Miles of Music TeaM
Here are some of the artists who give their time and talents to Miles of Music throughout the year.
Kristin Andreassen has songwriting credits on two albums with 2024 GRAMMY nominations – Mighty Poplar’s self-titled debut (up for Best Bluegrass Album) and Andrew & Polly’s Ahhhh! (Kristin co-wrote the title track on this candidate for Best Children’s Album). Her own most recent release was The Bright Siders’ A Mind of Your Own (Smithsonian Folkways), which is for kids, about emotions, and was created and co-produced with psychiatrist Dr. Kari Groff and Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers). Chosen as one of 2020’s top three children’s releases by the American Library Association, this album followed up on Kristin’s first #1 kids’ radio hit – a song called “Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color for Your Eyes.” In the world of “grown-up music”, Kristin has toured and recorded with the stringband Uncle Earl, the vocal trio Sometymes Why, the percussive dance company Footworks (as a clogger), and with NYC’s anti-folk superhero Jeffrey Lewis. She’s had the honor of recording with producers John Paul Jones, Dirk Powell, Mark Schatz, José Ayerve, Robin MacMillan, and Shane Leonard (coming soon, I promise!). One favorite MoM-inspired collaboration is this video — created by Anna Roberts-Gevalt — which uses shadow puppets and body percussion to illustrate “How the Water Walks.” Kristin studied community development at Montreal’s McGill University and in rural Canada, and she uses those skills and then some as she attempts — every day -– to develop a more inclusive and empowering musical community here. She lives in Nashville.
Lauren Balthrop is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter born and raised in Alabama where her family gatherings always included sing-alongs of the Everly Brothers, the Andrew Sisters, the Louvin Brothers, and the Beatles. After 10 years making her way in NYC, she heard the siren call of Nashville where she now calls home. Lauren has released 2 albums under own name and is working on her 3rd full length. She is also the director of the Nashville branch of Blue Balloon Songwriting School, the NYC originated music school that teaches kids and adults instrument instruction through songwriting. Her big folk-rock band and "small town" with her brother called Balthrop, Alabama toured all across the states to a cultish following. Her 60's inspired girl group, The Bandana Splits, released two records with songs landing on shows such as HBO's 'Bored to Death' and the re-boot of ‘Magnum P.I.’ She's also toured extensively as a multi-instrumentalist for Elizabeth & the Catapult, Kevin Morby, Michaela Anne and Ximena Sariñana. Lauren is a knitter, crocheter and tap dancer too.
Besides being the off-season manager of Three Mile Island, Dinty Child is a longtime member of the Boston roots/folk scene. A fearless multi-instrumentalist he can most often be seen with the band Session Americana, as well as the Chandler Travis Philharmonic, the unapologetically loud and grimy Catbirds, as sensitive side man to any number of singer/songwriters, including Rose Cousins and Kris Delmhorst, and even fronting the 15 piece party band, the Funky White Honkies. In 2020, he released his first solo album!
Zachariah Hickman is a double bassist, multi-instrumentalist and producer based out of Boston, MA. Originally from Lynchburg, VA, he received his formal training in jazz performance and composition from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. For most of his adult life he has toured with singer-songwriter Josh Ritter, traveling all over the world and recording 9 full-length albums. Currently, he is performing as bassist and musical director for Ray Lamontagne. He has performed at many notable venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks, Bonnaroo, Dublin Castle, The Fillmore, and the Royal Albert Hall. With Josh Ritter, he has also performed with the Boston Pops in Symphony Hall, the New York Pops in Central Park, and many other orchestras in Europe and the United States. Television appearances include five David Letterman appearances, Conan O’Brien, Ellen Degeneres, and Late Night with Jools Holland for the BBC. As a producer, Zachariah as made records with a number of talented singers, including Rose Cousins (for which he won a Canadian JUNO award), Mark Erelli, Laura Cortese, Miss Tess, and his own bluegrass band Barnstar! He has also produced and ring-mastered his own circus, released his own brand of mustache wax, and runs a vaudeville style variety show, Zack Hickman’s House of Ill Repute.
