(updated 11/08/11)

THE BAND

• DIRK POWELL (fiddle, banjo, mandolin, accordian)

"Proof that the circle remains unbroken." - The Washington Post

"Dirk's got great subtlety, tremendous feel, and he's very loose and very modern, in the best sense of the word." - T-Bone Burnett

Dirk Powell has expanded on the deeply rooted sounds of his Appalachian heritage to become one of the preeminent traditional American musicians of his generation. In addition to acclaimed releases on Rounder Records, he has recorded and performed with artists such as Jack White, Loretta Lynn, Levon Helm, Sting, Jewel, and Linda Ronstadt on a variety of instruments. His ability to unite the essence of his culture with modern sensibilities has also led to work with many talented film directors, including Anthony Minghella, Spike Lee, Ang Lee, Victor Nunez and Steve James. Dirk has scored several films, including award winners such as "Stevie" and "Stranger With A Camera," and also continues to be a powerful presence in the musical world of Cajun Louisiana, where he makes his home with wife Christine Balfa and their two daughters.

THE CREW

• BLAIR WOODS (tour manager)

Blair started playing violin when he was 6 years old, and he has been involved in music ever since. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas and lasted at a small daily newspaper for 6 weeks after his college graduation. Blair began working with bands in 1992, starting with the folk duo John & Mary. He has since worked as a tour manager for 10,000 Maniacs, Cowboy Junkies, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Dar Williams, and Mary Gauthier. He has also managed 10,000 Maniacs, Over The Rhine, Rose Polenzani, and Jennie Sterns, and he remains tour coordinator and occasional tour manager for Cowboy Junkies. Blair is also a founding member-owner and on the the Board of Directors of Urban Roots Garden Center, the first start-up cooperative garden center in the United States. He lives in a 130-year-old Victorian house in Buffalo, New York, with his wife Monique Watts, two dogs and five chickens.

• JASON RABOIN (sound engineer)

Jason became interested in audio engineering while a student working at the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Fine Arts Center. After college he spent two years as house sound engineer at the Iron Horse in Northampton, Massachusetts before starting his career on the road as a tour manager, production manager, and sound engineer. Jason has toured with Catie Curtis, Erin McKeown, Luna, Ben Lee, Twinemen, Cowboy Junkies, and others. He now splits his time between mixing Modest Mouse and Joan Baez.

• JIM STEWART (merchandise sales)

Jim Stewart was born in Circleville, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University, where he participated in the ROTC program to help finance his education. After graduating with a B.A. in journalism, he found himself in the Army for 3 years serving a tour in Vietnam and coming home as a Captain. Returning to civilian life, he pursued his military training in physical distribution and joined Sears, Roebuck & Co., where he remained for a dozen years before moving on to The Limited, Inc., where he worked his way up to Director of Distribution with The Bath & Body Works Division before retiring at age 50. He then made his dream move to Arizona where he fell in love with the Grand Canyon, and locally enjoys hiking the mountains near his home. As a longtime music lover, Jim established friendships with artists such as Gisele MacKenzie, the McGuire Sisters and Joan. Jim has handled Joan's merchandising on the road for quite a few years - something he considers to be the dream job of any artist's fan!

• Emma Vasseur (tour assistant)

Emma lives in Minneapolis, MN where she is currently enrolled as a student of massage at Centerpoint: Massage & Shiatsu School & Clinic. Emma started working for Joan immediately after graduating from UW-Madison, where she studied Communication Arts. While attending college she had an internship with the local music promotions company, True Endeavors. She was introduced to Joan and her entourage during Joan's performance in Madison in March 2009 and the rest is history! In the past couple of years Emma has realized and developed her passion for the human body and holistic healing. With this passion she hopes to develop the skills and knowledge to become a successful massage therapist, eventually an acupuncturist and naturopathic doctor.

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