Tag: Bri Bagwell

Max & Heather Stalling on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Welcome to the first of four live episodes of Only Vans from the MusicFest at Steamboat 2025. Two of my inspirations and great friends, Max & Heather Stalling, helped us kick things off. We get into many topics such as ex-husbands, cassette collections, mortal vs. immortal musicians, skinny dipping – and they even perform a few live songs.

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Max and Heather Stalling are a staple of our music scene and these lovebirds are my favorite, you can tell. Heather is an accomplished singer-songwriter, incredible fiddle player, and I love that we had the opportunity for them to play three songs together live at our very first hour-long Musicfest podcast taping up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in front of a live (and rather large) audience!

Max is a Texas A&M Aggie graduate, but we don’t hold that against him, because he has multiple amazing records out. Heather’s project, Blacktop Gypsy, is awesome and also available wherever you get your music. On this Only Vans episode, Heather makes me cry with a lovely impromptu monologue that I will cherish forever and, after joking that I never go to the late night jams in Steamboat at MusicFest, I did in fact attend an epic jam this year with Max, Heather, the Braun Brothers, and many more.

We joke about drinking a lot of wine and I outed Paul on a hangover after our hilarious “marriage” story, sorry! I also talk about the Sequestered Songwriters, which is something that Courtney Patton and Jason Eady started over COVID and that really helped a lot of us get out to a really large audience. If you have not checked out the Sequestered Songwriters videos on Facebook, I think they’re all still up there. A lot of people have told me [those videos] really got them through COVID and that was a way for us all to keep in touch with one another and learn some new tunes.

Thanks again to Dirt Trail Entertainment for sponsoring our MusicFest episodes. And thanks to our show sponsors, Hand Drawn Pressing & CH Lonestar Promo!

Photo Credit: Allison V Smith

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

Chris Brundrett on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Today on Only Vans we’re joined by Chris Brundrett from the award-winning William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Texas. We dig into wine-making, Texas wines, the creation of his label, and being your best self.

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I’m so excited to share this episode, even though I was a tad nervous – and you can tell by the way I talk too fast. Or was it the wine that we were drinking before noon…?

Anyway, in this episode of Only Vans I talk to one of the owners of one of my absolute favorite wineries, William Chris Vineyards, Chris Brundrett. I’ve never spoken to or met this man and usually I talk on this podcast about music, so this was really branching out for me. I love their wine and I’m also a huge fan of what they stand for. It’ll be so fun in 100 or 500 years to look back (well, for other people to look back) at this episode where I’m talking to someone who has been a true pioneer in the Texas wine industry. Chris has worked really hard to authentically label Texas wines and make the laws in our state require transparency, which I do a pretty bad job at explaining, but Chris does a great job clarifying.

I think it’s fascinating that Chris wanted to learn about wine-making before he was even 21. In our chat, he details his journey into finding his true passion in life; he’s an intelligent and approachable dude. Sorry I thought horticulture was the study of horses and didn’t know what entomology was, either.

We get into the William Chris Wine Club, which is a subscription where you receive six special releases per year and will also have the first option to purchase any new wines as soon as they’re bottled. You can look into that (especially because he said they have open spots!) at williamchriswines.com. But definitely go see the gorgeous tasting room when you’re in the Texas Hill Country area.

Thanks to Chris and the team gave us two really fancy wine glasses, and two incredible bottles of wine and a tour. What a great day! And thanks to our sponsors, Hand Drawn Pressing & CH Lonestar Promo!

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

Year-End Bri-View 2024 on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

What an incredible year it’s been for Only Vans! We have big things planned in 2025. As Kyle says, we are going to expand to other industries as well, like William Chris Winery (we interviewed one of the owners)! In our final episode of the year, I shamelessly ask for an Only Vans laptop, we shoutout our sponsors and ask for more, and reveal we are doing FOUR live podcasts at Steamboat Musicfest 2025!

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For our year-end podcast, producer Kyle and I get on Zoom and chit chat! The audio isn’t perfect here because, hello Zoom.

Thanks to Kyle Tomchesson for all of the hard work throughout the year. He really does all of the things: coordinating sponsorships, making the reels, editing the audio, all the social media posts, you name it, it’s him. We also thank the BGS Podcast Network for picking up the podcast – it’s still unbelievable to me (thanks Amy, Cindy, and Ed)! We also thank my amazing PR team, Richlynn Group out of Nashville, Tennessee, for helping us promote the pod.

I also have a correction: The green room that I call amazing but slightly treacherous was actually The Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan, oops, not the Rumba Cafe in Ohio like I said. It’s absolutely not treacherous, unless you’re drunk. But they’re an awesome venue, sorry I got those two confused.

Lastly, Kyle and I talk about our new projects, and we manifest a Red Rocks show… As always thank you so much for your unbelievable support of this podcast.

Thanks to our sponsors, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax, & CH Lonestar Promo!

Photo Credit: Haley Hays

Michael & Michaela Kelton on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Today we have one of my favorite couples on Only Vans! Michael is currently Pat Green’s drummer and also has a solo artist career. Michaela is the creator and artist behind More Than Music Creations. We talk about losing brain space, being parents, and their unique side hustle.

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On this edition of Only Vans, my friend Michael Kelton met Kyle and I on the RV when his wife, Michaela – you heard that right, their names are Michael and Michaela – also walked up. She is one of my dear friends, so I invited her to sit down and be a bonus guest on Michael’s episode of the podcast. Michael is currently the drummer for established Texas legend Pat Green (who also had a national hit with the song “Wave on Wave”), but Michael does a lot more than just drum for Pat. I loved talking to him about his Sideman Song Swap show, where “sidemen” such as drummers, guitarists, fiddle players, and even tour managers showcase their own “frontman” talents alongside Michael. It’s very impressive.

