There’s a kind of wisdom that only comes from the road.

Soren Staff from Them Coolee Boys summed it up in six words:

“Change breaks you before it makes you.”

He wasn’t being dramatic — just honest.

Because for them, it’s not theory.

They’ve lived it.

From playing 10 a.m. festival slots while people were still setting up tents —

“The first time we played there… it was like 10 a.m. on a Friday… the next year they were like, ‘How would you like to headline Friday night?’”

—to those late nights when it’s equal parts joy and exhaustion.

“We like to say it’s simultaneously the best job in the world, but also one of the hardest.”

And then he said the line that’s still echoing in my head:

“Change is hard… but you have to go through it if you want to grow.”

That’s not just about music.

That’s about life.

Because the breaking is part of the making.

🎧 Hear the full story on of Them Coulee Boys now on Americana Curious

Briscoe has an incredible story, and you need to hear it now!

Two redheaded kids in the same pair of Chaco sandals at summer camp. A back-porch pact to start a band if they ever wound up at the same college.

And now—sharing the stage with Dave Matthews and lighting up the Newport Folk Festival.

You’ll want to say you discovered this band first.

🔥 From campfire harmonies of John Prine’s “Paradise”…

🔥 …to self-producing their earliest tracks, experimenting with banjos, saxophones, and mandolins…

🔥 …to commanding 20,000 strangers who didn’t know their name—until they earned every ounce of attention.

But here’s what makes them unforgettable:

“I don’t think there’s any greater gift than people that sing our songs back to us… people that care about the songs that we’re writing.” – Philip Lupton

🔔 Don’t miss new episodes: Subscribe to Americana Curious now!

He’s the man behind “Wagon Wheel” — the song that went from a Bob Dylan fragment to a global anthem, covered by Darius Rucker, sung at campfires, weddings, and stadiums everywhere. But few know the real story of how it was written.

In this exclusive interview, Ketch Secor, founder of Old Crow Medicine Show, shares:

-How “Wagon Wheel” was finished when he was just 17

-What it was like taking old-time string band music from the streets to the Grand Ole Opry

-The wild early days of busking, sleeping on couches, and chasing the dream

-His vision for the future of Americana music

-Why he thinks “Americana” might not even be the right label for the genre

👉 If you believe music still has the power to inspire, heal, and change the world — this episode will give you chills.

🔔 Don’t miss new episodes: Subscribe to Americana Curious now!

Mainstream country radio has no room for voices like Luke Tyler Shelton—and that’s exactly why his music matters.

In this episode of Americana Curious, Ben and Zach sit down with rising Americana artist Luke Tyler Shelton, whose debut album Blue Sky (produced by Shooter Jennings) is already winning over true music lovers.

From writing songs in parking lots to sharing the stage at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion, Luke’s story is proof that the future of country music isn’t on the radio—it’s in the raw, soulful spaces where authenticity lives.

🎶 What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why Luke’s songs will never fit into the Nashville machine (and why that’s good news)
• The Laurel Canyon legends who shaped his sound (Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Gram Parsons)
• The moment Shooter Jennings and Jonathan Wilson jumped in to produce his debut
• How playing Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion became a career-defining moment
• Why Luke believes every song should hit hard enough to make you cry

If you’ve been craving real storytelling, timeless melodies, and music that still has a soul, this conversation will remind you why you fell in love with Americana in the first place.

👉 Discover Luke Tyler Shelton right now!

📌 Don’t miss future episodes featuring the hidden gems and legends of Americana. Subscribe, stay curious, and help us keep real music alive.

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Sammy Rae and The Friends didn’t just start a band—they sparked a movement. 🎤✨

In this unforgettable interview, Sammy Rae and The Friends reveal the wild story behind a tour bus breakdown that turned into something legendary…and the moment a single letter changed everything.

From sold-out shows at Red Rocks to creating a global community of belonging, Sammy Rae and The Friends share how their high-octane, genre-defying energy is inspiring fans around the world.

Watch now to discover why this band is something you have to see to believe.

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Go here to check out Sammy Rae & The Friends! https://www.sammyrae.com/

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From Dive Bars to John Mayer: The Last Revel’s Journey is Unbelievable!

Three musicians.

One relentless vision.

