Basic Folk

05/09/2024

Jeffrey Foucault talkin a bit abt coffee, the midwest & Mark Twain, but mostly about his dear friend Billy Conway, who died in 2021. JF's latest is a working wake to Conway (Morphine, Treat Her Right) who was his musical partner and drummer for nearly a decade.

Where you listen or here: https://basicfolk.com/jeffery-foucault-remembers-billy-conway-with-universal-fire/

29/08/2024

Delightful Amos Lee! His new album Transmissions has a gorgeous sonic palette. Recorded with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, NY, the songs came out as warm as the reclaimed church wood it was built out of. We pal around and talk about the new music, kids, femininity and what a hoagiemouth actually is.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/amos-lee-on-friends-femininity-and-folk-roots/

22/08/2024

Maya, Nina and Lyle de Vitry's life, beginning in Lancaster PA, has been music and family, music festivals with old-time music, songwriting and folk music. We're thrilled to welcome the sibs on to talk about growing up amongst the country and the fiddles and how their family continues to impact their music now. Lyle & Maya released outstanding albums this year and Nina is currently on the road with superstar Noah Kahan.

Where you listen to podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/from-lancaster-to-the-limelight-the-de-vitry-sibling-soundtrack/

15/08/2024

Sometimes it strikes me just how much power can emanate from a creative mind. Speaking with Denitia was one of those times. When the indie music artist comes across an unfamiliar musical concept, she goes “sponge mode” until she understands it.

Hear Denitia talk with her #1 fan lizzie no where you listen to podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/denitias-musical-journey-from-nyc-streetwear-to-nashvilles-vintage-vibes/

08/08/2024

Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin have both released new albums in the past year that have knocked us right over. These two talented kooks have been a popular pair on this Basic Folk podcast. We welcome our faves back on for a stirring conversation about stress, newsletters and how many pants Jeffrey owns.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/anna-tivel-jeffrey-martin-eyeballs-ice-cream-and-portland-oregon/

05/08/2024

YAY LIZZIE IS RADIO STAR

Lizzie No. Live session from Nashville Studio! Interview on the making of her latest album "Halfsies"! She will surprise you at every turn - as an artist and co-host of Basic Folk, a fav podcast on folk music on .

01/08/2024

Matt the Electrician, aka Matt Sever, is quirky and sincere. Before music was full-time, Matt worked as an actual electrician in between folk music gigs and open mics. He found people were drawn to his skills in the trade, so he decided to make it part of his musical moniker. 11 albums later he is still sometimes identified as "Mike the Plumber," but he's got a great attitude.

We talk abt all this & his new album "The Ocean Knocked Me Down" where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/fake-interviews-real-talk-matt-the-electrician-reinvents-music-marketing/

25/07/2024

English singer-songwriter John Smith got his start playing Liverpool & sideman to Lianne La Havas, Lisa Hannigan and David Gray. Growing up with folk music and guitar music influences from Eric Clapton to Maria Callas to Nick Drake, John’s sensitivity as a player is one of the cornerstones of his music. I (lizzie) got to witness the connection he shares with audiences on a recent month-long tour around the UK.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/john-smith-is-finding-harmony-in-chaos/

👋 Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village

18/07/2024

🎶Feminist Folk Icon Alert🎶 Peggy Seeger in conversation with Dawn Landes It took Dawn 40 years to come across Peggy Seeger’s music and she's mad about it! Listen to these angry women talk about the word "feminist," Elizabeth Cotton, ruining our thumbs and what Peggy's dream tattoo is.

Where you listen 🤘 or here:
https://basicfolk.com/peggy-seeger-spills-folk-feminist-tea-with-dawn-landes/

11/07/2024

Ana Egge's main co-writer is her dreaming-self. Her dreams started getting more and more intense four years ago when she got sober. We explore her new album Sharing in the Spirit track by track and welcome back Basic Folk's first ever guest.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/ana-egge-on-dream-writing-the-truth-and-sinead-oconnor/

04/07/2024

Chris Smither is Peter Mulvey's mentor and has been for 30+ years. The two have not toured together in a minute, but 2024 sees both with new releases and Smither turning 80. They're hitting the road and playing shows all this year - we got them to reflect on their friendship, longevity and fatherhood.

Listen where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/soundcheck-stories-and-life-lessons-chris-smither-and-peter-mulvey/

27/06/2024

Gluten fan Steve Poltz loved Dr. Demento, Laugh-in and The Smothers Brothers as a young person. His post-Jewel major label experience tried to make him serious, but you can't keep a comedic genius contained. He's been charming fans and winning hearts since he's been independent for the past two plus decades. Things get funny and things get real with Poltzy.