Michaela, meanwhile, is a master upcycler and has found a way to take used guitar strings from a bunch of bands – including my own – and turn them into one-of-a-kind jewelry items that we can sell at our merch tables with some of the profit going back to a good cause.

Oh! And the carbon monoxide alarm goes off at the end of the episode in the RV and it is loud. Super sorry about that, my deepest apologies, but I’m warning you now in case you’re driving. It’s also kind of funny! Enjoy!

Thanks to our sponsors, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax, & CH Lonestar Promo!

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

Alli Mattice on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Today’s guest on Only Vans is my peace, love, and all-things-groovy friend, Alli Mattice! We talk about the making of her record, setting boundaries, her journey as a yoga teacher, and how she merges yoga practice with her art. You’re gonna love it!

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Make sure you check out Alli Mattice’s full length record, No Drama, that just came out last year. In this episode of Only Vans we talk about her band, the Billie Jeans. It’s an all-female band that’s really incredible. We also talk about the studios at Fischer in Canyon Lake, Texas, which is near New Braunfels, where I live and Canyon Lake is where Alli lives. So, we talk about that really incredible studio, Alli’s journey as a yoga teacher, and more. As you can tell, I really love this girl. She’s peace and love and all things groovy. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to our sponsors, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax, & CH Lonestar Promo!

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

Bleu Edmondson on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

On today’s episode of Only Vans, we have one of my all-time favorite Texas country singers, Bleu Edmondson! We talk about Robert Earl Keen, self-worth, getting Stoney’d, and making a record with Wade Bowen.

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Our guest this week on Only Vans is ​exciting ​for ​me, ​because ​I’m ​a ​big ​fan ​of Bleu Edmondson ​and ​I ​have ​been ​for ​a ​long ​time. ​As ​you’ll ​find ​out, ​he’s ​been ​on ​a ​multi-year ​hiatus, ​but ​he’s ​back. ​In our conversation ​we ​talk ​about ​Texas ​music ​staple ​and ​legend ​Wade ​Bowen, who ​is ​producing ​Edmondson’s ​new ​project – ​which, of course, ​we ​are ​highly ​anticipating.

We also ​chat ​about ​Lloyd ​Maines, ​who ​we ​mention ​​a ​lot ​on ​the ​podcast. ​I’ve ​never ​really ​introduced ​him ​properly, ​but ​he’s ​a ​GRAMMY ​Award-winning, ​Texas-based ​producer, ​session ​player, ​musician, ​and ​he’s ​in ​the ​Austin ​City ​Limits ​Limits ​Hall ​of ​Fame. ​No ​big ​deal. Also, ​his ​daughter is ​Natalie Maines, ​who ​is ​the ​lead ​singer ​of The ​Chicks. ​

Elsewhere in our chat, we ​also ​talk ​about ​our ​friend ​Brandon ​Jenkins, ​who ​passed ​away ​unfortunately ​in ​2018 ​from ​heart ​surgery ​complications. ​He’s ​dearly ​missed ​and ​remembered ​by ​all ​of ​us. Enjoy our Only Vans ​episode featuring my ​friend, ​Bleu ​Edmondson!

Find Bleu Edmondson on social media here and here.

Thanks to our sponsors, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax, & CH Lonestar Promo!

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

Sunny Sauceda on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

My “Redneck, Squeezebox, Mexican” amigo Sunny Sauceda joins us on Only Vans this week to talk about content creation. He’s a three-time GRAMMY Award winner who’s making the switch from Tejano to Texas Country. He has some great insight on content creation, mentality, and blurring genre lines to share!

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Find Sunny Sauceda’s music, tour dates, and merchandise here.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax & CH Lonestar Promo!

Find our Only Vans episode archive here.

Clay Hollis on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

My little brother and best friend, Clay Hollis, is my guest on Only Vans today! Of course we talk about what he’s been up to and his latest song, and then dig deep into… our live sound rigs!? I hope this episode gives you a ton of new insight into the high level of knowledge that’s needed to tour like we do as independent artists, but (full disclosure) the second half might go right over your head if you’re not interested in the audio nitty gritty. Enjoy!

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Find Clay Hollis’ music, podcast, tour dates and merchandise here.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax & CH Lonestar Promo!

Editor’s Note: Only Vans with Bri Bagwell is the latest addition to the BGS Podcast Network! Read more about the podcast coming on board here. Find our episode archive here.

Dallas Burrow on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

One of my favorite people on earth, Dallas Burrow, stopped by for this new episode of Only Vans to talk about owning a music venue, shamans, Charley Crockett, having a complicated past, and all the good vibes!

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Find Dallas’s music, podcast, tour dates and merchandise here.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax & CH Lonestar Promo!

Editor’s Note: Only Vans with Bri Bagwell is the latest addition to the BGS Podcast Network! Read more about the podcast coming on board here. Find our episode archive here.

Mason Lively on Only Vans with Bri Bagwell

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

Fresh off a new full length album, country and Americana singer-songwriter Mason Lively joins the show to chat with host Bri Bagwell about songwriting, priorities, babies, and the housing market. Do yourself a favor and check out Mason’s new record, Burn The Ground, today!

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Find Mason’s music, podcast, tour dates and merchandise here.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, The MusicFest at Steamboat, Lakeside Tax & CH Lonestar Promo!

Editor’s Note: Only Vans with Bri Bagwell is the latest addition to the BGS Podcast Network! Read more about the podcast coming on board here. Find our episode archive here.