Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations

Country singer-songwriter Claudia Hoyser joins Bar Conversations to talk about her new album Before The Dawn, her journey from growing up in New York to building an independent career with more than 120 million views, and how a breakthrough moment with her song No Matter What It Costs changed everything. She shares how her musical family shaped her sound, why moving to Nashville pushed her creativ...

Country artist JD Shelburne is back to talk about his latest album Raised on the Good Stuff, his Kentucky roots, and the journey that’s taken him from small-town stages to the Opry. JD reflects on growing up in Taylorsville, performing in church, and teaching himself guitar after a life-changing moment in his grandmother’s house that sparked his passion for music. He shares stories from his early...

Country singer-songwriter MaRynn Taylor joins Bar Conversations to talk about her journey from growing up in Michigan to releasing her self-titled debut album. MaRynn shares how performing for her family at just four years old with a plastic microphone sparked her love for music, the artists who influenced her early on, and how small-town life shaped both her songwriting and identity. She reflects...

Country artist Hayden Baker talks about his journey from growing up in Katy, Texas, to becoming one of the most respected guitar players in modern country music. Hayden shares how early exposure to rural life, sports, and faith shaped who he is, and how picking up a guitar at 16—something he’s called a “God thing”—changed the direction of his life. He reflects on how an unexpected college injury l...

Country artist Olivia Harms talks about her journey from growing up on a multi-generation cattle ranch in Oregon to appearing on the CBS series The Road. Olivia shares how being raised in a musical family—literally taking the stage at just two days old—set her on a path toward country music, along with the early influences that shaped her sound. She reflects on recording her first album at 16, nav...

Maygen & The Birdwatcher join Bar Conversations to talk about their latest album The Americana Dream, songwriting, and building a band rooted in collaboration. We chat with Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann to discuss growing up in Minnesota, early musical influences, and how their partnership began. From overcoming a fear of performing live to breaking the rules in piano lessons, they share how w...

Singer-songwriter Alexandra King shares the story behind her debut EP Across the Pond, blending her New York upbringing with her deep Irish roots. Alexandra talks about growing up surrounded by music, from parents who met through music to having a piano before she was even born, and how summers spent on her aunt’s sheep farm in Ireland shaped her identity and songwriting. She reflects on studying...

Bluegrass-folk trio Damn Tall Buildings released their latest album The Universe Is Hungry this fall. We sit down with Avery Ballotta to talk about growing up in Montana, early musical influences, and how a love for music—and the fiddle—started at a young age. We dive deep into the inspiration behind the album, recording process, and the band’s commitment to staying truly independent—self-producin...

Country singer-songwriter Jeremy Pinnell talks about his new album Decades, life growing up in Northern Kentucky, and the influences that shaped his music. From a childhood filled with Christian hymns and classic rock legends to the life-changing moment of seeing Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” Jeremy shares how punk rock energy evolved into his heartfelt country sound. He opens up about h...

We sit down with country singer-songwriter Kelsi Mayne to talk about her latest singles “Someone Who Knows” and “For The Record,” and the winding road that’s shaped her career. Kelsi opens up about growing up in Windsor, Ontario, balancing music with life as a nationally ranked track athlete and registered nurse, and how playing bar gigs helped spark the realization that music was more than just a...

We catch up with country artist Jon Wolfe as he returns to the show to talk about his most personal project to date, Barstool Therapy: Session One, which is out now. Jon opens up about the winding road that took him from a finance degree and the oil industry to the heart of the Texas country scene, and how he found his sound. Jon dives deep into the concept behind Barstool Therapy, an eight-song c...

We sit down with indie-folk artist Hunter Metts to talk about his new EP A Crater Wide and the journey that took him from a musical childhood in Nashville to finding his artistic voice after American Idol. Hunter reflects on growing up in a creative family, stepping away from music to pursue software development, and the pull that kept bringing him back to songwriting. He opens up about the emotio...

We sit down with country trio Deltona — vocalist Ned Abernathy, guitarist Caleb Miller, and drummer Chris Deaton — to talk about their new single “Cared Enough to Cry” and the story behind how the three of them came together. They share how growing up in Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio shaped their musical roots, the night at the Bluebird Café that sparked the idea to form Deltona, and how they built...