Where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/steve-poltz-wants-to-listen-to-the-grateful-dead-watch-laugh-in-and-write-a-song-together/

20/06/2024

Iowa folk music icon Greg Brown is living that retired life. After playing his farewell retirement concert in 2023, he's returned with a new book: Ring Around The Moon: A Songbook, which highlights a song selection personally picked by the songwriter himself, as well as family photos, personal anecdotes and self-penned drawings 🌽

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/archiving-the-heart-greg-brown-on-music-family-and-throwing-out-old-notebooks/

06/06/2024

Frontman ​Ryan ​Miller joins us ​to ​talk ​about ​all ​things ​Guster, who just released ​their ​9th ​studio ​album, ​Ooh ​La ​La.. ​From ​their ​tried ​and ​true ​collaborative ​writing ​process ​to ​the ​theatrical ​delights ​of ​their ​recent "We ​Also ​Have ​Eras" ​tour, ​to ​what ​it ​really ​looks ​like ​to ​make ​environmental ​sustainability ​a ​priority ​on ​tour.

Where you listen to podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/guster-is-a-place/

30/05/2024

Flip phone guy John Moreland surprised us with his latest album Visitor in early April. The acoustic record saw the Oklahoma songwriter quitting his smartphone, social media and all touring for six months. The aforementioned flip phone and an old iPhone (for downloaded music only) were his only source of mobile convenience. What manifested was a beautiful psychic change and a whole load of new songs.

Listen where you podcast or here:
https://basicfolk.com/finding-freedom-in-a-flip-phone-john-morelands-quest-for-a-simple-life/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley

16/05/2024

Fran & Flora have bonded over ancient music, rooted in Eastern European and Jewish culture, for over a dozen years. Together and separately, the English musicians have been studying with teachers of ethnomusicology in places like Transylvania and Romanian. We talk about why they connect so deeply with this wild music, their beautiful kooky friendship and which Sword & the Stone quote they are always texting each other.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/fran-flora-are-reimagining-traditional-yiddish-folk-music/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village

09/05/2024

Billy Bragg is on-board Cayamo to talk about songwriting, social justice, punk rock and, of course, The Little Guy (Bragg's nickname for Woody Guthrie). Billy is the real deal: sincere, open and honest... also very cheeky, up for a good laugh and a spot of marmite.

Where you listen to podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/relevant-radical-rotfl-billy-bragg-folk-musics-political-poet/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley Lizzie No Sixthman

02/05/2024

Leyla McCalla and her band (bassist Pete Olynciw, drummer Shawn Meyers and guitarist Nahum Zdybel) join Lizzie No & Cindy onboard the Cayamo cruise to go through their incredible, righteous and fun new record Sun Without Heat. Leyla's really changing the game in the Americana genre when it comes to incorporating the academic into truly bitchin' music. We really loved hanging out with this crew at sea on Cayamo. They had great vibes, good laughs and also very good outfits. More good times with Leyla and band, please!!

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/leyla-mccallas-joyful-rebellion-sun-without-heat-and-the-freedom-of-play/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village Cayamo

25/04/2024

Cold weather kid Humbird, aka Siri Undlin, actually has complicated feelings about winter. She eventually gave up her beloved hockey to focus on music at a young age. Her Celtic trio with her hockey-buds proved instrumental in her love for traditional Irish balladry. It eventually led her to the country for an intensive study of their ancient music, whose influence can still be heard in her songs today. Siri opens up about her new record, dismantling white supremacy, love of Minnesota, Aunt Joan and being open to chaos.

Where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/humbird-from-dinner-table-singing-to-dismantling-white-supremacy/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley Nettwerk Music Group

18/04/2024

We're live at sea! lizzie and Cindy recorded this episode onboard Cayamo AND it's another edition of FOLK DEBATE CLUB. Our Community vs Capitalism panel is Jenny Owen Youngs (Buffering the Vampire Slayer), Amy Reitnouer Jacobs (The Bluegrass Situation) and Natalie Dean (Cayamo). We talk about both through the lens of folk music and the music industry at large. Music is something that sustains our lives, but it’s also a profession and something people consume. Don't worry, we figure it all out in this episode of FOLK DEBATE CLUB AT SEA!

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/navigating-the-waters-of-folk-music-community-vs-capitalism/

👋 Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village Sixthman Lizzie No

11/04/2024

Originally from Greenville, GA, musician Jontavious Willis is a Blues music phenom. lizzie spoke with Jontavious live on stage at Fort Worth African American Music Festival (FWAAMFest). He's a great example of a new spin on a genre that a lot of people think they know already. It's really a genre for free people, for young people, for people looking ahead.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/jontavious-willis-says-blue-music-is-for-the-kids/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village Lizzie No Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival

04/04/2024

What a dang treat! Both Aoife O'Donovan & Dawn Landes have new records with strong feminist themes and they were game to talk about WOMEN with us. It was fun to dive into feminism, history and how to make old vernacular sound new in 2024. Also Aoife shares her unpopular opinion on Barbie and Dawn shocks the nation with her answer to what a feminist cannot live without.

