Don Armstrong and the Whiskeypalians

Don Armstrong will celebrate his new CD release for the Ronstadt Record Company, Mother, Don’t Give Up On Me Now, at Hotel Congress on Saturday, April 11 at 7 pm. He will be joined by his group, The Whiskeypalians, and several special guests. 

Don has been hailed as a “Tucson legend” and “folk treasure,” and for the past 50 years, has performed in clubs, coffee houses, concert halls and festivals across the US, as well as on television and radio. His songs have been recorded nationwide and performed worldwide. For 42 years, Don was part of the duo Don & Victoria Armstrong before Victoria’s passing in 2014. Together, they recorded nine albums, each one receiving national acclaim. 

The Whiskeypalians are made up of Nick Coventry, violin, Gary Mackender, accordion, Slim Rost, bass and T Greg Squires, cajon, while vocal accompaniment is provided by The Whiskeyettes: Bekah Rolland, Sabra Faulk and Liz Cerepanya. Special guests will include Petie Ronstadt, Producer, playing banjo & tuba and singing, Matt Rolland, fiddle, Alvin Blaine, dobro & Hawaiian lap steel, and Earl Edmonson, guitar. 

Don’s voice, according to one critic, “has an inherent sweetness (along with) an ability to sing seamless lines, the sign of a master singer,” while another simply said “he has the voice of a twenty-five year old.” The Arizona Daily Star referred to him as a “consummate songwriter,” and his original songs have a Southwestern, traditional Americana flavor with a 1930’s flair. Don has shared the bill with John Hartford, Ian Tyson, Norman Blake, Michael Nesmith, Utah Phillips, Peter Rowan, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Laura Nyro, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton and Kenny Rankin. 

Whiskeypalians:

Don Armstrong – guitar, banjo, voice

Nick Coventry – violin

Gary Mackender – accordion

Slim Rost – bass

Matt Rolland – fiddle

Bekah Rolland

Sabra Faulk

Liz Cerepanya

With Special Guests:

Petie Ronstadt – Producer, banjo, tuba, bass & vocals

Alvin Blaine – dobro, Hawaiian Lap Steel

Earl Edmonson – guitar