We did this one live from FAI and really enjoyed chatting with Lucy Isabel about Folk Alliance; how one gets involved in the showcases, how to navigate the conference, and the familyreunion feel of it all.

Following her 2019 debut album, Rambling Stranger, Isabel felt both limitless and lost. “I felt like people were aware of and interested in my career in a way they hadn’t been previously and Ifroze.” Unsure of what else to do, she turned to her usual outlet and began touring extensively. Isabel embarked on an ambitious “31 Shows in 31 Days” tour in October 2019 and she found her footing along the way. Her confidence was short-lived, however, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and left everyone in fearful uncertainty.

Not one to waste time, Isabel took the opportunity to grow her family, giving birth to her first child in April 2021. “I always expected that I would just continue touring but I was suddenly presented with this opportunity to be home and relax throughout my first pregnancy. We decided to take advantage of that and I couldn’t be more grateful that we did. It was a silver lining in a difficult time.”

All The Light leans more toward the folk side of Isabel’s folk/Americana identity, still making use of a live band feel while also incorporating a great deal of acoustic instrumentation. The songs are both introspective and relatable, paying due respect to the fears that form us andthe freedom of letting them go.

Check Lucy out here:

• Patreon: Lucy Isabel Music
• Website: lucyisabelmusic.com
• FB: Lucy Isabel
• YouTube: Lucyisabelmusic
• IG: lucyisabel_music

We had the loveliest chat with David Howley about his transition from We Banjo Three into his solo career. We talked about being a “giant sponge” as a musician, place as an influence onsongwriting, and music as a communal activity. Just a charming human!

David Howley is an award-winning folk artist from Ireland, blending traditional Irish music with modern folk. Founder of Billboard World #1 band We Banjo 3, he has performed with renownedartists like The Chieftains, Billy Strings, and Mumford & Sons. Known for his soulful vocals and evocative storytelling, David’s solo work continues to captivate audiences. With a rich, emotionally resonant sound, David’s shows promise a unique, magical experience that blends Irish heritage with contemporary folk innovation.

Check David out here:

• Website: www.davidhowleymusic.com
• Instagram: Davidhowley
• Facebook: davidhowleymusic
• YouTube: davidhowleymusic

We talk with Anne Harris and immediately feel like we’ve been friends forever. Anne discusses her latest release (AVAILABLE NOW) “ I Feel It Once Again,” her first time at folk alliance which she calls “fantasy band camp” and about being the curator of your own curiosity. She also tells the beautiful story of her violin commission with luthier Amanda Ewing.

Anne Harris is an incredible artist, a songwriter/fiddle player/vocalist, with a gorgeous new album produced by Colin Linden (Bob Dylan, Rhiannon Giddens, John Prine) that features her new violin. The violin she uses on the album is the first-ever recognized commission between two professional black women of a newly-crafted instrument in the US (and we think the world, but aren't sure about that).

Check Anne out here:

• Website: Anneharris.com
• IG: anne.harris.music
• BlueSky:anneharrismusic.bsky.social
• Facebook: Anne Harris
• YouTube: Anneharrismusic

We visit with Sarah Quintana as she calls in from “between the train tracks and the cemetery in New Orleans.” We discuss her NewOrleans roots, songwriting as medicine and of course her latest album “Baby Don’t.”

Sarah Quintana is a singer-songwriter from New Orleans with a background rich in jazz, folk and popular music. She is a charming performer, devoted guitarist and her voice is instantly recognizable. Quintana splits her time between the US and France, working alongside Michael Doucet of BeauSoleil, saxophonist Raphael Imbert, touring on her own repertoire with French and American musicians. Quintana is a member of the Pantheatre (Linda Wise and Enrique Pardo) as well as a hatha yoga instructor. In her latest studio recording, Daddy Lies (Independent 2017), Quintana collaborates with Mark Bingham.

​ Sarah Quintana grew up in New Orleans where live music is ingrained many aspects of daily life. In 2010 she went from singing on the streets of Provence with a traveling circus, to the stages of the Jazz and Heritage Festival and later, the Lincoln Center for Mid-Summer Swing with The New Orleans Moonshiners. In 2012, Quintana was awarded an artist residency at A Studio in the Woods where she composed "Miss River," music with water.

Check Sarah out here:

• Bandcamp: Sarah Quintana
• Website: Sarahquintana.com
• IG: sarahjanequintana
• Facebook: Sarah Quintana Music
• YouTube: Sarah Quintana

We talked with ‘jack of all trades’ Daniel Hayes about his recent release “Butterfly with Bazookas,” being gifted writing coach sessions, and his next projects, including writing ascreenplay and starting a production company!

