In preparing for this introduction writeup for IBA’s 8th podcast, I found on the internet a 2000 music review of the Grasshoppers, one of Idaho’s great bluegrass bands. The reviewer introduced the band by stating, “Hailing from the unlikely bluegrass state of Idaho.”  Well, I think the IBA’s podcast series about bluegrass musicians with roots and connections to Idaho proves the reviewer dead wrong, it should read “hailing from Idaho, the bluegrass music state”!  This podcast, the 8th in our series, is about the amazing Honi Deaton and lends further proof that Idaho’s bluegrass music scene is alive and well.  
Honi moved to Idaho at age 15 and was introduced to bluegrass music (including the “Weiser scene”) by Jeremy Garrett (featured in our 1st podcast and with the Grammy Award winning The Infamous String Dusters). Honi plays multiple instruments, is a singer/songwriter, teaches music, and is an amazing vocalist. She played with nationally recognized bluegrass bands including the Grasshoppers, Honi Deaton & Dream, and most recently Honi & Dreamgrass. Honi lived in Georgia for a while, where she and her husband Jeff Deaton were nationally touring musicians. Honi and Jeff are back in Idaho, and much involved in the music scene, including a recent release of an album (Make You Smile, Shop (honidreamgrass.com); Honi and Jeff also participated in IBA’s open mic last month! 

Thanks to Gary Eller and Bob Pori for pulling together another great podcast that truly captures bluegrass in Idaho.  
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Honi Deaton Interview

This interview was produced for the IDAHO BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION in collaboration with THE IDAHO SONGS PROJECT and the NATIONAL OLDTIME FIDDLERS'CONTEST AND FESTIVAL
Interview conducted by Gary Eller
​​Credits for Honi Deaton Interview:


Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On - written by Hank Locklin
Honi Deaton & Dream (Promise to a Soldier) 2005
Lead vocal - Honi Deaton
Harmony vocals - Jeff Deaton, Josh Brooks
Banjo - Josh Brooks
Guitar - Greg Luck
Mandolin - Joe Clark
Dobro - Andy Ruff
Upright Bass – Jeff
 
Me and Bobby McGee - Kris Krisstopherson
Honi Deaton & DreamGrass (Make You Smile) 2021
Lead vocal - Honi Deaton
Harmony vocals - Jeff Deaton, Josh Brooks
Banjo - Josh Brooks
Mandolin - Jeff Deaton
Guitar - Jeff Deaton, Ladd Johnston
Fiddle - Katrina Nicolayeff
Bass - Jeff Deaton
 
That Road - Written by Honi Deaton
Honi Deaton & Dream (What Should Have Been) 2003
Lead vocal - Honi Deaton
Harmony vocals - Jeff Deaton, Chris Davis
Banjo - Kristen Scott Benson
Guitar - Mark Mundy
Mandolin - Wayne Benson
Fiddle - Dewey Brown
Upright bass - Jeff Deaton
 
Wasted Memories - written by Honi Deaton
Honi Deaton & Dream (The Other Side) 2009
Lead vocal - Honi Deaton
Harmony vocals - Jeff Deaton, Josh Brooks
Banjo - Josh Brooks
Mandolin - Jeff Deaton
Guitar - Wayde Powell
Upright Bass - Honi Deaton