I just bought a few songs by Rita Hoskings on iTunes that I thought some Kossacks might appreciate, so I wanted to share.
For those who don't know her, here's a little about what influences her music:
Hosking grew up in a rural area in Shasta County, California. Her father worked the night shift at a sawmill as part of the area's logging industry. Her great grandfather, from Cornwall, southwest of England, was an underground coal miner in the region. And her grandmother's family had headed there in a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail, from Virginia.
Hosking says old-time music was strong in her mountain area, as well as country. She grew up hearing neighbors play their simple instruments by ear, as a group called the Mountaineers. And the school cook took several girls from the school, taught them songs and they performed as the Farmerettes; with the Farmerettes, Hosking played washboard and sang her first solo.
"I'm no expert on the Appalachians at all, but I figure there are similarities -- the economy and some traditions, logging and mining. So, as a songwriter, you focus on that. You take the human struggle to survive, particularly in a beautiful place they love, and you've pinned down a lot of artistic inspiration."
I don't know what it is about bluegrass of this type, but it just hits me right in the soul.
But, enough about what it means to me, take a listen:
One for Bernie Sanders Fans
Parting Glass
Where Time is Reigning
This is only a preview, couldn't find the full song online, but I gotta say, I think a lot of Kossacks will relate to the lyrics:
Five Star Location
Enjoy!