S1E15: To Guatemala, with Just an Ukulele

Published: March 7, 2021, 1 p.m.

Alicia Best is one half of A Different Thread, a duo that draws its influence from Irish, English, Celtic, and Appalachian folk, country, and blues. Alicia is from North Carolina but she certainly isn’t rooted there. Alicia is a “musical nomad” who for years has made her living by backpacking from country to country playing music. In fact, she met Robert Jackson, the other half of A Different Thread while playing on the streets of Ireland, having just spent some time in Guatemala. Alicia’s life sounds charming and she loves what she does, but part of her story  comes with certain struggles, such as how you survive as a musical nomad when much of the world is shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alicia also talks about the challenges she has faced a woman in the world of music, dealing with the misogyny and sexism in the industry. Today, she’s challenging this sexism through a project called the “Answer Song Anthology,” where she lends voice to the women who have long been sung about in Americana music but have never been given stories of their own. To check out the amazing music of A Different Thread, you can look them up on YouTube, Spotify, and they’re on Instagram and Twitter @ADiffThread, and I’ve included links to websites and Patreons: 

Website: http://www.adifferentthread.com/bio
Patreon for the Answer Song Anthology: https://www.patreon.com/answersonganthology
Patreon for A Different Thread: https://www.patreon.com/adifferentthread


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