Tasty Brew Music

The community radio station for which I am a programmer has the following mission statement:  We seek to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other mediaCrys Matthews has her own personal mission sta...

I recently welcomed my friend Sky Smeed to spend an hour with me on the Mid-Coast Live! program on KKFI. I have a fifteen-year history with this Kansas songwriter; he was the first artist I had join me live in the KKFI studios as I launched The Tasty Brew Music Radio Show in 2010. I’ve  hosted Sky at my home for a house concert.  A good number of the songs masterfully captured by Barak Hill on his...

I had my first experience as a panelist at a Folk Alliance Region Midwest mini-conference or “Farmette”  in Emporia, Kansas.  My co-presenter, Nick Carswell, and I were to share our insights and opinions on what an artist needed to have in their tool kit to be “radio ready”.  During the day’s activities I had the pleasure to meet many Heartland artists for the first time, including The Shandies of...

Some things never get old…. Like the opportunity tointroduce a songwriter from  the Heartland to a radio audience for the first time.  I had the opportunity during a recent “Pledge Drive” on KKFI to introduce songwriter and Topeka, KS firefighter Caleb Nelsen to the Heartland’s airwaves.  Caleb’s has over a decade of writing and performing behindhim… a sound that  is a mix of Americana roots, shap...

I have dedicated most of my discretionary time and income tocommunity radio in Kansas City for the past 25 years.  One of the perks from that association is to be introduced to and become friends and acquaintances with some amazingtalent.  Songwriters Sara Morgan and Kelly Hunt, who individually made their radio debuts with me over ten yearsago, are now creating music and touring together as the d...

As is often the case, songwriter Mike Westbrook was referred to me by a fellow songwriter.  Relatively new to theHeartland via Louisiana and Oregon, Westbrook came to songwriting in his mid-20’s and is actively pursuing the muse and a lyrical life.    The youngest of three in a family not knownfor pursuing music as a vocation or even a hobby, Mike is finding his way by writing new songs and is ope...

As a follow up to our June, 2025  podcast episode with songwriter Rick Gibson, I had Rick back in the studio to share an update on the Ozark Anthology Project that includes the  Book of Ozark and The Life and Times of Curtis Lee (Rick’s grandfather).  In THIS episode, you’ll hear a carefully curated set of “mini-sodes” and original songs that give a tantalizing taste of how this industrious projec...

Time flies… it really does.  I first had songwriter Teri Quinn on The Tasty Brew Music Radio Show ten years ago introducing the release of her Moons and Meltdowns EP.  I’ve been present at some amazing performances from Teri at Folk Alliance, at a festival in Kansas City’s Roanoke Park and at local KC venues like RecordBar and The Rino.  I took the opportunity to reconnect with Teri when I hosted...

Lauren Karr is a Kansas City–based singer, songwriter who blends raw emotion with thoughtful lyricism. Her music weaves together stories of resilience, healing, and truth—reflecting both her personal journey and a deep desire to connect with others. Through her LCK Studios, Lauren is building a body of work rooted in authenticity, independence, and heart. Lauren recently reached out to me to help...

I love hosting Siren Song once a month on a Saturday onKKFI.  The focus, regardless of genre, is on female voices and songwriting telling the stories of women’s lives.  Kansas City based songwriter Jillian Riscoe reached out to me via email about her Ancient History EP project. We scheduleda date on Siren Song for a live performance.  The Midwest winter weather turned ugly on the appointed day so...

It has been years 7 years since I’ve been to Nashville andway too long since I’ve seen my friend and Illinois native Lauren Anderson who moved to Music City from Kansas City nearly nine years ago.  She returned to Kansas City recently toparticipate in a monthly Lyrical Belles residency in the Gospel Lounge at Knuckleheads. The stars aligned for me to have her join me on the radio for a gabfest and...

I live a rather enchanted life these days and for that I ammost grateful.  I am more open to new musical and artistic experiences as I’ve gotten older due in no small part tomy acquaintance with and participation in programming provided by Beau Bledsoe, Artistic Director of Ensemble Iberica.  I have travelled on two life changing patron trips to Portugal and Ireland. Ensemble Iberica’s mission is...

Camdenton, Missouri native Trusten Williams is anothertreasure that has come into my orbit by virtue of my volunteering as a programmer/dj on community radio.  Now aretired educator, Trusten has found a way to get his penchant for collaborating and writing amazing songs, recorded by a cadre of some of Americana/Roots music’s best practitioners. For many years Trusten and his wife Tracie have hoste...

