Grant Dermody interview

Grant Dermody first picked up the harp in Alaska, where he emulated the greats before developing his own acoustic sound playing American roots music. 
He played as a session man on various albums before releasing the first of his four solo albums to date, which included harmonica duets with Phll Wiggins and Joe Filisko. In-between Grant toured for six years with Eric Bibb, and for his latest album, My Dony, he has returned to his roots with a raucous electrified harmonica sound. Not only a great harmonica player with a strong sense of rhythm, Grant is a vocalist, and has penned the lyrics on many of the songs on his albums. On top of all this, Grant is a passionate teacher of the harmonica. 

Select the Chapter Markers tab above to select different sections of the podcast (website version only).

Links:
Grant's website:
https://www.grantdermody.com/

Discography:
https://www.grantdermody.com/discography/

Teaching:
https://www.grantdermody.com/teaching/

YouTube:
Harmonica duet with Joe Filisko:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWZjtbNmyUc&feature=youtu.be

EuroBlues Week Harmonica Tutor intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECQRu2kEyok&feature=youtu.be

Jerry Devillier playing Cajun Harmonica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptNsv7s7or8


Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Chapters

• 1:12 Grant had to flee from current Hurricane ‘Delta'
• 1:52 Grew up in Seattle but learned harmonica in Alaska
• 2:14 Grant’s father gave Grant his first harmonica at age 18
• 2:46 Started playing harmonica in Fairbanks, Alaska
• 3:19 Learned to play a different range of styles during those early days
• 4:13 Got some tips from a guy he met walking down the street
• 4:39 Friend put Grant onto Little Walter and Charlie Musselwhite
• 6:02 Slim Harpo was an early inspiration
• 7:22 Grant developed an interest in acoustic style
• 8:21 Started learning to play fiddle tunes on harmonica
• 8:59 Grant loves to perform entirely acoustic
• 9:27 But also likes to play through amps
• 10:01 Moved back to Seattle from Alaska and took some lessons with Kim Field
• 11:18 Played drums before picking up harmonica
• 12:36 First recording
• 14:04 Recordings with Jim Page
• 15:40 Album with The Improbabilies
• 16:12 Music scene around Seattle and move to Louisiana
• 17:31 Lafayette is where Grant is based now
• 18:08 First solo album: Crossing That River
• 19:18 Duo recording with Joe Filisko
• 20:26 Anacostia Two Step recording with Phil Wiggins
• 21:43 Song writing
• 22:21 Grant is also a vocalist
• 23:07 Two albums with Johnson, Miller and Dermody trio
• 24:45 Playing with Eric Bibb
• 27:16 Second solo album: Lay Down My Burden
• 31:35 Sun Might Shine album
• 33:35 Cajun harmonica
• 34:59 Latest album, My Dony, is under consideration for a Grammy
• 36:52 How My Dony album was put together
• 41:33 Writing modern blues lyrics
• 42:51 Recorded on a Hip Hop song
• 44:18 Grant does lots of harmonica tuition
• 45:05 Areas of harmonica that Grant believes you need to develop
• 47:07 10 minute question
• 47:39 Grant’s style of playing
• 49:42 Chromatic harmonica
• 51:16 Harmonicas of choice
• 51:55 Mics of choice
• 52:17 Amps
• 53:26 Favourite key of diatonic
• 53:32 Future plans
• 55:18 Different tunings and overblows
• 55:29 Embouchre