Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations

The Ries Brothers — Charlie and Kevin Jordan — join the show to talk about their latest single, Golden Sun, featuring Nick Hexum of 311. We dive into their journey as brothers and bandmates, from playing Florida bars as teens to being discovered by the band Chicago, and how they’ve grown as artists along the way. The brothers share what it’s like collaborating with musical icons, navigating life o...

Country singer-songwriter Kolby Cooper joins the show to talk about his newest album, Love You, Goodnight, and his journey as one of country music’s rising stars. We cover everything from life on the road and being a young dad, to growing up in Texas, writing raw, emotional songs, and crafting break-up anthems while happily married. Kolby also gives us a look at what’s next for his music and caree...

Kentucky country artist Tyler Booth joins the show to talk about his upcoming EP, Downtown, dropping June 27. We dive into everything from his recent engagement and the story behind “Talkin’ White Trash,” to growing up in Kentucky, how a music scholarship changed his path, and what it’s been like traveling and building his career. Tyler also shares what fans can expect next and reflects on the mom...

Country artist Randall King is now a proud papa and staying busy musically too. We chat with Randall about becoming a dad, whether he ever drew those four Uno cards, how life has changed, why he made Into the Neon Unplugged, his love of music, getting to travel, where he hopes to play, what's next and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Chuckie Brown, country rocker and songwriter, just released his debut EP The Angels. We chat with Chuckie about the new EP, when he got into music, his hockey playing days, growing up in the Northeast, moving to LA, what's next and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Wheel Horse Double Oak

Ian Munsick, country artist & songwriter, recently released his new album Eagle Feather. We chat with Ian about the new album, where the inspiration for the album came, writing/co-writing all but two songs, seeing his family grow, getting to play at Cheyenne Frontier Days and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Wyoming Whiskey Double Cask

Kyle Ray, country/Americana artist, recently released his latest single Love Me Tonight. We chat with Kyle about his latest single, growing up in Kentucky, what pushed him to go to music school in Boston, how life experiences have shaped his songwriting, releasing a wide range of songs, what's next and more.

Jason Boland & The Stragglers recently released their latest album The Last Kings Of Babylon. We chat with Jason about the album, growing up in Oklahoma, the Yellow House in Stillwater, celebrating the band's 25th anniversary, being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon

Jason Scott and The High Heat just released their latest album American Grin. We chat with Jason about the album, where the title came from, how The High Heat came to be, how he used to be a youth pastor, his favorite parts about being on the road and more. Jonathan's Drinking: 15 STARS Timeless Reserve

We sit down with chart-topping country artist and songwriter Canaan Smith, whose latest album Chickahominy is out now. Canaan dives into the stories behind the music, his journey as an independent artist, how life as a dad has reshaped his perspective, how a small camper had a major impact on the album, and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Hard Truth Harvest Rye

In this episode of Bar Conversations , we sit down with singer-songwriter Ed Prosek , one half of the newly formed duo Driftwood Choir , alongside Portair. With their self-titled debut album out now, Ed shares the journey of creating this project, from meeting Portair to crafting a sound inspired by change, nature, and personal evolution. We dive into his unique background—growing up in California...

Alli Walker, country artist/songwriter, recently released her heartfelt single First Time Living featuring Gretchen Wilson. We chat with Alli about her latest music, playing the bagpipes, being on stage with Shania Twain, growing up in Canada, moving to Nashville, her journey in music, what's next and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Green River Rye Whiskey

The Kentucky Gentlemen, twin brothers Brandon and Derek Campbell from Versailles, KY, just released their latest single Country Hymn. We chat with Brandon and Derek about growing up in Kentucky, their favorite bourbons, what pushed them to Nashville, working together as twins, their new single Country Hymn, what their creative process is like, signing with River House Artists and so much more. Jon...

Singer-songwriter Ana Cristina Cash recently released her latest single Last Call in English and Spanish "Tu Última Llamada." We chat with Ana about her new music, being a bilingual artist, her Cuban heritage, being part of the Opry's Valentines Day Duets Show, how she was signed at age 15, moving to Nashville and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Penelope Havana

Haley Mae Campbell, country artist/songwriter, is set to release her debut album Dear Life on March 7. We chat with Haley Mae about the new album, how she got into music, what it's been like to work on the album, how she approaches songwriting, sharing past experiences in her songs, getting to headline her own tour and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Green River Wheated Bourbon

Wilder Woods, the solo outfit of NEEDTOBREATHE co-founder and frontman Bear Rinehart, is releasing his new album Curioso on February 7. We chat with Bear about the new album, why he started releasing music as Wilder Woods, the success of NEEDTOBREATHE, his football days at Furman, how he balances Wilder Woods and the band, his approach to songwriting, being on stage and so much more. Jonathan'...

Garrett Bradford, country artist/songwriter from Texas, is releasing his two-part album Honkiest of Tonkers this February and April. We chat with Garrett about the album, how This Way of Life ended up on Yellowstone, how impactful Taylor Sheridan was on his career, growing up in Texas on a ranch, writing songs at a young age and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Still Austin Rye Whiskey

Since launching their career in 2018, The Dryes (Derek and Katelyn) have caught the attention of USA Today, Rolling Stone, People, American Songwriter, and Country Living Magazine, among others, and have gained thousands of fans and followers along the way. We chat with Derek and Katelyn about their latest song Ain't God Good, how they met, what it's like to be married and perform together...

At the crossroads of the blues and rock & roll, Liam St. John commands his truest form by combining lyrics that embody the blues with their piercing and painful truth and delivering a captivating performance with vibrancy true to the spirit of rock and roll. We chat with Liam about his latest EP Believer, being into sports when he was young, growing up in the Pacific Northwest, going on The Vo...

We look ahead to five artists and groups we're ready to watch in 2025.

We look back at our five favorite artists and groups from 2024.

We look back at our five favorite songs from 2024.

Rising artist/songwritier Emily Brooke released her latest album "all of the pieces (unplugged)" in November. We chat with Emily about her album, why she went the acoustic route, how she got into music, being on American Idol, meeting Taylor Swift's family, going on tour in the Netherlands, what's next and so much more. onathan's Drinking: Filmland Spirits Ryes of the Robots Extended Cut

Partners in life and music, Sarah and Austin McCombie are better known as the Americana-folk duo Chatham Rabbits. We chat with Sarah and Austin about how they got into music, their upcoming album Be Real With Me (out in February), how the album differs from their previous releases, how they became the Chatham Rabbits, their songwriting process and more. Jonathan's Drinking: John AP Conoley Bourbon

The story of Waterville, OH indie-folk trio Oliver Hazard - Michael Belazis (vocals, guitar) and Devin East (vocals, guitar), joined by Nate Miner (keys, vocals) -- is set to release their new EP Raindrop River on Dec. 6. We chat with Mike about the new EP, how the band came to be, if they really won a Facebook raffle to record their first album, how their Oliver Hazard Day Festival started, why t...