KGNU Music

Boulder heavy music outfit Gaunt stopped by KGNU's Smash It Back! to talk about their latest release, a two-song single featuring "White Feeder Killer" and "Snuff Film." The band discussed the evolution of their sound, leaning into heavier influences while maintaining the atmospheric elements heard in earlier releases.

During the interview, the members shared stories from a recent show at Unit 5, discussed the writing and sampling process behind "Snuff Film," and previewed upcoming performances, including shows at Ante Up and a return to Unit 5 later this summer. Listen to the conversation and hear "Snuff Film" in the studio session. (Air Date 6/5/26).

Blue Canyon Boys joined Neil Smart for KGNU’s Old Grass GNU Grass for a live performance and conversation about what's next for the Colorado bluegrass favorites. The band shared updates on two upcoming albums, including a new brother-duet project, and discussed songwriter Jason Hicks' selection as a finalist in the 2026 Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase.

The group also previewed upcoming appearances at the Lyons Concert in the Park and the SnowyGrass Music Festival in Estes Park. Along the way, they performed a mix of new material and classic-inspired harmonies, offering a glimpse of the music fans can expect to hear on their forthcoming releases. (Air Date 6/6/26).

Boulder-based tribute band Dear Creedence joined KGNU for a live in-studio session with host Dave McIntyre to discuss their new project dedicated to the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). The band, featuring members from several Colorado groups including Gasoline Lollipops, formed after casually playing CCR songs and deciding to build a full tribute act around the material.

During the interview, the group discussed CCR’s influence, their focus on concise, high-energy songs, and how their experience playing Bob Dylan and Neil Young material in Rolling Harvest informed the new project. They also performed live versions of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Proud Mary,” and previewed upcoming shows in Lyons, Golden, and the Boulder area. (Air Date 6/5/26).

Denver-born indie artist and producer Yugs joined Iris Berkeley in the KGNU studio for a live session featuring songs from his new album, Dancing In My Room. Backed by Sunstoney, Miles Jenkins, and Kyle Loeffler, Yugs performed "Mona," "Under the Stars," "Tied Up," and "OUTTA MY MIND."

Between songs, Yugs discussed his Colorado roots, his Chilean and Cuban family heritage, the influence of his grandparents' Holocaust survival stories, and his journey from pre-med student to full-time musician and producer. He also shared the inspiration behind Dancing In My Room, a hopeful and deeply personal album about healing, self-discovery, and finding joy after the end of a long-term relationship. (Air Date 6/2/26).

KGNU's Iris Berkeley speaks with Hawk Semins of the Owsley Stanley Foundation about Concordance: 150 Years of Charles Ives, a new release in the Bear's Sonic Journals series. The collection features a 1974 recording of Charles Ives' Piano Sonata No. 2 ("Concord, Mass., 1840–1860") performed by pianist John Kirkpatrick and recorded by Owsley "Bear" Stanley, the legendary Grateful Dead sound engineer. The tape was rediscovered during the Foundation's ongoing effort to preserve Stanley's extensive archive of live recordings.

Semins discusses the history of the recording, Phil Lesh's longtime interest in Charles Ives, and the connections between Ives' music and the Grateful Dead. The release also includes a new 2025 recording of the Concord Sonata by pianist Donald Berman and world-premiere recordings of four contemporary works inspired by women transcendentalists, including Emily Dickinson, Harriet Tubman, Louisa May Alcott, and Margaret Fuller (Air Date 6/1/26).

Jake Leg joined KGNU’s Old Grass Gnu Grass for a live in-studio session ahead of the release of their new album, No One Lives Here Anymore, coming out June 13. The Colorado bluegrass band performed several new songs, including the title track and “30 Years in Yuma,” and shared insight into their collaborative songwriting process, where tunes often evolve significantly once brought into the full band setting.

The group also discussed their upcoming release show at E-Town Hall, which will feature a full album performance followed by an open community jam session with multiple pick-friendly spaces for musicians of all levels. Additional summer plans include appearances at the South Park Bluegrass Festival and Keystone Bluegrass and Beer. The interview highlighted the band’s strong roots in the Colorado bluegrass scene and their emphasis on collaboration, live energy, and community engagement (Air Date 5/30/26).

KGNU is a proud sponsor of the Greeley Blues Jam, taking place June 5th-6th, 2026. In this on-air interview on KGNU, Dan Willging speaks with Chris Haug and members of The Buzz Brothers Band about the upcoming Greeley Blues Jam, happening June 5th-6th, 2026 in Greeley. The conversation previews the festival’s standout lineup, including headliners Robert Randolph, Tommy Castro, and Danielle Nicole, alongside regional favorites and returning acts.

The guests share behind-the-scenes stories about booking the festival, the energy of past years, and The Buzz Brothers Band’s own recording process and upcoming debut album. The interview highlights the Greeley Blues Jam as a kickoff to the Colorado summer music season. (Air Date 5/29/26).

Fort Collins-based folk and bluegrass group Friendly Reminders stopped by the KGNU studio for a live session and conversation with Dave McIntyre. The band shared stories about their songwriting influences, their self-titled debut album, and their blend of bluegrass, folk, punk, and indie inspirations before performing several original songs live in studio such as “Fruit Song,” “Rabbit’s Pace,” and “Cockroach.”

Friendly Reminders will perform at Swallow Hill Music in Denver on Saturday, May 30th, and they’re also slated to appear at SnowyGrass in July, 2026 — a festival proudly sponsored by KGNU (Air Date 5/29/2026).

Colorado guitarist and songwriter Jon Ridnell joined Joanne Cole for KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative to discuss Freak the Funk, the first Black Dog album in more than two decades. Recorded in New Orleans with legendary musicians including George Porter Jr., John Vidacovich, Luciano Leães, and vocalist Whitney Alouicious, the album blends deep funk, jazz, and New Orleans groove traditions with Ridnell’s longtime Colorado roots.

During the conversation, Ridnell reflected on splitting his time between Eldora and New Orleans, the city’s endless musical education and culture, and the inspiration behind songs like “Leaving the Country and Going to New Orleans.” The interview also touches on Jazz Fest, the New Orleans music community, and Ridnell’s ongoing performances around Colorado with Black Dog. (Air Date 5/26/26).

KGNU is a proud sponsor of the Lafayette Electronic Arts Festival (LEAF). David Fodel — artist, curator, sound designer, and Director of the Lafayette Electronic Arts Festival — joined KGNU’s Jessica Numbers to discuss the festival’s 10th anniversary, the evolution of experimental electronic and media arts on the Front Range, and this year’s lineup of local, national, and international performers and installations.

In the conversation, Fodel reflects on the origins of LEAF, the importance of accessible and community-centered experimental art, and the festival’s mission to showcase “art that needs to be plugged in” — from immersive sound performances and video art to interactive installations and avant-garde electronic music.

The 2026 Lafayette Electronic Arts Festival runs May 26–31 in Lafayette, Colorado, with performances, exhibitions, film screenings, and free public events throughout the week. More information and tickets are available at https://leafcolorado.org/. (Air Date 5/20/2026).