Episode 59 of Inside the Musician's Brain features two of the hottest up-and-coming bands on the acoustic/bluegrass scene: Clay Street Unit and Mountain Grass Unit. It's no secret that the roots music scene is booming, and there have never been more promising bands coming of age. Clay St are Denver locals who brought Chris on board to produce their debut album, 'Sin and Squalor,' due out 2.13.26. They have a very solid chemistry, great original songs, a catchy sound that features mandolin and pedal steel, and a lead singer (Sam Walker) who turns heads everywhere he goes. Mountain Grass Unit is the next big thing in the bluegrass world, with chops and vocals that put their deep knowledge of the genre on full display. These cats can play! Audiences are already taking note of both bands, with sold out shows and plenty of buzz. In the intro to today's episode, Chris will also point you in the direction of a number of excellent young/new acts that are starting to make waves, taking acoustic music in all kinds of exciting new directions.

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Episode 58 of Inside the Musician's Brain features a songwriter with a style all his own - Bahamas. For almost 20 years Bahamas has been putting out excellent albums, touring the world and building a dedicated fan base who love his unique, laid back, soulful sound. We learn all about the making of his new album, 'My Second Last Album,' his songwriting process, how his career has evolved over the years and why making space for boredom is essential to creativity. Chris also takes on the hot topic of AI music generators like Suno.com, and how they might ultimately be a very good thing for roots music artists.

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Episode 57 of Inside the Musician's Brain features one of the biggest stars in bluegrass over the past 30 years, Dan Tyminski. From his early days with the trailblazing Lonesome River Band, to a handful of amazing solo albums, many years with the legendary Alison Krauss & Union Station, and now his own band (The Dan Tyminski Band), Dan has more than made his mark on bluegrass with his incredible voice and his powerful picking. He is perhaps best know for singing the Avicci smash hit 'Hey Brother,' as well as 'Man of Constant Sorrow' from the Coen brothers movie 'O Brother Where Art Thou.' That's quite a resume! Dan and Chris talk about how that journey unfolded, and how he these days Dan is finding a new level of freedom and satisfaction in his music, and making some of the best music of his career.

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Episode 56 of Inside the Musician's Brain features one of the bright young stars of bluegrass/acoustic music - AJ Lee. AJ is a standout singer, mandolin player and songwriter, who just received a nomination for female vocalist of the year at the 2025 IBMA Awards. AJ Lee and Blue Summit have been making waves on the festival circuit in recent years for their stellar singing, playing and repertoire. In this conversation, AJ gives us the band backstory in addition to covering how she improves as a singer, how her relationship with performing has evolved, and much more.

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Greg Ormont is the excellent lead singer of psychedelic funk explorers Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Last summer I got to know Greg and the rest of the band/crew when the Stringdusters went out on tour with Pigeons for a run of dates. It was our first introduction and everyone hit it off - Pigeons put on an amazing show! Greg and I recap the tour as well as his musical journey, the band's backstory, the current New York Knicks state of affairs and much more.

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Episode 54 of Inside the Musician’s Brain features one of the true legends of bluegrass music, the great Del McCoury! For over 60 years Del has been at the forefront of bluegrass music with his signature vocal style, his eclectic songbook and his standout band. His career started alongside the founder of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe, in the mid 1960’s. After a short stint with Monroe, Del set out on his own, building his solo career and ultimately forming The Del McCoury Band, one of the most decorated, revered bands in bluegrass history. Del’s sons Ronnie and Robbie are a huge part of the band sound, adding chapters to the family lore. The McCourys are bluegrass royalty, and Del has truly become the patriarch of the genre. Chris and Del look back at his amazing career, what keeps him going at 86, how he brought his family into the music and much more. This talk is a small piece of bluegrass history, featuring one of the great musical figures of our time. Long live Del McCoury!

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In today's episode, Chris is joined by the incomparable Brittany Haas. Brittany jumped right into a career in music, joining acoustic pioneers Crooked Still right out of college. She quickly made a name for herself as one of the most powerful fiddle players on the scene, blending all the big fiddle influences into one cohesive sound that is always recognizable right away. As her career evolved, she has been a part of many projects and recordings, ultimately leading her to her current gig with Punch Brothers. Alongside Chris Thile and the rest of the Punch gang, Brittany is sure to build on the indelible mark she's leaving on acoustic music. She talks all about getting the gig, the challenges and more - there's a lot to unpack. Chris also looks back on the Dusters long history with the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association), including the glory days of the early 2000's at the Galt House in Louisville, KY. Enjoy!

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Episode 52 of Inside the Musician's Brain features a true original, G. Love. With his eclectic blend of folk, blues and hip-hop, G. Love has been blazing his own trail since the early 90's when he went from being a street performer in Boston to signing a major label deal with Epic Records. Hits like 'Baby's Got Sauce' put G. Love and Special Sauce on the map, launching a long and diverse career that is still unfolding. This episode covers that rise to fame and subsequent musical evolution, as well as the drastic changes in the music business over that time, G's drive to always have his own sound, and some amazing tips on must hear blues artists.

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Inside the Musician's Brain is back for season 6, and we are kicking things off with one of the great legends of the 5-string banjo, Mr. Tony Trischka! Tony is an innovator of the highest order, with a number of influential albums under his own name. He was also Chris' teacher from back in the day so there's lots to discuss. Tony talks about everything from the importance of finding joy in music, to the magic of Earl Scruggs and some practical pointers for how to be a better player.

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Welcome back to another season of Inside the Musician's Brain! Premiering August 26, Chris will be in conversation with guests including Del McCoury, Dan Tyminski, Brittany Haas, G Love, Tony Trischka, and many more.

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