We had such a good chat with Carolyn about her new album “Each Machine” (released 12/6/24), all the researchthat went into the songs, the “satanic panic,” and the importance of rest.  

 Carolyn Kendrick is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, fiddler, guitarist, and producer. Aftergraduating from Berklee College of Music, Kendrick crisscrossed the country with her former duo project The Page Turners. 

In addition to her songwriting career, Kendrick is active in the Bluegrass and Old-Time fiddlescene and produced and written music for the award-winning podcasts "You’re Wrong About"(Podcast of the Year, iHeart Radio) and "You Are Good". 

 Her new album, "Each Machine", released December 6, 2024 is a collection of traditional andoriginal political folk songs inspired by her time researching The Satanic Panic for the history podcast "You’re Wrong About". These songs are modern, electric re-imaginings of hymns, murder ballads, pagan chanting, and even songs of devil-worship.  

Check her out here: 

  Also shout outs to:

You're Wrong about Podcast-- yourewrongabout.com and You are Good Podcast -- www.podpage.com/you-are-good/blog/

 In this live from AmericanaFest episode, we talk to Denver’sClay Street Unit.   

We talked with the gentlemen of Clay Street Unit about writing songs that say the things they want to say, their upcoming album, and putting yourself out there.    

Check them out here:    

We had a great time talking with Juliet Lloyd about her soul-pop-folk sound, Gem and the Holograms, burn out, and the utility of therapy.

Juliet Lloyd is an acclaimed singer/songwriter who splits her time between Nashville, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. 

Across her 20-year career as a writer and artist, Juliet has released three albums, garnering placements on television shows on MTV and VH1 and airplay on more than 175 radio stations across the country. 

Released on October 25th, Lloyd’s new album Carnival is the culmination of years away from the music industry grind, the hours spent writing through some of life’s hardest challenges, and the reintroduction of an artist now ripe with wisdom and experience. Recorded in an unhurried process over nearly 15 months and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman), Carnival’s nine songs are a study in contrasts: Light and dark, devastating and self-deprecating, apologetic and angry, conversational and conceptual. They are genre-fluid, weaving elements of pop, folk, soul, and rock to create a vibrant and often unexpected platform for Lloyd’s unflinching storytelling.  

Check her out here: 

 Part one of the episode is our talk with the uber-talented Bryan Simpson. We talk with Bryan about his first project under his own name, his most recent release “The Oldest,” and howAmericana music is like a Hot Pocket. 

 Part two of the episode is our talk with the amazing Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan who make up The Pleasures. We talk about their unique sound, their origin story, and the interesting story of how they got their name.  

Check them out here: 

Bryan Simpson-- 

The Pleasures— 

 From getting gold stars and scratch and sniff stickers on poems in primary school to becoming obsessed with guitar playing, Matt Joe Gow is an artist through and through. We talk with himabout learning from the craft of your favorite artists because music is a craft! 

‍When Matt Joe Gow sings, everything else stops, such is the power of his voiceand his songs. Those songs have won awards, from Music Victoria Country Albumof the Year (twice) to a New Zealand Country Music Award, with nominations andchart positions along the way. 

Matt’s voice has been heard in festivals in the United Kingdom and the UnitedStates; in venues small and large across Australia and New Zealand; on radioand playlists, and supporting artists such as Chris Isaak and Justin TownesEarle. And every time, he wins new fans, drawn to his amazing vocal tone andhis way of bringing the listener closer, telling them stories they will carrywith them. 

Check him out here: 

 Part one of the episode is our hilarious chat with Adam Monda (guitar and vocals), Ethan Anderson (guitar, vocals, and the occasional flute), and Dave Goedde (drums)of Massy Feguson (and a cameo by keyboardist Fred Slater). We discussed how they started out with their first gig at a farmer's market, working with Damien Jurado, and their newly released album “You Can’t Tell Me I’m Not What a Used to Be” their first vinyl release! 

