Naomi Westwater is Spiritually Creative, But Also Very, Very Organized

February 5, 2026

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…

Sierra Hull: Mandolin Magic and Small Town Roots

March 6, 2025

When mandolinist Sierra Hull was little, her dad told her she was really good “for a ten year old.” The…

Gary Louris in Conversation with Mark Erelli

February 27, 2025

You probably know Gary Louris as the leader of The Jayhawks – or as they refer to themselves, “a band…

Lilly Hiatt: Driving Tunes and Life Lessons

February 20, 2025

Singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt has an interesting way of working melodies and a down to earth way of telling stories about…

Sam Moss: Gentle Folk Sounds and Woodworking Bounds

February 13, 2025

Although the ever-enigmatic Sam Moss is not a great swimmer, he named his latest album ‘Swimming.’ The folk singer with…

Covered in Moss: Anna B Savage’s World of Folk, Birds and Ireland

February 6, 2025

Anna B Savage is down to earth and witchy as hell at the same time. Over her three albums, she’s…

Carolyn Kendrick’s Devilish Detour: Satan’s Folk Music, Moral Panic and the Color Red

January 30, 2025

Carolyn Kendrick’s latest project explores complex themes of moral panic, tradition, and the figure of the devil (AKA Satan, AKA…

Josh Kaufman: Imperfect Folk Music & Backstage Snacks

January 23, 2025

Multi-talented musician and producer Josh Kaufman is known for his work with Josh Ritter, The National, and his band Bonny…

Lutalo: Hip Hop Roots and Folk Future(s)

January 16, 2025

In 2024, Vermont’s Lutalo released their debut album, The Academy. In this episode of Basic Folk, they share the profound…

Jerry Douglas: From Steel Mills to Dobro Thrills

January 9, 2025

Jerry Douglas is widely regarded as the best Dobro player in the world. Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and James Taylor…

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