The indie-folk band that now calls itself Distance Walk started as a one-time group. The musicians came together to back singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjoist Barry Osborne when he was scheduled to play his cycle of folk songs based on the poetry of Depression-era writer Lorine Niedecker in fall of 2019 at Swallow Hill Music.
The gig went well; the musicians sold out the venue. Osborne was joined by Olivia Shaw on fiddle, Yoni Fine on guitar and Niki Tredinnick on vocals, clarinet and percussion. They all got along and started playing shows around the Denver area. During a gig at Mutiny Information Cafe in early 2020, without the time to perform the lengthy Niedecker song cycle, they changed things up and created a more expansive indie-folk sound.
Jan 28, 2021
John Anthony DeStefano, Jr., 64 of Follansbee, WV died peacefully on Monday, January 25, 2021 at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA after a long and courageous battle with COVID-19 with his loving family by his side.
Born on March 28, 1956 in Steubenville, OH, a son of the late John A. DeStefano, Sr. and Lucille “Lucy” Mary (Marino) Takach.
John graduated from Brooke High School in 1974 and graduated from West Liberty University with a degree in Business Administration and Political Science.
John was currently the City Manager of Follansbee from Feb 2004 to present and past City Councilman from July 1998-Feb 2004 and Banner Fibreboard in Wellsburg, WV in Sales from 1996 to 2004 and worked for Prudential Insurance as an agent from Sept 1981-March 1996.