The Story of Ann Marie Calhoun & Widespread Panic

Amazing story of KZbin and the connecting power of music. A talented young female violin player uploaded her homemade videos on KZbin, then got to play with the bands IRL including Widespread Panic.
Her KZbin covers in 2007 included violin versions of songs by Grateful Dead, Phish, and Widespread Panic. The Athens, GA, rock band Widespread Panic saw her video where Ann Marie played "Surprise Valley" on violin. The band was so impressed they wanted to meet Ann Marie, and in 2008 Panic invited her to perform the song on stage with them!! Wow! This really happened.
I stitched together 3 videos tracing the history of violinist Ann Marie Calhoun with Widespread Panic. First you'll hear a snippit of the live original "Surprise Valley" by Widespread Panic with lead guitarist Michael Houser recorded in 2000. Listen to Houser's lead guitar phrasing at the beginning, and take note of the tone.
Second you'll see Ann Marie Calhoun's famous KZbin clip, where she plays an amazing cover version of Surprise Valley. Listen to her intonation and variety of touch on the strings of her instrument, the soul fiddle she puts into playing the tune, and the way she mimics Michael Houser's fluid guitar lines using her violin technique.
Third, it all comes together, as Ann Marie Calhoun is an honored special guest on stage with Widespread Panic in 2008. The late great Michael Houser passed away in 2002, now Jimmy Herring is on lead guitar. Ann Marie brings her KZbin-familiar violin licks, playing a beautiful tribute to Houser in the process, while quickly becoming a much-loved guest favorite of the Panic fanbase. Listen to the crowd erupt in cheers, and check out the happiness on stage from all the musicians, especially Ann Marie. :)
From the biography of Ann Marie Calhoun: "Ann Marie Calhoun is an internationally acclaimed rock violinist and a master of her instrument in many diverse genres of music. Her extensive experience as a rock violinist includes a world tour with the legendary Jethro Tull as a featured guest and a world tour with virtuosic guitar player Steve Vai as a member of his String Theories band. Ann Maries violin playing has also been featured in tours with Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart (Euythmics). She performed at the 2008 Grammys as a soloist with the Foo Fighters. Additionally, she has performed/worked with Mick Jagger, Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, Joss Stone, and many other acclaimed artists."
For more information on these artists:
www.annmariecalhoun.com
www.widespreadpanic.com
dgold.info/radio
Video put together by Dgold in 2009. I wanted to remember and explore the sequence in order, for the memory and documenting the context of this cool music story.
Please post a Comment / Rate / Subscribe on KZbin !

[@Texama57]

I had never heard of Anne Marie before and I went to a Jethro Tull concert in Houston about 15 or so years ago. Anne opened the show and was fantastic, I was blown away at how good she was and settled in for my second Tull concert 30 years apart........Anne Marie played the entire show with the Jethro Tull band also!!! One of the best concerts I've ever seen.

[@elliottlaughlin7551]

Wow! Bought my 4 yo a pink violin for her birthday. Also got panic at ACL on DVD. She loves it!

[@o2boutdoors]

Nice job piecing the story and the videos together...thumbs up! This is an incredibly beautiful song, and her playing makes it that much better.

[@chingada47]

Nicely done. Thanks for posting.

[@elizamize]

Beautiful....even the shadow.

[@huntlea]

Channeling THE SWIRL OF SOUND!!! Nice work, DGOLD!!!

[@J_Mc314]

That was awesome!!! Should have kept it going!!!

[@dixiemanfunk]

I always thought Houser as not so much fluid but he plays like birds fly. He always soared and flapped his wings a bit then soared and dove again. I think Jimmy is a great fit in that capacity. Nice work, great video!

[@makdds2000]

What a great talent you are so insightful in your interpretation. Great feel and groove!

[@codyg2485]

I remember this like it was yesterday. Did most of the spring tour in 2008. Chicago>Murfreesboro, TN>Orange Beach, AL>Savannah, GA>Raleigh, NC.. home for 5 days, then to>Dallas, TX for the Spring Tour Closer. Had to be the Greatest April of my life! WSMFP!!!

[@user-jq5iw4dg3s]

Ann marie Calhoun. You are beautiful musician. Beautifully talented. Love you with the steve vai band .

[@tauras88d]

She is so freakin Awesome, Mikie would have loved to jam with her:)

[@Umberto2]

I saw her play with Panic at Outside Lands in 2008. She is fantastic.

[@curiouscrutiny]

wow

[@gradlegirl]

She's amazing! Got to see her with Panic at Outside Lands Festival in San Fran!

[@d.a.dupree7484]

❤️

[@jjnlucky]

If you like fiddle / violin, check out Chelsey Green and the Green Project. She is fabulous, too.

[@donmichael34]

Does anyone know where I can find the intro tab to Surprise Valley?

[@danhamilton1147]

What about the guitar guy? He tore it up. Way to go Guitar guy!

[@sneakonproductionz]

hey man do you have the whole surprise valley I cant seem to find it

[@americanmumford74]

fucking sick

[@trippnation]

WSP should hire her full time

[@bradfordzilla]

fitting that the guitar player is sitting on the arm of the couch

[@fishybearspi]

She ain't bad on the eyes either.