Adventures in Americana presents Smouse in the House

In this episode, Tom Smouse visited the home of Luke LeBlanc, a Twin Cities musician active since he was in his early teens. Now in his twenties and wise beyond his years, Luke's observant yet introspective outlook brings authentic insight to everything he writes. Sitting in his dining room and digging into his past that includes bubble baths, Zimmy Awards, and a new album that is literally a...

In this episode, Tom met up with Josie Hasnik, aka FINICK. This high schooler has emerged in the Twin Cities in a variety of circles and venues, winning recognition for her fanciful indie-folk songs imbued with real-life emotions.

For our inaugural Season 5 episode, Tom Smouse met up with Pine & Fire, aka Jobi Adams and Brandi Foster. A folk duo from the north woods of Minnesota, they discussed their unique blend of traditional roots music with modern punk. 

Zak Norton and Bronson Bergeson, who together make up Poppa Bear Norton, are a country duo from northern Minnesota and one of 7 acts appearing at Amerigrass, a one-day festival taking place October 7 at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis. The duo met me in downtown Minneapolis to talk about their musical approach, which combines comedy with classic country themes and sounds, and their larger-than-...

I went to the Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge in Minneapolis to connect with this up-and-coming Minnesota duo about the origins of their act, their ties to the region's music community, and what they're looking forward to at the upcoming Amerigrass festival. You can hear Dellwood's intriguing modern indie take on old-time music  on October 7: They're one of 7 acts performi...

I met up with three members of Wild Horses at the Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis to talk songwriting, musical influences, their origin story and more. The high-octane alt-country/rock/Americana group from northern Minnesota is one of 7 acts performing at Amerigrass, a one-day festival taking place at the Hook October 7. 

I met up with Tyler Pautsch, guitarist and singer-songwriter for Ty Pow and The Holy North, at the Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge in Minneapolis. The group is one of the 7 bands performing at Amerigrass, the one-day festival taking place at the Hook October 7. We chatted about how this blues-rock, alt-country, Americana soul super group formed and how Tyler's Midwest home informs his song...

In this special season of Smouse in the House, we interview many of the artists who'll perform at the inaugural Amerigrass festival at the Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis. For the second episode I met up with jam-grass band Buffalo Galaxy in the Nokomis neighborhood of South Minneapolis.

In this special season of Smouse in the House, we interview many of the artists who'll perform at the inaugural Amerigrass festival at the Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis. Our first guests are an award-winning Americana act and organizers of the festival. Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann talk about how their unique sound inspired the creation and lineup of this one-day festival.

The beauty of local music is the ability to witness new artists grow, and I feel so honored to have an opportunity to follow the rapid and organic development of Molly Brandt, a truly authentic artist finding her voice and place in our community. Nestled in Lowry Hill on one of the coldest evenings of the year, we discuss her burgeoning songwriting skills, experiencing a dream come to fruition by...

Ellen Stanley, aka Mother Banjo, and Ben Cook-Feltz are such pillars in our music community, both supporting artists through promotion, live shows, and making music accessible to as many people as possible. Seated downstairs in their home, you can feel the passion they carry in songwriting. It’s a tangible experience where they can pull from places in their past, expressing their experiences in vi...

Possibly my favorite beginning to any of our podcast episodes, I walked right into a magical off-the-cuff song about pancakes performed by Lamar, aka Geoffrey Lamar Wilson, and his young child playing a cardboard guitar. Surrounded by books and photos of his kids, we chatted about that first spark of joy playing music as a child in the family basement with his dad’s band, how his move to New York...

If you close your eyes and listen to Sister Species, you’ll be able to imagine the home of Emily Kastrul – sprawling plants, DIY home improvements, the gentle give of a wood floor, and a trove of local art surrounding the home. Each song connects to the environment, such as how the Mississippi River and Emily’s backyard garden find their way into the lyrics. An emotionally intelligent songwriter,...

Iowan native Tracey Blake is an enigma to country music. His R&B swagger, admiration for Prince, and student of the Minneapolis sound is a combination that doesn’t immediately make you imagine country music. But in that multifaceted skill set comes an authentic voice that feels all his own. We discuss the ironic importance of the Mississippi by his home, along with how he decides where a song...

Walking into Sarah Morris’ bathroom was a surreal experience. The minty green bathroom has been home to so many artists and friends that we had to record the podcast there. Sarah is an avid supporter and angel to our music community with hosting videos all over her home. We discussed her experience living in Nashville and how the move back to Minnesota opened up her songwriting skills. Sarah doesn...

Tucked into the green room underneath the bustle of Turf Club in St. Paul, it’s easy to see why so many people connect to Charlie Parr. Humble, smart, and keen on life, Charlie exudes an aura of approachability and camaraderie. His love for songwriting and the creative process feels simple, but what comes out in the end is a complex wave of emotions and past memories. In this episode, we chat abou...

Oftentimes I discover a kinship with musicians that align with my own past. Due to his involvement in the music community here in the Twin Cities, I immediately felt that kinship with Max Markin. He ran a music label and actively networks with other local artists as the host of a songwriter showcase series at Palmer’s. Creatively, Max writes intriguing stories for different projects and maintains...

You won’t meet a more dedicated musician and songwriter than Lonesome Dan Kase. He’s a historian of his genre, a pillar in the scene, and the kindest gentleman.  Recently, I sat down with Kase to discuss his craft, learn about old-timey music playing styles, where he caught the bug, and how influential his music research seeps into his own writing. In this episode, we present two exclusive live pe...

Having known Josh Cleveland for over 10 years, recording this podcast at his home felt extremely comfortable. His humor, wit, and detail in songwriting are instantly present in our conversation. Together, we dive into his evolution as a songwriter, along with exploring his magical home with a long history of music creation. There’s heartfelt warmth in the emotions and stories Josh tells in his son...

Because environment heavily influences art, there is a clear through-line to his home of Prescott, Wisconsin. Growing up in a small town, feeling connected to the community, and yet wanting to move on and expand your opportunities–there's a part of everyone that can relate to Sam DuBois and his songwriting. Sam’s is an authentic voice that struggles in pursuit of his passions, a struggle many...

My recent visit with Jake La Botz provided yet another strong example of why sitting in someone’s home can uncover deeper and more personal conversations and connections. In this episode, we explore how an artist’s environment can impact the creative process, something Jake’s encountered during his time living in Rochester, Minnesota. You’ll get to hear his trademark wit and humor, but he also tak...

New Salty Dog is a group of guys you want to hang out with. They are laid back, entertaining, and care deeply about creating special moments with their music. You can feel the camaraderie that they have for their city, musician friends, and neighborhood in our chat. For someone that has covered more Americana, acoustic-based performers, speaking with a more jam-based band brought a new level of li...

Breanne Marie represents so many of the themes this podcast seeks to explore. Her Duluth home sits on the border of city and nature, nestled high above Lake Superior. There's an instant warmth in her voice, charm in her stories, and rich environmental influences. In this fourth episode of season two, Breanne shares two songs that speak directly to our discussion, revealing how deeply Duluth l...

Storytellers have the gift of poetically communicating beyond words. Emily Haavik is one of those special individuals that can weave a story with a feeling, both simple and deeply weighted. In this third episode of the second season of Smouse in the House, we get an opportunity to learn about her creative process, where she finds inspiration, the importance of literature, and thinking past the bas...

Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello hold each other with a high level of mutual respect. You can hear it in their stories, jokes, and when sharing their creative process. Individually, they represent songwriting forces and storied histories that converged with their Texas pasts. It came full circle for Tom when he learned that even highly talented and skilled musicians are fans of other artists....