We chat with country artist Belles to talk about her new self-titled EP Belles, her holiday EP Bells on Belles, and the journey that took her from a musical family in Nebraska to a recording and publishing deal in Nashville. She opens up about growing up surrounded by musicians, performing in a mother-daughter duo, briefly stepping away to study chemistry, and what ultimately pulled her back to mu...

We catch up with country artist Creed Fisher as he returns to the show to talk about his new album Between Heaven and Hell and everything he’s been through since 2021. Creed opens up about recovering from last year’s brutal hit-and-run, the support he felt from fans, and how family — especially being a dad and Paw Paw — keeps him grounded. He shares stories from growing up in West Texas, how footb...

We catch up with rising country artist Presley Tennant to talk about her new single “Let Lying Dogs Sleep” and how she’s carving out her place in the country scene. From growing up in Norco, California — Horsetown U.S.A. — to getting her start on The Voice at 16, Presley reflects on her musical journey, creative growth, and how she’s learned to embrace “progress, not perfection.” She shares the st...

We sit down with Sean Monahan of the soulful trio Gale Bird to talk about the band’s latest singles — “Lookie Here,” “I Still Do,” and “Roses” — and how they’re carving out a sound rooted in honesty and heart. Sean opens up about the band’s beginnings, the meaning behind the name Gale Bird, and how his partnership with Josh Gale helped shape their emotionally rich, genre-blending style. He shares...

We sit down with Maggie Noelle and Ryan Allen of Magnolia Boulevard to talk about their long-awaited self-titled debut LP, Magnolia Boulevard, out November 28. From their Appalachian roots to their signature blend of rock, soul, and blues, they share how the band found its sound and stayed true to its vision. Maggie and Ryan open up about the journey from small-town stages to national recognition,...

We chat with Ashley Wineland, rising country star, about her latest single “Loving You Is Easy.” From her Arizona roots and love for the outdoors to launching her music career at just age 14, Ashley shares how her journey has shaped the authentic stories behind her songs. She talks about writing an upbeat anthem that celebrates “love gone right,” collaborating with GRAMMY-nominated producer Marti...

Singer-songwriter Chris Rafter talks about his debut album RAFTER and the stories behind songs like his breakout single “Havertown.” He shares how growing up in Philadelphia shaped his music, when he discovered his love for the guitar, and the moments that inspired him to pursue music as a career. Chris opens up about recording RAFTER in two row houses, including one without plumbing, his decision...

We chat with singer, guitarist, and road warrior Austin Meade to talk about his upcoming album Almost Famous, arriving November 7. From growing up the son of a Baptist preacher to teaching drums and eventually carving out his own lane in rock and country, Austin opens up about the stories, struggles, and humor behind his music. He shares how Almost Famous became his most personal record yet — writ...

Eddie Eberle of Eddie and The Getaway joins us to talk about their brand-new Tumbleweeds & Nicotine EP, out now. From growing up in Michigan and Arizona to moving to Nashville right before the pandemic, Eddie shares the journey that shaped his sound and career. We dive into his early influences, the unforgettable moment U2’s Bono inspired him to chase music, and how opportunities like opening...

Rising country artist and songwriter Brandon Wisham joins us to talk about his journey from small-town South Carolina to Nashville’s fast-moving music scene. From writing his first song “Pain Won’t Last” after the loss of his father, to catching the attention of Bailey Zimmerman on TikTok, Brandon shares how those early moments shaped his career and led him to touring major stages. We dive into hi...

We sit down with Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Corey Congilio to talk about his new 6-song EP, A Good Place To Start. Corey shares the story of how the blues became the heart of his music, from early influences and legendary artists to shaping his own sound as both a sideman and now a solo artist. With over 25 years of experience performing, recording, and teaching, Corey opens u...

We chat with Lee Henke and Ryan Acker of The Last Revel to talk about their latest album Gone for Good. They open up about the band’s early days, their 2019 hiatus, and how stepping away ultimately reignited their passion for making music together. They share stories behind the new record—from working with Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles to the spontaneous creative changes that shaped songs l...