Hops & Spirits: Bar Conversations

We take a look back at Day 1 of Bourbon & Beyond 2023. We talk about the setup, the food and, of course, the lineup. Some standouts include Buddy Guy, Midland, Train, Brandi Carlile, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.

Formed in their teens, Boy Named Banjo includes Barton Davies (banjo), Ford Garrard (bass/standing bass), Sam McCullough (drums) Willard Logan (mandolin, acoustic/electric guitar) and William Reames (acoustic guitar/harmonica). We chat with the guys about their major label debut album Dusk, being able to capture all the band's personalities on it, making their Opry debut, being from Nashville, how the group came together, why they're a five-way partnership, what's coming up and more.

A Nashvillian by way of Philadelphia, Vinnie Paolizzi has spent the better part of the last decade in the songwriting trenches, making a name for himself as a rising singer-songwriter to watch. Vinnie talks about his new album Vinnie Paolizzi LP, growing up in Pennsylvania, ending up in Nashville, writing music, working with talented artists, favorite song to perform on stage, what folks can expect in 2024 and more.

The tapestry of Southern music in America is rich, vivid and diverse. Adam Hood is an artist who exudes that substantial musical lineage each time he straps on his Telecaster for a show or picks up his pen to write a song. The roots of his Opelika, AL upbringing inform his musicality and guide his soul-stirring lyrics. Adam talks about re-recording his album Different Groove, hitting the road with Whiskey Myers this year and Drake White in 2024, performing at the Opry, still trying to perform overseas, being in the music business since age 16 and more.

Made up of Logan Moore (guitar, vocals), Alex Kerns (bass, vocals), Riley Kerns (drums, background vocals), James Montgomery (lead guitar), Justin Carver (pedal steel, banjo), and Rudy Bzdyk (fiddle, trumpet, keyboards), Low Water Bridge Band have made their career by furthering their sound; forged by firelight picking and ramped up into a romping, stomping on-stage energy. We chat with Logan and Riley about their new album Back to the Valley, how the group came to be, their unique hobbies, handling the recording and producing in house, their favorite songs to perform and more.

Emmet Stevens Jr. stands as a testament to the profound impact that music, faith, and personal resilience can have on shaping a life of purpose and accomplishment. Born and raised in Dade City, Florida, his narrative is a seamless intertwining of his deep-rooted faith, musical prowess, and unyielding commitment to sharing his songwriting and melodies with the world. Emmet talks about his debut single “Dunn With You”, working with his mentor Craig Campbell, playing local bars at age 20, now playing bigger venues, his upcoming album, what's next and more.

James Barker Band -- made up of James Barker (lead vocals/guitar), Taylor Abram (guitar/background vocals), Connor Stephen (drums), and Bobby Martin (bass) -- have fueled an incredible story over the last eight years, largely on their own, from opening for local bands in dive bars to charting multiple No. 1 singles and hundreds of millions of global streams to headlining festivals and playing stages across North America and Europe. James join us to talk about the band's unique pre-show ritual, how close they've become, how the band got started, how much things changed when "Chills" hit No. 1 on the charts, their latest EP Ahead of Our Time, what's next and so much more.

Born and raised in Mississippi, near the birthplace of the musical style known as the Delta Blues, Peyton Aldridge found his love for music at an early age, singing with his church choir and at local music venues. Peyton talks about being on The Voice, what he learned from John Legend, learning to play the piano & guitar, how important family is to him, writing songs about his wife, his latest single "Friend with a Beer", what's coming next, will folks get to hear a Christmas song, and so much more.

What Jonathan's drinking: Puncher's Chance Bourbon

Masters of their trade, The Lonesome Ace Stringband (Chris Coole, John Showman and Max Malone) bring grit, skill and abandon to Americana music, bridging old-time, bluegrass and folk traditions into a seamless hybrid of original material that is at once fresh and timeless. We chat Chris and John about how the group came together, their name, how they got into their instruments, their new album Try to Make It Fly, what's coming up and more.

Nashville native Jenny Tolman is your "ride or die" kind of artist. Her songs will make audiences laugh, cry, stomp their feet, clap their hands and shake their heads in wonder at her inciteful, story-like lyrics. Jenny talks about growing up around the music industry, being a Nashville native, getting into songwriting, why she has so much fun with her songs, her growing family, hosting Cowgirls at The Cowboy, her latest singles, what's coming up and more.

For more on Jenny, visit https://www.jennytolman.com/ or find her on social media.

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