During the Infamous Stringdusters’ recent holiday gig at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, the storied venue was packed out with jamgrass freaks, the performance itself a kickoff of sorts for the band’s 20th anniversary in 2026. I found myself standing sidestage when show opener Bronwyn Keith-Hynes came up next to me. A smile emerged on her face taking in the band and the audience.
“The Stringdusters made me want to start a band,” the GRAMMY-winning fiddler said, turning to me. “The Fork In The Road album was the most influential modern bluegrass album for me when I was at Berklee.”
Keith Hynes’ sentiment conjured numerous memories and moments I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of when it comes to the ‘Dusters. The first time I ever laid eyes and ears on them, it was the 2008 Targhee Bluegrass Festival in Alta, Wyoming. I was 23 years old and a rookie reporter for the Teton Valley News, based just down the mountain in Driggs, Idaho. By that point in my life, both personally and professionally, I was diving deep into the jamgrass world – the intersection of ancient tones, psychedelia, improvisation, and a collective love of the Grateful Dead.
The initial spark of the modern jamgrass movement was lit by Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, and the String Cheese Incident, all three acts coming into the national spotlight by the end of the 1990s. A musical template had been formed, and the ‘Dusters would emerge in the early 2000s to throw gasoline onto that melodic fire, ultimately becoming a missing link (alongside Greensky Bluegrass) between jamgrass originators, those ‘90s propagators, and folks currently carrying the torch into new, exciting realms: Billy Strings, Sierra Ferrell, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and more.
“That’s what’s so beautiful about bluegrass music, in particular,” Stringdusters fiddler Jeremy Garrett told me recently. “You pass it on to the next generation and they take it and they do their thing with it. Luckily for us, we were around at a time that [that] was very important, and a transitional time in the industry.”
In 2010, a couple of years after my introduction to the band at Targhee, when I returned to my native North Country of Upstate New York, I found myself covering a show at the intimate Showcase Lounge at Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont. I was there to see the ‘Dusters once again. Their sound and energy immediately transported me back to the Rocky Mountains that I missed dearly. (Sharing the bill was another rising jamgrass act, Trampled by Turtles.)
I remember walking away from that gig feeling in awe and refreshed with a genuine feeling that something was happening. Something was on the horizon when it came to bluegrass and string band music. This wasn’t a traditional bluegrass band in matching suits, standing like statues. It was a rock show with acoustic instruments. Baseball caps and long hair, grins ear-to-ear. More provocative than standstill, more vibrant than just going through the motions of what past generations were instructed to do.
“Being able to showcase our own songs, in our own way, [our] writing skills, and making the decisions on what was chosen to play and how to play it [were] foremost for most of us at the beginning,” Garrett says. “Over time, we realized that we were actually growing a community. And after all these years, that honestly has become the most important part, the most important thing that we could possibly do.”
What I witnessed in Wyoming and Vermont years ago is what I’ve continued to experience with the Infamous Stringdusters, in person and in method, from Florida to Colorado and beyond. They set the pace then for where we stand with jamgrass right now, built on a full-throttle approach, one which remains sonically elusive as well as paying homage to the architects of bluegrass and those who broke from the pack and made something all their own.
Aside from the talents of the Stringdusters, either as individuals or the sum of their parts, you also have a unique setup. Alongside founding members, banjoist Chris Pandolfi and Dobroist Andy Hall, who emerged from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, you have the tradgrass pedigree of Garrett, who was born and raised in a traveling family bluegrass band hailing from Idaho. This fusing of road-tested grit and grace with conservatory-style techniques is at the heart of what this group does best: jam.
All of which circles back to the Asheville Orange Peel performance in late 2025. There were tightly knit melodies and freewheelin’ improvisational explorations. They broke down the invisible walls between themselves and the audience, maintaining a two-way street of momentum, energy, and inspiration from both sides of the microphone – a vortex of sound and scope, all revolving around a deep sense of community.
“The band is stronger than ever and making some of the best music we’ve ever made,” Garrett says. “But, the thing I see that is the most important being carried on is that community factor. We certainly didn’t invent that, but we took note and applied the philosophy to our scene, and hopefully the next generation realizes how important that piece is.”
Ultimately, this 20th anniversary celebration for the Infamous Stringdusters is a culmination of a tried-and-true effort to bring this hallowed music into the unknown and unfolding musical landscape of the 21st century. With their upcoming album, 20/20 (out February 13 via Ameriana Vibes) they continue their efforts to break new ground and forge ahead, together, whatever the next 20 years hold for jamgrass and the ‘Dusters.
