KGNU Music

Fresh off their big win in the 2025 RockyGrass Band Competition, Slay & Stinson joined Riley Ann backstage to share their excitement and introduce the full band. Known for their strong songwriting, tight harmonies, and energetic performances, the group reflected on their journey from competing at Telluride to finding their voice as a band. With an album already out (Product of Colorado), more music on the way, and a special Longmont show with Jeremy Garrett of the Infamous Stringdusters, Slay & Stinson are riding high and ready for their RockyGrass 2026 main stage debut.

At RockyGrass 2025, Steven Mougin of the Sam Bush Band sat down with KGNU to reflect on the band’s deep dive into bluegrass and Newgrass classics, including rarely performed songs revived for the festival. Beyond his work as guitarist, Mougin discussed running Dark Shadow Recording with his wife, a boutique label known for high-quality projects with artists like Becky Buller, Henhouse Prowlers, and Rick Faris. He shared the label’s philosophy of focusing on a small roster to nurture long-term careers, highlighting creative projects like Rick Faris’ striking Huey Lewis cover. Mougin also spoke about the joy of performing with Sam Bush, whose boundless energy and foundation in traditional bluegrass continue to inspire both the band and its audiences.

At RockyGrass 2025, guitarist and educator Tyler Grant spoke with KGNU about teaching at the RockyGrass Academy, his fundamentals-based approach to flatpicking, and the inspiration students gain from immersing themselves in bluegrass. He reflected on the high level of musicianship in the genre, its connections to classical training, and the joy of community playing. Grant also previewed his special RosenGrants set with Charlie Rose, featuring an all-star band and surprise guests, calling RockyGrass “the Disneyland of bluegrass music.”

Last week, The Shape of Jazz played live from the KGNU studios for The Morning Sound Alternative, and drummer Jeff Franca introduced a supergroup of Colorado musicians including Scott Messersmith, Sarah Banker, Nate Miller, Joey Porter, Matt Jalbert, and Hunter Roberts. The ensemble will make its debut at the Ned Jazz and Wine Fest on August 23rd, bringing together veterans and newer voices in the state’s vibrant jazz and improvisational scene. Franca reflected on the supportive, ever-growing Colorado music community, while the band treated listeners to performances of Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage and Zero 7’s Waiting Line. (Studio Session: 8/13/25)

During The Present Edge, host Katherine Peterson welcomed musician Matt Sage for a conversation about his musical inspirations, recent listening picks, and his upcoming album Tender / Wading, set for release in September. Sage shared tracks from artists including Rachel’s, Kronos Quartet, Anna Phoebe, Sean McCann, and Clarice Jensen, offering insight into their music and creative worlds. He also discussed the themes behind his new single “Tender of Land,” reflecting on homecoming, personal growth, and his life as a parent, gardener, and musician. (Interview: 8/11/25)

Becky Buller joined KGNU backstage at RockyGrass 2025 to talk about her music and recent projects. She shared her experience performing at a fundraiser in Gold Hill and discussed her impactful album Jubilee, a song cycle addressing her struggles with depression and anxiety. Becky highlighted her new album Songs That Sing Me, releasing September 5th, and the recent single “A Hazy Shade of Winter.” She also spoke about her ongoing involvement in the bluegrass community as both mentee and mentor, teaching at RockyGrass Academy and embracing the tradition of mentorship. Becky is nominated for multiple IBMA awards this year and remains dedicated to creating music that connects and inspires listeners. (Interview: 7/25/25)

KGNU’s Greg Schultz welcomed Smorgasgrass, a Colorado-based bluegrass group known for blending traditional sounds with fresh, original material. The multi-generational ensemble features John Pierce on bass, Sean McFarland on banjo, and Rowan Geddes on mandolin—each bringing their unique background and youthful energy to the band. During the live in-studio session, they shared insights on their upcoming debut album, highlighting songs that focus on themes like connection, mental health, and resilience. They also discussed their shift away from typical bluegrass topics toward more meaningful storytelling, previewed upcoming shows including one at Evergreen’s Little Bear, and closed with Rowan’s original fiddle tune “Snail’s Ascent,” performed in authentic bluegrass style. (Studio Session: 8/825)

Helen Gover joined KGNU’s Keith Colligan to share details about the third annual On My Relations Celebration, which took place on Friday at Levitt Pavilion. The free, all-ages event featured a diverse lineup of Native and Indigenous performers, including Denver-based Cherokee Social and DJ Naisha, First Nations artist Natasha Fisher from Canada, and Hawaiian-Samoan headliner FIA. The festival also included traditional Native American and Hawaiian dance performances, a vendor village, local Native organization resource booths, and food trucks such as Marie Yellow Hawk’s Native tacos. Proceeds benefit Rock Res, a South Dakota nonprofit providing music camps for Native youth. (Interview: 8/7/25)

Boulder-based pianist Bob Schlesinger joined KGNU’s Kooter Jones to discuss his new album Falling from Earth, a seven-year project featuring jazz greats Eddie Gomez and Mike Stern. Funded in part by a Pathways to Jazz grant, the recording took place in New York and Boulder, blending original compositions, reimagined covers, and innovative studio work, including the 13-minute track Easy Off Ramp, assembled in the spirit of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. The album is available on digital download, CD, and audiophile vinyl, with an official release concert set for Thursday, August 14th at Dazzle in Denver’s Performing Arts Complex. (Interview: 8/7/25)

Singer-songwriter Rosali joined KGNU’s Monte Dube to talk about her upcoming performance at Lost Lake Lounge in Denver on August 11, part of the final stretch of her U.S. tour. Rosali discussed her musical journey, from growing up in a large, guitar-filled household in rural Michigan to years spent in Philadelphia’s rich DIY music scene. She shared how her four solo albums — culminating in 2024’s Bite Down — reflect a progression from intimate, self-produced folk to expansive, collaborative rock with Omaha’s David Nance and Mowed Sound. The conversation also touched on her improvisational guitar project Edsel Axel and her latest release, Slow Pain: Live and Solo, which revisits Bite Down with a stripped-down, raw performance style. Rosali emphasized the importance of community in her music and hinted at new projects with both her band and Edsel Axel on the horizon.