Cort Armstrong
“This folks is one Appalachian hoedown that leaves no roots of American music unturned.”
Pretty deep into a life of many musical passions, from bluegrass and country blues to the Grateful Dead, Cort Armstrong has never felt comfortable staying in one musical place too long. That “musical hobo” mentality has led him, like many before him, to a sound all his own. The songbag has gotten heavier over the years, with songs from as close as his own imagination, and as far as West Africa. His guitar picking has polished and mellowed. His singing draws from a deeper part of his soul.
“… (a) treasure chest of acoustic American roots music.”
Armstrong has been described as…
“ ...a true ‘songster’. His music carries influences of country blues, fiddle tunes, square dances, honky-tonks; anything that shook the floors of old mountain grange halls and parties. Every song on his solo CD, Chicken Pickin’, was written by Cort, yet these songs sound as old as the hills that inspired them. ”
Which is to say that he reaches into many different genres and traditions and weaves them together into his own sound… whatever connects him to his audience in the moment. His aim is to move his audience, to tears of joy or pain, or to the dance floor. While many showy musicians use songs to feature their singing or playing technique, Armstrong takes the opposite approach, humbly serving the songs with his singing and playing, allowing those songs to come alive for his audience.
Armstrong’s grasp of Travis-style picking, and fairly evolved improvisational abilities, enable him to create the presence of a full band. He performs solo regularly, and with his wife Kia on standup bass. He has also put together bands that feature different aspects of the many musical influences in his solo show. While the bands have very different sounds, Armstrong’s part in them is unmistakably his. you can find out more about those bands below. Click the band name to see more about them, including listening to samples or seeing live performance videos.
