Americana Vibes Archives - Page 2 of 2 - The Bluegrass Situation

The Travis Book Happy Hour: Mike Ashworth (Steep Canyon Rangers)

Posted on April 30, 2024June 20, 2025 by Shelby Williamson

When I asked Mike Ashworth’s bandmates and friends to give me a sentence describing him, it was almost comical how similar their answers were. Two of them were identical, describing him as “the most natural, gifted, and versatile musician I have ever known.” One even said, “when God made the perfect musician, he made Mike Ashworth; enormously talented and versatile, but also humble, joyous, and a wonderful listener…” I call Mike whenever I can to join me on the Happy Hour or Travis Book & Friends – and he was my bass player of choice for my record. He laid his heart out for us in this interview and my only regret is that it took me so long to get this episode out.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • STITCHER • AMAZON • MP3

This episode was recorded live at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC on February 3rd, 2021.

Timestamps:

0:09 – Soundbyte
0:47 – Introduction
2:45 – “Turn Your Radio On”
5:20 – Monologue
7:44 – “I Will Lead You Home”
10:21 – Monologue
14:30 – “Beauty In The Ugliest Days”
19:42 – Interview
48:00 – “First Girl I Loved”
52:06 – “I Want To Sing That Rock & Roll”
55:11 – “Palm Tree”
58:55 – “I’ve Endured”
1:02:50 – 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 is the best of the interview and music from the live show recorded in Asheville and Brevard, North Carolina.

The Travis Book Happy Hour Podcast 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 Credit: David Simchoock

The Travis Book Happy Hour: Ed Jurdi (Band of Heathens)

Posted on April 15, 2024June 20, 2025 by Shelby Williamson

I met Ed Jurdi at a taping of The Travis Book Happy Hour in March of 2021. Our mutual friend Nicki Bluhm was on the show and she’d invited Ed, who’d recently moved to Asheville, to attend. I was not yet acquainted with Band of Heathens or Ed Jurdi, but when we met after the show I was struck by his warmth and attentiveness. It was a couple years before I would get him to Brevard to join me, but immediately during rehearsals I knew we’d be friends and this would only be the first of many times we’d share a stage. I had a blast on this episode (as evidenced by my over-playing) and I’m happy to share it with you.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • STITCHER • AMAZON • MP3

This episode was recorded live at 185 King St. in Brevard, North Carolina on May 30, 2023. Huge thanks to Ed Jurdi and Tommy Maher.

Timestamps:

0:08 – Soundbyte
0:49 – Introduction
2:09 – Bill K’s introduction
2:45 – Travis’ audience greeting
3:31 – “All I’m Asking”
7:33 – “Bumblebee”
12:52 – “What a joy”
13:27 – “Jackson Station”
18:32 – Interview
34:11 – “South By Somewhere”
38:51 – “The Good Doctor”
42:45 – “Walking and Talking”
48:43 – 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 is the best of the interview and music from the live show recorded in Asheville and Brevard, North Carolina.

Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen

The Travis Book Happy Hour: Jordan Tice

Posted on April 1, 2024June 20, 2025 by Shelby Williamson

The night Jordan Tice joined me in Brevard for the taping of this episode it was cold, wet, and dark – classic Western North Carolina in late January. We had the garage door behind the stage closed and the lights low. Jordan’s guitar playing, soft-spoken demeanor, and humor made for a wonderfully intimate and enjoyable evening for everyone in the room. Jordan’s a gem and this episode feels like an evening by the fire with a good book, dog curled up at your feet.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • STITCHER • AMAZON • MP3

This episode was recorded live at 185 King St. in Brevard, North Carolina on January 31st, 2023. Huge thanks to Jordan Tice.

Timestamps:

0:07 – Soundbyte
0:33 – Introduction
1:48 – Bill K Introduction
2:48 – “Tell Me Mama”
6:07 – “Covers are nice…”
6:24 – “Dayton, Ohio – 1903”
10:30 – “Bachelorette Party”
12:30 – “Why did you name it that?”
13:40 – “Weary Blues”
17:51 – “Matter Of Time”
21:21 – “Bad Little Idea”
25:40 – Interview
43:02 – “Trying To Get To Heaven”
48:33 – “Wild Bill Jones”
52:30 – Outro

Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Raitz

LISTEN: The Infamous Stringdusters, “My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling”

Posted on April 2, 2021June 20, 2025 by Editor

Artist: The Infamous Stringdusters
Hometown: Denver, Colorado; Brevard, North Carolina; Sayville, New York
Song: “My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling”
Album: A Tribute to Bill Monroe
Release Date: May 28, 2021
Label: Americana Vibes

In Their Words: “During the great pause of 2020, the only way to make music as the Stringdusters was to record remotely, since we’re all scattered around the country. We recently launched our label Americana Vibes, which has been a great vehicle for us to release all of our recorded music (Stringdusters and solo albums), as well as other artists we dig. One of the projects we thought would be fun to record was some OG bluegrass, so of course we turned to Bill Monroe. Without him, there would certainly be no Stringdusters. We each picked some of our favorites, including this one, ‘My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling,’ recorded our parts at home, and I mixed the record in my studio on Long Island to honor the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe.” — Andy Falco, The Infamous Stringdusters

Photo credit: Jay Strausser