Wick's Picks Podcast

Lexington singer-songwriter Warren Byrom joins the program to discuss the geographical triad that inspired his new album Joydogs , how drawing compliments his music, how the project's title track stems from a poem by Mary Ann Taylor-Hall, and more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To Do Stuff With".

Kickin It On The Creek founder and newly minted Kentucky Music Hall of Famer, Byron Roberts, and the Hall's executive director, Jessica Blankenship, join the program to recap the 2026 induction ceremony that took place Oct. 24. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To Do Stuff With".

Louisville based singer Ryan Anderson (Bendigo Fletcher, Moose Loon) joins the program to talk about the origins of his new album 'Out On The Edge Of Everything', 2-bit music videos, intimate park concerts, home recordings and more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To Do Stuff With".

Monticello, KY based singer Elvie Shane joins the program to talk about the origins of his new record 'With The Wind', returning to Kentucky after a decade in Nashville, his no. 1 hit "My Boy" and the illusion of success, how his passion for photography compliments his music, and more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To...

Kansas City-based folk singer and poet Willi Carlisle joins the program to discuss the Kentucky connections that run throughout his forthcoming album The Universal Bubba — from Tyler Childers & The Food Stamps to Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham) — along with how he's trying to assist local mutual aid efforts on each of his upcoming tour stops, his kinship with Nat Myers, and more. Wick's Picks is pr...

Harlan Cecil (guitar) and Liam McGee (producer) from Lexington-based rock group Sour Cream join the program to discuss the band's first record in six years — Revenge Of The Tweakers — along with the band's ties to acts like Black Stone Cherry and The Kentucky Headhunters, how working on a motorcycle is similar to nurturing a music career, and more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call...

Singer-songwriter and member of Hot Brown Smackdown, Ellie Ruth, and The Moonshiners Ball's Travis Young join the program to preview this year's festival, talk about Ruth's orchestral roots, her experience performing in Scott T. Smith's band on the road with Tyler Childers, and more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To Do...

Sandy Hook, Ky. born, Nashville based singer-songwriter Leah Blevins joins the program to discuss the origins of her record All Dressed Up , how she came to release it on Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound, the story behind her co-write with the late Ronnie Bowman, the influence of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton on her music, and much more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig...

Western Kentucky singer-songwriter Tony Logue returns to the program to preview his forthcoming record Sixty Cycle Hum , how Chris Knight's Enough Rope inspired him to pursue music, his top literary influences, and more. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To Do Stuff With".

Dylan Whitlow, Justin Bell and Marty Bennett of Lexington rock group The Magpies join the program to talk about what drew them to Kentucky from out of state, the band's formation, new four song EP, how this project is distinguished from the member's other bands like DeeOhGee, and much more. We also listen to the entirety of the band's self-titled EP along with music from DeeOhGee along with Bell a...

Hancock & Shouse's Arthur Hancock IV joins the program to discuss his work with Can'd Aid to get instruments in the hands of children, his new album Influence , his father's looming induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, reflections on a decade of concerts at The Burl, and more. We also listen to music off Hancock's new record along with "Country Boy", an old tune written and recorded...

Lawrence County born, Tennessee based singer Adam Chaffins joins the program to delve into his new album Trailer Trash Doublewide , how side gigs with acts like Town Mountain and Billy Strings helped prepare him to be a band leader, what led legendary producer Frank Rogers to sign him to a publishing deal on the spot, memories from his first country concert, and more. We also hear Chaffins perform...

Melissa "Tree" Jackson, Warren Byrom and Reva Russell English of Lexington songwriter collective Small Batch join the program to discuss the band's roots, connections to Tyler Childers (including Melissa's appearance on stage with him at Railbird Festival), their former bandmate Robby Cosenza, new music, and more. The trio also perform their original songs "Blue Country Magic," "Paper Trail" and "...

