WestWend

WestWend is an Americana/country duo comprised of Jonathan Maness (guitar, vocals) and Wendy Crowe (vocals). Established in 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee, they perform and record new traditional country music. With Jonathan’s roots in bluegrass and Wendy’s roots stemming from the Delta blues, classic country, and Motown, they have come together to create a sound all their own.

WestWend’s latest CD, “Linger For A While”, takes bluegrass standards and makes them new again, while their originals capture their audience with a traditional flavor. Wendy’s voice has been best compared to Alison Krauss, while Jonathan’s rich baritone and agile flatpicking are well known to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. WestWend has performed at some of the biggest festivals in the United States and Europe including: the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, the National Cornbread Festival, the St. Augustine Seafood festival, the Pensacola Great Gulf Festival and more. They also performed a 14 day tour in 5 european countries, including the Spring Bluegrass Festival in Switzerland. They have also opened for Rhonda Vincent, Guy Clark, and Tyler Hilton.

The road goes on forever for WestWend and their second album is set to be released in late 2020. Whichever way the wind blows, you can be sure to see WestWend in a town near you.

Cody Bauer (fiddler with WestWend)

Cody Bauer was first inspired to play the fiddle by his grandfather, Tom Smith. Many of his cousins started learning traditional instruments around the same time and they had a lot of fun jamming at family gatherings and at music festivals in their home state of Indiana. In 2015, Cody was proud to carry the family tradition of fiddling all the way to Nashville where he had the honor of playing with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mt Boys at Stanley’s last show at the Grand Ole Opry.

Cody has garnered a number of 1st place wins at fiddle contests throughout central Appalachia. He has toured internationally in places such as Ireland, Canada and Belize and with various bands has placed 1st in several band contests including: SPBGMA Bluegrass Band Contest, Rocky Grass, Clifftop Neo-Trad, and the Galax Fiddlers’ Convention.

Cody currently works for a wonderful non-profit called Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) which provides out of school traditional music opportunities for students in rural Appalachia. Bauer studied under some wonderful teachers notably Louie Popejoy, Andy Burton, Chad Manning and acclaimed fiddler Hunter Berry. He has taught a number of students in person and online over the years. Cody holds a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Religion.

Originally from Pittsboro, Indiana, Cody now makes his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. Cody is an award winning live music fiddler steeped in the Bluegrass and Old-Time fiddling styles of the Appalachian Highlands and their parent style of Irish fiddling. He is a graduate of both Johnson University and Milligan University. Cody has played with a variety of Bluegrass, Old-Time, Country, and pop bands during the past ten years. Most notable among them, the legendary Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. He has performed on the Grand Ole Opry and on the Discovery channel and has garnered a number of ribbon wins at various fiddle contests. Cody has performed as far north as PEI, Canada, as far south as Belize, and as far east as Ireland. In addition to the Grand Ole Opry, Cody has played large festivals such as Floydfest and Bristol Rhythm & Roots, grand private parties and weddings at the Biltmore Mansion and Atlanta Aquarium and various other events small and large.

Available upon request