Thunder and Rain is a Nashville-based Newgrass band delivering melodic hooks, rich harmonies, and grassy drive with pop-rock inspired songcraft.

Over their decade-long career, Thunder and Rain has shared the stage with artists such as Billy Strings, The Kruger Brothers, Peter Rowan, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, and The Brothers Comatose. Their 2020 single Run With You was selected for the IBMA Songwriter Showcase in 2023.

The band was founded by Erinn Peet Lukes, a singer-songwriter whose path led her through several major music hubs before settling in Colorado in 2013. There, she formed Thunder and Rain within Denver’s vibrant bluegrass scene. Since then, the band has released four studio albums, toured across the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the UK, and found viral success on YouTube with their bluegrass takes on popular songs, which have earned hundreds of thousands of views.

Following a pandemic-era hiatus, Lukes relocated to Nashville, where she met Amelia Ransom (fiddle) and Laura Ray (banjo). The trio instantly clicked, bringing a renewed focus on tight harmony and a more traditional acoustic sound. They play with a rotating cast of bass players including Vickie Vaugh, three time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Award Recipient. They released their fourth album, Storybook Sessions, in October 2024.

Wyatt Ellis has accomplished more by age 16 than many musicians do in a lifetime. Hailing from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, he’s quickly emerging as one of bluegrass mu-sic’s brightest young stars. With virtuosic mandolin playing, heart-felt vocals, and original songwriting, Wyatt blends the deep tradi-tions of bluegrass with a fresh, youthful energy. Backed by a pow-erhouse band of Appalachia’s finest young musicians, Wyatt deliv-ers high-octane performances that range from the Grand Ole Opry to major festivals like MerleFest and Gray Fox. His band's signa-ture single-mic setup showcases their tight harmonies, high-lonesome vocals, and blistering solos, creating a sound steeped in tradition yet driven by the future. Wyatt’s breakout year included a debut at the Newport Folk Festival, chart-topping original instru-mentals from his debut album, and becoming one of the youngest regular performers in Grand Ole Opry history. His authentic Appa-lachian songwriting and seasoned stage presence have quickly set him apart as a once-in-a-generation talent with a deep respect for bluegrass music’s heritage. 2024's IBMA Momentum Instrumental-ist of the Year and twice nominated for IBMA’s New Artist of the Year, Wyatt has collaborated with legends like Peter Rowan, Marty Stuart, and the late Bobby Osborne. His January 2025 release, Winds of Rowan County, a duet with Rowan, celebrated bluegrass roots while symbolically passing the torch. Wyatt's lead and har-mony mandolin solo on Bobby Osborne’s final recording of “Rocky Top,” along with their co-written instrumental “Fern Branch,” were both featured on Osborne’s posthumous album, a tribute to Wyatt’s connection to his hero and mentor. With a debut vocal al-bum of all-new original songs on the way, Wyatt Ellis stands poised at the forefront of bluegrass, honoring the legacy of the genre while boldly pushing it forward into a new era.

Each year, thousands of people flock to the city of Nashville with hopes of “making it”. Ironically, it wasn’t until Zach Russell made the decision to leave Music City, USA that he inked his first record deal with Thirty Tigers. The drive back home may have only been three hours long, but Russell’s journey back to old haunts in Eastern Tennessee isn’t quite that cut and dry.

In the 7 years preceding that trip down I-40, there were stints as a manager at a shoe store and a karaoke host. He calloused his hands installing irrigation systems and working as a carpenter. He traveled the US and Europe as Tyler Childers’ merchandise manager and got to witness firsthand what it takes to chase down greatness. Through it all, one thing that remained constant was his belief that he could chase it down as well.

Music has always played a pivotal role in Russell’s life. A background in Baptist and Hymnal music as a youth and a taste for hip-hop, rock, and country music informed his musical style between 2016 and 2020 as he found his footing. In 2021 the world received its proper introduction to Zach Russell as a fully formed artist with the release The Creek. This five-song EP proved not only to be a landmark release in Russell’s career, but with its lyrical depth, soaring instrumental jams and infectious melodies, it served as proof that this landmark was merely the first of many to come.

Since moving home and finding clarity, the past 18 months have been busy for Russell. He spent those months writing music, touring with The Alex Leach Band, and delivering a guest appearance on Adeem the Artist critically acclaimed album, White Trash Revelry. That wave of momentum has culminated to this moment, and the release of his highly anticipated full-length debut, Where the Flowers Meet the Dew.

Once again joining forces with up-and-coming producer Kyle Crownover (Adeem the Artist), this ten-song effort never takes its foot off the gas pedal. Dominant themes of wrestling with mortality, pondering reincarnation, and finding that ever elusive feeling of contentment in this life weave gracefully through.

As the old saying goes, “Big hitters take big swings.”, and Russell’s choice as the first single is as bold a statement as can be made. Coming in at a shade over seven minutes long, “Born Again” begins as a rockabilly banger, then midway through, via a psychedelic segue it morphs into a funky, groove heavy jam. Russell sings of reincarnation and hints that perhaps every waking moment is, in fact, an opportunity to start anew.