The Infamous Stringdusters are our Artist of the Month. Below, enjoy our Essential Infamous Stringdusters playlist and stay tuned as we share brand new and archive content on the ‘Dusters throughout the month of February here on BGS – and across our social media channels. Like our exploration of their 20-year discography or our oral history of the band featuring all five members in conversation.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As we count down the days to holiday and family gatherings, our to-do lists stack up, getting longer and longer.
Not sure what to get the musicians, roots artists, and music lovers in your life this year? Never fear! Together with our BGS team, our partners, and our friends and neighbors, we’ve compiled a holiday gift guide that will hopefully put a sizable dent in your shopping list.
Below, check out essential festivals, tried-and-tested gear, superlative instruments, exciting and engaging books and albums, and perfectly on-theme trinkets for all the music obsessed giftees in your life! Maybe your loved one needs a music museum membership? Or perhaps they’re starting up a brand new musical hobby. Know someone who can’t get enough of music and the outdoors? We’ve got ideas for them, too.
The holiday season is the perfect time of year for the love and joy of roots music and we hope, with our 2024 Holiday Guide, you’ll be able to have a cheerful and dreamy December and a delightful new year – with a bumpin’ bluegrass, country, and Americana soundtrack.
For Getting Into the Holiday Spirit
Dust the Halls: An Acoustic Christmas Holiday (Signed, only 25 available) – $35.99
The Infamous Stringdusters have announced a new color variant for Dust the Halls: An Acoustic Christmas Holiday, releasing on vinyl via Americana Vibes. This is the eighth studio album from the GRAMMY-winning band, who put their signature acoustic bluegrass twist on timeless holiday classics. Recorded remotely during the 2020 pandemic, the record showcases the Stringdusters’ unmatched ability to collaborate from afar, weaving together intricate arrangements and harmonies that make each track sparkle with warmth and cheer.
Musical Instrument Museum Holiday Ornaments – $12 & up
Our friends at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, have the most adorable and festive collection of instrument and music-themed holiday ornaments available at their museum gift shop and online. Choose from treble clefs, banjos, violins, bongos, bagpipes, acoustic guitars – with and without cutaways! – and so much more. Maybe throw in a MIM membership as well, to receive 20% off most purchases. Anddd because this is a museum with a mission worth supporting, as they highlight all musical genres and traditions, from classical to bluegrass, folk, Americana, and beyond.
Unwrap the gift of music this holiday season: Save 10% on Deering Goodtime Deco Banjos! Looking for the perfect present for the aspiring musician on your list? Look no further than Deering Goodtime Deco Banjos. Our Goodtime banjos are the #1 choice of banjo teachers for beginners! Use this special BGS discount code below to save 10%.
More than just a beginner’s instrument, the Goodtime banjo is crafted with high-quality materials and American-made construction, ensuring it will last for years to come. Plus, its light weight makes it ideal for travel, jam sessions, and impromptu gatherings – perfect for creating lasting musical memories together.
Use code BGS24HOLIDAYBANJO10 to save 10% on Goodtime Deco banjos! (Offer valid 11/29/24 to 12/31/24)
Peghead Nation is celebrating its 10th Anniversary of teaching the world to play bluegrass, old-time, swing, Irish music, and other roots music styles – and we’re just getting started! With 75 streaming video courses and live workshops taught by the best instructors and players in the acoustic music community, you can learn guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, Dobro, ukulele, bass, and voice, no matter where you are in your musical journey.
Join us in any course now and get your first month free with the promo code BGS10. Or, save on gift subscriptions for your musical friends and family members. We can’t wait to hear the music you’ll make!
On Banjo: Recollections, Licks, and Solos by Ben Eldridge with Randy Barrett – $39.95
Just getting started on banjo? You picked the correct new hobby. Now you can select the perfect instruction book to get you up to speed. The late Ben Eldridge, a legendary five-string banjo innovator, combines memoir, instruction, tablature, and more in his excellent book, On Banjo – written with Randy Barnett and featuring a forward by Béla Fleck. It’s a perfect compendium for beginners and veterans alike, filled with stories, memories, and plenty of Eldridge’s idiosyncratic and mind-bending licks and solos. Build your banjo picking on a solid foundation with this book!
