Award winning WireWood Station came up with their name, loving the sounds from the WIRE of their strings and the WOOD of their instruments.
This eclectic group of professional musicians are the reigning champs of the "Best Acoustic Band in Colorado" from the Rocky Mountain Music Festival as well as winning the "Best Band" in Colorado Springs honored and voted by the readers of the Gazette for several years running.
Members of WWS have toured internationally including stages in Europe, South America, North Africa, the Middle East, as well as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Red Rocks, Branson Theaters to Nashville Studios. Members have had the honor of playing with Jazz and Rock legends to Country Icons.
WWS has been privileged to share the stage with the late Charlie Daniels, Randy Travis, Sawyer Brown, Mark Chesnutt, The Marshall Tucker Band, Josh Ward, and Dwight Yoakam to name a few.
Michelle Edwards has a BM in classical violin performance and that little piece of wood under her chin has allowed her to tour the world playing with some amazing artists. Starting off her professional career in symphonies, she left the classical world when asked to tour with Wayne Newton (along with Tony Orlando and Andy Williams) as the youngest tour member ever hired. After life on the road, her career led her to Nashville for 13 years playing with Country stars, Jazz greats and Christian artists mostly on Music Row in the studios. She had the privilege of playing at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the iconic Red Rocks. Recently, she wrote an Amazon best seller book "How to Break into the Local Music Scene (and make money!)" https://www.amazon.com/Break-Local-Music-Scene-Money/ Thankful to the readers of the Gazette, she was voted and won Gold for the “Best Musician”. As the founder and manager of WireWood Station, the fellas keep her busy collaborating, writing songs, and arranging music. Most of all she loves connecting with the audience for a foot stompin' good time with her band brothers!
Sam Wachtler has a background as an award winning bluegrass guitarist and used to be in the amazing WMD bluegrass band. Once WMD closed up shop, he joined the WireWood Station family and has been an integral part of WWS success and awards. He won an International Dulcimer contest along with his talents in singing, songwriting and guitar picking. He keeps WWS going with his great sense of humor which is evident the moment he hits the stage! A slinger on those six strings -"If playing fast was a crime he would be doing 25 to life!"
Adam Gardino started playing guitar at 10 years of age. He's won the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the prestigious Walnut Valley Festival multiple times, and is an award winning songwriter. Adam has a BS in Music Performance, as an expert in a variety of guitar styles but excelling in Finger Style which is the most difficult to master and master he has! Adam played with the famous Flying W Wranglers and joined WWS in 2020 just in time for the pandemic:) With Adam's guitar skills he is our resident theory and chart arranger along with his amazing songwriting and singing talents. "He could play the phone book and make it sound interesting!"