Smilo & the Ghost is an Americana-grit folk band born from the rustbelt and rooted in redemption. Front-ed by singer-songwriter Tyler Smilo, the band blends raw lyricism with vintage tones, cinematic storytell-ing, and a touch of cosmic twang. Their sound drifts somewhere between dusty desert highways and dimly lit city bars — a fusion of folk, alt-country, and soul with deep emotional bite.

Formed in Erie, PA in 2016, Smilo & the Ghost have shared stages with Grammy winners, national acts, and underground legends alike. Their discography includes Ghost Writers, Fingers Crossed & Godspeed, and the live album Live from PACA, with their newest record Twang & Fire capturing both fire and fragili-ty in a post-pandemic world. Smilo’s lyrics are deeply personal, often exploring recovery, survival, and the ghosts we carry — because he's lived it.

Garrett Boys is a collaboration of the Garrett brothers, Stephen and Russell. After growing up on a small rural farm, both Stephen and Russell set out for Nashville to pursue their passion for music. This led to several years of various roles in the music industry throughout multiple genres. Garrett Boys is a reflection of an inevitable longing for home, history, and heritage that finds the brothers Garrett discovering a deeper and more personal perspective of their music than ever before. Joined by Stephen’s son, Carter, they look to further explore their Folk Americana roots with Garrett Boys.

Born and raised near Paducah, Vickie Vaughn grew up singing and playing bass at churches, community events and a local country revue show in western Kentucky. After graduating from Belmont University, she formed the Vickie Vaughn Band, releasing a six-song EP of contemporary bluegrass, Buy All the Roads, in 2015. Yet more traditional music beckoned, as she helped to start the acclaimed High Fidelity around the same time, appearing on four acclaimed albums before leaving the group in 2024. Vaughn also served as a vocalist and/or bassist for a broad array of artists, including Patty Loveless, Jesse McReynolds, Kelsey Wal-don, Luke Bulla, Billy Gilman and more. In 2020, she joined Della Mae, with whom she con-tinues to perform and record. Vickie Vaughn was awarded the IBMA’s Bass Player of the Year trophy in 2023 and 2024—and, she underlines, was named a Kentucky Colonel in 2023.

Cody Christian is a country music singing man from The Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a 31-time recipient of the CCA award which has helped propel his infectious melodies to the masses. He has several songs that have gone triple turquoise and a music catalog that is thick with songs that beautifully narrate the everyday life. Cody has shared stage with lots of Red Barn alums including Tyler Childers, Charles Wesley Godwin, Cole Chaney and The Local Honeys. He's with his band "The Congregation"

Our guest Wednesday August 13, is Ragged Union. This tight bluegrass ensemble has toured the US, UK, and China, since 2013, has released 4 studio albums and one live album. Whether you like traditional sounding grass or something with a more syncopated progressive feel, I think this will check all the boxes for you. Ragged Union also tosses in their own take on some cover tunes by artists from Levon Helm, to the Marshall Tucker Band.

Their latest release is called Pyramid Stars, and you should check it out in the coming weeks to whet your appetite for a deliciously Bluegrassy evening of music and conversation with Ragged Union.

Combining the best of Americana and blues melodies with timeless Southern storytelling, award winning vocalist Stephanie Adlington and guitarist Aaron Lessard draw influence from the likes of Tom Waits and Ray LaMontagne, along with bedrock artists such as Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr. A Tale Of Two has opened for notable artists such as Mary Gauthier, Grayson Capps, and Peter Mulvey. Not unlike the artists who inspired them, the duo’s songs frequently dabble in stories of revenge, drinking and feature sinners of all stripes and persuasions.

Oozing an infectious stage presence and chemistry that carries over from the music to the back and forth banter between songs, “A Tale Of Two” offers a different kind of Americana – storytelling by a swampy pair of retro raconteurs spinning blues arias with soul, intrigue and power.

Our guest is Ashley Irae w/ supporting band, Deep Nourished Roots.

Ashley's debut single from her first album “Beauty Queen” was released at the end of September in 2018. This song -- emphasizing the importance of loving yourself instead of looking to someone else to fill the void-- created a Buzz and captured hearts of many all around the world. Currently Irae is working on an album with French producer and sound man, Jahlix.

Ashley's soulful voice and uplifting messages opens people's hearts. A great eve of music and convo with Our guest next week is Ashley Irae w/ supporting band, Deep Nourished Roots

Ashley's debut single from her first album “Beauty Queen” was released at the end of September in 2018. This song -- emphasizing the importance of loving yourself instead of looking to someone else to fill the void-- created a Buzz and captured hearts of many all around the world. Currently IRAE is working on an album with French producer and sound man, Jahlix.

Ashley's soulful voice and uplifting messages opens people's hearts.