And a record that feels like the point of no return.

From Midwest dive bars to sharing stages with John Mayer, The Last Revel has always played like there’s something at stake.

But this time…it’s different.

They locked themselves away in a legendary studio.

They called in heroes to push them past their limits.

They bet everything on one album — the fastest, rawest, most unapologetic music they’ve ever made.

Curious how far a band will go when there’s no Plan B?

Press play.

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He didn’t chase the spotlight. He built a bonfire of truth—and let the crowd find him.

Ryan Necci never set out to be a full-time musician and songwriter.

He was a graphic designer. A weekend warrior.

Then life cracked wide open.

A brain tumor.

A rescue dog fighting cancer.

A marriage ending.

And through it all—songs poured out.

🎶 Songs that bruised like Springsteen.

🖤 Lyrics that cut like Isbell.

🔥 A growl that hits you in the gut like Stapleton.

One video. One verse. One million views later… the world started listening. And they haven’t stopped.

In this episode of Americana Curious, Ryan gets real about:

Turning heartbreak into harmony

Writing for Luke Grimes, Flatland Cavalry, and more

Why authenticity—not algorithms—is your superpower

How a raw Instagram clip resurrected a 10-year-old song

And the letting go that saved his life

If you’ve ever been told to chase trends or keep quiet about your pain—this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now. Get Americana Curious with Ryan Necci.

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700 Million Streams. No Label - Sons of the East

🎶 They tracked a stolen tour bus with AirTags.

🎤 They played their hearts out in front of Bill Murray.

🩲 And yes… they lost a full cube of fresh undies on tour.

Sons of the East didn’t blow up overnight.

They built their global cult following the hard way:

No major label.

No viral gimmick.

Just killer harmonies, soulful songs, and relentless touring.

Nic Johnston dropped in on Americana Curious to share the wild ride from Aussie backyard jams to 300M+ streams and sing-alongs across Europe and North America.

🎧 Hear the truth about:

Building a band that lasts (and still likes each other)

Turning heartbreak into healing songs

How they recorded their new album Sons live, raw, and totally unfiltered

This is what it looks like to stay indie and go global.

🔥 Listen in. Get curious. Fall in love with the music.

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From Monkey’s Eyebrow to the Country Music Hall of Fame

She learned to write songs before she learned to drive.

Raised in the swampy river bottoms of rural Kentucky—riding a John boat to her dad’s hunting lodge—Kelsey Waldon found her way from front porches and thumb-picked guitars to sharing stages with Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker.

🎙 Signed to John Prine’s legendary Oh Boy Records

🎧 Played the Grand Ole Opry

✍️ Her handwritten lyrics now live in the Country Music Hall of Fame

But the climb wasn’t all spotlight and applause.

One night it’s a sold-out show at the Ryman.

The next? Five people in Houston.

Through it all, Kelsey kept going.

Because the songs wouldn’t let her quit.

Her latest album, Every Ghost, is her boldest yet—haunting, raw, and unshakably real.

🔥 A voice that won’t flinch.

🔥 A pen that won’t lie.

🔥 A sound rooted in the truth.

If you don’t know Kelsey Waldon yet…

You're in for a REAL TREAT!

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TRAUMA TO TRIUMPH: THE BIRTH OF THE LONE BELLOW 🎙️

What if heartbreak could spark healing?

This episode of Americana Curious is one for the soul. 🎧 We sit down with Zach Williams—frontman of The Lone Bellow—to uncover the raw story of how a life-altering accident became the catalyst for a musical movement.

💔 A broken neck.

🎸 A journal turned song.

🔥 A voice discovered in a Starbucks open mic.

🌆 A Brooklyn bond that became a band.

From writing his first songs while his wife recovered from paralysis, to packing out Bowery Ballroom before the debut album dropped, Zach shares how community, creativity, and courage built The Lone Bellow.

We talk family. We talk fire (literally). We talk Americana as the healing balm a generation is craving.

🎶 Harmonies that make you cry.

🎤 Live shows that feel like revival.

📺 A cabin show on Magnolia Network.

And why Americana music just might save us all.

🎙️ Tap the link in bio to hear the full episode and get inspired.

👇 Drop a 🎧 if you’re listening. Tag someone who needs to hear this.

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