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PODCAST

Basic Folk

The Bluegrass Situation

Basic Folk features honest conversations with folk musicians hosted by Cindy Howes and Lizzie No. We approach interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. Since 2018, this podcast has dignified under the radar roots musicians by providing a platform that they might not otherwise have. You’ll hear interviews from Three-time Grammy-winning guitar gods like Molly Tuttle, Haitian American folk legends like Leyla McCalla and deep feelers like songwriter John Hiatt.Basic Folk is dedicated to

music music interviews

All Episodes

56:41

Buffalo Nichols, ep. 230

Basic Folk ·

2023/09/14

Milwaukee singer-songwriter Buffalo Nichols returns to Basic Folk today to talk about his new album, ‘The Fatalist,’ out September 15 from Fat Possum Records. We picked up where Nichols’ debut album left off, traveling the world hot on the heels of the blues. Following a profound tradition can be just as frustrating as it is romantic. In his years on the road promoting his self-titled debut album, Carl aka Buffalo has witnessed how the blues can be a home base for listeners’ nostalgic,

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59:18

Rising Appalachia, ep. 229

Basic Folk ·

2023/09/07

Sisters Leah Song & Chloe Smith grew up in Urban Atlanta, they also lived in New Orleans and outside of Asheville. The pair are deeply rooted in their Southern identity as evidenced in their band, Rising Appalachia. Although their parents are not professional musicians, music was a constant part of the family. Their parents were dedicated students of early Appalachian music. The sisters played music everyday, were classically trained, attended fiddle camps and music festivals among other musical

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59:50

Nina de Vitry, ep. 228

Basic Folk ·

2023/08/31

Lancaster-born, Nashville-based Nina de Vitry‘s debut album, What You Feel is Real, shines while showcasing her passion for jazz and folk music. de Vitry’s name may sound familiar, as she comes from a musical family and is the youngest sister of folk superstar Maya de Vitry (formerly of The Stray Birds). She grew up fiddling around the campfire, while being classically trained on the violin and (her true love) the piano. She started writing songs very young, became enchanted with foreign languages

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40:38

Ben Harper, ep. 227

Basic Folk ·

2023/08/24

Ben Harper has a deep connection to music through his family, who own a a very special music store in the Inland Empire of California. The legacy of the store is founded on ensuring its community always has access to music. That legacy has deeply impacted the type of person Ben Harper continues to be throughout his artistic life. He’s been a musician who has given so many artists their start (very notably Jack Johnson), and has been a gateway into roots music for many of his listeners. In our

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68:57

Taylor Ashton, ep. 226

Basic Folk ·

2023/08/17

Canadian-born, New York based banjo person Taylor Ashton’s second solo album, Stranger to the Feeling, was recorded on a coast to coast road trip during 2021. These were the two weeks post-vaccine where we thought everything was A-OK, so Ashton and producer Jacob Blumberg set out on a recording adventure that included collaborations with friends new and old. Ashton, who’s since become a new parent with wife Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive), wanted to create an album that “meditates on the meaning of

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59:25

Raye Zaragoza, ep. 225

Basic Folk ·

2023/08/10

The headline for Los Angeles-based Raye Zaragoza's new album Hold That Spirit is that after she broke off her engagement, she used her wedding budget to fund the recording. She wrote the songs the year she turned 30 while she was thinking of the expectations placed on women in society to have everything together at a certain age: marriage, kids, career, etc. She's decided to let those expectations go and live in the joy that life offers and explores her newfound freedom and indigenous

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58:37

Meg Hutchinson, ep. 224

Basic Folk ·

2023/08/03

It’s been ten years since Boston-area Meg Hutchinson has released an album and she did it super quietly, so no shade if you didn’t realize that your favorite middle sister is back with some seriously devastating songs. Meg grew up just outside of Great Barrington, MA where she had an idyllic childhood surrounded by woods and framed by her desire to become a folk singer. That dream was realized after she graduated college, quit her organic lettuce farm job and moved to Boston in the early 2000’s

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62:59

Molly Tuttle, ep. 223

Basic Folk ·

2023/07/27

Basic Folk is thrilled to interview The Bluegrass Situation's July 2023 Artist of the Month: Molly Tuttle! Quickly becoming The Bluegrass American Idol, Molly Tuttle's new album City of Gold is hot off the heels of her Grammy-award winning 2022 record Crooked Tree, which also got her a nomination in one of the coveted "Big Four" categories: Best New Artist. Aaand we know that WE ALL have had eyes on Molly for years, BUT since she's fully embraced the bluegrass genre on these last

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61:18

Kara Jackson, ep. 222

Basic Folk ·

2023/07/20

Kara Jackson has a mind like a diamond and a voice like maple syrup. She has always been drawn to music as a medium, but you probably first heard of her as the National Youth Poet Laureate. Cutting her teeth as a performing poet gave Jackson a huge public platform as well as a sense of how form can be a foundation for expression.Now, at the ripe age of 23, Jackson has released her stunning debut album, ‘Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love.’ As the title suggests, this album reflects on love

