KGNU Music

On KGNU, Dan Willging interviews Colorado songwriter Martin Gilmore, who recently won a New Folk award at the 2025 Kerrville Folk Festival. Gilmore talks about teaching, his success at Kerrville, Lyons, and Telluride festivals, and his new album Thea Is a Light Blue, inspired by Boulder artist William Stoehr. He performs two original songs, including a Jimmie Rodgers tribute, and reflects on songw...

Bluesman Johnny Sansone joins Dan Willging to share stories of his musical journey from his early Fort Collins days with Jumpin’ Johnny and the Blues Survivors to his decades in New Orleans honing his unique sound on harmonica, accordion, and guitar. He returns to Colorado for a reunion show at Avogadro’s Number in Fort Collins and a solo performance at Goodman’s Gazebo in Denver, bringing songs,...

Jonathan Wilson of the St. Andrew’s Society of Colorado joined host Rodger Hara to preview the Colorado Scottish Festival, happening September 20–21 at the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia. He highlighted the traditions of Scottish heavy athletics such as the caber toss, hammer throw, and stone put, along with pipe band competitions, Highland dancing, and family-friendly cultural events. Wilson also sh...

The Spine Stealers and Ross Thorn stopped by KGNU with DJ Jules ahead of their August 20th show at the Skylark Lounge in Denver. On their first Western tour, the Spine Stealers shared songs from their new EP, due out this week, and talked about their collaborative songwriting process that grew out of the pandemic. Ross Thorn, who just released his album Fitting In, performed his storytelling-rich...

Scottish folk powerhouse Breabach celebrated 20 years together with a vibrant set at RockyGrass 2025. Fiddler and vocalist Megan Henderson discussed the band’s Glasgow roots, their mix of contemporary and traditional Scottish sounds, and the Celtic influences that connect deeply with American bluegrass. Currently touring the U.S., Breabach reflected on the privilege of making music full-time, the...

Colorado bluegrass trio Jake Leg lit up the main stage at RockyGrass 2025 with a set that blended tradition and fresh original material. Band members Dylan McCarthy, Justin Hoffenberg, and Eric Wigg spoke with Matt Malick about the honor of playing RockyGrass, their teaching roles at the Academy, and their upcoming sophomore album, which they’ll record at eTown this fall. With new songs on the hor...

Ani DiFranco joined DJ Jules for a conversation about her recent transition from a six-month run in Hadestown on Broadway back to the open-ended freedom of touring her own music. She talks about the challenges of performing a scripted role every night, the joy of returning to improvisation on stage, and how these experiences inform her ongoing creative work, including her forthcoming record The Te...

Fresh off their big win in the 2025 RockyGrass Band Competition, Slay & Stinson joined Riley Ann backstage to share their excitement and introduce the full band. Known for their strong songwriting, tight harmonies, and energetic performances, the group reflected on their journey from competing at Telluride to finding their voice as a band. With an album already out (Product of Colorado), more musi...

At RockyGrass 2025, Steven Mougin of the Sam Bush Band sat down with KGNU to reflect on the band’s deep dive into bluegrass and Newgrass classics, including rarely performed songs revived for the festival. Beyond his work as guitarist, Mougin discussed running Dark Shadow Recording with his wife, a boutique label known for high-quality projects with artists like Becky Buller, Henhouse Prowlers, an...

At RockyGrass 2025, guitarist and educator Tyler Grant spoke with KGNU about teaching at the RockyGrass Academy, his fundamentals-based approach to flatpicking, and the inspiration students gain from immersing themselves in bluegrass. He reflected on the high level of musicianship in the genre, its connections to classical training, and the joy of community playing. Grant also previewed his specia...

Last week, The Shape of Jazz played live from the KGNU studios for The Morning Sound Alternative, and drummer Jeff Franca introduced a supergroup of Colorado musicians including Scott Messersmith, Sarah Banker, Nate Miller, Joey Porter, Matt Jalbert, and Hunter Roberts. The ensemble will make its debut at the Ned Jazz and Wine Fest on August 23rd, bringing together veterans and newer voices in the...

During The Present Edge, host Katherine Peterson welcomed musician Matt Sage for a conversation about his musical inspirations, recent listening picks, and his upcoming album Tender / Wading, set for release in September. Sage shared tracks from artists including Rachel’s, Kronos Quartet, Anna Phoebe, Sean McCann, and Clarice Jensen, offering insight into their music and creative worlds. He also d...

Becky Buller joined KGNU backstage at RockyGrass 2025 to talk about her music and recent projects. She shared her experience performing at a fundraiser in Gold Hill and discussed her impactful album Jubilee, a song cycle addressing her struggles with depression and anxiety. Becky highlighted her new album Songs That Sing Me, releasing September 5th, and the recent single “A Hazy Shade of Winter.”...

