Border Radio

Artist Information

Biography

Border Radio doesn't hold back their passion for the very deep roots of American music -- they play it and write it and perform it with energy and reverence. They move with assurance from hard-driving bluegrass to lonesome folk to prairie swing, giving audiences of all ages a joyful and memorable experience.

Border Radio came together in 2000, the inspiration of singer/songwriter Kelly McCune and dobro/guitar player Mike Stromberg. They set out to write and collect wonderful old tunes, criss-crossing genres from folk to bluegrass to Western swing, and flavor them with their own sound. They took the name of the band from the early outlaw radio blasters who blanketed the country with music for just folks -- artists like Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and Bob Wills.

Kelly's songs tell stories that echo the past, her music is sincere and wry, soulful and sweet, and she delivers it straight to the heart with range and beauty. Kelly has been compared to both Patsy Cline and Iris Dement, and their music dubbed "an Americana fantasy where cowboys dance with pretty girls and couples get dressed up to break up..." (Music Connection).

Mike Stromberg’s dobro and resonator guitar blow in with power and poignancy -- his song High Plains sounds like it was written half a century ago. John Lambdin on fiddle and mandolin weaves a heartfelt voice throughout when he isn’t swingin’ it. And Robert Staron on bass moves easily from laid back to slappin’ up-tempo. With a packhorse of original tunes and tastefully selected covers, serious string and swing arrangements from talented players along and tight harmonies, Border Radio has carved its own Americana niche.

Kelly’s original songs have gotten her to Kerrville, Texas, as a New Folk Finalist at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival. The band has also played at SxSW in Austin and has been featured on bluegrass, folk, and Americana stations across the country.

Some of Border Radio's past performances:
Kerrville Folk Festival, New Folk Competition, TX
SxSW, Austin, TX
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, Tres Pinos, CA
Fiddlin' Cricket Concert Series in Santa Clara, CA
Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA
Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, Santa Clarita, CA
Los Angeles Zoo
Peter Strauss Ranch, Los Angeles County, CA
Descanso Gardens, Glendale, CA
San Diego Folk Heritage, Escondido, CA
Topanga Banjo Fiddle Festival, Los Angeles County, CA
Colorado Street Bridge Party, Pasadena, CA
Caltech Folk Music Society, Pasadena, CA
Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena, CA
Boulevard Music, Culver City, CA
Calico Festival, Moultrie, CA
Americana Concert Series, Fallbrook, CA
Nobel House Concert Series, Van Nuys, CA

Booking & Management:
Shawna Rinehart
norfun3@yahoo.com

Find them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/borderradiomusic

Instrumentation

Kelly McCune - Lead vocal & acoustic guitar
Michael Stromberg - Vocals, Guitar, Steel Guitar, Dobro
John Lambdin - mandolin, Fiddle
Robert Staron - Upright Bass

Discography

Lil' Songbook 2001
Americana Brand 2002
Border Radio Live 2004
Golden State 2005
O, California (Upcoming)

Official Website

http://www.border-radio.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Border Radio Website
• Reverbnation
• YouTube
• CD Baby

Audio

• OrphanTrainDemo
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• Hitched
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• Unlucky Love
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• O,CaliforniaDemo
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• Traffic Stops
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• Golden State
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• LongBlackVeil.mp3
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• Misery Mile
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• Is This the One
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Lyrics

• Orphan Train
• Golden State
• O, California
• Orphan Train
• Misery Mile
• Is This the One

Video

Border Radio | VACANT LOT

Border Radio | O, CALIFORNIA

Photo Gallery

Press

• Music Connection Review, Coffee Gallery Backstage [+ Show ]
  

  "Changing styles throughout their performance, Border Radio is a fusion of bluegrass, classic countr..."Changing styles throughout their performance, Border Radio is a fusion of bluegrass, classic country and polka. They even created a musical style they dub "gypsygrass" which is a refreshing spin on traditional bluegrass...McCune serves as the vocal glue binding the music together...Border Radio has that potential, and with their talent, material and personality they just might start a new trend."
  -- Aaron Ziolkowski

• KUCI Radio Review [+ Show ]
  

  "One of the best bands to emerge from Southern California...Deeply rooted in tradition, this is what..."One of the best bands to emerge from Southern California...Deeply rooted in tradition, this is what country music is supposed to sound like."
  -- Vicki Pepper

• Autry National Center [+ Show ]
  

  "Border Radio is a fantastic act. Their music is extremely well written and the song arrangements ar..."Border Radio is a fantastic act. Their music is extremely well written and the song arrangements are done tastefully. Watch for this group to rise quickly to prominence in the Western Music scene."
  -- Jeffrey Barber

• Americana Brand Review [+ Show ]
  

  "Kelly McCune...is now making a name for herself as one of the pre-eminent vocalists on the roots/Am..."Kelly McCune...is now making a name for herself as one of the pre-eminent vocalists on the roots/Americana scene with her band, Border Radio."
  -- Paul Anderson

• Review by Bliss [+ Show ]
  

  "...a voice so sweetly vibrant and perfectly suited to Patsy Cline-style country...Border Radio's so..."...a voice so sweetly vibrant and perfectly suited to Patsy Cline-style country...Border Radio's sound is defined by that voice."
  -- Bliss

• Bob Stane on Border Radio [+ Show ]
  

  "Border Radio is entertaining. That is enough. Musical acts are supposed to stand on stage and sing ..."Border Radio is entertaining. That is enough. Musical acts are supposed to stand on stage and sing and play and send people home with the warm assurance that they have gotten full measure for their time and money. Border Radio does all of that and then some."
  -- Bob Stane

• Review by Kevin Felt [+ Show ]
  

  "Surrounded by finger-picked banjo runs, mandolin charm and frenzies of slide guitar, McCune sings w..."Surrounded by finger-picked banjo runs, mandolin charm and frenzies of slide guitar, McCune sings with sweet Patsy Cline-like swagger in songs like 'This Old Pen' and 'Sad Sound'...McCune's and Stromberg's richly harmonizing vocals are wide-eyed slices of their American roots."
  -- Kevin Felt

Setlist

Sets are typically 45 to 50 minutes, a usual concert 2 hours (2 sets with an intermission). We play an average of 12 to 14 songs per set.
An example concert set list, this is about 70% original and 30% covers:

SET ONE
Unlucky Love
Wedding Day
Cowboy Dancing
Caroline
Is This the One
Orphan Train
Golden State
High Plains
Prairie Dog Swing
Hickory Wind
Misery Mile
Traffic Stops

SET TWO:
Thirteenth Floor
Moon Over You
Where Is Home
Farm Wife
Sad Sound
Those Memories of You
The Two Marys
San Fernando Valley
Oklahoma Waltz
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
Miss Molly
Long Black Veil
Where Is Home

Basic Requirements

Calendar