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57:57

Tim O'Brien, ep. 221

Basic Folk ·

2023/07/13

Tim O'Brien is one of Bluegrass' beloved players, from his work with the innovative Hot Rize to his yearly appearances at The Telluride Bluegrass Festival. He's just released his first album of all original material, which is something to be said for his 50 year career. At 69 years old, it's no surprise that the theme of aging pops up on quite a few of his new songs. He opens up about his perspective on aging and what it has looked for his predecessors in Bluegrass. He reflects on

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69:23

Brian Dunne, ep. 220

Basic Folk ·

2023/07/06

I am feeling #blessed and #grateful to be sharing today’s interview with our listeners. Brian Dunne is one of my dearest pals in the music biz, not to mention one of my favorite songwriters working today. Brian’s songs are always clever and sincere, dark and fun, honest and imaginative. He’s got a way with words, a killer voice, and big time rock star vibes. These are a few of the reasons why “Loser On The Ropes,” Dunne’s Kill Rock Stars debut, is earning this indie rocker critical acclaim and a ton

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51:07

Ethan Setiawan, ep. 219

Basic Folk ·

2023/06/29

Is mandolinist Ethan Setiawan 100 years old?! The Indiana-born Setiawan's expert playing will fool you into thinking he's four times his actual age. Thanks to a supportive family and mennonite community, Ethan came to the mandolin and folk music at an early age. His impressive proficiency and technical prowess landed him a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, he was exposed to all different types of music and developed that natural rhythm and groove that only comes

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65:21

Caitlin Canty, ep. 218

Basic Folk ·

2023/06/22

Urgency and patience are the two poles of New England songwriter Caitlin Canty’s magnetism. Her music invites you to quiet moments of reflection with unhurried confidence. When I first heard her song “Get Up” in 2015 I felt like I was receiving a very important magical message. Canty’s subsequent releases have further revealed her uncanny talents for grooving at the right tempo, describing the memorable image, leaning into elegant arrangements, and letting delicate moods hang in the air.Canty’s new

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69:38

Rissi Palmer & Miko Marks, Ep. 217

Basic Folk ·

2023/06/15

Rissi Palmer and Miko Marks have been laying the foundation for country musicians and fans who are Black for almost 20 years. Back in the early 2000's both women experienced the trials and tribulations of being Black women in country. Despite their success and large growing fanbase, both were separately discouraged by the ceilings and roadblocks they encountered from the white-dominated industry. Even though they nearly quit music, they discovered a deep and meaningful ally and friend in each

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64:31

Performance vs Authenticity, ep. 216

Basic Folk ·

2023/06/08

Welcome to Folk Debate Club, our occasional crossover series with fellow folk-pod Why We Write! Today, to discuss Lyrics vs Melody, we welcome our panel of guests: music journalist and former singer/songwriter, Kim Ruehl, Isa Burke (Lula Wiles, Aoife O’Donovan), illustrious male folk singer Willi Carlisle, musician and Basic Folk guest host lizzie no, and yours truly, Cindy Howes, boss of Basic Folk.In music (and life), there is debate over authenticity versus performative. On stage, in written

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62:00

Matt Sucich, Ep. 215

Basic Folk ·

2023/06/01

Lately I have been fascinated by musicians who are creative not only in what they create, but also in terms of how they share it. This curiosity has made me a fan of Matt Sucich, an artist who has cultivated a passionate fanbase via his live performances, instagram livestreams, and thoughtful email newsletter. We are living in a moment of history where there is more music available than ever before, and more ways of interacting with creators than ever before. But it can be challenging to sift

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58:40

Hanneke Cassel, ep. 214

Basic Folk ·

2023/05/25

Fiddler Hanneke Cassel has been a big Celtic star for decades and comes to the pod to try and teach me the difference between Irish and Scottish music. Just kidding all you Hanneke-heads! …. But seriously, she helps me keep some things straight. She’s been fusing all different styles of music for a long time and her latest album Infinite Brightness weaves her signature flowing Celtic style along with traces of Americana, old time (but she tells me she’s not an old time or a bluegrass player) and a

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63:02

Dom Flemons., ep. 213

Basic Folk ·

2023/05/18

Dr. Dom Flemons comes off as older than his 40 years and I think it's because he seems like he is of a different era. This is thanks in part to his work in teaching and interpreting such old songs, such as his work with the Carolina Chocolate Drops that he was in alongside Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson. Originally from Phoenix, Dom is considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, fife and rhythm bones. When he was 18 years old, he saw Dave Van Ronk

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60:00

Libby Rodenbough, ep. 212

Basic Folk ·

2023/05/11

Libby Rodenbough’s second solo record sees the fiddler and songwriter further stretching from the bluegrass/old time style of her band Mipso. Born in Greensboro, SC, music was just another activity that Libby did along with soccer and going to girl scouts. She played violin in her school’s orchestra and thought she’d be a music major, until a college professor let her know that her playing was not up to par with those who studied classical music at a collegial level. She found herself at local

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71:53

David Wax Track by Track, ep. 211

Basic Folk ·

2023/05/04

Follow Basic Folk on social media: https://basicfolk.bio.link/Sign up for Basic Folk's newsletter: https://bit.ly/basicfolknewsHelp produce Basic Folk by contributing: https://basicfolk.com/donate/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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