Summer Concert: Darrell Scott and Woody Platt & Shannon Whitworth

Husband and wife duo, Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth of Brevard, North Carolina, each have a unique history of musical accomplishments. A silver lining of the global pandemic has been more time at home, which has allowed them to play, write, record and perform together. They have curated a beautiful set of music comprised mostly of Whitworth’s original songs.

Woody Platt, a Brevard native, is the guitarist, vocalist, and a founding member of the Grammy award winning band Steep Canyon Rangers. The band started as a group of friends getting together to play music that they love while studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and blossomed into the highly successful and world-renowned musicians that they are today. The band has toured the world on their own, and alongside the well known actor/comedian/musician Steve Martin. Steep Canyon Rangers have won multiple awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), have garnered 3 Grammy Nominations with one win so far, and have been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

Shannon Whitworth’s swoon-inducing musical style found its first showcase in her Asheville-produced solo debut, 2007’s No Expectations. Followed by 2009’s critically-acclaimed Water Bound, an album that drew comparisons to Emmylou Harris’ Wrecking Ball. Whitworth is a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist.  She has garnered praise in outlets ranging from People magazine to Garden & Gun. Her honest reinterpretation of ‘Americana,’ a la Mark Knopfler meets Norah Jones and the ghost of Julie London, has garnered Whitworth prime appearances from Philadelphia Folk Festival to Yosemite’s Strawberry Music Festival to Nashville’s own Ryman Auditorium. Shannon is also an acclaimed local artist and spends much of her time in her art studio these days. She was quoted in Walter Magazine saying,  “My art is how I see the world,” says artist and singer-songwriter Shannon Whitworth. “And my music is how I hear it.”

With his latest album, Darrell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams , well-traveled troubadour Darrell Scott ventures deep into the heart of darkness of Williams to explore the beauty in the pain as crafted from the soul of a master. “I grew up on Hank Williams – it came from my dad who idolized him – as I heard the entire catalog of Hank from my crib and beyond, I recognized what he loved about Hank: poetic, yet totally understandable, honest, heart broken, love sick lyrics and the possibility of forgiveness from a woman, or from one’s self, or from one’s Creator. I listened closely” recalls Scott. Nine carefully selected and skillfully crafted songs make up this resplendent anthology. Just as in song choice, the attention and finesse given to the sound of this record is evident from first listen. Scott bores in on the blues of Hank as he navigates varying tempos.“I was always struck by the blues in Hank’s songs in that beautiful blend of black blues tradition and poor white boy belting, having way more in common than what oughta separate them – in lyrics, in voice and in chords.”

Scott’s album of Hank’s songs serves to honor not only Hank but also Scott’s late father, Wayne Scott. Hank laid a foundation in Wayne that carried through to Darrell. “I heard Hank, I heard my dad, and I heard the blues that was only a guitar grab away for me,” Scott says. “It did not occur to me to play or sing it like Hank; but, I strive to be true to the spirit and throw my version of blues towards Hank songs. This recording is that.”

“So, hell yes,” Scott says, “my Hank runs deep.”