KGNU Music

Blues guitarist and singer Ronnie Baker Brooks joins DJ Dan Willging on KGNU’s Blues Legacy ahead of his upcoming Colorado shows this February. In the interview, he talks about growing up as the son of Lonnie Brooks and being surrounded by blues legends like Koko Taylor and Buddy Guy. Brooks shares details about his current band, his approach to touring and songwriting, and how he continues to bui...

DJ Jules hosts Corgi Cartel for a live in-studio session at KGNU, where the band shares details about their upcoming Denver shows, including a performance at the Black Buzzard, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and a planned album release at Lost Lake. Formed about a year and a half ago through connections in the local music scene, the group blends influences from jazz, funk, metal, and artists like...

Indra Raj interviews local singer-songwriter Lewis Turner on KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative, where he performs live and shares his path from growing up in Masonville, Colorado, to becoming an emerging folk artist. He discusses starting music as a teen, the emotional core of his songwriting, and how listener connections shaped his direction. Turner highlights his upcoming album Second, a more raw...

Wendy Mills interviews Sage Cook and Aera Fox about their shift from a fully produced band project to a more intimate acoustic duo while touring their latest album. They recount meeting in Boulder in 2013, falling in love quickly, and moving to rural Kansas to pursue homesteading, which shaped both their lifestyle and music. Aera’s entry into music began when she learned bass in a week for a benef...

Dom Flemons, the “American Songster,” is a musician and historian who preserves and reinterprets over a century of American roots music. In this interview on KGNU, he discusses his research into overlooked artists and archives, his Black Cowboys project highlighting the hidden history of Black cowboys, and his mission to bring underrepresented stories to life through music and performance. (Air Da...

Dave McIntyre talks with John Magnie about his band The Grocery Story, which evolved from a story-driven musical into a harmony-rich group blending R&B, blues, gospel, and roots. Magnie also reflects on his Subdudes days and move from New Orleans to Colorado, emphasizing how collaboration and chance helped shape the band’s unique sound. (Air Date: 4/3/26)

At the Big Ears Music Festival, KGNU’s Monte Dube spoke with Dalava co-creators Julia Úlehla and Aram Bajakian about their deeply personal, genre-blurring project rooted in Czech and Armenian heritage, ancestral song traditions, and experimental improvisation. They also discussed their latest album Understories, shaped by pandemic-era reflection, mythology, and a shared belief in music as a living...

At the Big Ears Music Festival, KGNU’s Monte Dube interviewed composer and pianist Hania Rani about her musical upbringing in Poland, her evolution from classical training into experimental and electronic music, and her global career shaped by Berlin, Iceland, and major recording projects. She also discussed her new orchestral work Nonfiction, inspired by a rediscovered Warsaw Ghetto composer, and...

In this KGNU interview, Maria B Vibing speaks with Denver-based band Surprise Soup about their Midwest tour, their origins as a group, and their collaborative, genre-blending approach to songwriting. The band reflects on highlights from touring, including standout venues and cities, and emphasizes the importance of community in the local music scene. They also discuss organizing their DIY festival...

In this studio session, Indra Raj speaks with The Steel Wheels about their 20-year journey as a band, from their early days in Virginia to their evolving sound shaped by collaboration and growth. They discuss their new self-titled album, their recent performance at eTown, and their upcoming show at Swallow Hill in Denver. The band also highlights their deep community involvement through the Red Wi...

In this KGNU interview, Wendy Mills speaks with Joel Van Horne, the artist behind Covenhoven, about his multi-instrumental approach to music, his latest album The Color of the Dark, and the inspiration he draws from travel and nature. Van Horne reflects on the shift from creating solo recordings to embracing collaboration, highlighting the importance of community and connection in music. The conve...

In this KGNU Local Gold interview, Neil Smart speaks with Hazel Miller and pianist Bob Schlesinger about their decades-long musical partnership and their new project, Hazel Miller’s Jazz Roots, which explores the deep connections between jazz, blues, and American music. Schlesinger discusses releasing his first solo album later in his career and assembling a band of top-tier musicians, while Mille...

