Red Barn Radio

Four-part vocal harmonies, dual lead guitars, and a tasty rhythm section built on drums, bass, and keys make up the music of The Gasoline Gypsies. But, the magic in their music is born of a driving work ethic that has earned them the reputation of being one of the tightest bands on the Mitten Music scene.

Four part vocal harmonies, dual lead guitars, and a tasty rhythm section built on drums, bass, and keys make up the music of Port Huron Michigan’s The Gasoline Gypsies. But, the real magic in their music is born of a driving work ethic that’s earned them a reputation of being one of the tightest bands on the Mitten Music scene.

Drawing influence from the roots of rock, folk, bluegrass, and country The Gasoline Gypsies craft a unique style of original Americana Rock. Often evoking themes of nature while engaging mature poetry, they de-sign music to serve songs and build sets that invite listeners to take journeys through self awareness, while breathing in the rhythms of the world around us, and enthusiastically celebrating the joys of life. They are a band with range. The Gasoline Gypsies can plug in and rock large venues, or unplugged they can mesmer-ize small listening rooms.

The eight time Detroit Music Award winners, are feverishly followed by their fan tribe, The Vagabundos. Find them at a show, and you’ll likely experience an alchemy that draws together the music, the people, and the family that is The Gasoline Gypsies experience.

Episode 248

First Air 06-28-26

Trey Hedrick

Passing Through

Shoestring

Appalachia

Dobbin Mine No.1

A Better Year

Me Leavin’ Town (Fragment)

Trey Hedrick is a modern Appalachian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose sound blends Appalachian folk, Americana, and blue-collar country. Deeply rooted in the storied hills of southeastern Ohio along the West Virginia border, his music is as textured and layered as the region he calls home. Drawing from the landscape and lineage that shaped him, Trey writes with a deep reverence for generational memory, places, and the stories that define us.

That storytelling comes into full focus on his forthcoming debut album, Sing Appalachia, out Friday, October 17. Recorded in May 2025 at the Tractor Shed in Nashville with GRAMMY-winning producer and engineer Sean Sullivan (Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, John Prine), the record is a testament to Trey’s belief in the power of place and honest songwriting. It also features a special guest appearance by one of Trey’s longtime heroes, Tim O’Brien — a full-circle moment for an artist who grew up studying his records.

Raised in a proud, working-class family where music was as natural as breathing, Trey’s earliest memories involve instruments constantly moving through the room — a guitar, a mandolin, a fiddle — always in someone’s hands. His grandfather, a retired coal miner and a well-regarded local musician, had “such a rich and textured voice and an ability to make anything his,” Trey recalls. “Don’t just play it — mean it, make it yours,” his grandfather would say. That legacy left its mark.

Though Trey spent years as a guitarist and mandolin player, it wasn’t until recently that he stepped forward as a songwriter and solo artist. “I never wanted to be someone who just talked about doing things and never actually did,” he says. “There were a lot of those guys where I grew up, and it scared the hell out of me.” His songs reflect that urgency and humility — written to feel honest, never traditional just for tradition’s sake. “I’m not here to cosplay Appalachia,” he adds. “If it sounds traditional one day and something else the next, that’s what came out when I picked up the guitar.”

Even as his sound sits comfortably within Appalachian and Americana traditions, there’s a subtle freshness to it. Trey developed a deep love for flatpicking early on, drawn to the drive and precision of players like Clarence White, Tony Rice, and Doc Watson. His influences stretch far and wide — from bluegrass trailblazers like Tim O’Brien and Ralph Stanley to the powerhouse blues vocals of Susan Tedeschi, with nods to Aretha Franklin and Bobby Bland, and even ‘90s R&B and hip-hop woven in. “If something swings or grooves a little, that’s probably why,” he laughs. “I’d like to think all those influences come across in my debut album — that was kind of the point anyway.

Birmingham, Alabama's Taylor Hollingsworth has always resisted easy categorization. Asked to define his music, he struggled – a little bit folk, a touch of blues, a dash of rock 'n' roll, but not quite fitting neatly into any single box. Eventually, he coined the phrase “Folk n’ Roll” to describe his sound. Now, he's proudly claiming that sound with his latest album, aptly titled "Folk n' Roll." Fans of JJ Cale, Mississippi John Hurt, Chuck Berry, Richard Thompson, Jonathan Richman, and John Prine will find much delight in Hollingsworth's blend of timeless influences.

