More on Tab Spencer and hometown hero Matt Downer
I’d like to offer an addendum to last week’s feature on the new Tab Spencer EP. In mentioning the various contributing artists to what I still think is one of the best new releases of the year, I somehow failed to acknowledge the considerable mandolin talents of Ian Asmussen, whose smiling, bearded face can often be found behind the bar at Chattanooga Brewing Company.
Ian is a consummate mandolin picker who, though skilled at bluegrass, prefers the REM/Blind Melon application of the instrument and has sat in with such notables as Dan Pinson, the Gallaway Bros., Little Egypt, and Hap Henniger (not to mention his stint as an original member of Robosapien.) You can hear some of Ian’s latest and sweetest contributions on the aforementioned Tab Spencer project.
In other news, hometown hero Matt Downer of the Old Time Travelers will be making a special appearance at the upcoming Knoxville Stomp Festival of Lost Music. The event is from May 5th to May 8th celebrating the re-mastering and release of recently recovered recordings made at the St. James Hotel in 1929 and 1930 (dubbed The Knoxville Sessions.)
Downer will be performing a solo, old time set, and offering a presentation on the Gid Tanner film that had sat silent for over 50 years until Matt synched it up with a separate audio source (it is the only known footage of Tanner performing.) Best of luck to Matt and for more info on the festival, visit knoxstomp.com