The Love Still Shows

Donna Lynn Caskey

Timeless yet topical clawhammer banjo based originals to lift spirits and touch hearts.

The Love Still Shows, follow up to 2014’s critically praised Nameless Heart, brings Donna Lynn Caskey’s soulful, endearing songwriting back to eager audiences. Haunting and jubilant notes ring out from her traditional, clawhammer-style banjo on eleven tracks,

Timeless yet topical clawhammer banjo based originals to lift spirits and touch hearts.

The Love Still Shows, follow up to 2014’s critically praised Nameless Heart, brings Donna Lynn Caskey’s soulful, endearing songwriting back to eager audiences. Haunting and jubilant notes ring out from her traditional, clawhammer-style banjo on eleven tracks, forming a stirring musical love letter to listeners. Themes deftly maneuver from everyday pleasures to bittersweet memories and on to new beginnings.

A long-time social worker by day, Donna Lynn’s songs evoke a vivid emotional landscape. The album opens with “Break Free,” an encouraging anthem of claiming one’s own voice despite obstacles. “It Ain’t Personal” reassures listeners that sometimes it takes backtracking to get back on track, and “Beauty Queen” declares we are whole regardless of perceived imperfections. The album is at turns confessional on tracks like “Look At Me,” “The Book,” and “I Am Willing/Down By The Riverside” as well as humorous, including a love song to an “Angel Of A Cat.”

Maturity abounds on Donna Lynn’s sophomore effort with growth as a songwriter and musician showcased throughout the album. The youngest of ten children, she reflects on the passing of senior-age parents on the title track “The Love Still Shows” as well as on “Odds Are For Beating.” Though personal, these songs also reveal unexpected gifts amid the pain and messiness of life in general, as do the timeless sounding “My Blessed Child” and “The Time Is Here.”

Acclaimed Los Angeles producer, singer-songwriter, and sideman Ed Tree (Spencer Davis) captures the essence of Donna Lynn’s sound while adding guitar, bass, harmonium, and vocals in support. The arrangements are further enhanced by world-class guest musicians including fiddler Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers), percussionists Ray Yslas (David Sanborn) and Debra Dobkin (Bonnie Raitt), violist Novi Novog (Doobie Brothers), and vocalists Penny Nichols (Jimmy Buffett) and Glen Roethel. The Love Still Shows treats the ears in addition to nourishing the heart.

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Nameless Heart

Donna Lynn Caskey

Timeless yet topical clawhammer banjo based originals to lift spirits and touch hearts.

Nameless Heart is the debut album of singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player Donna Lynn Caskey. Grammy-nominated producer Mark Hallman (Carole King, Ani DiFranco, Eliza Gilkyson) adds just the right amount of vocals, percussion, guitar, bass, bouzouki,

Timeless yet topical clawhammer banjo based originals to lift spirits and touch hearts.

Nameless Heart is the debut album of singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player Donna Lynn Caskey. Grammy-nominated producer Mark Hallman (Carole King, Ani DiFranco, Eliza Gilkyson) adds just the right amount of vocals, percussion, guitar, bass, bouzouki, piano and studio warmth to the arrangements to tastefully support Donna Lynn and her classic banjo sound.

“Slot Machine” (previously recorded by Julie Christensen) elicits a vivid picture of the gamble of love. A sassy “Flower Print Dress” (also featured in the 2014 Banjo Babes Calendar & Album) symbolizes ill-advised romance amid a lush, southern June. “The Good News” pans for gold in the mud of life and, like many of Caskey's songs, inspires listeners to sing along.

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Upcoming Shows

Join us for a mesmerizing evening of soul-stirring tunes and captivating melodies featuring Nina Jo Smith and Donna Lynn Caskey at Ojai Underground! Date: Friday, April 26th Time: 7:00 PM PDT Location: Ojai Underground In-Person Tickets: $28 in advance, $30 at the door Streaming Broadcast: sliding scale $10-$15 Nina Jo Smith: Step into a surrealistic urban postcard as Nina Jo Smith takes you on a journey through her captivating melodies. From Clarion Alley in San Francisco’s Mission District to poignant love songs set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Nina Jo's music is a blend of raw emotion and vivid storytelling. Emerging from dark times with a grittier tone and newfound clarity, Nina Jo invites you to find the light within and join her on a musical odyssey. Featuring Ed Tree on lead guitar, Scott Babcock on drums & percussion, and Dave Carpenter on bass, Nina Jo presents her latest studio album, "Out of the Darkness," released at the remarkable age of 70. Donna Lynn Caskey: Prepare to be uplifted by the timeless yet topical clawhammer banjo-based songs of "Banjo Gal" Donna Lynn Caskey. With melodies that touch the heart and lyrics that resonate deeply, Donna Lynn's performance promises to be a highlight of the evening. This is an event you won't want to miss! Whether you join us in person at Ojai Underground or tune in via broadcast, get ready for an unforgettable night of live music and heartfelt performances. Secure your tickets now for an experience that will linger in your memory long after the final note fades away. Let's come together to find the light in the darkness and celebrate the power of music to uplift and inspire. See you there!