Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations

A look back at Bourbon and Beyond Day 2, including the bad and good. Mostly good, like performances by Bastille, The Killers, Hozier, Brittany Howard, Wayne Newton and so many more.

We take a look back at Day 1 of Bourbon & Beyond 2023. We talk about the setup, the food and, of course, the lineup. Some standouts include Buddy Guy, Midland, Train, Brandi Carlile, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.

Formed in their teens, Boy Named Banjo includes Barton Davies (banjo), Ford Garrard (bass/standing bass), Sam McCullough (drums) Willard Logan (mandolin, acoustic/electric guitar) and William Reames (acoustic guitar/harmonica). We chat with the guys about their major label debut album Dusk, being able to capture all the band's personalities on it, making their Opry debut, being from Nashville, how...

A Nashvillian by way of Philadelphia, Vinnie Paolizzi has spent the better part of the last decade in the songwriting trenches, making a name for himself as a rising singer-songwriter to watch. Vinnie talks about his new album Vinnie Paolizzi LP, growing up in Pennsylvania, ending up in Nashville, writing music, working with talented artists, favorite song to perform on stage, what folks can expec...

The tapestry of Southern music in America is rich, vivid and diverse. Adam Hood is an artist who exudes that substantial musical lineage each time he straps on his Telecaster for a show or picks up his pen to write a song. The roots of his Opelika, AL upbringing inform his musicality and guide his soul-stirring lyrics. Adam talks about re-recording his album Different Groove, hitting the road with...

Made up of Logan Moore (guitar, vocals), Alex Kerns (bass, vocals), Riley Kerns (drums, background vocals), James Montgomery (lead guitar), Justin Carver (pedal steel, banjo), and Rudy Bzdyk (fiddle, trumpet, keyboards), Low Water Bridge Band have made their career by furthering their sound; forged by firelight picking and ramped up into a romping, stomping on-stage energy. We chat with Logan and...

Emmet Stevens Jr. stands as a testament to the profound impact that music, faith, and personal resilience can have on shaping a life of purpose and accomplishment. Born and raised in Dade City, Florida, his narrative is a seamless intertwining of his deep-rooted faith, musical prowess, and unyielding commitment to sharing his songwriting and melodies with the world. Emmet talks about his debut sin...

James Barker Band -- made up of James Barker (lead vocals/guitar), Taylor Abram (guitar/background vocals), Connor Stephen (drums), and Bobby Martin (bass) -- have fueled an incredible story over the last eight years, largely on their own, from opening for local bands in dive bars to charting multiple No. 1 singles and hundreds of millions of global streams to headlining festivals and playing stag...

Born and raised in Mississippi, near the birthplace of the musical style known as the Delta Blues, Peyton Aldridge found his love for music at an early age, singing with his church choir and at local music venues. Peyton talks about being on The Voice, what he learned from John Legend, learning to play the piano & guitar, how important family is to him, writing songs about his wife, his latest...

Masters of their trade, The Lonesome Ace Stringband (Chris Coole, John Showman and Max Malone) bring grit, skill and abandon to Americana music, bridging old-time, bluegrass and folk traditions into a seamless hybrid of original material that is at once fresh and timeless. We chat Chris and John about how the group came together, their name, how they got into their instruments, their new album Try...

Nashville native Jenny Tolman is your "ride or die" kind of artist. Her songs will make audiences laugh, cry, stomp their feet, clap their hands and shake their heads in wonder at her inciteful, story-like lyrics. Jenny talks about growing up around the music industry, being a Nashville native, getting into songwriting, why she has so much fun with her songs, her growing family, hosting Cowgirls a...

A salt-of-the-earth southerner with a straight-shooting swagger and kind smile, Shane Profitt’s musical toolbox is full of all-natural talent. At the end of 2021, he was still pulling overtime at his job with the city, busting his back about an hour south of Nashville and living for the weekend. But now, he is rocking sold-out crowds at the historic Ryman Auditorium, earning standing ovations at t...

Tyler Reese Tritt is a Nashville-based country artist whose career has been fueled by her passion for music and her exceptional vocal prowess. At just 14 years old, she made her debut recording the timeless duet "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" alongside her father, the renowned Travis Tritt. This pivotal moment sparked her journey into the limelight and set her on a path of success. Tyler talks...

