Brian Bowers is a 38 year old musician from Virginia who plays a most unusual instrument – the autoharp. He’s appeared on PBS Network with the Dilliards, Doc Watson, John Hartford, and performed on stage with Firefall, Loudin Wainwright. Mr. Bowers records for Flying Fish.
Q – How many autoharps do you use?
A – Presently I travel with four, but I traveled with up to seven. I’m the “roadie” the maintenance man, hauler, packer. I do it all.
Q – What made you go into music?
A – Music made me go into music. I eat, breathe, and dream music. If I wasn’t playing music in concerts, I’d be playing at home. Music is my marijuana, music is my “smack.”
Q – What age did you start playing the autoharp?
A – I started playing at 24, when I was a senior in college majoring in Spanish. I don’t read music, I play by ear.
Q – Do you prefer concerts or clubs?
A – That’s like asking if you prefer cake or steak, they’re both good.
Q – How would you describe your music?
A – I wouldn’t. I’d get tongue-tied. There’s a heap of music in the harp. You might say it’s indigenous to country music.
Q – What artists do you listen to?
A – New Grass Revival, Norman Blake, Steve Goodman, and Loudin Wainwright.
Q – Where’s home for you now?
A – Seattle. There’s no other place like it. I love it there.
Q – Do you like “the road”?
A – I love “the road” and I love being home. Usually I’ll go out for a month and return home for a month to rejuvenate myself.
Q – Do you see any new direction in music?
A – I see bands that’ll be playing on hovering platforms, 300 feet above stadiums. They’ll be swooping around places like Yankee Stadium giving people a good look at ’em.
Q – What advice would you give up and coming musicians?
A – Don’t. But the don’t s don’t matter. The ones who are gonna do it, are gonna do it anyway.
