Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson sit down with Austin Mounce, Colby Petro, Adam Keith and Ezra Major of Southgate. The band talks about getting together, winning Battle of the Barn, finding its sound, promoting independent music and supporting local venues. The conversation includes acoustic performances and a closing look at Southgate's upcoming plans.

Recorded September 22, 2026.

Southgate: https://linktr.ee/southgate.band

RHYPH: https://linktr.ee/rhyph

Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson welcome Five Below Band’s Dave Medley to look back on Phoenix Fest at Bluegrass Barrel House. They revisit the bands, Dave sitting in with Rhythm Phoenix, the sound and musical choices, and the stories that made the day memorable.

The conversation includes keyboards and collaboration, the bell story, chili cook-off banter, talk boxes, the Lexington Music Awards, and Phoenix Fest’s community fundraising and merchandise.

Originally recorded September 15, 2026. Show dates discussed are historical references to that recording date.

Watch the original episode
Follow Rhythm Phoenix

Episode 26 of Catching FIRE with RHYPH goes all-in on everything Phoenix Fest.

Raela Phoenix, co-owner of Bluegrass Barrel House, and Cody Begley, general manager of BBH, join Cody Stone and Austin McDonald from The A/C UNIT. Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson host the live conversation about building a six-band festival day, running the room, stage transitions, what fans should expect, and the community behind Phoenix Fest.

Phoenix Fest is Saturday, September 12 at Bluegrass Barrel House, 701 E Irvine St, Richmond, Kentucky. Live music runs 2:00 PM–midnight:

• Crown n Spurs — 2:00–3:00 PM

• A/C Unit — 3:30–4:30 PM

• Filthy but Fine — 5:00–6:00 PM

• Dalton Dailey Band — 6:30–7:30 PM

• 5 Below Band — 8:00–9:30 PM

• Rhythm Phoenix — 10:00 PM–midnight

Episode 26 Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1146384174566141/

Phoenix Fest event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1657303385373418/

RHYPH links: https://linktr.ee/rhyph

Chapters

0:00 Phoenix Fest lineup, charities and event details

1:49 How The A/C UNIT began

5:08 Their first gig at Walmart and the Free Bird story

7:46 Bluegrass, mountain gospel and musical influences

9:13 Playing requests and the Free Bird debate

13:25 Festival-day plans and arrival details

14:19 Phoenix Fest shirts supporting vets and pets

16:18 Previewing the six-band lineup

21:08 Weather plan and complete performance schedule

22:50 Rock Rebellion and The A/C UNIT's venue circuit

26:27 Shawn Black, five below band and supporting musicians

29:37 Choosing music versus a conventional career

31:19 Audience logistics: seating, pets and house rules

33:47 Football at BBH during Phoenix Fest

37:33 Upcoming A/C UNIT shows and band links

38:21 The A/C UNIT's fiery promo videos

40:33 September 11 pre-festival party

42:01 Phoenix Fest recap, donations and local charities

46:44 Original music, recording and releasing songs

53:18 Rapid-fire questions with Cody and Austin

1:02:14 Closing thoughts and the meaning of Phoenix Fest

Episode 25 of Catching FIRE with RHYPH welcomes Shawn Black, founder and vocalist of Lexington's five below band.

Shawn traces the group from five friends rehearsing in a basement in late 2000 to more than 1,000 performances across the region. He joins Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson for a practical conversation about frontman craft, band chemistry, set-building, lineup changes, conflict, family, and the habits that let a working rock band last for decades.

The conversation also follows the community thread connecting five below band and Rhythm Phoenix: sharing The Cellar stage at Cellar Daze, playing Rock Between the Bridges at Proud Mary BBQ in support of Honor Flight Kentucky, and meeting again at Phoenix Fest at Bluegrass Barrel House on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

At Phoenix Fest, five below band performs from 8:00–9:30 PM, followed by Rhythm Phoenix from 10:00 PM–midnight. Bluegrass Barrel House is at 701 E Irvine St, Richmond, KY 40475.

Learn about Honor Flight Kentucky: https://www.honorflightky.org/

See Rhythm Phoenix events: https://www.rhythmphoenixky.com/upcoming

Follow five below band through Shawn's confirmed official links after recording.

Chris Adams joins Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson to preview Kentucky football’s 2026 season. Then PRHBTN co-organizers and artists Alexandrea Pangburn and Geoff Murphy share the work behind Lexington’s murals, the October 9–18 painting schedule, the October 9 gallery opening at the Loudoun House, and the effort to fund public street art.

Support Lexington street art: https://www.kickstartstreetart.com/

PRHBTN: https://www.prhbtn.com/

Find Rhythm Phoenix and Catching FIRE: https://linktr.ee/rhyph

Originally recorded live August 25, 2026.

Dalton Dailey returns to Catching FIRE with RHYPH alongside Huck, with Gary Tussey joining the conversation for a Kentucky Bourbon Jam preview. We talk about Dalton's 3:55 PM main-stage set, the sound he is bringing to Richmond, Gary's work with the CenterStage acoustic stage and sound support, and Rhythm Phoenix opening the main stage.

Watch the original livestream: https://youtube.com/live/plhmVkS8K6M

Find Rhythm Phoenix and Catching FIRE: https://linktr.ee/rhythmphoenix

Tina Taylor and The Rambling Gypsies — Brandon and Ryan — join hosts Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson for Episode 22 of Catching FIRE with RHYPH.

We talk country storytelling, roots-rock energy, life on the regional music circuit, acoustic shows versus full-band stages, the River to Grow Music Festival, and what Tina Taylor and The Rambling Gypsies are creating next.

Guests:

Tina Taylor

The Rambling Gypsies — Brandon and Ryan

Hosts:

Derek McElwee

Adam Dodson

Follow Rhythm Phoenix:

https://linktr.ee/rhyph

Originally recorded live Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Shylah McIntosh previews the final Rhythm in the Railyard concert of 2026 and October’s River to Grow Music Festival. Beattyville songwriter Walker White joins the conversation about Kentucky River country, his debut album Kentucky River Folk, and performs two songs live.

Originally aired August 4, 2026.

Watch the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMI7KsFon8M

Rhythm in the Railyard tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rhythm-in-the-railyard-with-rhythm-pheonix-marshull-wesley-saylor-tickets-1995465503036

All RHYPH links: https://linktr.ee/rhyph

Richmond singer-songwriter Nick Marcum joins Derek McElwee and Adam Dodson for Episode 20 of Catching FIRE with RHYPH. Nick shares his path as a solo performer, bandleader, and Patio Cowboys member, along with the experiences that shaped him as a songwriter. The conversation also explores his life raising cattle on a Madison County farm connected to four generations of his family, why preserving working farmland matters to him, and what farmers' rights mean in practice. Nick performs “Never Again” and “Letter to My Son.” Follow Nick on Instagram at @nmarcum54, and find Rhythm Phoenix at https://linktr.ee/rhyph.

Paint Creek frontmen Eric and Alec Poore join Derek and Adam to discuss family harmony, Southeast Kentucky roots, and why the band delayed its eight-track album Crossroads to finish it the right way. The conversation covers the brothers' roles as the band's frontmen and day-to-day managers, the decision not to rush the album after its planned July 17 release date, and the work behind Paint Creek's growing original catalog. Learn more at https://paintcreekmusic.com and follow @paintcreekmusic on social platforms.