As a native of small-town Kentucky who’s influences range from Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle to classic rock, Gospel, R&B and hip hop, Wheelhouse Records’ Elvie Shane has emerged as a country star with his heart on his sleeve – and as a champion of those with their name on a patch. Elvie talks about his favorite drinks, taking a break from music and getting back into it, his family, growing up...

As a native of small-town Kentucky who’s influences range from Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle to classic rock, Gospel, R&B and hip hop, Wheelhouse Records’ Elvie Shane has emerged as a country star with his heart on his sleeve – and as a champion of those with their name on a patch. Elvie talks about his favorite drinks, taking a break from music and getting back into it, his family, growing up...

Over the last decade, Milwaukee-based band Listening Party has sought to create songs that deeply resonate with their listeners. Their folk- and Americana-steeped sound expertly and reverently draws from the pulse and traditions of their genre while adding their own charm. Weston Mueller and Jacob Wood talk about their favorite drinks, how the group has changed over the years, what their journey i...

Country rocker Lewis Brice just released his first full-length album, 'Product Of,' and has been named a Billboard "Country Artist to Watch." He has shared the stage with acts like Luke Bryan, Dierks Bently, Hank Williams Jr. Gary Allan and Lee Brice just to name a few. Lewis talks about how he met his wife, his favorite drinks, the importance of family, bouncing ideas off his brother, how his sin...

Whiskey Myers is a genre-bending band from East Texas featuring Cody Cannon, Cody Tate, John Jeffers, Jeff Hogg, Jamey Gleaves and Tony Kent. Jeff Hogg joined us as to talk about their new whiskey Uncle Chicken’s Sippin Whiskey, the story behind the band's name, how they came together, his love of cars, the band's journey, how they ended up on Yellowstone, their latest album Tornillo, going on tou...

Allie Colleen is a country artist, singer and songwriter. Allie's music style defines how life shaped her, alongside the personal lyrics and transparency in both her vocals and performance. Allie talks about her tattoos, how fans share their stories with her, growing up in a musical family, waiting to start her career until after college, growing up in Oklahoma, her writing process, her debut albu...

Country Music has been all that David Adam Byrnes has ever known. One of his earliest memories is attending a George Strait concert and really hearing a George Strait song for the first time. From that day forward, he would always take his cowboy hat to school; earning him the nickname of “George Strait” amongst his peers. After spending high school graduation night opening up for the legendary Ha...

Bluegrass music may be one of America’s “traditional” styles, but at its heart it has always been wild and spontaneous. The style demands every ounce of facility and intent that each performer can muster— it fires on all cylinders or none at all. Few bands do it as well as East Nash Grass. An ensemble of standout players from a city known for the quality of its musicians, East Nash Grass came by i...

BoomTown Saints is composed of Chris Ramos and Ben Chism. The fusion of Chris’ energetic stage presence and broad vocal range with Ben’s smooth voice and distinguishable southern drawl yields an undeniable charisma between the two. Consummate entertainers and true road warriors, they have honed their live performance skills playing clubs, frat houses and festivals with the number one objective bei...

Recognized as "one of the most exciting new voices" by CelebMix, Tyra Madison originates from Pine Top, Kentucky. Drawing inspiration from esteemed artists like Carrie Underwood and Maren Morris, Tyra has fully immersed herself in the art of songwriting and performing, leaving an indelible mark on the Nashville community and beyond. Tyra talks (2:10 mark) about being an Elsa impersonator, learning...

Frank Fletcher is an independent country music singer/songwriter. Born in south Alabama, he grew up in a small town where neighbors were friends, there is a church on every corner, dirt roads meant freedom, tractors were sexy, and grandpa’s old truck meant everything. Frank talks (2:50 mark) about his favorite drinks, who is doppelganger is, how he got into music, playing his first gig at 14,  pla...

After a decade “of playing by the rules”, country artist and songwriter Brit Taylor broke out on her own and released her debut album Real Me in 2020 and followed it with this year's Kentucky Blue , produced by Grammy winners Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, is a happier, more upbeat record, simply reflecting her life today. Brit talks (3:20 mark) about good whiskey, how she got her first guit...