and Rex brought along his sons, Gus and Harmon. Tori and her band play some of the great new songs from the recently released "To the Wayside." And her band backs up Jonathan on his song "Fog on the Mountain."

This one was a feel-good time! We had one of our funkiest friends, Colin Allured, on the show, and he was quick to point out, “It’s Party Time, Baby!”  We also welcomed the remarkable singer-songwriter Lyn Koonce from Greensboro, and she brought a whole batch of great new songs from her most recent record, “Begin Again.”

Enjoy a special episode featuring some wonderful North Carolina composers. We always have great performances that don’t make it to the radio, and these are just a few! Live from the beautiful Reeves Theater in downtown Elkin, NC.

Presley Barker returns to the Reeves Theater with his brother Luke, and we also welcome EmiSunshine to the show for the first time. These are two of the finest young musicians out there, and we were honored. Both have been working since the age of 9 and continue to explore new and exciting directions. Along with their great music, Martha and the band also do a fun version of the Merle Travis song,...

The Martha Bassett Show welcomes Zoe & Cloyd, Gaelynn Lea, and Rex McGee to the Reeves Theater in Elkin, NC! Zoe & Cloyd join us from Asheville, NC, along with Kevin Kehrbergh on the bass. NPR Tiny Desk winner Gaelynn Lea makes her first appearance on the show, and Rex McGee steps out with band member Fiona Burdette on the mandolin for a prodigious feature number.

We welcomed two of North Carolina’s finest bands, Violet Bell and Chatham Rabbits. This was a lovely evening of live music-making and conversation, recorded from the Reeves Theater in Elkin, NC. We enjoyed plenty of collaboration, touching on topics from mythical sea creatures to Brené Brown and the value of vulnerability.

Cellist and songwriter Ben Sollee stopped by the show in June of 2018 and shared some common stories with Martha about their Kentucky ties. They performed the Stephen Foster song “Hard Times” and the band joined Ben for a few songs. The gifted crossover classical guitarist Drake Duffer is also on the show for the first time. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts a...

We kicked off Season 2 with two of the finest purveyors of Scottish music you’ll set your ears on – Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas. They travel the world teaching and performing, so we were thrilled that they stopped in and visited us in Elkin. We also welcomed the singer-songwriter Bill West and the Dan River Girls to the show. The Dan River Girls have been long-time students of Alasdair and Nata...

This was Sam Baker's first visit to our show, and what a treat! All of the folks on this one have become fast friends of TMBS, and we always look forward to their return. Along with Sam’s gorgeous songwriting and delightful banter with Martha, Sarah Kate Morgan visits and is regarded as one of the finest dulcimer players anywhere, and is an equally gifted vocalist. Ben Singer also joins us and sha...