It is always a roll of the dice when attempting to make aconnection for a phone interview. We went through some things to get Kentucky native Cole Chaney on in a timely manner one fall morning as he and his crew were checking out of their Airbnb en route to Kansas City for a show atKnuckleheads.  For Chaney, even though he’s only in his mid-twenties, his lyrical life has been quite prolific alread...

Max Gomez and I have only crossed paths in person one time when he opened for James McMurtry; I have been a fan of his work for some time and was very disappointed I had to miss his recent show in Kansas City.  We were able to have an on air radio conversation before that show and it was a real treat to hear stories of John Prine, Jack Barksdale, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and others.  Also, how co...

Kansas City based songwriter Amy Ward responded to a call to action to submit a proposed theme song to celebrate the 15th anniversary for my Tasty Brew Music Radio Show.  Although, like Tica Felise from our last Tasty Brew Music Podcast episode, I did not ultimately choose Amy’s submission, I thought her offering compelling enough to want to know more about her music. I brought her into the radio...

To commemorate and celebrate 15 years of the Tasty BrewMusic Radio Show on KKFI,  I partnered with the Heartland Song Network in the summer of 2025 to seek submissions for a theme song for the show.  Although I did not ultimately choose the entry submitted by Kansas City based songwriter Tica Felise, I was enchanted by her story and musical journey and invited her to spend some time with me on air...

My friend Beau Bledsoe, Artistic Director of the amazing nonprofit Ensemble Iberica, recently messaged me that Max and Josh Baca of Los Texmaniacs were coming to Kansas City for a show and wanted to come on the radio to honor the recently departed music icon, accordionist Flaco Jimenez.  I, of course, said yes!  They were delayed in getting to the station before I had to sign off but we were able...

I have known songwriter Kristin Hamilton for 8 years now….Beginning with her membership in an amazing Americana band called Under the Big Oak Tree and continuing with her work with her daughter Lucy Gray, members of Cowtown Country Club and now as a solo artist. In addition to the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show, I host, in rotation with others, a live performance radio show on KKFI called MidCoast Li...

East Texas Songwriter Stefan Prigmore is another artist thatcame to me from multiple streams of connection as you’ll hear in the Summer 2025 conversation and musical performance.  His down home demeanor and Jon Dee Graham meets Skylar Hamilton meets John Prine vocal aesthetic is a wonderful combination.  In Stefan’s own words: I make music because it helps me to process difficult and complex ideas...

I’ve been around of while.  I’ve seen and heard hundreds, if not thousands, of live music performances.  Everything from my first concert in 1965 for The Righteous Brothers in St. Louis  to Loretta Lynn at the Ryman Auditorium inNashville, Tennessee. I’ve been present in locked fado clubs in Lisbon and Porto, Portugal witnessing some of the most profound and emotional music ever performed.    I’ve...

Danielle Anderson aka Danielle Ate the Sandwich is a very talented artist. She recently filled in as host for the Heartland Song Network’s monthly song salon (The Song Sanctuary)at Kansas City’s PH Coffee. A gentleman named Jesse Jack Sample from Toronto, KS attended and blew everyone, including Danielle, away with his amazing contributions to the afternoon. She immediately contacted me as she tho...

One of many great joys in hosting shows on community radiois giving a voice to local musicians who, despite their amazing talent and songwriting ability,  are underserved or completely ignored by mainstream corporate media.  This episode of the Tasty Brew Music podcast features this show’s debut of Flanner Laycock and Schrock from Harrisonville,Missouri. With Dylan O. Flanner on lead guitar and vo...

My connection with songwriting guitarist Rick Gibson goesback to about 2012 when he spearheaded a project with his “Peacemakers” band that featured my friend Tom Hall on vocals.   Rick recently visited the Tasty Brew Music Radio show to share the details and spin some tunes from his 2025 project “The Book of OzarK’ …part of his continuing legacy project “Ozark Anthology – the Life and Times of Cur...

Welcome to the 101st episode of the Tasty Brew Music Podcast! I first met Christian Dixon at a Sunday Heartland SongNetwork Song Sanctuary session at PH Coffee House.  Shortly thereafter I welcomed Christian on air for what I believe was his very first radio appearance.  I was honored to recently welcome him back to the airwaves as he was preparing to release his new work “Genetics.” Christian is...