This week on Local Music Monday DeBraun Thomas talks with banjoist and songwriter Arthur Hancock IV of the group the Wooks.
Arthur Hancock IV is a native of Lexington whose family has deep roots in the bluegrass. His father is a guitarist and as he began to follow in his father’s footsteps, his passion switched from guitar to banjo in a 4 day period as he watched his dad record with some of the legends of Bluegrass.
“He had put together a band of people that were unbelievable musicians, all the guys in the bluegrass world that are a famed golden mountain, you know, they’re like the heroes of life, so, I got to sit for three or four days and watch them track this record and do it and JD Crowe was playing banjo and after that, I had started taking lessons before that, but when I saw that I was enthralled, it takes a driving force to practice, all music is, is hours, so I started spending a lot of hours playing the banjo trying to get those sounds.”
Hancock started a duo with guitarist CJ Cain and that project eventually grew to become the 5 piece band the Wooks. Hancock says his willingness to woodshed has been even more encouraged by those around him.
“Learning to play in front of other people and with other people, I think that has helped me to be a better musician, I never was one of those people that would get out and play music, even if I was able, because I didn’t think I was good enough, and so that drove me to sit in my room probably and practice more than I would have otherwise and I still have a lot to learn, but the last couple years, really getting in a band and getting pushed by those people, it’s amazing how much you can learn at a short period of time, even at 30 years old.”
The Wooks recorded their debut album, Little Circles at Compass Records in Nashville and the album is due out later this year. Hancock says the band has its roots in Bluegrass, but the album is going to be a showcase of all of their influences.
“There’s some phaser on a banjo here and there and stuff like that, but that’s kind of in homage of the fact that we’re not, we don’t sit at home and just listen to bluegrass music, we listen to a lot of music, those musics have different techniques and styles that we wanted to incorporate, I think the record does a good job of providing the feel of us in the studio really bringing the energy and that came through.”
Arthur Hancock IV performs with the Wooks and a duo with his father called Arthur & Arthur. The Wooks will be performing on May 6th at Al’s Bar. More information about Hancock and his projects can be found at wookoutamerica.com.