Somerset singer-songwriter Hunter Flynn returns to the program to discuss his road to signing with Big Machine Records, how he and his brother Fisher brought the music video for "Robbing A Bank" to life, what it's been like playing with a band for the first time, and more. We also preview music from Flynn's forthcoming debut album with acoustic versions of "Dreams Keep Dying", "Second Guessing" an...

Wesley and Aaron Smith of Lexington-based duo Brother Smith rejoin the program to talk all about their new record Homeless — from it being their first vinyl release to how drummer/friend Zach Martin wound up playing the role of radio DJ on one of it's tracks. We also hear about how the duo's side- and session work helps to inform the music they make together and what Wesley would like to do with A...

Candace Barbee, talent booker for Glasgow-based music venue The Grove, returns to the program to discuss changes to the venue in 2026, the dream event she one day hopes to host on the stage, how she's handling a nearby venue opening up with a name eerily close to her's, and more. We also listen to music from Josh Mitcham, American Aquarium, Joshua Ray Walker, River Shook, Chatham Rabbits and New G...

Ben Aubrey and Andy Hibpshman join the program to discuss the life and musical legacy of Lexington musician Nate Waters. The singer passed away in June after a long career performing with acts such as NP Presley, Infected and others. A show paying tribute to him will take place at The Burl on July 10. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place T...

The Professor, Jesse Wells, joins the program to discuss how he first met Tyler Childers — who he now performs alongside, recording Long Violent History in a cave on the singer's Eastern Kentucky property, and more. We also hear music from Childers, The Wooks, The Local Honeys and Robbie Wells. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy T...

Middlesboro, Ky. based singer-songwriter Jordan Lee King joins the program to recap Laurel Cove Music Festival and to discuss his new album King Of The Bluegrass that he celebrated the release of at the gathering in his hometown earlier this month. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811 : "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay : "The Place To Buy Things To Do Stuff With".

Australian grunge country singer Tori Forsyth joins the program to talk about her road to performing at Laurel Cove Music Festival in 2025, how Kentucky's culture and music scene compares to what she grew up around down under, what she's up to on her current return trip to the U.S., new music, and more. Forsyth — accompanied by guitarist Matt Newton — also performed acoustic versions of her songs...

Jonathan Pennington of Sandy Hook, Ky. outfit Moonlight Mile returns to the program to show off his Abe Partridge designed shoes and talk about everything from his new album 'Northern Lights' to the increasing role of AI in music. This show is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and The Botany Bay: "The Place To Buy Things To Do Stuff With".

Breckenridge County, Ky. singer Josh Mitcham returns to the program to preview his forthcoming album Gonna Be Alright and to chat about everything from running summer camps to car restoration projects. He also performs three songs from the record — "Break It To Me", "The Truth Is" and "Between Kentucky And Here" — live in studio. Wick's Picks is presented by Kentucky 811: "Call Before You Dig" and...

Master Musicians Festival Executive Director, Tiffany Finley, and Joslyn & The Sweet Compression frontwoman Joslyn Hampton join the program to preview the gathering's 33rd iteration taking place in Somerset come July. We also discussed the challenges that Joslyn has faced following her step father and bassist Marty Charter's death from brain cancer in 2022, new music, and much more. Wick's Pic...

Huntington, West Virginia's feel good folk rocker Alan "Corduroy" Brown joins the program to preview this weekend's inaugural HoundStock Music Festival coming to Gatton Park (May 15-16), new music on the horizon, how a near death experience during COVID inspired his latest musical era, and more. We also hear three songs from Brown — the (currently) unreleased "Stranger" along with the singles "Fou...

Mount Sterling, Ky. born singer Taylor Lansdale joins the program to preview his Wild Ride EP out May 7, how his upcoming trip to Texas for the Kerrville Folk Festival's songwriter competition came about, the circumstances that led to Abby Hamiltion harmonizing with him throughout his latest project, and more. Lansdale also performed two songs acoustic style — the currently unreleased "Zebco" and...