Magic Wheel

Tamara Little, a California native who spent 15 years playing and writing in Nashville, is the primary songwriter and lead singer in MAGIC WHEEL. Her music—a rich mixture of folk, country, bluegrass and rock—is informed by everyone from the Carter Family to Townes Van Zandt to Emmylou Harris. Tamara’s original songs span genres and transcend time as she takes us on her heart-felt journeys of the human experience. She gives full credit to her bandmates in MAGIC WHEEL for the collaborative atmosphere that brings her songs fully to life.

Samantha Olson began playing bluegrass as a child in southern California. Classical training followed, and she performed in various youth orchestras. Influenced by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Scotty Stoneman and Sugarcane Harris, Samantha adapted her fiddling to rock and blues, playing in such bands as Realize, Straight No Chaser, Everybody and Their Mama and Homefront. Samantha has returned to her acoustic music roots since moving to Sacramento, appearing with a diverse range of artists including Kentucky Slim and Horse Power, Mind X, Richard March and the Smiley Mountain Band.

Kathy Barwick, a well-known figure in the northern California bluegrass world, has played lead guitar, banjo and resophonic guitar in such bands as the Bluegrass Philharmonic, the All Girl Boys, the Avocado Brothers and Mountain Laurel. Kathy has recorded albums with Mountain Laurel and the All Girl Boys and done session work with numerous other artists. She is also a respected music educator and columnist for Flatpick Guitar Magazine. In addition to MAGIC WHEEL, Kathy also performs currently with Mountain Laurel and the folk duo Poetic Justis.