With its stainless steel, self-centering design, D’Addario’s Cradle Capo ensures even tension across the fretboard. Its adjustable micrometer lets you dial in the perfect pressure, while allowing the freedom for quick transitions and the ability to stay on the guitar, even when not in use.
Order one for yourself or surprise a friend this holiday season with the perfect gift for every bluegrass guitarist!
Noted for their power and immediate, responsive voice, Preston Thompson Guitars pay tribute to the best American-made instruments from the 1930s. Master guitar luthier Preston Thompson started with a small team of highly skilled craftsman to produce custom acoustic guitars that have the look, playing feel, and above all, the sound of the best instruments from that original golden era of guitar making.
Thompson Guitars are built strong and light with time-tested designs and construction methods, providing a lifetime of enjoyment. Our instruments are handmade every step of the way, from the finest woods available.
Check on their website for possible ready to ship models available – a rarity for this custom shop! BGS readers can receive an exclusive 10% discount on all custom orders placed before January 31, 2025 using the code THOMPSON10.
Audigo’s wireless, social media- and content capture-ready mics are seemingly everywhere these days. And for good reason! With their easy-to-use app, you can record multi-track audio and video at the highest qualities, recording from multiple Audigo mics simultaneously to one iPhone.
Audigo makes the kind of rapid content creation necessary for all levels of artists and bands at this point in time infinitely easier and strikingly seamless. Ready to make the plunge into vertical video content? Ready to shoot your own music videos? With Audigo, you can. And you won’t have to sacrifice quality.
Acoustic and roots musicians know that your hearing is worth protecting! Keep your own ears – or those of your professional touring loved one – cared for over the long haul with a pair of Loop Earplugs. Stylish and functional with a futuristic look, Loop Earplugs have received glowing reviews from consumer outlets like NYT‘s Wirecutter and offer a range of options, features, and styles. Whether you’re a casual concert goer or you spend each night on stage camped out in front of a drum kit, Loop has earplugs for you.
Take care of your ears now, so you never miss a single pluck or twang of your jam sessions down the line.
Handcrafted in Japan, the FS9 M concert-style acoustic guitar offers extraordinary projection and produces an open, clean sound with mid-focused warm tones at any volume — ideal for singer-songwriters who play subtle arpeggios or fingerstyle.
The FS9 M features an Adirondack spruce top, “modified V” bolt-on neck, scalloped Adirondack X bracing pattern, 25-inch scale, African mahogany back/sides, and a beautiful, gloss nitrocellulose finish. Traditional Japanese details include a washi paper label, rope purfling and inlay on the rosette, and Kumiki woodworking-inspired fret markers.
Calton Cases set the standard for professional, flight-ready, peace-of-mind instrument cases – for all kinds of players, genres, and styles. We love the wide range of colors – especially the glitter options! – and options, and that you can secure your precious axes no matter what you play or travel with. From gear and electric guitars to mandocellos and bouzoukis, professional touring musicians can rest easy whether there’s space in the overhead bins or not.
If you have a professional touring musician in your life, ease their travel anxiety this holiday season with a superlative Calton Case.
Officially licensed handmade flags by Oxford Pennant in Buffalo, New York! John Prine, Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell, Turnpike Troubadours and many more artist collaborations available here.
We’ve loved every time we’ve gotten to collaboratewith Oxford Pennant over the years and we can’t recommend their fine work highly enough. From the stages of Newport Folk Festival to our own closets, mantelpieces, and walls, Oxford Pennant fits just about everywhere – especially wrapped up with ribbons and bows for the music lover in your life who already has everything!
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: No one is producing bluegrass festivals like the Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Mill Spring, North Carolina. We’ve partnered with the event each year since its debut in 2022 and they continue to raise the bar for roots music festivals year over year. Held at the luxurious grounds of the Tryon International Equestrian Center in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, ESMF is just minutes away from where Scruggs himself grew up and established his unique playing style. Scruggs’ surviving family members play a big role in the festival, too, which is a partnership between the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC, the Equestrian Center, and WNCW.
We can’t wait to return to ESMF in 2025 for another weekend of bluegrass, country, Americana, and more – with amazing food, beautiful views, and gorgeous, well-maintained grounds. From tent camping to tiny-cabin glamping, from food truck barbeque to gourmet, wood-fired Italian food, from Twisted Pine to Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Earl Scruggs Music Festival has something for everyone.
