Back Catalog Listening Party

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk artist Sadie Gustafson-Zook who celebrates her 1-year anniversary of living in Minneapolis with a virgin mimosa. She revisits one of two releases she put out in 2024, talks about why this EP What I Pushed Below is one of her favorites and shares how mood boards and spreadsheets help in her decision and art-making process. Featur...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Serbian-born blues guitarist and songwriter Ana Popovic who joins us from Los Angeles to revisit her 2016 3-disc album Trilogy. She talks about exploring the moods of morning, mid-day and midnight working with Grammy-winning R&B, rock and jazz producers including Warren Riker (Michael Jackson, Santana, Aretha Franklin), Tom Hambr...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Bohemian swing-folk band Adrian and Meredith who join us from their home in Nashville to revisit their 2016 debut More Than a Little . They talk about their Detroit polka roots, recording in an old pharmacy and why their first tour stop is always to a hardware store. A wild hour of wide-ranging music and stories! Featured Songs: More...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with country/Americana artist Michaela Anne who joins us to revisit her 2016 album Bright Lights and the Fame , which was recorded in Nashville and heavily influenced by her early days of living there and playing the country bars. She talks about the sparkly jumpsuit that graces the cover and offers her #1 piece of songwriting advice. Fea...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer Courtney Hartman . She joins us from her home in Eau Claire, WI to revisit her 2019 album Ready Reckoner , which was written while walking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago in France and Spain. She takes us inside the writing and recording of this intimate first solo album and talks abou...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with singer, songwriter, actor and playwright Queen Esther . She joins us from Harlem with a cup of tea to revisit her 2021 album Gild the Black Lily , where she conjures up her grandmother's home in the South's Lowcountry. She shares ghost stories, tips on poisonous plants and how writing songs can be like catching Pokémon. Featured Song...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with soul/folk songwriter Josh Cleveland who joins us with a Schell's beer and revisits his 2014 album Root of a Man . We laugh and have a good cry together, talking about writing love songs for his dad and his chosen home of Minneapolis. An hour full of uplifting songs for hard times. Featured Songs: City Fair Is Fare Like A Song Lost In...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk/pop duo The Twins of Franklin and revisit their 2020 debut album Low . They talk about singing and fighting like sisters, writing sad songs and their grand ambitions to write a musical. And, Laura Lou demonstrates a perfect pour of Guinness so hope you'll join the party! Featured Songs: Low When the Snow Falls Better Me One Brea...

In this week's special St. Patrick's Day episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with legendary Irish guitarist Dáithí Sproule . He joins us from West St. Paul with some whisky and coffee to revisit his 2011 album Lost River, Vol. 1, featuring many of his friends and past collaborators including Peter Ostroushko, Tom Schaefer, Liz Carroll, Laura MacKenzie, Dean Magraw and Altan. Known for his...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk artist and self-described word nerd Heather Maloney . She joins us with a finely aged wine, nervously revisits her 2015 album Making Me Break and makes enemies with bird and role playing geeks alike. A fun conversation with lots of musical surprises! Featured Songs: Otherwise Dandelion Rather Be Free 1855 🔗 Show Notes: https://...

Hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with banjo player and songwriter Chris Coole of The Lonesome Ace Stringband . He joins us from Toronto with a fancy cocktail, revisits their 2018 album When the Sun Comes Up and talks about his unusual path to making bluegrass and old-time music. Featured Songs: At My Kitchen Table Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me Joe Puckett and His Loving Mother Pretty Boy...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Minneapolis folk/blues duo Nikki Matteson & Rich Rue , who enjoy some red wine and revisit their 2022 album Sugar in the Rock . They talk about this album's analog and early rock & roll roots...plus we look at the many guitars that were used to make this record. Featured Songs: Complaint To Make Get Along Lonely Windows Thing...

