Back Catalog Listening Party

In this week’s episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with renowned bluegrass and old-time musicians and scholars Chris Silver and Craig “Frailin’” Evans about their 2021 album and book Old-Timeless Conversations , the 15 years of emails that led up to this recording, and what makes a crooked tune. Featured Songs: 1.Chinquapin Hunting 2.Cowboy Waltz 3.Hunting the Buffalo 4.Greasy Coat...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with singer, songwriter and guitarist Patty Larkin about her 2010 album 25 , featuring duets with 25 of her closest friends including Suzanne Vega, Bruce Cockburn, Dar Williams and Greg Brown. Featured Songs: 1.Only One (featuring Jonatha Brooke) 2.Pablo Neruda (featuring Suzanne Vega) 3.Open Arms (featuring Bruce Cockburn) 4.G...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk singer, songwriter, and poet David Huckfelt about his 2019 album Stranger Angels , its origins on Isle Royale National Park, and the primal power of old folk melodies. Featured Songs: Stranger Angels King Whirl Still and Still Moving Star Nation Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/229 🎉 Join the Party on Pat...

In this week’s episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Billboard-charting singer/songwriter Flamy Grant about her 2022 album Bible Belt Baby , becoming the first drag queen to top the Christian music charts, and living out her teenage dreams working with her songwriting heroes. Featured Songs: 1.What Did You Drag Me Into 2.Esther, Ruth, and Rahab (feat. Adeem the Artist) 3.Scratche...

In this week’s episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with queer, Black protest singer-songwriter Lizzie No about her 2019 album  Vanity , her path from classical harpist to punk-influenced Americana songwriter, and the epic sounds she got from this album recorded in a Brooklyn apartment. Featured Songs: Narcissus Phantom Limb Born and Bred Pity Party Show Notes:   https://ba...

In this special encore episode, hosts Mother Banjo and Anthony Ihrig chat with members of Minnesota string band Pert Near Sandstone about their 2011 album Paradise Hop , hopping freight trains, and the correct pronunciation of "Appalachian." Recorded on Oct 23, 2020 Featured Songs: 1. Okanagan Valley 2. Appalachian Girl 3. Long Decline 4. 20 Cups of Coffee Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningp...

In this encore holiday episode, host Mother Banjo talks with folk singers Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen about their 1997 album Voices of Winter , finding those magical sister voices and some unexpected sounds that found their way on to this live recording.  Recorded on Dec 15, 2023. Featured Songs: Wintergrace Voices of Winter Witch Hazel Chickadee Lo How a Rose Show No...

In this special holiday episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with string duo The OK Factor about their 2017 album Have Yourself an OK Christmas , their extreme love of the holidays and their top draft picks for their dream band. Featured Songs: O Come, Isabella Emmanuel Shchedryk Lo How A Rose Festive Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/226 Join the Party on Patreo...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk legend Claudia Schmidt about her 2017 album Hark the Dark: Reflections on Winter and the surprising inspirations behind some of the songs. Plus some of Claudia's priceless wintertime pep talks! Featured Songs: 1. These Stars 2. December Danger 3. Chickadee Blues 4. Christmas Eve 5. Gather You In Show Notes: https://ba...

In this encore episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Grammy-nominated country/folk/bluegrass songwriter Robbie Fulks about his 2013 album Gone Away Backward , give bad answers to good questions and talk about working with the late great producer Steve Albini. Recorded on Sep 25, 2020 Featured Songs: I’ll Trade You Money For Wine Long I Ride That’s Where I’m From The Many Disguise...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk/pop songwriter Keri Noble about her first self-released album When It Don't Come Easy (2010) , channeling her Detroit musical roots and how her frequent trips to Japan shaped some of the songs. Featured Songs: Red Eye Flight Make Me Believe What I Gotta Do Japan Fading Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/224...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with legendary punk and alternative country songwriter Jon Langford about his 2011 album and art book Skull Orchard Revisited , how his Welsh roots shaped the songs and what it was like to record and tour with 30 male drunk choir singers. Featured Songs: Butter Song Sentimental Marching Song Youghal Pill Sailor Tom Jones L...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Kansas City-based blues/roots artist Kelley Hunt . Celebrating her 30th anniversary of making music, we look back on her 2014 album The Beautiful Bones , talk about embracing those magical studio moments and the incredible soulful ballad she wrote in just 15 minutes. Featured Songs: Golden Hour Let It Rain R...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with legendary folksinger John Gorka about his 2001 album The Company You Keep , exercising the songwriting muscle and the influence of Abraham Lincoln, Jack Keruoac, Janis Ian, John Prine and Jackson Browne. Featured Songs: What Was That Morningside Oh Abraham Let Them In People My Age Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningp...

This week we talk with singer-songwriters Edie Carey & Sarah Sample about their award-winning 2014 release 'Til The Morning: Lullabies & Songs of Comfort. We discuss the challenges of balancing motherhood and music careers, learn about the concept of "vocal spooning," and discover how their studio mantra of "Don't Wake the Baby," affected the production of the entire album. Featured S...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Americana singer/songwriter Mindy Smith about her 2012 self-titled album , getting over stage fright and meeting sheroes like Dolly Parton, Amy Grant and Emmylou Harris. Featured Songs: Closer Pretending the Stars Tin Can Cure for Love If I Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/219 Join the Party on Patreon: https:/...

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier about her 1999 breakout album Drag Queens in Limousines , the song that changed her life and how being a restaurant owner and chef prepared her for being a songwriter. Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/218 Join the Party on Patreon: https://www.pat...

In this encore episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with folk singer/songwriter Richard Shindell about his 2016 album Careless , talk about his unique approach to making the recording and the often painstaking process of songwriting. Recorded on March 8, 2024 . Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/200 Join the Party on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/backcataloglistenin...

In this encore episode, we talk with folk/pop artist Jonatha Brooke about her 1997 album 10 Cent Wings, the unlikely inspiration for the title and laugh, dance and cry together as we listen to some heartbreaking songs. Recorded July 31, 2020. Show Notes: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/19 Join the Party on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/backcataloglisteningparty Hosted on Acast. See acast....

In this encore episode, hosts Anthony Ihrig and Mother Banjo talk with renowned folksinger, author and speaker Dar Williams about her 2000 release The Green World, recording with ghosts and stealing band members from David Bowie and The Eagles. Recorded April 9, 2021. SHOW NOTES: https://backcataloglisteningparty.com/54 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After four years of hosting their online listening parties with top folk, roots and Americana musicians exclusively on YouTube, hosts Mother Banjo and Anthony Ihrig are releasing an audio-only version of their weekly musical happy hour so that episodes can be enjoyed anywhere, any time! Each hour-long show is recorded live with an online audience and features songs, stories and lively discussions...