Taylor Rushing x BGS Mercantile Graphic Tee Collab – $32
We are so excited to launch a brand new merch collab on the BGS Mercantile featuring art and design by the one and only Taylor Rushing of NOT BAD Illustration. We’ve gotta say, these designs are not bad!
Our two brand new, exclusive additions to the BGS Mercantile feature bespoke designs by Rushing that celebrate the launch of our new vertical and email newsletter, Good Country. Wear your love for good country music of all varieties on your sleeve– er, or on your chest. We love these timeless, simple illustrations printed on cozy, comfortable tees. Pre-order now for holiday delivery and be one of the very first BGS fans to own the new, limited edition designs. All while testifying your commitment to Good Country and NOT BAD country.
Okay, so you have a music lover in your life that already has everything? Why not gift them a membership to two first-class music museums in Nashville, Tennessee? The next time they visit Music City, they’ll have the inside access of a true local.
We can’t recommend the National Museum of African American Music ($60 for an annual individual membership) and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum ($65 for an annual individual membership) highly enough! These two incredible institutions – who often collaborate and co-produce programming and events – tell detailed, thoughtful, and nuanced stories central to Nashville, and to country, pop, and African American musics. Between the two, you can gain an incredibly holistic viewpoint of American popular music and the many threads woven throughout its traditions.
With a gift of a museum membership, you’re giving something that will keep on giving. Knowledge, expertise, insight, culture, community, and so much more come hand-in-hand with a membership to each of these fine institutions.
Plus, the Country Music Hall of Fame is currently running a special membership discount! Between November 4 and January 2, the museum is offering new members will get $5 off Troubadour Individual and individual-level memberships and $10 off Troubadour Dual and family-level memberships! Now’s your chance to save a bit of money and support the museum’s mission, too.
New this year from BGS contributor, freelance writer, and author Steacy Easton, White Limozeen is part of the essential and exhaustive 33 1/3 series from Bloomsbury. Easton is the perfect thinker to take on Dolly Parton’s White Limozeen, an album that joined her catalog at a critical juncture in her career. The book is certainly well-timed, releasing at a time when Parton’s current career continues to raise the ceiling time and time again for her own success, while reaching points of ubiquity and mainstream recognition she may have never considered possible – certainly not at the time of White Limozeen‘s making.
The book is an easy (while dense and informed) read that examines canon, mythos, the construction of image and self, and so much more. Pick it up now for a perfect holiday gift for the Parton acolyte or new initiate on your list.
Keep your eye out for our full 2024 music books guide coming to BGS soon, too!
For the Outdoor Festival Enthusiast
WinterWonderGrass – $249 & up
WinterWonderGrass enters its 12th year in Colorado, remaining true to the deep community it has built while celebrating the music and connections that bring us all together. In a world where many small, independent festivals have disappeared, this festival is committed to honoring bluegrass legends while embracing fresh new talent and filling their community’s cup.
WinterWonderGrass is part music festival, part beer festival, and part family reunion. The event boasts four stages, three of which are under huge heated tents, a robust kid’s zone, local food trucks, a VIP area, and a coffee bar. Plus, two hours of free beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic tastings from 2:00 – 4:00 pm daily.
Join the festival in Steamboat Springs from February 28 to March 2, 2025! This year’s lineup features an incredible array of artists, including Trampled by Turtles, The California Honeydrops, Kitchen Dwellers, Leftover Salmon, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Sam Bush Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Brothers Comatose, Lindsay Lou, Mountain Grass Unit, and more
Enter the WinterWonderGrass holiday giveaway for a chance to win WWG VIP tickets, ski passes, Mountain Top Dinner passes, tickets to all late nights, and more! Enter to win here.
Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera – $59.99 & up
An essential accessory we bring along to nearly every music festival, conference, and event we attend, Camp Snap’s screen-free film-style digital cameras bring back joy and mystique to point-and-shooting. Don’t take our word for it, either, you can check out our Camp Snap shots from our cruise with Cayamo earlier this year.
If you’re stumped brainstorming gift ideas for the music lover who already has each and every thing you can imagine, why not get them a Camp Snap? The photos are charming, high quality, with plenty of personality. And they bring back some intention and deliberation to the usual social media grind. It’s like a disposable camera, but not! Like shooting Polaroids, but with an exciting period of suspense and anticipation. With sync capabilities via USB-C or SD card, it’s a breeze to use. Bring Camp Snap to your next festival or show!
