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Andrew McKnight & Beyond Borders
Joining forces with founding Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Les Thompson, Les’s wife and fellow songwriter Stephanie Thompson, and WAMMIE-winning singer/songwriter Lisa Taylor, Andrew's quartet has delighted concert and festival audiences since their collective debut at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington (March 2008). Their eclectic arrangements of Andrew's award-winning songs fuse oldtime influences, roots rock sounds, rich vocal harmonies, and an assimilation of many stylistic elements that truly stretch "beyond Appalachian, beyond blues, beyond folk".
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Beyond Borders describes this collective creative force in many ways - stylistically, artistically and in their approach to performing. Their distinctive and constantly shifting sound blends traditional acoustic instruments like banjo and upright bass with the energy of drums and electric guitars, layered with two male and two female voices in intricate harmony. Add big-screen projection of Andrew’s photography and videography into the show, and audiences can clearly expect a different kind of concert experience.
The warmth and chemistry between these seasoned musicians has clearly caught the attention of music fans and presenters alike. They have been honored by the Virginia Arts Commission with inclusion in the Touring Artists Directory, alongside top talents like Robin & Linda Williams, the Virginia Symphony, and luthier/master guitarist Wayne Henderson. They were selected for prestigious juried showcases at the Folk Alliance International conference in Memphis, and the 2011 Southeast Regional and 2009 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conferences.
Putting their talents to use to help "neighbors in need", Andrew and Les wrote “Made by Hand” for the 2009 CD Still Moving Mountains to help raise awareness of mountaintop mining in Appalachia; the CD was featured on CNN and CMT. The band shared the main stage at the Mountain Aid concert at Shakori Hills Festival Farm along with Kathy Mattea and Donna the Buffalo.
Qualifying Virginia presenters can apply for fee reimbursement of up to 50% through the Virginia Commission for the Arts Touring Artist program - click here for details and forms.
Select Recent Performances
- John F. Kennedy Center, Washington DC
- Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown MD
- Hometown Holidays, Rockville MD
- Mountain Aid Concert at Shakori Hills, Pittsboro NC
- Mountville Folk Festival, Aldie VA
- FOCUS Concerts, Alexandria VA*
- Summer Arts Festival, Blacksburg VA*
- Valley EarthFest, Berryville VA
- Bluefield College, Bluefield VA*
- Braddock Nights Summer Concerts, Fairfax VA*
- Morven Park, Leesburg VA*
- BB&T Center for Performing Arts, Luray VA*
- Franklin Park Performing Arts Center, Purcellville VA
- Butterfly Concert Series at Fort Collier, Winchester VA
- Panhandle Earth Day Festival, Shepherdstown WV
- River City Festival, Rowlesburg WV
- Shepherdstown Opera House, Shepherdstown WV
* partially funded by Virginia Commission for the Arts
