Banjo Pickin’ Gals

On August 10, Paula Bradley and Marylou Ferrante, going by the name Banjo Blue, will showcase the music of groundbreaking female banjo players from the 1920-1940’s along with their stories, songs and struggles. Some known, some unknown, these women are a seminal part of America’s rich musical history. This is an entertaining, empowering, educational and fun-filled program for the whole family.

PAULA BRADLEY: A West Virginia-born multi-instrumentalist (banjo, guitar, banjo-uke, harmonica and piano), Paula has been involved in roots music for many years. Known for her strong, spirited vocals as well as her clogging, she has toured (on banjo) with old-time darlings “Uncle Earl”; with old-time powerhouse Bruce Molsky (on guitar and banjo uke); and recorded and toured with Tony Trischka and Bruce as part of the acoustic roots trio “Jawbone”. She was also a founding member of the acclaimed old-time trio “The Rhythm Rats” as well as the popular New England honky tonk combo “Girl Howdy.” For the last 18 years, she performed with her late husband, Bill Dillof, in the old-time duet “Moonshine Holler” as well as their trio with VT fiddler Jim Burns, “Run Mountain. She currently leads her own juke joint honkytonk band “Miss Paula & The Twangbusters” (piano and lead vocals) in addition to playing vintage country with Berkshire-based “The Spurs USA.”

MARYLOU FERRANTE is an multi-instrumentalist who sings & performs old blues, old time, country & folk music on guitar, mandolin, dulcimer & banjo. Marylou’s performances are filled with storytelling & history; she covers solo blues artists from the delta to east coast piedmont style players such as Charlie Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson as well as Memphis Minnie, Tampa Red and mandolin greats like Charlie McCoy & Yank Rachell as well as old time & country artist like The Carter Family, Cousin Emmy, Elizabeth Cotten. Her numerous performances include opening for Maria Muldaur. Her passionate expression of these old songs comes from a love of the music and the arrangements themselves, as well as what she says is an appreciation for “the history of these folks and the difficult circumstances they endured.”

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Tyringham Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.