Denver-based poet, author, musician, and spoken word artist Daniel Hayes released, "Butterfly with Bazookas," on all digital and streaming platforms September 20, 2024. Thiseleven-track collection into Hayes’ world fuses compelling storytelling and passionate musical arrangements, capturing his ability to blend deep introspection with explosive energy. Butterfly with Bazookas embodies Hayes' artistic voice, weaving together his exploration of life's extremes with powerful, unfiltered rawness. Known for his passion and talents in poetry, song lyrics, music, and the occasional memoir, Hayes has created an album that balances reflective depth with visceral expression, delivering an album that melds his creative skillsets into one.The album’s title, Butterfly with Bazookas, showcases the duality of Hayes' artistic voice. As he describes, “I chose that name for the album because I'm like a butterfly with bazookas; I’m soft-spoken, polite, even delicate at times. But, once I've made up my mind about something… It never comes easy for me, as I'm constantly weighing both sides of an issue, walking in as many shoes as possible so I'm being fair. But, once I’ve settled, I have no problem telling it like it is. Also, the title refers to how some of the tracks are quiet and gentle like ‘Ecstasy,’ ‘Redemption,’ and ‘Wake Up,’ while others are explosive, uncensored, and/or feral, such as ‘The Witch,’‘Eat Fast,’ and ‘Bullet Train.’ I think the album’s title expresses those dichotomies in one phrase.”

Check Daniel out here: Downingstreetstudios.com

And his book “Cairns” is available on Amazon.

We really enjoyed talking with Libby, Owen, and Eli of Dallas Ugly. From hearing their unique band name story, to how they became a band was really a good time. We discussed their newalbum “See Me Now” (Available NOW!), and how they each individually write a song and then come together to finalize it.

Nashville’s Dallas Ugly are an indie rock band of truly trusted friends, a trio who have been singing each other’s songs for over a decade. Three distinctive voices: guitarist OwenBurton observes humanity at a wry remove, chuckling, multi-instrumentalist Libby Weitnauer lifts personal experience up into catchy tunes, and bassist Eli Broxham gracefully snakes through the low end on his more melancholy contributions. Together they’ve forged an ironclad, sibling-like bond, daring each other to ever increasing heights. Their listeners - lucky - get theoverlap of their Venn diagram, the best of their crop, otherwise known as “See Me Now,” their sophomore album.

Though they first started playing each other’s songs back in their Chicago undergrad days, Dallas Ugly officially formed in 2020 when Owen, Libby, and Eli took a chance on relocatingto Nashville. Owen had been living in Senegal serving in the Peace Corps, Libby had established herself as an in-demand musician in New York City, and Eli was playing on frequent bluegrass and country gigs in Illinois - reunited in the Music City, they got to work, shaping both Dallas Ugly and the local scene while playing with a slew of other Nashville artists.

Check them out here:

• BandCamp: Dallas Ugly
• Website: Dallasugly.com
• IG: dallasugly
• TikTok: Dallasuglymusic
• Facebook: Dallas Ugly
• YouTube: Dallas Ugly

We really enjoyed our talk with Mary Bue who called in from Minneapolis. We talked about her mom bribing her to learn piano, yoga retreats, poetry, and of course her 9th studio album, “The Wildness of Living and Dying.”

Mary Bue is a songwriter, international retreat guide, and yoga teacher based out of Minneapolis, often roaming this beautiful world. Named Best Songwriter of 2020 by City Pages, her music touches upon archetypal themes of the human condition: love, loss, survival, dreams, and the natural world. A longtime student of yoga and psychology, Mary weaves sacredsubject matter into her songs, seeking of deeper levels of consciousness, and concern for the environment mixed into oft-crass, real-world hue. Mary released her 9th album The Wildness of Living & Dying in February 2025.

Check Mary out here:

• Patreon: Mary Bue
• Website: Marybue.com
• IG: Marybuemusic
• Facebook: Mary Bue

We talked with Ty & Nick of The Talbott Brothers in this episode, and it was an amazing time chatting with fellow Nebraskans and songwriters.

We chatted about finishing each other’s sentences, their grassroots beginning, the payoff of persistence, and the Nebraskan stiff upper lip. We also have a great conversation about their new album out May 2, 2025, “Borderlands”

The Talbott Brothers, hailing from the heartland of Imperial, Nebraska, embody the heart and soul of Americana, Folk/Rock, Soul, Blues and Country with their blue-collar grit and unapologetic authenticity. Grounded in the character of their rural upbringing, brothers Nick and Ty Talbott have built a name for themselves with their soul-stirring lyrics, sibling blood harmonies, and rich melodies that represent the ebbs and flows of life.

After years of soaking in Portland’s eclectic energy, the brothers felt a strong calling back to their Midwest roots. Returning to their small town of 2,000 people, they realizedthat their unchanged hometown had been instrumental in their own evolution.

This revelation led to the creation of their new album Borderlands, set to dropon Friday, May 2, 2025. The record navigates the emotional frontiers suggested by its name — where heartbreak leads to healing, grief discovers joy, sadness gives way to happiness, anger finds forgiveness, and indifference becomes love. It’s a sonic exploration of finding the courage to leave home, while always carrying a piece of it with you.

Check them out here:

Website: thetalbottbrothers.com

• IG: Talbottbrothers
• TikTok: Talbottbrothers
• FB: The Talbott Brothers
• And find Ty’s Podcast Similar Vein here: https://similarveinpodcast.transistor.fm/