Blues
Richmond, Virginia
Blues harmonica player Andrew Alli is a Richmond native and a rising star, having just received a nomination for Best Emerging Artist by the Blues Music Association. Andrew took up music at the age of 20 after being inspired by a busker playing harmonica on the street. Deeply motivated, Andrew committed himself to learning the playing techniques and history of his newfound instrument. He soon fell in love with the blues and began studying all of the harmonica greats including Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior Wells, Phil Wiggins and others. He draws on these great masters while also developing his own unique style. Throughout the years he has toured with Jontavious Willis and dozens of other young blues musicians both domestically and abroad.
One of Andrew’s favorite musical collaborators is Josh Small, a slide guitarist, banjo player and singer/songwriter. Also a Virginia native, Josh found his musical compass as a young boy inspired by his father’s guitar and banjo picking and his mother’s soulful mountain singing style. Josh grew up singing in church and playing backyard gigs with family and friends but did not perform his own music until attending Virginia Commonwealth University and making Richmond his home. Together Andrew and Josh make any concert stage feel like a backyard barbeque jam, so kick back and enjoy their much-anticipated set on the Virginia Folklife Stage.