KGNU’s Greg Schultz welcomed Smorgasgrass, a Colorado-based bluegrass group known for blending traditional sounds with fresh, original material. The multi-generational ensemble features John Pierce on bass, Sean McFarland on banjo, and Rowan Geddes on mandolin—each bringing their unique background and youthful energy to the band. During the live in-studio session, they shared insights on their upc...

Helen Gover joined KGNU’s Keith Colligan to share details about the third annual On My Relations Celebration, which took place on Friday at Levitt Pavilion. The free, all-ages event featured a diverse lineup of Native and Indigenous performers, including Denver-based Cherokee Social and DJ Naisha, First Nations artist Natasha Fisher from Canada, and Hawaiian-Samoan headliner FIA. The festival also...

Boulder-based pianist Bob Schlesinger joined KGNU’s Kooter Jones to discuss his new album Falling from Earth, a seven-year project featuring jazz greats Eddie Gomez and Mike Stern. Funded in part by a Pathways to Jazz grant, the recording took place in New York and Boulder, blending original compositions, reimagined covers, and innovative studio work, including the 13-minute track Easy Off Ramp, a...

Singer-songwriter Rosali joined KGNU’s Monte Dube to talk about her upcoming performance at Lost Lake Lounge in Denver on August 11, part of the final stretch of her U.S. tour. Rosali discussed her musical journey, from growing up in a large, guitar-filled household in rural Michigan to years spent in Philadelphia’s rich DIY music scene. She shared how her four solo albums — culminating in 2024’s...

Slay & Stinson, winners of the 2025 RockyGrass Band Competition, joined Neil Smart live on KGNU’s Old Grass, New Grass show for a spirited in-studio session. The band shared original songs, including a heartfelt gospel number and their humorous tune “Ain’t Going Back to Gatlinburg,” while reflecting on their journey to RockyGrass victory. They discussed their upcoming August 30 show at Parkway Foo...

Last week, Joanne Cole spoke with Olivia Dawson Vazquez, a recent high school graduate and incoming CSU freshman, who is the host and organizer of Junkyard Jams, a monthly live music event at the Boulder Junkyard Social Club. Olivia shared how she curates performances by emerging college bands from across the Front Range, creating a welcoming space for local music and community connection. The nex...

Five Foot Betty joined Greg Schultz live in the KGNU studio, bringing their signature blend of humor, heart, and harmonies. The trio—Haven Slay, Liz Patton, and Sharon Glassman—shared stories behind their original songs, including the quirky parking lot-inspired “Wyoming Truck,” and spoke about their roots, creative process, and excitement for the festival. They discussed their playful rivalry wit...

KGNU welcomed Tony Ortega and John Macy to preview the 2025 Denver Steel Guitar Show, happening Sunday, August 10 at Heroes Bar & Grill in Thornton. Now in its fifth year, the show celebrates the diverse sounds of the pedal steel guitar with performances spanning country, jazz, blues, and rock. Ortega shared highlights from this year’s lineup, including Jerry Fessenden, Sharon Denny, and rising ta...

Denver-based band Exhaler joined Iris Berkeley live in KGNU’s cabaret studio to share three songs, including the singles Effigy, Cognac, and an unreleased track currently titled Postnasal Drip. The group, made up of students from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, discussed their origins, influences, and the creative process behind their upcoming debut LP, due out this fall. Blendi...

Becky Buller and Ned Luberecki joined KGNU’s Meredith Carson for a lively in-studio interview ahead of their performance at the Charles Memorial Mountain Jam in Gold Hill. They discussed their ongoing tour, teaching at the RockyGrass Academy, and performing alongside Rebecca Frazier, Eric Thorin, and others in the All-Star Jam. The duo shared stories behind their original songs, including “Cherry...

In this KGNU interview, Rebecca Frazier chats with Meredith Carson about her upcoming performance at the 37th Annual Charles Sawtelle Memorial Mountain Jam in Gold Hill. She'll headline the event with an “All-Star Jam” featuring Becky Buller, Ned Luberecki, and Eric Thorin, musicians she’s collaborated with in various settings. Rebecca shares her excitement about returning to Gold Hill, a place wi...

Emily Bess and Madeline Franek of Ley Line joined Doug Gertner on Afternoon Sound Alternative for a vinyl DJ set and conversation about their music. They discussed their work on Project Traction, a mentorship program for women and non-binary producers, and shared highlights from their recent show at Gold Hill Store. Ley Line will open for The Wood Brothers at Big B’s Orchard in Paonia on Saturday,...