Episode 17 sees Brian in conversation with Christian Sedelmyer. This episode was recorded nearly a year ago, but is just seeing the light of day now. We talk Christian's 2020 release "Ravine Palace", community and more. 2019’s listing, for me personally, was heavy on the instrumental albums and 2020 was no different in providing some heavy hitters in the “records without words” realm (or very few words). Sedelmyer could be described in much the same way, a heavy hitter performing with everyone f...
Mar 02, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Well, it has certainly been a while since our last episode dropped, but Ken is back with a very special discussion with Cary Morin. The last concert I saw out in the world before this pandemic closed venues was Cary Morin at North Star Church of the Arts . I had a prior commitment, so I was running a bit late and I slid into the back pew. Cary was playing an entrancing instrumental melody, with a wide-brimmed hat pulled down low, shadows over his face. It was what music is supposed to do: after ...
Mar 02, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 16
I think the only kind of conversations Kamara Thomas has are wide-ranging. She is a musician, artist, activist, and community builder, and she brings all of those roles to our conversation for this edition of the Red Line Roots podcast. Kamara released Folklore: Live at Cassilhaus in September. It’s a really striking collection of songs. The sound is both rich and spare and these are the types of songs that shift and breathe with you the more times you listen. But that’s not all Kamara’s up to. ...
Oct 12, 2020•50 min
It’s hard to think of a band that has come out of New England recently that has shapeshifted and evolved more than Twisted Pine . The group has seen some personnel changes recently but, from its founding, seemed dedicated to pursuing new sonic territory, pulling more and more listeners in with each note. The group releases their latest record, “ Right Now ” on August 14 and it is a phenomenal piece of art. The instrumentation is nothing short of virtuosic...but not the sort of virtuosity that yo...
Sep 01, 2020•56 min
For episode 13 of the podcast, Ken catches up with Libby Rodenbough. While many may know her from her excellent band Mipso, today she is here to dig into her into her fantastic solo record, “ Spectacle of Love .” The album is most certainly not a collection of Libby-penned Mipso songs; this is a different artistic expression. On the first song, “How Come You Call Me,” it feels like Libby is drawing on Aimee Mann more than Guy Clark or Emmylou Harris. And the songs that follow represent a wide ra...
Aug 05, 2020•41 min
Ken talks with Dave Wilson and John Teer from the North Carolina mainstay Chatham County Line about digging up old songs and seeking new territory as a creative group. https://www.chathamcountyline.com/
May 28, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 12
We have a great conversation to distract you from the coronavirus news. Ken recorded this episode with Vance Gilbert back in February, around the release of his fantastic new record, Good Good Man . I have long been a fan of Vance’s work, and if you haven’t checked out his stuff before, the best place to start is with the song “Old White Men.” It is funny, it’ll make you cry, it is right there with the best John Prine songs. And while I readily make that comparison to the late, great John Prine,...
Apr 28, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Today on the podcast, Brian talks with singer-songwriter Avi Jacob. A relentlessly honest songwriter, his songs been lauded as 'beautifully crafted' and 'sublime'. He is currently on the front end of a new EP release titled Preservation. A collection of songs that dig deep into the human condition and candor of relationships. A beautiful, occasionally sparse, EP that puts Jacob's endearing, humble and open book natured voice and words on full display. https://www.avijacobfolk.com/...
Apr 17, 2020•50 min
For episode 9, Ken takes a slightly different scope on the music community and talks with concert photographer, Anthony Mulcahy. You may have seen a variety of Mulcahy's work ranging from some highly shared images from Newport Folk, as a house photographer at Levon's Barn or his beautiful long exposure night photos from all over the world. Check out Anthony's work, buy a print and listen on in to hear more about his story. http://mulography.com/...
Apr 15, 2020•50 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Singer-songwriter Mark Erelli releases a new album (Blindsided) this Friday, March 27th. In anticipation, Ken caught up with Erelli to talk about the record, about co-writing, about all things songs and music. https://www.markerelli.com/
Mar 24, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Many of you may know Sadler as part of Jason Isbell’s band, the 400 Unit or his former stint with Drivin’ and Cryin’. And probably a whole bunch of you also know that Sadler released a great solo record a few years ago and that he’s an accomplished producer. But did you know that he’s got a brand new record coming out on Friday, March 6? Today for Episode 7, Ken catches up with Sadler to talk all things songwriting, music and of course, about tracks and influence on that new record. https://www....
Mar 05, 2020•36 min
Ken catches up with Kyshona Armstrong for episode 6. Soul, R&B and folk all fuse together in a beautiful explosion of power and vibe in her music. Check it out. https://www.kyshona.com/home photo courtesy of the artist
Feb 26, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Episode 5 of the Red Line Roots podcast has Ken talking with Matt "Rev" Rieger, guitarist and vocalist for The Lil' Smokies. They talk road life and the band's new record "Tornillo". Dig in. http://www.thelilsmokies.com/ photo by Bill Reynolds https://www.williamaubreyreynolds.com/
Feb 11, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Episode 4 of the Red Line Roots podcast sees Brian talking with Ethan Setiawan, mandolinist extraordinaire and songwriter. Whether he is playing in his progressive bluegrass band Mudskippers, or genre hopping with his other band Corner House…performing his own original instrumental or backing some of the most talented artists in the genre, spanning generations, his playing is always a stand out. https://www.ethansetiawan.com/ photo by Louise Bichan...
Jan 27, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Episode 3 of the Red Line Roots podcast sees Ken talking with Joseph Terrell, guitarist and singer for the NC band Mipso. This coming weekend Mipso launches off on a Living Room tour. Where the band is used to a variety of differing venues with their music, ranging from theatres to festival stages, this time around they see the comfort of smaller, more intimate shows complete with lamps and living room furniture for the stage. Catch them if you see them rolling through your area! https://www.mip...
Jan 17, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Episode 2 of the Red Line Roots podcast sees Ken talking with Alan Barnosky, a songwriter and musician from Durham, NC. The release comes a couple of days before Alan's new EP release titled "Lonesome Road". Merging in a place where the roads of Appalachian mountain music and modern day folk collide, its a collection of songs that Barnosky has culled from an experience on a two-month solo bicycle tour, which he tells us "quite literally served as the material for the title-track". https://alanba...
Jan 15, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Well, folks...here we are. We exist, the Red Line Roots podcast where we talk to songwriters and musicians about their craft and art. This first conversation is with Izzy Heltai, a 23 year old singer songwriter from Northampton by way of Brookline, Massachusetts. http://www.izzyheltai.com/ music used with permission from the artist
Nov 17, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 1
