Niki Dakota

Sonos, the 6 member a cappella group stopped by the WYSO studio and performed a couple of songs from their upcoming holiday CD which is due to be released in early November. The group members include Christopher Given Harrison, Rachel Bearers, Ben McLain, Jessica Freedman, Katherine Ann Hoye, and Paul Peglar.

Local musicians Pam Baugham and Mike McDermott, who make up the Folk duo Sweet Betsy, visit WYSO for this installment of Excursions with Niki Dakota. The duo draws inspiration from classic folk music and largely sticks with the timeless style. However, the excellent musicianship of Pam and Mike in their songwriting and playing make Sweet Betsy simply wonderful to listen to. Performances include “Two for One” and “Last Thing”.

Grammy Award-winning banjo player Alison Brown sets aside some time for Excursions to discuss public radio and to play some new songs with her band, the Alison Brown Quartet.

Brown, who is also a Harvard graduate and a co-founder of the Nashville independent record label Compass Records, is known for her instrumental banjo songs, which stray from the typical bluegrass genre associated with the instrument.

Local group Sawgrass stops by WYSO to showcase their classic Bluegrass sound on Excursions with Niki Dakota.

Sawgrass formed in 2005 in the Dayton and has been performing all over the country since. In addition to touring, Sawgrass has been featured in the PBS documentary Music Farmers which was nationally broadcast. The group uses traditional instruments and vocal stylings, in addition to their excellent musicianship, to create high- energy Bluegrass that is fresh, yet classic. 

Local guitarist Chris Wright (of C.Wright’s Parlour Tricks) stops by Excursions to share his energetic, and standout, brand of instrumental rock.