Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations

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...

Jet Jurgensmeyer performs his song Stayed from his album The Ride: phase 2 which he co-wrote with PJ North. We chat about why he likes to be part of the songwriting process and how Stayed came to be.

Growing up along Kentucky’s Country Music Highway U.S. 23, Adam Chaffins' sound owes as much to the lush mountains of his home state as it does to the paved canyons of the city he now calls home. We chat with Adam about his new music, growing up in eastern Kentucky, heading to Nashville, being a session musician and part of touring bands, being able to make his own music, being able to collaborate...

Country artist Allie Colleen performs her song While We're Still Friends, which features country superstar Lee Brice. The honest and sincere single, with lyrics full of raw emotion, was co-written by Allie Colleen, Sara Brice and Lee Brice. We also chat about how this collaboration came to be and how her collaborations typically happen.

Jet Jurgensmeyer shares his song Bones from his album The Ride: phase 2 which is the only song he wrote solo on the album. We chat about how Bones is a special song to him and how special it's been to give back to several organizations.

Nether Hour is a trio of unapologetic rebels fusing the swampy grooves of Louisiana with Texas-sized doses of funk, blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. We chat with Bobby, Bishop and Bercy about their new single Long As I Ain’t Alone, their upcoming new album Moonshine, how the group came to be, their process for creating music, what their live shows are like, what's next and so much more. Jonathan's...

Rising country music artist Charly Reynolds released her debut album, Off The Record, in September. We chat with Charly about bringing that album to life, moving to Nashville at age 18, having vocal surgery, how she approaches songwriting, having fun on social media, her Off The Record tour, what's next and more. Jonathan's Drinking: Southern Star Paragon Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon

Country artist Allie Colleen performs her song Grass On The Grave and we chat about her tattoos and a personal addition to the collection.

Jade Eagleson has made quite the mark on the international country music scene and he just made his Grand Ole Opry debut. We chat with Jade about his Opry debut, how he met his wife and their first date, growing upn on his grandparent’s small town farm in Ontario, what music he listend to growing up, how he met Shaina Twain, his jump from the farm to the stage, his new singles "Worth the Double" &...

Jet Jurgensmeyer shares his song Ruin This Town from his album The Ride: phase 2 and we chat about the difference in being both an actor and musician.

A former fry cook, oil field operator, concrete surface decorator and kids’ baseball coach met up in a small town in West Texas and started playing music together (as one does in small town West Texas). We chat with Fox and James Tuffs from Dexter and the Moonrocks about their latest song Like You (Like You), their EP Western Space Grunge which they released this summer, how they became a group, w...

Raised in the Appalachian foothills of northern Georgia, Christian Hayes grew up surrounded by southern storytelling. We chat with Christian about his debut EP Last I Love You, how he got the nickname Lullaby Kid, growing up in a musical family, writing 900 songs before heading to Nashville, hitting the stage at Americanfest and so much more. Jonathan's Drinking: Hard Truth High Road Rye

We love our conversations, but sometimes you've got to go "Beyond The Bar" for a little more insight into a song and artist. We kick it all off with Allie Colleen as she shares on of her favorite songs "The Otherside", how the co-write with Carter Winter came to be and how excitied she is to go on tour with Jelly Roll.

Noah West, is a name familiar in Nashville’s publishing houses and writing rooms. Hailing from Beckley, WV, Noah has carved his path in the industry with a distinctive voice, clever lyrics, and an undeniable passion for storytelling throughout his music. We chat with Noah about his latest single "If It Was Easy", what led him to songwriting, growing up in West Virginia, getting his first song cut...

The Talbott Brothers, hailing from the heartland of Imperial, Nebraska, embody the heart and soul of country and Americana with their blue-collar grit and unapologetic authenticity. We chat with brothers Nick and Ty Talbott about their new single Kerosene, their upcoming album Borderlands, going back to Nebraska, buying a Craiglist van, making their Americanafest debut and so much more. Jonathan's...

Born into a military family, country artist Matt Oakley spent the first few years of his life moving up and down the East Coast, before heading to college in South Carolina where he started making music. He credits his passion for country music to his military upbringing and mother’s slow and simple way of living. We chat with Matt about his latest single "Soldier's Son", growing up in a musical f...