Where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/aoife-odonovan-and-dawn-lades-surf-all-the-feminist-waves/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village

28/03/2024

Missy Raines! Boy do we get into ALL the things. This total babe talks about her West Virginia Appalachian roots, learning how to be an emotionally involved music fan from her parents, NASHVILLE S**T, introducing AIDS activism into Bluegrass, her banging new album Highlander and how many dogs she has pet lately.

Where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/appalachian-bluegrasser-missy-raines-explains-the-west-virginia-thing/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley

21/03/2024

On paper, in the 2000's Bob Hillman Music 's career was booming: Suzanne Vega opening slots included. However, lack of sustainable growth, made him get back to business- school that is. He left music and worked in marketing for the next 15 yrs. In 2016, Bob tg ot back to writing, recording and performing. His most recent is the mostly acoustic Downtown in the Rain EP. In our conversation, we talk about what it's like to reignite his creative entrepreneurial musical spirit, how he used that energy in his corporate jobs and also hoping to one day meet his singing partner on the EP, Maria Taylor.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/bob-hillmans-rock-and-roll-return-from-beach-volleyball-to-marketing-to-musician/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village

17/03/2024

Yesterday was live on stage at 🎤🎶 lizzie no spoke with Jontavious Willis in what they call “the most lively interview I’ve ever done.” It was a true intensive on The Blues and what it means to be a person from the country. “I don’t even think about country as a genre of music. It’s a way of life… [it’s] being somewhere quiet [with] not a lot to do so you have tons of time.” Thanks to Jontavious for your creativity and warmth during this special interview. We’re so honored to have been a part of FWAAMFest. Thanks to the organizers, fellow artists and attendees. lizzie shares that the fest “felt like my family reunion. It was like such a great experience and so much camaraderie” 🖤🪕🎻
📷
vibes✨ by

16/03/2024

What are some songs that list things?

Joe Pug's new song "Treasury of Prayers" has got me inspired to make a playlist of "songs that list wishes" ala Humble and Kind (Lori McKenna) or Bob Dylan "Forever Young."

14/03/2024

Joe Pug will not engage in the Left-Brained Vs Right-Brained debate. His artistry and pragmatic business sense have lived in actual parallel through his music career. His songwriting and creativity are fueled by passion and result in dramatic and exciting songs, as on his new album Sketch of a Promised Departure. In our interview, we dig into his creative process, artistic balance and family life while creating his latest project.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/joe-pug-will-not-ossify/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley

07/03/2024

Hannah Connolly's secret little emo heart has been hiding for a little while, but lucky for us her latest album Shadowboxing is showing her shine pretty brightly. The Wisconsin folk singer, now based in LA, lost her youngest brother in 2015 after her family's car was hit by a drunk driver. Hannah's debut album faced this unbearable loss head-on. It was a record she had to make even though it was scary, hard and challenged her mental health. These days, Hannah's found her joy in making music and it was a privilege to talk to this special artist about the journey she's been on.

Where you listen to podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/hannah-connolly-is-finding-her-happy-little-emo-heart/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley

29/02/2024

EP 250! HUGE DEAL: Bestie Lizzie No reveals ALL on v special episode! We've lived with their new album HALFSIES for 42 days and it's time to deep dive with the GOAT. We go track by track on the record, we hear important truths and live to tell the tale. On this LEAP DAY 2024, please enjoy Basic Folk Episode 250!!!!

Where you get podcasts or here:
https://basicfolk.com/lizzie-no-the-goat-on-gender-tiaras-and-leveling-up/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation SiriusXM The Village Folk Alley Studio 9 Thirty Tigers

22/02/2024

Session Americana's Dinty Child Music has acted as a community hub leader for decades in the rich roots scene found in Cambridge and Somerville - just outside of Boston. The network of musicians and artists that Dinty has encouraged is immeasurable. On his second solo album, Dinty found himself wanting to make a record of his songs in order to create joy in said community and connect with his grandkids (who know all the words). He visits the pod to go track by track through the album, talk about island time and his frustrating knack for writing songs in his dreams.

Where you listen or here:
https://basicfolk.com/dinty-child-dreams-up-tunes-on-island-time/

👋 The Bluegrass Situation Folk Alley SiriusXM The Village Nine Athens Music