Past Live Shows
WestWend is an Americana/country duo comprised of Jonathan Maness (guitar, vocals) and Wendy Crowe (vocals). Established in 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee, they perform and record new traditional country music. With Jonathan’s roots in bluegrass and Wendy’s roots stemming from the Delta blues, classic country, and Motown, they have come together to create a sound all their own.
WestWend’s latest CD, “Linger For A While”, takes bluegrass standards and makes them new again, while their originals capture their audience with a traditional flavor. Wendy’s voice has been best compared to Alison Krauss, while Jonathan’s rich baritone and agile flatpicking are well known to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. WestWend has performed at some of the biggest festivals in the United States and Europe including: the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, the National Cornbread Festival, the St. Augustine Seafood festival, the Pensacola Great Gulf Festival and more. They also performed a 14 day tour in 5 european countries, including the Spring Bluegrass Festival in Switzerland. They have also opened for Rhonda Vincent, Guy Clark, and Tyler Hilton.
The road goes on forever for WestWend and their second album is set to be released in late 2018. Whichever way the wind blows, you can be sure to see WestWend in a town near you.
"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
Grinder House is honored to welcome back RANDY C MOORE!
If you missed is show last time don't do it again. Randy, a true entertainer and top drawer professional is an Americana Music Artist. From Roy Acuff to Jon Bon Jovi Mr. Moore has been sought out and played with top acts all his career. We are so excited to welcome back to our humble stage, Mr. Randy C Moore!
A native of Humble, Texas, he came up thru the Texas music scene in the late 1970’s. At 15 years of age he was making his own records and thru the influence of Houston radio personality Arch Yancey (KNUZ) his first single releases were receiving significant Texas radio airplay as well as being a regular guest singer at Gilley’s night club and many other popular dance-halls around the Houston area. By the time he graduated high-school, Randy was a guest star on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry hosted by Roy Acuff.
“Mister Roy (Acuff) had one of the finest bands I’ve ever played with. We did a goosed-up version of my record, ‘Mountain Dew’ and it was just so much fun. An amazing experience for a kid of 18.”
He made the move to Nashville to attend Belmont University to learn the modern recording arts and pro songwriting skills.
Throughout the 1980’s Randy C Moore toured North America and the Middle East as a featured artist with The Knott Brothers Band (because they are not brothers). They would go on to be opening shows for Hank Williams Jr., David Allen Coe, Johnny Paycheck, and Lee Greenwood. As the decade was closing Randy C Moore was back at being a solo artist and writing songs with Pat Bunch, Restless Heart, David Lee, Jessie Hunter, and rockabilly legend, Carl Perkins.
“ …becoming friends with Carl Perkins was about the easiest thing I’d ever done. He reminded me so much of my dad, the way he dressed and talked, a real good soul. I couldn’t help but love the guy. I’m pretty sure he knew I was nervous, but it all went away with a little ‘well, how ya doin’ son?’… I really miss Carl”
In September 2001 Randy C Moore was the featured act at Gaylord’s Opryland Hotel & Resort in Nashville when he got the call to perform a benefit concert in Red Bank, New Jersey alongside Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, and play with several of Elvis Presley’s former band mates. The two-night stand was to benefit 9/11 families of the Trade Center Tower victims.
“I sang some Carl Perkins songs with D J Fontana on drums and Jerry Scheff on bass. Garry Tallent (E-Street Band) was the music director and told me this was one the most powerful shows he’s ever played. As for me I sang, I preached, I prayed, I cried, I tried to give all I could to let those folks know that God cared for them in their darkest time of need…I hoped it was enough.”
Throughout the 2000’s Randy C Moore remained a strong live act. Opening shows for Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Lee Ann Rimes. Soon he began to come up with the ideas that would eventually become his premier album “Hwy 59”. Released in mid-2016 the 10-song set caught the ears of radio programmers and music fans worldwide and domestic.
“Hwy 59, is what I call a life record. All very personal statements and sounds, and originally intended to be a record just for me. Somehow, what I perceived as my own vison suddenly was received as broad stroke. I had no idea. It was just my own thing…”
The first single, “Sunshine State Of Mind” became America’s # 1 Trop-Rock hit of 2016. As the album began garnering favorable reviews (Buddy Magazine, Gashouse Radio Magazine, Whiskey & Cigarettes Show, Phlockers Magazine) and chart-topping success (Roots Music Reports, Radio A1A Trop 40, My Kind Of Country, Whiskey & Cigarettes, and many more) Randy C Moore hit the world stage. His touring has taken him from The US to China and Monaco.
"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
Born and raised in Mount Airy North Carolina, Ericca Latza is a country singer-songwriter pursuing her music career in Nashville, Tennessee. Music and writing played a huge role in her young life. Most days you could find her after school behind a piano at lessons or in her room filling up notebooks with stories. She quickly developed a passion for singing when her parents enrolled her in classical voice lessons. It wasn't until the age of 12 that she realized she could combine her love of all three. One night her dad showed her how to play four chords on his acoustic Applause, and she hasn't looked back since. Though Mount Airy (better known as "Mayberry") was her home, Ericca moved to Wilmington NC in 2016. There, she spent two years developing herself as a performer. She played on many stages that are local favorites such as The Soundhouse, Goodfellas, and Hurricane Alley's. While growing as a solo artist, she also launched a band that played on stages across North Carolina. In January 2019, Ericca made the move to Nashville with the hopes of learning to become a well rounded songwriter and a professional in the industry. It was't long before both her songs and voice began to draw attention. Ericca became a signed artist with MC1 Nashville/Sony Orchard in July 2019. She works daily to develop her craft by writing for both herself and other artists. She plays writers rounds at many local venues such as The Commodore Grille, Belcourt Taps, and Red Line. Over the next year she will have three singles hitting radio waves and being released to all listening platforms. "I just want to tell stories that people hear and go, "oh yeah, I get that". To me that means being as genuine and honest as possible. I mean, Im pretty in love with the fact that I get to wake up every day, create something that didn't exist the day before, and put it into the universe to see where it ends up. There's some kind of real magic found in that."