Grant Peeples Listens Back to Punishing the Myth In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folksinger and poet Grant Peeples , who joins us from his home in Florida with a cup of green tea. He revisits his 2014 album Punishing the Myth, talks about it being a commercial failure and why it's his favorite album. Featured Songs: You're a Slave to Your Imagination The Hanging Th...

In this week's episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with singer, songwriter and painter Vanessa Lively , who joins us from her home in Austin, TX with her cat. She revisits her 2014 album Return to Waves , talks about recording when pregnant and drawing inspiration from dreams, paintings and sinkholes. Featured Songs: Return to Waves Chasm We Are Waiting Dive In 🔗 Show Notes: https://back...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Philip Price and Flora Reed of the indie/folk band Winterpills , who join us with their cats from western Massachusetts with some wine and curry. Following the release of the 20th anniversary edition of their debut album Winterpills , they revisit the songs and how they’ve evolved over the years. They talk about their shared love of...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Americana songwriter Eli Gardiner , who joins us for lunch to revisit his 2020 album The Fire and The Medicine . He talks about trading hockey for music, tackling hard subjects in his songs, and the tattoo that inspired the album art. Featured Songs Villain Before the War Eaten Alive The Right and the Wrong When We Are Gone 🔗 Show N...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with singer Sarah Larsson , who revisits Izvora , the 2016 release by The Nightingale Trio . She talks about her journey into singing Balkan music, shares hilarious stories behind the songs, and teaches us how to toast in Yiddish and Ukrainian. So lift up your glasses and join us for this joyful hour of music and conversation! Featured So...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with singer/songwriter Danny Schmidt , who joins us from his home in Nashville, enjoys a tequila, and revisits his 2007 album Little Grey Sheep . He looks back on recording this odd collection of songs written for friends, lovers, and fellow Texans. A beautiful conversation about music and community to kick off our new year. Featured Song...

In this week’s special episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo share their annual Best of Back Catalog clip show, revisiting some of their favorite moments from the past year of conversations. You’ll hear highlights from interviews with Lizzie No, Altan, Patty Larkin, Bruce Cockburn, Erin McKeown, Carrie Rodriguez, Gurf Morlix, Chris Silver & Craig Evans, Sister Sadie, Nicholas David, and Stev...

This week, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother banjo pop-in to wish you a happy holiday season and give a sneak peak of next week's special "Best of 2025" episode. We hope you are enjoying plenty of family, friends and good music this week, cheers!! ☃️🎶🍻 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with veteran country guitarist Dan Gaarder , formerly of the band Trailer Trash , who revisits the band’s 2002 Christmas album All Lit Up . He joins us with a tin of Danish butter cookies, talks about the inspiration behind these festive holiday originals, and shares some hilarious stories about the band recording in a garage in the heat...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Canadian folk legend Connie Kaldor , who joins us from Montreal to have a cup of tea and revisit her 2023 album of resilience Keep Going . She talks about her roots in the Saskatchewan prairies, recording with her musical family, and an interesting habit she picked up in her 45 years of touring. Featured Songs Keep Going Solo Clarine...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with 7-time Native American Music Award winner Keith Secola , who joins us from Sparta Sound Studio in northern Minnesota to revisit the 25th anniversary version of his 1992 album Circle. He talks about recording with members of The Doors and Barenaked Ladies and how his song “NDN Kars” has become a Native American anthem and a favorite a...

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Tina Schlieske 's album Slow Burn (2005) and its new vinyl release, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo share this special conversation with Tina, who joined them from her home in California. She talks about this first solo album after coming off the road with Stevie Ray Vaughan's band, the incredible cast of musicians who played on the record and how the songs captu...

In this week’s episode, Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk singer/songwriter Connor Garvey who joins us from a green room in Bangor, ME to revisit his 2011 album Where Ocean Meets Land . He talks about his love of production, how songs can live separate lives on stage and a special co-writer he enlisted to update one of the songs. Plus glockenspiel and some serious guitar shredding! Fea...