Doug Macleod joins Wendy Mills on KGNU to reflect on his 40+ year career in blues, including recent Blues Foundation honors for Acoustic Artist and Album of the Year. He emphasizes the importance of honesty in music, shaped by mentors like Ernest Banks and experiences with legendary blues artists. Macleod discusses his role in preserving and passing on blues traditions through teaching and storyte...

KGNU's Rodger Hara interviews Solas ahead of a KGNU Presents show at the Boulder Theater on March 22, 2026.

Gabe Lee stopped by KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative with Greg Schultz during his Colorado tour. He performed songs from Drink the River, shared stories from five years of full-time touring, and talked about his upcoming album Brittle County, recorded in a haunted mansion in West Virginia. (Air Date: 2/12/26)

Ginger Perry welcomed singer-songwriter David Wilcox to the KGNU studio for a live performance and in-depth conversation about his new album, The Way I Tell the Story. Wilcox discussed how music helps him process personal hardship, transform sorrow into growth, and explore themes of resilience, acceptance, and hope. The interview also highlighted his collaborative recording approach, custom songwr...

DJ Jules welcomed Denver-based band lookatfiona into the KGNU Boulder studio for a live in-studio performance and interview. The band discussed their newly released second EP, their collaborative writing and recording process, and their upcoming homecoming show at Globe Hall on the 21st following their first multi-city tour. (Air Date 2/10/2026)

Boulder singer-songwriter Logan Proffitt joined Iris Berkeley live in KGNU’s Red Studio for an intimate in-studio set, performing originals including his debut single “Little Car.” The former Highlines guitarist shared about stepping into solo work, crafting a more stripped-down sound, and working on an upcoming EP—plus hopes of playing the Fox solo one day. (Air Date: 2/3/26)

Local musician Dominick Antonelli joined Indra Raj live in the KGNU studios to perform instrumental music and discuss his creative journey. Based in Longmont, Dominick shared how discovering alternate guitar tunings at age 16 shaped his intuitive, emotionally driven approach to music. He recently began studying in the Music and Recording Arts program at Front Range Community College, where he is e...

Dan Willging of KGNU interviews cowboy poet Lindy Simmons about her upcoming performances at the Colorado Cowboy Gathering in Golden. Simmons shares how her poetry evolved after marrying into a multi-generational ranching family in southwestern Colorado, drawing inspiration from ranch life, rodeo culture, local coffee shop storytelling, and Western history. She discusses the importance of authenti...

Lauren Frihauf stopped by the KGNU Denver studios to perform live and talk about her upcoming KGNU Presents show with Sturtz on March 7 at Chautauqua Community House. She played original songs including “Wild Card,” “Scorpion,” and “One Thing Always Leads to Another,” and discussed her musical roots in Colorado, her time on season 19 of The Voice (working with Gwen Stefani and John Legend), and he...

KGNU host Jessica Numbers sits down with DJ and music industry veteran Peter Wohelski to discuss the roots and resurgence of ambient house, chill-out culture, and community radio. Wohelski reflects on the early rave era, highlighting influential artists such as Future Sound of London, The Orb, and The Shamen, and explores how experimental electronic music bridged dance floors and listening spaces....

Amulets, the solo project of Portland based audio and visual artist Randall Taylor, joined KGNU’s Indra Raj to talk about his long evolving approach to ambient and experimental music. Taylor discusses his musical roots in bands and solo projects, the evolution of Amulets, and his distinctive use of handmade cassette tape loops and live processed guitar. He also reflects on documenting his process...

DJ Jules welcomed Freya to the KGNU Boulder studio for a live in-studio performance on the Morning Sound Alternative. Freya shared music centered on themes of joy, connection, peace, and reverence for the Earth, along with insights into their creative philosophy and upcoming album Kiss Me Verdant Green. The conversation explored finding beauty amid hardship, staying connected, and using music as a...

King Cardinal joined DJ Jules on KGNU for a live in-studio performance and conversation about their upcoming third album. The band shared that they are releasing the record in a nontraditional way: making the full album available immediately on their website and Bandcamp (pay-what-you-want, with vinyl), while releasing songs gradually on streaming platforms. They discussed the album as a creative...