It begins with a dramatic a cappella vocal, followed by a crisp and concise interlude of flatpicked guitar. Then the warm and supple tenor voice settles in to work, delivering literate and cinematic vignettes of rural Americans and their struggles in memorable melodies and compelling twists of phrase. The between song banter is as much of the show as the music, with humorous anecdotes and a theatrical flair for storytelling weaving the music and words into a memorable performance. Such is a typical Andrew McKnight concert experience.

Since permanently leaving his corporate environmental engineering career in 1996, the award-winning singer/songwriter’s musical journey has traced nearly half a million miles of blue highways and small towns nationwide, and earned him a wealth of critical acclaim and enthusiastic fan response for his four CDs and captivating performances. That impressive discography includes his latest Beyond Borders, one of five Finalists for the Independent Music Awards 2005 Americana Album of the Year, and including his song “Good Things Matter”, the 2005 Great American Song Contest Winner (Acoustic/Folk category).

Audiences are at once spellbound and relaxed by McKnight's entertaining stories delivered with just the right touches of down home humor, causing one recent concertgoer to label him “equal parts Robert Frost, William Least Heat-Moon and Jeff Foxworthy!” His seemingly boundless energy moves around, one moment in dancing fingers, the next the impassioned delivery of a poignant lyric, followed by a playful rhythmic foot stomp to keep time; here is a man who clearly loves his work.

His hefty annual tour schedule of festivals, small theaters, listening rooms and house concerts, has included a wide variety of noteworthy performances across the U.S. including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the Kennedy Center, Mountain Stage NewSong Festival, Chattanooga Riverbend Festival, the International Storytelling Center, and Baltimore's Artscape Festival. His music has been heard on the syndicated public and satellite radio shows "River City Folk" and "The Midnight Special" as well as acoustic radio programs around the world.

In addition to performing, recording and teaching workshops and guitar students, McKnight also is a contributing writer for Americana Rhythm magazine. His work has also appeared in Blue Ridge Country magazine.

In addition to his music, Andrew's website features his "A Road Warrior's Journal" and an original Poem of the Month. He enjoys an artist endorsement with Elixir Strings.

"left me with visions of Staines, Mallett, and Gorka...one of the most exciting new contemporary talents to come along in years"
- Tidewater Friends of Folk Music

"Pick your favorite poet or balladeer and McKnight will equal them with an Appalachian soul."
- Victory Review

"Blends wry and romantic stories with keen tuneful observations in a delicious mix of folk, blues and bluegrass... a man not to be missed!"
- The National Theatre

Something reflects the maturity of a veteran songpoet and seasoned musical artisan as well as the introspection of a new father. Andrew focuses on threads in the American tapestry through the lens of illegal immigrants, of ordinary people clinging to lost treasures of their past, and of those praying for loved ones to safely return from war. Recorded almost entirely with a hand-picked band of friends, including fellow Falling Mountaineers Jim Baird (Oxymora) on bass and Pamela Temple (wild carrot) on harmony vocals, Andrew has created a coherent and compelling musical portrait of modern America, while drawing inspiration from legendary musicians who became icons of their own difficult times. Notable among the 16 cuts are the rollicking Cajun-meets-Clapton title cut, “Times We’re Living In,” a haunting indictment of the forces that coalesced behind Katrina, “Wind Whispers Your Name,” an a cappella elegy for a fallen soldier cowritten with Randy Barrett, and “Bridges,” a beautiful meditation on the cycles on parenthood co-written with Jon Carroll. And honoring the “folk process,” McKnight updated lyrics to the traditional “Worried Man Blues” as well as to Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads,” the spooky solo slide blues that closes the album.

The acoustic singer/songwriter stretches his wings on his fourth solo CD, blending global influences, spoken word, and traditional music together with his acclaimed songcraft, rich melodic vocals and deft guitar work. A creative collaboration with two old friends, Borders was recorded by original Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Les Thompson, who also recorded Where This River Runs, and mixed by Michael DeLalla, who recorded Andrew's 1995 debut Traveler. The result is a stunning collection of 13 original songs, plus the traditional "June Apple" and the spoken word "Do You Hear Them?" with its improvised accompaniment. Andrew's acoustic and electric guitars and vocals are captured in powerful and impassioned performances, with tasteful ornamentation throughout courtesy of keyboardist Jon Carroll (Mary Chapin Carpenter), string whiz Danny Knicely (Footworks, David Via and Corn Tornado) and the world beat percussion of N. Scott Robinson (Malcolm Dalglish and the Oolites). Organic tones and rich textures highlight stellar craftsmanship in a diversity of settings, including the haunting bounce of "The Poet's Great Romance", call-and-response gospel ("Rust on My Halo"), high lonesome bluegrassy vocals ("How High the Mountain"), and the feelgood vibe of "Good Things Matter", winner of the Great American Song Contest Acoustic/Folk category.

Where contemporary singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight's first two albums focused largely on the stories of rural characters and their relationship to the land, his third effort turns his considerable vision towards the landscape of the heart and soul. Among this collection of stories, reflections and letters can be found some of his most stunning songwriting gems; the "Diary" of Thomas Jefferson and his longtime slave mistress Sally Hemings, the bluesy ode to Hoagy Carmichael ("Bad News"), the timeless folk sound of the haunting "Road to Appomattox", the simple driving clarity of "Winter", and a provocative hard-edged collaboration with renowned urban folk poet Chris Chandler on "Jesus and the Nighttime Train".

Andrew's second CD continues his literate exploration of America's back roads and small towns. Each of the 14 songs is set in a musical style and production that vividly evokes the scenery; the spooky swamp blues of "Chemical Voodoo" set along Cancer Alley on Louisiana's Mississippi Delta, the open Dakota prairies in "A Prairie Wind/Big Sky Town", or the evocative Saturday night at the Grange Hall dance in "Shenandoah Moon". Skillfully produced with original Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Les Thompson, this album is rich with elegant harmony vocals and exquisite arrangements. Andrew's wry charm, signature acoustic guitar style, and rich warm vocals shine throughout. Guest harmony vocalists include Terri Allard, Laurie Rose Griffith and Tom Prasada-Rao, while regular Falling Mountain friends and family such as Ralph Gordon (bass, cello) and Chas Fowler (pipes, whistles) are also well represented. Other highlights include the a cappella title track, the lush "Bargeman", the elegant simplicity of "I Can't Understand the Moon", and the Americana drive of "A Town Called Progress".

The debut CD from one of the nation's most promising "story songwriters" that has introduced folk fans around the world to Andrew's literate stories and vivid imagery, all wrapped in his smooth expressive tenor and standout guitar playing. The album features some of Andrew's best-loved songs, including "Dancing in the Rain" about the plight of an Iowa farm family (and the first recording with his two friends who would join forces years later to form Dang Varmints!), a love song from the Old Man Mississippi to his lady love "Atchafalaya", and "Magnolia Tree" detailing his own escape from corporate America. Other highlights include "Highland County Romp" a gorgeous guitar duet with virtuoso Seth Austen, the old-time/folk tinged "Gatlinburg", and the gentle small-town country/Americana feel of "Still Home to Me".