When you go to as many festivals, concerts, and music events as we do – or as the average outdoor festival enthusiast – you daydream a lot about the perfect pack. We happen to love Kelty, and their fabulous array of fanny packs, belt bags, backpacks, and beyond. From arduous and involved backpacking trips to quick jaunts to the farmers’ market, Kelty has something for every application.
We know our Kelty Packs would be right at home at WinterWonderGrass or Earl Scruggs Music Festival, both. They’re perfect for a carry-on bag, too! Plus, don’t miss their selection of tents, sleeping bags, camp chairs, and more to finish outfitting your festival campsite.
This content brought to you in partnership with BGS sponsors Americana Vibes, Yamaha Guitars, Deering Banjos, Thompson Guitars, D’Addario, WinterWonderGrass, Earl Scruggs Music Festival, Peghead Nation, and Oxford Pennant.
I had heard of Caitlin Krisko, but I’d never really heard her until she took over the stage at the Floydfest Buffalo Jam a few years ago. I’d finished up my part of the show and had headed out into the crowd to unwind and watch the proceedings. Every time Caitlin stepped up to the mic the ensemble struggled to match her soul and intensity. It wasn’t even fair, really. She owned that show that night and she owned the interview and music during the Happy Hour, too. It was Caitlin’s show, Aaron and Tommy and I were just along for the ride!
This episode was recorded live at 185 King St in Brevard, NC on August 13th, 2024.
This episode is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and BGS as part of the BGS Podcast Network.
Photo Credit: Aaron Austin
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
Nashville in the mid-2000s was full of aspiring bluegrass musicians from my generation. People were starting bands, landing gigs as sidemen, and living in large, cheap houses on the east side of town. Almost nightly we’d gather at picking parties that sometimes more closely resembled what you’d see at a fraternity. One of the people I met and played with during these heady years was Luke Bulla. I was in awe of his professionalism and his palmarès and was struck by his calm demeanor. It had been almost 15 years since we’d last played together and I was delighted when he reached out about joining me for the Happy Hour.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, North Carolina on May 5, 2024.
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
Dangermuffin’s Dan Lotti writes songs and sings them in a way that makes me feel like everything is going to be just fine. Originally from Folly Beach, South Carolina, much of the band now makes their home in Asheville – but their music retains the laid-back beach vibe of its roots on the Carolina coast.
Positive, inquisitive, conscious and grateful, Dan Lotti is the kinda guy you wish would call you up to have a pint or take a walk in the woods. He’d probably make an amazing neighbor, too. He’s been at the top of my list since I launched this whole Happy Hour thing and it was great to finally get to spend the afternoon with this incredible human.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, North Carolina on September 10th, 2024.
Timestamps:
0:06 – Soundbyte 0:54 – Intro 2:08 – Intro by Bill K. 3:07 – “Waves” 9:10 – “We Push Mountains” 14:23 – “Thanks for bringing most of the band” 15:43 – “Western Skies” 18:48 – “Cicada” 25:13 – Interview 42:27 – “Sarsaparilla” 46:28 – on “I Will Never Forget” 47:17 – “I Will Never Forget” 52:25 – “Big Suit” 57:32 – Outro
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
Drummers don’t always get a lot of love or attention. But, mention the name Jeff Sipe to nearly any musician and their eyes light up. Also known as Apartment Q258, he was a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit with Colonel Bruce Hampton (which also counted Otiel Burbridge of Dead & Company and Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic among its members). I first heard him via early Leftover Salmon bootlegs and he’s toured with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trey Anastasio, and Warren Haynes. Regarded as one of the best drummers alive, he’s also just a normal guy who lives down the street from me and who says “yes” pretty much any time I ask him to join me on a gig. Words really don’t do him justice; he’s just so wonderful and kind and supportive; I can hardly believe my good fortune getting to make music with him.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, North Carolina on April 4th, 2023.
Timestamps:
0:06 – Soundbyte 0:42 – Intro 2:15 – Intro by Bill K. 3:26 – “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” 10:37 – “A Little Too Much” 16:00 – “I Am A Pilgrim” 22:30 – “Once I Knew You” 29:17 – Interview 46:10 – “Summertime” 48:30 – “Minor Blues” 55:34 – “Back Home” 1:01:50 – Outro
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
As much a mystic as a musician, Phoebe Hunt makes music that speaks to the yearning we all have to connect with something larger than ourselves. A deep commitment to making music with meaning is her compass and she’s an example of what it means to be in loving relationship with music. We need more musicians like Phoebe Hunt in this world.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, North Carolina on April 23rd, 2024.