Hailing from the musically diverse and rich culture of South Louisiana, Nelson’s bass playing takes inspiration from his home and beyond; blending bluegrass, jazz, classical and old-time influences into a style of playing that’s been called “Pleasing Virtuosity”. He is a founding member of the latest Black string-band, New Dangerfield, a member of Chris Jones and the Night-Drivers and has served as a core member of awarding-winning Black banjo and fiddler, Jake Blount, band for years. His expertise and steadfast bass playing has made him a sought after bass player in his home of New Orleans and around the country. He has performed at Newport Folk Festival, The Grand Ole Opry, Kennedy Center and many other illustrious festivals and halls across the world.
15 years ago, James Paul Mitchell hopped off a tour van in Denver with nothing but a guitar, an amp, and a suitcase. It was here that he would gain expansive and diverse musical experience, eventually leading to his raw, atmospheric solo project. Carrying on the Grateful Dead legacy he performed with supergroup Imagine featuring Ray White (Frank Zappa) and Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), he studied North Indian classical music, produced a record for indie folk band called Cardinal and began dipping his toe into his own artistry. James eventually made Nashville his home base as a touring and recording musician, releasing Was Sad Before it Was Cool in August 2019. His next record album, Breakup Record, showcased a more personal, surrendered facet of his artistry. Varied and vulnerable, these songs - each made with a different producer - showcase James’ emotional specificity and descriptive storytelling that pulls the listener into their focal heartbeat. Against the backdrop of complementary, moody guitars, James pulls you into these places, circumstances and stories.
Allie Chipkin is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and aspiring stand up comedian. She runs a business writing custom wedding songs called Give Love Originals and loves to travel, teach/practice yoga, explore various creative mediums, and surf. Allie’s all-time favorite thing to do is laugh.
Insta: @alliechip / @giveloveoriginals
On the web: www.alliechipkin.com / www.giveloveoriginals.com
Louis Apollon is a Brooklyn-based jazz-folk singer-songwriter whose songs combine an uplifting musicality with a soothing, yet energizing vibe. He is also a multi-instrumentalist and has performed with his trio throughout the New England and NYC areas. He is a proud introvert who enjoys stories, culture, and community. You can find him on Instagram (@louisapollon) and on the web at www.louisapollon.com.
Thu Tran is a guitarist and songwriter and one half of the duo The Singer and The Songwriter. He is a self-taught guitarist that blends fingerstyle, clawhammer guitar, and flatpicking for a hybrid style that is uniquely his own. His approach to guitar encourages curiosity over correctness, and keeps the love of music at the heart of his teaching. As part of The Singer and The Songwriter, he has toured and performed all across the US and released 3 albums of music, with a full-length LP due out later in 2023.
Mike Shapiro is an actor and songwriter who co-founded an artistic collective in Seattle, Annex Theatre, recognized for award-winning new work and original live music. He performs with 9 Pound Hammer, a tight-harmony acoustic trio (… if the Andrew Sisters had met Bertolt Brecht backstage at a Louvin Bros. show, and then they all canoed the Gowanus Canal together). www.mikeshapiro.com
Sheena Ozaki is the Welcome Team and Travel Coordinator at Miles of Music this year. She is a creative producer with a passion for sharing great ideas, having previously worked with TED, VICE News, Spotify, and iHeartRadio. But her first love is music - she studied piano performance in college and has been lucky to have been part of the Miles of Music community since 2015.
Clara Baker is a songwriter & producer from Portland, OR. She records, produces, and mixes music at several full-service recording studios in the Portland area as well as her home studio, The Bakery. As both a singer-songwriter and an audio professional, Clara brings a unique perspective to the recording process. In addition to her work with artists, Clara also composes music for film and TV, and tours occasionally as a side player on fiddle and guitar. She is a member of SoundGirls and a voting member of The Recording Academy.
Dietrich Strause is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has worked extensively as a studio musician, engineer, and producer. Dietrich writes and records under his own name and released his latest album You And I Must Be Out Of My Mind on Blueblade Records in 2022. He lives part time in London, UK and works as an apprentice luthier at Outlier Workshop.