Part two of the episode features Cindy Emch and Clint Cleveland of Secret Emchy Society. We talked about Cindy’s starting the band under the guise of filling in on egg shaker for some friends, curating the Queer Country events at AmericanaFest and being ‘outlaw countrythat lives at the intersection of shit-kickery and tenderness.’ 

Honestly our faces hurt from smiling after these two conversations! 

Be sure to listen for the plug for Bolton’s Famous Hot Chicken in East Nashville.  

Find them here:  

Massy Ferguson— 

 Secret Emchy Society— 

 We are so excited to share this episode featuring FrankTurner. We are long-time fans and loved visiting with him before his show atthe Bourbon Theater in Lincoln, Nebraska about his writing process, his currentrelease “Undefeated” and the dark Covid years. 

Frank Turner is an English punk and folk singer-songwriterfrom Meonstoke, Hampshire. He began his career as the vocalist ofpost-hardcore band Million Dead, then embarked upon a primarily acoustic-basedsolo career following the band's split in 2005.  

In the studio and during live performances, Turner isaccompanied by his backing band, The Sleeping Souls, which consists of BenLlyod (guitar, mandolin), Tarrant Anderson (bass), MattNassir (piano, mandolin) and Callum Green (drums). 

To date, Turner has released ten solo albums, four raritiescompilation albums, one retrospective "best of" album, one splitalbum and five EPs. Turner's ninth studio album, “FTHC” was released on 11February 2022 and reached number 1 in the UK albums chart in the week followingits release. –Taken from Wikipedia 

Frank’s most recent album, “Undefeated” was released May 3,2024. It is his 10th full-length album.  

Check him out here: 

Part one of the episode features Kentucky natives and Everette bandmates Brent Rupard and Anthony Olympia. We talk about their transition from Kentucky to becoming fulltime Nashville musicians, having an easy working relationship and friendship, and "Swampy Tonk."

Part two of the episode features Siri Undlin of Humbird. We discuss her most recent experience of recording and shedding the need for perfectionsim, and midwest honesty.

Find them here:

Everette:

Humbird:

Website: humbirdmusic.com

IG: Humbirdhumbird

FB: Humbird

Tiktok: humbirdhumbird

Youtube: Humbird7403

We are so excited to talk with Americana Showcase Artist Pi Jacobs. Pi has her own roots-rockstyle that she is compelled to share, she doesn’t feel like it’s a choice, she has to “get it out”. 

Pi Jacobs is a lifer. Born in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, she's spent two decadesonstage and on the road, creating a rhythmic, rootsy sound that's every bit asdiverse as her own upbringing.    

Pi Jacobs draws inspiration from her unconventional upbringing in “The Land of Weed and Wine” aka Northern California. Blending roots-rock swagger and storytelling soul, hermusic has drawn comparisons to Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, and Lucinda Williams. She has been heard on NPR, DittyTV, Austin Music TV, Americana Highways, American Songwriter Magazine, and regularly on tastemakers KCSN, WFUV and stations across the nation.   

 Check her out here: 

 In the first half of the episode, we talk with Eli Smith of the Down HillStrugglers about their recent release “Old Juniper,” traditional songs versus“covers,” and taking traditional songs and putting new words to them. We visitabout what “Old Time” music is and how Eli and the band got involved with it asfolks who grew up in New York. We also talk about what the term “Americana” means to him.  

The Down Hill Strugglers are:Walker Shepard - fiddle, banjo, guitar, harmonica, voiceJackson Lynch - fiddle, banjo, guitar, voiceEli Smith - banjo, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, Jews harp, pump organ, voice 

The band was co-founded by John Cohen (1932-2019) 

Then we talk with Vanessa Collier about her latest release “Do it My Own Way,” and its unintentional women-centric focus. We visit with her about herdecision to become a fulltime musician (over playing basketball or cooking!) We also got to hear more about her special song “Warrior” written for her mom.  

 Check them out here: 

Down Hill Strugglers & Eli:

Vanessa Collier: