Pony Bradshaw

A devoted reader of fiction, poetry, and literature in general, Pony Bradshaw credits the rich imagery in his songs not so much to his appreciation for the songwriters who came before him but to his nearly lifelong commitment to reading. For this is a writer that draws from a wider well than just the Great American Songbook. With such vivid lyrics as “teeth stained red with Lebanese wine, long hair … in sweeps of oil blacker than a cypress pool,” one might think he bases his characters on the people he interacts with in his home of North Georgia; but in fact, these are composite characters compiled from fragments he’s collected from various avenues, songs he usually starts with just a line or two and then cultivates for years. Bradshaw notes, “John Ciardi, the great translator of Dante, said ‘the true mark of any writer is in the choices he makes.’ That’s always stuck with me. In essence, our choices make poets out of us.” The new album “North Georgia Rounder” is a musical travelogue that includes stops along the Conasauga River, visits to the holler, and a few diversions — nearby Knoxville plays a supporting role, as do Louisiana and Arkansas. It’s an impressionistic journey of introspection and connection all at once — a modern-day rendering of the mythos of Appalachia. (this is a standing event)