Wispy Mop Music Acoustic Radio Podcast

Ken Miller learned how to sing harmony in church choir, played trombone in high school and taught himself how to play guitar on an old nylon string guitar his wife inherited from an old boyfriend.

Maryland based duo Windon & Ricker were put together musically by the pastor at their church in 1984.  Describing themselves as ordinary guys who like to make music, Rick & Richey make music that is far from ordinary.  Their CD 'Ordinary Man', released in 2000, was started in Maryland and finished in Nashville.  It is incredibly good !  Meet Rick Windon and Richey Ricker.

Chris McLaughlin has a wonderful collection of traditional and exotic musical instruments, but his favorite is the Harmony Sovereign he acquired at a young age.  Like many of us, his first guitar was a Stella wall hanger, but his Harmony Sovereign began his love of acoustic guitar.

Chicago based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teacher and author Carey Anne Farrell talks about her musical history, her upcoming CD 'Someone Else's Wings', playing trombone in her marching band and what triggers her songwriting.

Maryland based songwriter Dave Weiner passed away August 15 (2022), five days shy of his 70th birthday.  I have often described Dave as a working man's songwriter, much like his hero John Prine.  Please join me as I reminisce and listen to Dave's songs from his CD 'Highway Song by D. L. Weiner'.

My best friend Rich Brachold and I met in college and began performing for coeds while the boys played basketball.  We had so much fun, we ditched our after college jobs to begin performing professionally on Cape Cod, Boston and Sugarloaf Ski Resort in Maine.  Rich and I reminisce about the beginning years of attracting girls with guitars and how we got to where we are today, still performing 50+...

David Craver is a busy man.  He is a performing singer-songwriter, founder of the Open Mic Network ( www.openmic.us ) and The Swiss String Company (Royal Guitar Strings).  He is also the President of Amped Kids, an organization that gets musical instruments into the hands of foster kids, and two or three other things.

As a follow-up to my recent interview with Washington DC based songwriter/guitarist Mark Austin, here are the songs from his 2004 CD 'Cool Water'.  

Washington D.C. based guitarist/songwriter Mark Austin relates what led up to him opening for the incredible Janis Ian, how he writes his songs, what string brand he uses (and why), and what it was like growing up disliking piano lessons, and how his grandmother came to the rescue.

Nashville-based performing singer-songwriter Jeff Miller uses a looper pedal to create multi-tracked songs live on-stage.  Jeff discusses his equipment, how he uses it and his collaboration with Phil Keaggy.

Ed Haser began his guitar playing at the age of 14 on a cheap beginner guitar that is now history, but he still owns his first good guitar, a Harmony Sovereign jumbo that he bought for $60.  We discuss his journey from the Harmony to a Martin D35, a Martin D28 and to his current favorite, a PRS electro-acoustic.

Washington State based Carl Tosten is a member of the select group of contemporary acoustic guitar super players, adept at open tunings, percussion and tapping.  He is also a performing songwriter and a clinician for Yamaha Guitars and Elixir Strings.  He talks about his passion - acoustic guitars.

David Hanners spent his career as a Pulitzer Prize Winning journalist, but always kept a guitar handy.  David tells us about his journey from the Midwest to Texas, to Kuwait, England & Cyprus and how the journey helped him form his songwriting style.

Baltimore MD based finger-style guitar player Jimmy Stewart was given his first guitar at age six.  After transitioning from a Fender 6-string to an Alvarez-Yairi 9-string until it was stolen, Jimmy took a guitar around the world as a submarine navigator. Retiring after 22-years and getting a position at the Washington DC Sea Command, he decided to take guitar seriously.

Retired Army Colonel Dave 'Kawika' Fiely fell in love with Hawaii on his first tour to Oahu, the moment he stepped off the plane.  The music and culture of Hawaii introduced him to Hawaiian Slack Key guitar.  

Thurmont (MD) based acoustic performer Paul Penwell loved playing guitar and singing.  He was an active member of the local open mic acoustic music scene.  His performances, and those by his alter ego 'Xavier World', were a highlight whenever he performed.  We lost him on Sept 12, 2014 (cancer).  Listen to recollections from those who knew and loved him, plus four Paul Penwell originals recorded i...

Based in the greater Washington DC area, Mike Elosh has been performing his original songs from a young age.  1998-2002 he traveled the East Coast performing in coffee houses and bars.  Today he sings his songs to whoever will listen.  

Jefferson MD singer-songwriter Harry Pritchett talks about the writing and recording of his album 'Strange Journey', his award-winning song 'Night Bird' and the writing/recording of new songs.

Maryland based singer-songwriter Doug Alan Wilcox introduces and discusses his new EP 'dancin' on thin air', and being a songwriter during COVID.

New Orleans native singer-songwriter Burke Ingraffia brings his jazz influenced pop to the greater Washington DC region.  Burke talks lyrics, guitar lessons, his musical style and humor and how he navigated the pandemic with help from music.

Maryland based acoustic duo Empty Ecstasy was formed back in high school.  A relationship that was forged with the help of a dream led to a marriage, children, and careers.  Eventually their love of music was rekindled and Empty Ecstasy was born.

Maryland based singer-songwriter Steven Gellman discusses the background leading up to his new CD 'Cold Harbor', a collection of songs from deep within.

Award-winning singer-songwriter and 'in-demand' singer Megan Leigh discussed recording in Nashville, her songwriting style and touring on-the-road with her duo partner Eli Lev.

ilyAIMY founding member Rob Hinkal is a musical genius !  Pyrotechnic guitar chops combined with a supernatural creative mind that splits atoms.  

Maryland based guitarist Dan Mack has performed at the Orkney Folk Festival in England.  He has been a composer, a band leader, a solo performer and a host of both live and online open mic's.  His main guitar is a beautiful Santa Cruz OM guitar, although he still owns his 1968 Martin D28.  He started his musical career on clarinet and a $15 guitar from Mexico.