BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THE WALKING THE FLOOR PODCAST TO HEAR THE OTHER HALF OF THIS LIVE-RECORDED EVENT Recorded life at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, TN, host Robert Earl Keen speaks with Chris Shiflett . Some of you may recognize him as the guitarist of the famed rock-band the Foo Fighters while others (or both) might know him from his podcast Walking the Floor with Chris Shiflett. Shiflett was podcasting before it was cool and has spoken with the likes of Merle Haggard, Yola, Tyler Childers and s...
Jan 20, 2020•51 min•Ep. 15
The individuals we bring into our lives are sources of happiness, pain, direction, growth, etc. Some may be new and others may have been there from what feels like the very beginning. And like that, there stands a physical embodiment of the intersection of time and influence all wrapped up into one person, or two… or maybe three. On today's episode of Americana Podcast, recorded LIVE at Railbird, host Robert Earl Keen speaks with Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins, and Aoife O'Donovan. Collectively, sin...
Dec 18, 2019•38 min•Ep. 14
On today's episode of Americana podcast: the 51st State - Kevin Russell. Also known as Shinyribs . Kevin Russell, or as we've been calling him "the physical embodiment of sound"- was born in the late '60s in Beaumont, Texas. In his formative years, Russell's family relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was exposed to one of the richest hotbeds for roots-based music. At 17 he began to play in various bars and venues across the state and in the early 90's he relocated to Austin, TX. In 1994...
Nov 27, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 13
Up to this point, Americana has been defined as American root-based music. What then when the roots grow deeper and expand beyond the borders of the continent? What if the sounds, cadence, and singer-songwriter qualities of Americana are there.. just not the language? Baptiste W. Hamon has been playing and writing music professionally since about 2015. Releasing his first record in 2016 and his second, "Soleil, Soleil Bleu" in April of 2019. Hamon's music is reflective of traditional American si...
Nov 08, 2019•52 min•Ep. 12
Americana, for all intents and purposes, is roots-based music. Sounds, songs, and stories are as much a part of the region as they are apart of the artist. Although the Americana generally adopts regional sounds and sub-genres and provides a platform with a wider national and international reach, we have to wonder what we as listeners might be losing when not defining a song or a band by where it/they come from. Geographically where does Americana start and better yet... where does it end? Cody ...
Oct 15, 2019•33 min•Ep. 11
Host, Robert Earl Keen speaks with frontman and lyricist BJ Barham of the band American Aquarium. BJ Barham, originally from Rockingham, North Carolina, started American Aquarium in 2006. Despite going through a number of members, Barham has stuck with the band through and through acting as the frontman and primary lyricist throughout its changes. Touring anywhere from 200 to just over 300 dates a year in its earlier years, BJ recognized early on that in order to have a career as a musician it w...
Sep 03, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 10
Historic music venues are such special places. Beacons of history and culture, these venues are ones act almost as a road between the past and the present. For newer musicians taking the same stage as their heroes- and audiences getting to be apart of that moment, is a magical experience. On this episode of Word on the Street, Americana Podcast speaks with talent buyer, Mark McKinney of Floore's Country Story. Floore's celebrated its 75th anniversary of operation in 2017 and has been a staple fo...
Aug 20, 2019•26 min•Ep. 9
On Americana Podcast: The 51st State, Robert Earl Keen speaks with The White Buffalo aka Jake Smith. Smith has a way of combining plain-speak lyrics with punk-like acoustic chord progressions that become all the more powerful when partnered with his resounding and unmistakable baritone. Smith's work was used heavily in the hit show "Sons of Anarchy" and his last record Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights was released in 2017. On this episode, REK and Smith discuss his songwriting, paired-down touring...
Aug 06, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 8
The legendary songwriter Blaze Foley died tragically in 1989. His catalog has lived on in the hearts of music lovers everywhere and was brought back to life in the biopic "Blaze". Adapted from Sybil Rosen's book "Living in the Woods in a Tree" and directed by Ethan Hawke, the film was released in 2018 and introduced the world to musician/actor, Ben Dickey. Ben Dickey has been playing music most of his life, with an approach that borders between a high-level academic and universal mystic. His lat...
Jul 09, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 7
At Americana Podcast it is our goal to define and expand on the term Americana as it applies to music. Word on the Street are brief interviews with music industry professionals and dedicated music lovers alike. On this episode of our Word on the Street segment, we speak with author, producer, and Americana champion Tamara Saviano. Saviano is a prolific author, Grammy-award-winning producer, music leadership activist, publicist.. the list is truly never-ending. It seems everywhere you look in the...
Jun 25, 2019•22 min•Ep. 6
Since the word Americana was first used in application to music, Reckless Kelly has championed it throughout their career. Beginning in Idaho and moving down to Austin, TX, Reckless Kelly has had a long and fulfilling career without any signs of slowing down. Having made 9 studio records, attracted a loyal following, and overseen the transition of the famed Braun Brother Reunion from regional celebration to a three-day music festival- Reckless shows little sign of slowing down. On Americana Podc...
Jun 11, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 5
Welcome to our Word on the Street Segment of Americana Podcast! As part of our goal to define and expand the term Americana in regards to music, Word on the Street is a brief interview with either music industry professionals or a dedicated music lovers. "Word on the Street" is released two weeks after episodes of "Americana Podcast: The 51st State". Our first episode of "Word on the Street" features Mike Morgan of The Zone Recording Studio. Morgan has been in the recording industry for over 35+...
May 28, 2019•15 min•Ep. 4
Robert Earl Keen talks with singer/songwriter Bruce Robison. During his career, Robison has written hits for acts including but not limited to Tim McGraw and George Strait. On this episode, Bruce Robison discusses his songwriting, changes in music production, and his thoughts on how to expand the reach of Americana music. Americana Podcast: The 51st State is a platform dedicated to sharing and expanding on the Americana genre's roots, reach, and definition. Each episode is told from the point of...
May 14, 2019•47 min•Ep. 3
Host Robert Earl Keen speaks with Brian Venable and Ben Nichols of the band Lucero. Having celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band in 2018, Lucero talks about longevity, their growth as musicians and their particular take on Americana music. Americana Podcast: The 51st State is a platform dedicated to sharing and expanding on the Americana genre's roots, reach, and definition. Each episode is told from the point of view of the musicians that have dedicated their lives to it. Robert Earl Keen...
Apr 30, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 2
Our host, Robert Earl Keen speaks with Zach Chance and Jonathon Clay of Jamestown Revival about the early formation of their band, their songwriting process, and their growth and education as musicians. Americana Podcast: The 51st State is a platform dedicated to sharing and expanding on the Americana genre's roots, reach, and definition. Each episode is told from the point of view of the musicians that have dedicated their lives to it. Robert Earl Keen, Americana pioneer and host, interviews mu...
Apr 30, 2019•50 min•Ep. 1
Americana Podcast: The 51st State is a platform dedicated to sharing and expanding on the Americana genre's roots, reach, and definition. Each episode is told from the point of view of the musicians that have dedicated their lives to it. Robert Earl Keen, Americana pioneer and host, interviews musicians, exploring their unique histories, creative processes, successes, failures, and everything in between. Americana Podcast is proudly a part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network . Make sure t...
Apr 22, 2019•1 min0
