Morgan Harris and Wiggs & Blanck

Morgan Harris (she/they) is a Colorado-based guitarist specializing in traditional North American stringband (or ‘old time’) music. In contrast to the purely accompanying role the guitar often occupies in this space, Morgan’s distinctive playing technique allows the guitar to shine as an old time melody instrument, creating a rhythmic drive and a multi-layered resonance that is unique in the world of flatpicked guitar. On Morgan’s new record Alone Will Tell, she performs a collection of traditional tunes and songs with just her guitar and voice, drawn from historic source recordings of driving fiddle breakdowns, hypnotic banjo pieces and austere mountain ballads. This is the music she has continually found herself drawn to in quiet, solitary moments, and it has been shaped by long familiarity and patient questioning. Morgan’s first release as an out trans musician, Alone Will Tell is a meditation on the transformative potential of looking inward.

Morgan is also a member of the old time trio Tall Poppy String Band (with George Jackson and Cameron DeWhitt), and has performed extensively across the US - including such events as the Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival, the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, Wintergrass and IBMA Bluegrass Live! In addition she has run numerous workshops at festivals and music schools on old time guitar playing, and in 2023 she was part of the teaching staff for Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling Camp.

Wiggs + Blanck is a flatpicking guitar duo based in Northern Colorado. Comprising guitarists Eric Wiggs and Ilan Blanck, the duo plays fresh originals and rousing arrangements and tunes influenced by cross-genre guitar titans like Bill Frisell, Tony Rice, and Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge. Their sensitive approach to the guitar mixed with their risk-taking improvisations makes for a fresh listening experience.

Hailing from Northern Alabama, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, engineer and educator Eric Wiggs has been an integral part of Colorado’s music scene for over a decade. He can most often be seen with 2024 IBMA Momentum nominee band Jake Leg and runs Vermillion Road studios, where he has worked with nationally touring artists like Big Richard and the Fretliners He holds a B.M in Jazz Studies/Music Media from the University of Alabama and a M.M. Jazz Performance/Pedagogy from CU-Boulder.

Ilan Blanck is a multi-instrumentalist and composer currently based in Fort Collins, CO. From orchestrating for pop star Ellie Goulding and the LA Philharmonic to sweating on stages across the country while wearing a power ranger costume, he is active in a variety of settings and genres. He is currently the artist development associate manager at the Music District, where he works to support regional musicians in their careers and artistry.

Host or Publisher Swallow Hill Music