KGNU Music

Kitchen Dwellers, a bluegrass band from Bozeman, Montana, joins KGNU's Greg Schultz in the studio. The band performs tracks from their latest album Seven Devils. The album, released earlier this year, is their most collaborative work yet, inspired by themes of good vs. evil and modeled after a modern-day Divine Comedy (Interview date: 11/14/2024)

Boulder-based band Whisper States, led by Chad Molter, joins KGNU’s Indra Raj for a studio session. The band performs a few tracks from their self-titled debut album released in September. Chad shares his journey as a first-time band leader, drawing lyrical inspiration from his 12 years working in homeless services. He highlights influences from ‘60s pop singles and his musical roots in Washington...

Silent Bear joins KGNU’s Dr. dB in the studio. Silent Bear plays a few tunes and talks about the Audree Dillard All-Star Benefit Concert. The two discuss the importance of community support and the lineup of Front Range talent showing up for local musician Audree Dillard (Interview date: 11/8/2024)

The Hip Snacks, a Denver-based six-piece, joins KGNU’s DJ Jules for a studio session before kicking off their Colorado and Bethesda tour. The band plays a few songs from their recent release, "What Lies Ahead", and discusses their tour and journey as a band (Interview date: 11/12/2024)

Jocie Adams and Zach Tenorio Miller of Arc Iris speak with KGNU’s Doug Gertner. They explain the band's shift towards a fresh sound with their latest album, We Found Home. The duo also revisits their reinterpretation of Joni Mitchell's Blue, titled Foggy Lullaby, and iTMRW, a collaborative dance-music project with HDC Dance Ensemble (Interview date: 11/4/2024)

Denver musician Buudrow joined KGNU’s Doug Gertner for a studio session. Buudrow discussed his musical journey, and how he uses music as a way to preserve optimism through struggle. He played a few songs and previewed his performance at Swallow Hill (Interview date: 11/4/2024)

Multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Dom Flemons joins KGNU’s Pete Miesel in the studio. Flemons discusses his KGNU Presents performance “The Bronze Buckaroo Film and Songster Show”. He also talks about the process of making his most recent album, Black Cowboys, and the deep and vast history of African American music in the early 20th century (Interview date: 11/10/2024).

KGNU’s Dan Willging interviews blues and soul artist ZZ Ward, diving into her career and upcoming tour. Ward discusses releasing her new EP "Mother" through Sun Records, an honor that connects her to the label’s rich legacy (Interview date: 11/1/2024)

KGNU’s Dave McIntyre interviews Chris and Kyle from Foggy Mountain Spaceship ahead of their performance at Oskar Blues in Lyons. They explain how they wanted to reimagine the banjo's sound by combining it with electric bass and drums, avoiding traditional string band setups. Their music combines elements of bluegrass, jazz, and rock, creating a unique sound (Interview date: 11/1/2024)

Kelsey from Wild Child and Sir Woman speaks with KGNU’s DJ Jules. Kelsey discusses the recent release of "Heaven", Sir Woman’s new album, and how her two projects express different musical identities. She also mentions her excitement about her North America tour with Wild Child (Interview date: 10/30/2024)

KGNU’s Joanne Cole chats with Ivan Strunin to discuss his new album, The First Day of December, featuring collaborations with Dirk Powell and Michael Doucet. Strunin shares his journey from classical violin to country and zydeco fiddle, inspired by legends like Stephane Grappelli, Sugar Cane Harris, and Django Reinhardt (Interview date: 10/22/2024)

KGNU’s Iris Berkeley speaks with composer Caroline Shaw ahead of her Denver performances with Gabriel Kahane and vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. They will perform Friday, November 8th, and Saturday, November 9th at the Newman Center. Shaw, known for her Grammy and Pulitzer-winning work, discusses her love for music’s diversity, inspired equally by classical composers and contemporary artists. Sha...