Timestamps:
0:08 – Soundbyte 0:22 – Introduction 1:22 – Bill K’s introduction 2:03 – “Rise Sun” 6:06 – on “Lint Head Girl” 7:15 – “Lint Head Girl” 10:40 – “Take Me Home” 14:30 – Interview 1 28:22 – “Galloping” 31:20 – on “Pink and Blue” 34:51 – “Pink and Blue” 38:16 – “I couldn’t” 39:02 – Interview 2 53:20 – “Nothing Else Matters” 56:30 – “Good Blood” 1:00:20 – Outro
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
Wyatt Ellis can’t even drive a car, but he’s making waves in the bluegrass community. A prolific tune-writer and a dedicated student of the mandolin, he’s growing and learning at a rate you only find in the under-20 set. I was surprised to find that he’s also humble, articulate, and a total professional. It’s not hard to envision him reaching the highest echelons of acoustic and bluegrass music, and doing it very soon. I was grateful to my friend Jon Stickley for the introduction to this bluegrass wunderkind.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, North Carolina on June 11, 2024.
Timestamps:
0:06 – Soundbyte 0:36 – Intro 1:46 – Live show introduction by Bill K 3:07 – “Blue Smoke” 7:04 – On “Blue Smoke” and “Get Lost” 8:16 – “Get Lost” 13:17 – “When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again” 16:58 – “Blue Night” 20:00 – Interview 28:09 – “Watson Blues” 31:38 – “Rabbit In A Log” 34:30 – Interview 40:00 – “Whites Creek” 44:40 – “How old are you?” and JAM 46:17 – “Cold On The Shoulder” 49:17 – “Long Lonesome Day” 54:10 – “Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms” 58:29 – Outro
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
Trey Hensley is simply the most ferocious acoustic guitar player I’ve ever encountered. His attack and control of the guitar is unrivaled and left me in awe. He is, however, also just about as kind and as humble as an East Tennessee man can be. I had a great time playing music with and getting to know more about this musical titan and I’m really happy to make this podcast available.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, North Carolina on November 14, 2023.
Timestamps:
0:06 – Soundbyte 0:21 – Introduction 1:25 – Show introduction by Bill K. 2:14 – “Can’t Outrun the Blues” 6:00 – “Can’t Judge a Book” 9:48 – “Brown Eyed Women” 13:40 – Story about “Brown Eyed Women” 15:20 – “Backstreets Off Broadway” 18:15 – Interview w/ Trey 48:40 – “Hold Whatcha Got” 51:30 – “Mama Tried” 53:50 – Outro
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast includes highlights from Travis’s interviews and music from each live show recorded in Asheville and Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
I met Andy Thorn during the winter of 2002/2003 when he was visiting Durango, Colorado on a ski trip. We played and traveled over two summers as members of The Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band, which broke up – or went on an 18 year hiatus – after the summer of 2005. Andy and I remain and always will be great friends, and sharing the stage with Andy and Jon Stickley when recording this episode was an honor. It captures three old friends rehashing old memories and jokes and making new ones. I know you’ll enjoy.
This episode was recorded live at 185 King Street in Brevard, NC on October 24, 2023.
Timestamps:
0:07 – Soundbyte 0:20 – Introduction 1:32 – “Carolina Song” 2:50 – We have legal marijuana 4:35 – “Blazing New Frontiers” 9:19 – “All That I Can Take” 15:50 – Interview 35:25 – “Aesop Mountain” 38:29 – “What Child Is This” 41:02 – On fox hunts 42:42 – “Red Fox Run” 49:20 – “Long Lonesome Day” 53:36 – Did you skip my interview? 54:30 – “Long Winding Road”
Editor’s Note: The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around matters of being. The podcast is the best of the interview and music from the live show recorded in Asheville and Brevard, North Carolina.
The Travis Book Happy Hour is brought to you by Thompson Guitars and is presented by Americana Vibes and The Bluegrass Situation as part of the BGS Podcast Network. You can find the Travis Book Happy Hour on Instagram and Facebook and online at thetravisbookhappyhour.com.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