Joseph Allred is a Tennessee-based guitarist, singer, multi-instrumental composer, and visual artist with deep roots in the Upper Cumberland re-gion of Tennessee and Kentucky. His guitar playing draws from diverse musical styles including Appalachian folk, bluegrass, blues, flamenco, and classical guitar, as well as from folk iconoclasts John Fahey and Robbie Basho. Joseph has released a great deal of music on several la-bels, and is coming next to Red Barn Radio!

Miles Victor is an Americana/Bluegrass artist, whose every chord and lyric coalesce into a symphony of heartbreak & hope. Drawing inspiration from the soulful resonance of The Avett Brothers, the reckless abandon of Old Crow Medicine Show and the timeless allure of old-time country & bluegrass, his music blends the grit of tradition with a modern lyrical edge. Bringing the spiritual down to earth and the mundane up to the heavens.

With a voice that commands attention and lyrics that cut to the bone, Miles brings a rare blend of vulnerability and energy to every stage he steps on. His songs are deeply autobiographical yet universally resonant. Joined by some of the most skilled musicians in the genre, his live shows are equal parts revival, release, and raw communion, built for festival fields, theaters, and everywhere in between.

The harmonies hit deep, the playing is electric, and the shows are a celebration of sorrow of joy and everything in between.

Currently recording his debut project, alongside some of the genres most respected musicians, Miles Victor is emerging as one of Americana’s most compelling new voices.

Introducing "Katie D & The Bluegills," where the past meets the present in a delightful swirl of sound. This new ensemble based out of Louisville, KY, with a charismatic female lead, brings the golden age of swing into the limelight, adding a sprinkle of modern quirkiness.

Katie D's voice is a playful mixture of velvety smoothness and cheeky charm. And then you have The Bluegills, each a virtuoso in their own right, who artfully navigate between the gritty and the glittery. Katie’s songwriting might be the skeleton of what you hear in their songs, but The Bluegills are the flesh, soul, and rhythm of this project. All of their songs are filled with catchy hooks and memorable refrains that stick like bubblegum.

Lydia Sylvia Martin grew up in a family of musicians, The Martin Family Band of Maryland. Today, Lydia creates personal interpretations of traditional music, and writes new songs.

Lydia Sylvia Martin's musical style is a fusion of tradition and innovation. Her performances have earned her a unique place in the folk music community.

Lydia Sylvia Martin has won awards for her songwriting and old time banjo performances. She taught a Master Artist Folklife Apprenticeship through the Maryland State Arts Council, and has been on the faculty at Common Ground on the Hill and Miles of Music.

Sasha Colette and the Magnolias are Red Barn Radio's program next week. Sasha and her band the Magnolias, have joined us at least a cou-ple of times on the air. We were impressed with Sasha's songwriting, but also her clean and clear vocal delivery which does much more to make the songs shimmer. Sasha returns following a time of many life transi-tions, including parenthood. The changes she's been through reaffirmed, for her, the importance of music in her overall well-being, causing her to rekindle her passions and get back out to share what she does so beauti-fully, connecting with audiences who enjoy her so much.

Lylak, a name that hints at color and nature, founder lead vocalist Gide-on Maki says they make a point to play with heart and leave the stage a bit more beautiful than they found it. The indie rock quartet, based in Lexington Kentucly, started in 2015 as a solo project of Gideon's, gradu-ally gaining members and honing their sound. The unique musical back-grounds of the members mix up an eclectic blend of influences, which is a boon for the listener. Interweaving vocals, from Maki and Elizabeth Varnado (vocals/violin/guitar), present approachable lyrics that explore the lighter and darker aspects of life and love, memory and friendship.

After five years of steady growth behind the scenes, Low Gap is positioned for a massive breakout in 2026. Brothers Gus and Phin Johnson spent the past year-and-a-half with their proverbial feet slammed on the gas and have hundreds of shows and a slew of singles to show for it. The duo recently released their debut album, Geneva, which has expanded their ever-growing audience to new heights. Gus and Phin, known for their well-crafted songs and animated concerts, have roots planted in Ohio and Eastern Kentucky, which show up clearly in their music. They, along with their five-piece band, blend 90s alt-country and americana with modern country sentiment. Original and unique, their songs manage to garner mainstream attention and critical acclaim from all corners of the increasingly diverse country genre.