Jimbo Mathus grew up in a house full of musicians, and by the time he was 8 years old, he was sitting in on family jam sessions. He dropped out of college, joined the Merchant Marines and eventually settled in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He formed The Squirrel Nut Zippers in 1993, which experienced massive success in the mid- to late ‘90s. The band was swept into the short-lived swing music revival, alongside The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voodoo…
Jon Muq: Uganda, Cruise Ship Food, and His Googly-Eyed Guitar
Originally from the village of Mutungo, Uganda (near the country’s capital of Kampala), Jon Muq’s journey to his current life…
Ani DiFranco & Carsie Blanton: Menopause, The Wild Child, and Naps to fight Capitalism
Basic Folk is making trouble at sea with Ani DiFranco and Carsie Blanton! Hosts Lizzie and Cindy had the opportunity…
Loudon Wainwright III: Oversharing, Family Ties, and Musical Legacy
The legendary Loudon Wainwright III, whose career has spanned over five decades, is known for his deeply personal songwriting and…
Olivia Ellen Lloyd: From West Virginia to Brooklyn, Finding Ground in Water
Olivia Ellen Lloyd’s latest album, ‘Do It Myself,’ sees the West Virginia-born Brooklyn-based songwriter reflecting on the powerful imagery of…
Bonnie “Prince” Billy On Making Nashville Musical Magic
Will Oldham, also known as Bonnie “Prince” Billy, has led an illustrious, sometimes mysterious career which has spanned decades and…
Rose Cousins & Edie Carey: Bast Friendship, Music, and the Art of Spatula-ing Life
Rose Cousins and Edie Carey’s friendship has blossomed for over two decades. On the occasion of Rose releasing her new…
Sierra Hull: Mandolin Magic and Small Town Roots
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
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
Singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt has an interesting way of working melodies and a down to earth way of telling stories about…