KGNU’s Joanne Cole hosts musician Jon Ridnell of New Family Dog. They talk about the band’s upcoming release, "New Family Dog NOLA Sessions", recorded in New Orleans at Rhythm Shack Studios. Two singles are already available online, and the full album will be released on November 29th. Jon highlights the upcoming release show at Boulder’s Roots Music Project, and plays a few tracks with his band (...

Americana duo Mama’s Broke performs live on air, hosted by KGNU’s Kooter Jones. The duo, composed of Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria, discusses their music journey, influences, and creative process. Mama's Broke has been playing together for over a decade, drawing inspiration from traditional bluegrass and roots music (Interview date: 10/10/2024).

Joanne Shaw Taylor, world-renowned blues guitarist, chatted with KGNU’s Greg Schultz. She discussed her latest album, "Heavy Soul", and her evolution as an artist over the years. Joanne also talked about her KGNU Presents show at the Boulder Theater on October 28! (Interview date: 10/23/2024).

Cabaret Diosa, unseen since 2006, joined KGNU’s D Rider for an interview. Cabaret Diosa enthralled audiences across the globe with their intoxicating concoction of Latin rhythms, theatrical pageantry, and psych-rock sensibility. They will reunite for one night only at the Boulder Theater on November 1st! (Interview date: 10/3/2024)

KGNU’s D Rider chats with Fort Collins band Colony Funk ahead of the KGNU Funkraiser at the Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder. The group plays a few live tunes and discusses getting ready for their Friday night show, which includes a costume contest, silent auction, and DJ performance (Interview date: 10/22/2024)

Ecuadorian music duo Cruzloma discusses their musical background, creative process, and influences with KGNU’s EC. They explain how growing up near Quito shaped their sound, blending traditional mestizo and Afro-Ecuadorian rhythms with electronic music and reggae. The duo emphasizes the organic evolution of their sound, rooted in their cultural heritage (Interview date: 10/9/2024)

In an interview with KGNU’s Doug Gertner, A.J. Croce discusses his musical journey, influenced by his father Jim Croce’s legacy. He shares how losing his sight as a child and growing up with music in his home shaped his passion, with artists like Ray Charles serving as major inspirations. A.J. talks about his "Croce Plays Croce" tour where he reinterprets his father's hits while keeping the music...

The Wildwoods, a folk trio from Lincoln, Nebraska, join KGNU’s Dave McIntyre in the studio. The band shares details about their upcoming album, releasing in April 2025, and previewed several new songs, including "Footprints on the Floor" and "Sweet Niobrara," which celebrates their home state (Interview date: 10/4/2024)

Singer-songwriter and folk artist Joe Jencks joins KGNU’s Joanne Cole for a studio session. Joe reflects on his long history with KGNU, where he started performing in the late 90s. He describes his career as a folk artist, dedicated to uplifting historical and cultural narratives through music. Joe plays a few songs, including one he wrote with fifth graders inspired by social justice heroes (Inte...

In an interview with KGNU’s Indra Raj, Martha Redbone discusses her concert “Bone Hill” and its themes of family history, culture, and resilience. The concert blends music and storytelling, drawing from Redbone's family history. She explains how the performance explores the histories of Native American and African American people east of the Mississippi, particularly focusing on the strength and s...

Acclaimed soprano Karen Slack speaks with KGNU’s Sanford Baran about her career, inspirations, and upcoming recital in Denver, featuring the "African Queens" project. Slack reflects on her non-classical music upbringing and pivotal moments that led her to opera. She discusses her frustration with traditional operatic roles and the lack of representation for Black stories, which inspired her to cre...

Trumpeter Shamarr Allen of New Orleans joined KGNU’s D Rider for a studio session. Shamarr shared his musical journey, which began at age seven. He discussed his evolving sound, blending traditional New Orleans music with modern pop structures on his albums (Interview date: 9/24/2024)

SHADOWLANDS, a project by John Raymond and S. Carey, joined KGNU’s Indra Raj in the studio. S. Carey, known for his work with Bon Iver, shared how he first connected with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. John Raymond, a jazz trumpeter recognized for his innovative work, discussed how he blends various musical influences into his jazz style. The band performed live tracks and discussed their musical journ...