Something you might notice about Boston musician Naomi Westwater is that they have both sides of the brain on lock. They are very good at community organizing, grant applying, advocating, and other “left-brained” activities. However, they are also a creative, deeply spiritual, open-hearted person, traits typically associated with the right brain. That’s not always something that goes hand-in-hand, but it is a beautiful thing when it does! Westwater, who identifies as queer and Black-multiracial, grew up on Cape Cod in…
Rissi Palmer & Miko Marks: “Buckle Bunny,” No Cringe, and My Black Country
This time on Basic Folk, we are checking in with country singer-songwriter and Color Me Country radio host Rissi Palmer…
Vibe Coaches Maya de Vitry, Ethan Jodziewicz, Joel Timmons, & Shelby Means
Maya de Vitry, Ethan Jodziewicz, Joel Timmons, and Shelby Means are on Basic Folk today talking about their new collaborations.…
Paul Brady on Tina Turner, Irish Music, and Not Being Too Famous
Bob Dylan once called Paul Brady a “secret hero” and meant it as a compliment. The Irish songwriting legend has…
Everyone Has a Friend in Joe K. Walsh
Originally from northern Minnesota, Joe K. Walsh grew up in Duluth and became enthralled with the mandolin (his primary focus,…
Everyone Belongs at the Olive Klug show
Olive Klug and I (Cindy) recorded this interview in my closet while they were in Portland, Maine to play a…
Gina Chavez: From Choir Kid to Latin Grammy Nominee
New bestie Gina Chavez speaks about her journey in music, her deep love for connecting with people, and the influence…
Tony Kamel Believes in Life and You Should, Too
You may recognize the voice, face, and vibe of wonderful human being Tony Kamel from his acclaimed bluegrass group, Wood…
Kora Feder: Future of Political Folk Songwriting Also Has Too Many Craft Projects
On this episode of Basic Folk, Kora Feder talks about her new album, ‘Some Kind of Truth,’ as well as…
Tami Neilson: On Taking Wynonna’s Call, Her Scary Near-Death Experience, and Willie Nelson
In recent years, Tami Neilson has been learning to carry both great joy and great sorrow simultaneously. The New Zealand-based,…