“I am concentrating on playing live in front of as small an audience as possible.”
I have always loved Louis Ledford’s music and his captivating storytelling. I enjoyed the chance to talk about songwriting, his life as an artist, and his move to Bellingham from New Orleans. He performs regularly in and around Bellingham, hosts a radio show, and curates music for the Honey Moon. After doing a lot of virtual performances during the pandemic, I appreciate his focus right now on playing live, intimate shows where he can “make eye contact” with his audience.
I have included some videos and links below and featured two of my favorite Louis songs in the interview—enjoy!
Louis’ Bio:
Born in the American South, Louis Ledford has carved out a career composing and performing literate Americana roots music. He has produced three solo recordings in association with Waterbug Records, a relationship which began in 2005 when Ledford met label owner Andrew Calhoun at the legendary Texas Kerrvile Folk Festival. Louis has collaborated with folk diva Anais Mitchell on several projects including his singing the role of Hades for a early roadshow performing songs that became the bones of her Tony winning Broadway musical Hadestown. Mitchell recorded his song “When You Fall” for her collaborative album Country EP with Rachel Ries released by Ani Difranco’s Righteous Babe Records.
His songs are three and one half minute stories that detail seemingly real characters who rise and fall to the melody and rhythm of a piedmont style finger picked guitar. You will hear echoes of Willie Nelson and Guy Clark in his voice. His arrangements invoke c&w, tin pan alley, beatles and the blues.
Listen to Louis on the Radio:
Unknown Fidelity on Bellingham’s KZAX
Music in podcast:
Big Fat Moon, from Century Plant on Esplanade Ave., 2012
A Farm in New Hampshire, from Treebranch and Moonlight, 2010
Learn About the The Subdued Stringband Jamboree: August 7, 8, and 9th, 2025
Her Deepest Ecologies is recorded at Jack Straw Cultural Center in Seattle, WA. Thanks to their Artist Support Program and studio engineer Ayesha Ubayatilaka. All episodes are available on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This podcast is free and available to anyone. For more information or to be considered for a future episode, reach out via email at: jessicagigot@gmail.com.
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