Logo design: Kelsi Depew
Photo credit: Joy Zimmerman
Newest Release
Recently ending a twenty-year career as a choral director in public schools, Beth Watts Nelson can now be found pursuing her muse in various projects throughout the Kansas City area. Her newest group, Little Miss Dynamite, combining the acoustic forces of some of KC’s finest musicians (Betse Ellis, Brandon Day, and Caleb Gardner) released its debut album, “Grow Up” in May 2024. Beth also sings and plays the clawhammer banjo in the fiery old time string band, Catgut, and is a founding member of the Konza Swamp Band, a long-standing pillar of the local Bluegrass scene. Her sweet and soulful duo, Beth and Brandon, plans to release an EP in 2025. As a solo/duo performer, she performs original songs that sound as if they had been unearthed with the patina of decades in the songbook of Americana. With a voice that cuts straight to your soul, and playing a vintage Martin guitar or clawhammer banjo, she will evoke smiles and tears – often at the same time.
Video by Natalie Prauser
One of the winning songs for Walnut Valley Festival NewSong Showcase 2024
Commission for SASS-MoKan Remembrance Walk
"Only You" featured on Americana Road Show
Beth and Brandon at Waldo Folk, KCMO
Beth and Brandon at Pioneer Heritage Days, Warsaw, MO
Little Miss Dynamite
Catgut String Band
Konza Swamp Band
Upcoming Dates
Aug. 29 with Konza Swamp @ private party, Buckner, MO
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Aug. 30 with Catgut @ private party, Lawrence, KS
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Sept. 4 with Beth and Brandon @ Tall Trellis, Olathe, KS 6-8 pm
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Sept. 5 solo @ private garden party, Paola, KS
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Sept. 6 with Little Miss Dynamite @ Crossroads Music Fest Day Party, Lemonade Park, KCMO 1:00 pm
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Sept. 6 with Little Miss Dynamite @ Moonrise Bike Ride, Pomona Lake State Park 5:00 pm
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Sept. 7 solo SASS-MOKAN Remembrance Walk @ Loose Park, KCMO 9:00 am
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Sept. 13 with Beth and Brandon @ Arts in the Park, South Park, Lawrence, KS 10:00 am
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Sept. 13 with Catgut @ Patton's Picking Parlor, Winfield, KS 6:00 pm
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Sept. 14-21 @ WALNUT VALLEY FESTIVAL, Winfield, KS
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Sept. 26 with Beth and Brandon @ Urban Hikes and Hilltone Studios, KCK, 5:30 hike, 7:45 show
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Sept. 27 with Konza Swamp @ Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival, Carl Junction, MO 2:00 pm
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Sept. 28 with Beth and Brandon @ Force of Nature, DeSoto, KS 2:00 pm
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Oct. 1 with Beth and Brandon @ KKFI 90.1 Wednesday MidDay Medley with Mark Manning, 11:30 am
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Oct. 1 with Beth and Brandon @ Lo Key Wednesdays, Hammers Piano Bar, KCMO, 7:30 pm
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Oct. 2 with Beth and Brandon @ Tall Trellis, Olathe, KS 6-8 pm
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Oct. 3 with Beth and Brandon @ FAI Finest Folk First Fridays, M-AAA Culture Lab, KCMO, 6-8 pm
Oct. 11 with Beth and Brandon @ Harvest Festival, Independence Blvd Christian Church, KCMO, 11:30 am
Oct. 21 - 29 with Beth and Brandon @ TOUR through MO and IL to Folk Alliance Regional Midwest in Chicago!
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Nov. 5 with Beth and Brandon @ Waldo Folk, Time TBA
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