KGNU Music

Blues Music Award winner and Billboard chart-topping artist Albert Castiglia joins KGNU’s Shawna Sprowls to talk about his new album, Grits & Glory, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. Castiglia discusses the inspiration behind the album, his longtime connection to blues music, and the experience of recording in the same studio where The Beatles and Pink Floyd made some of thei...

Salt Lake City artist Josaleigh Pollett joins KGNU’s Afternoon Sound Alternative with Jessica Numbers for an intimate in-studio session featuring three songs from their new album, If I Let It Quiet. Recorded between Pollett’s home studio in Salt Lake City and Japan with longtime collaborator Jordan Watko (Crowd Shy), the album explores a deeply personal and atmospheric sound. In this session, Poll...

Dan Hochman and Madeleine Leigh join KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative for a live session ahead of their 8/14 show at E-Town. Hochman shares music from his forthcoming album, Constellations, a deeply personal collection shaped by time spent writing in Boulder, Austin, Toronto, and New York. Leigh performs songs from her 2024 solo album, As It Is* including “Just Fine” and “Wild Geese.” The two also...

Rebecca Frazier joins KGNU for a live studio session ahead of the Rebecca Frazier Band’s performance at the Gold Hill Inn. Frazier reflects on her musical roots, from hearing the Grateful Dead as a child to discovering bluegrass and developing a style that blends tradition, improvisation, and the spirit of collaboration. In conversation with host Neil Smart, Frazier shares stories about her early...

Smörgåsgrass stopped by KGNU for a live session on the Morning Sound Alternative with host Sam Fuqua. The Colorado-based band performed original music and talked about blending traditional bluegrass with jazz, blues, and other influences, the Buddhist inspiration behind one of their songs, and the story behind the band's distinctive name. They also shared details about their latest EP, upcoming pe...

Backstage at RockyGrass 2026, KGNU talks with members of Slay & Stinson following their high-energy festival set. The Colorado band reflects on the excitement of returning to RockyGrass after winning last year's band contest, shares details about their latest recordings, including exclusive tracks available only at the festival, and previews several upcoming projects. They discuss a new studio alb...

Backstage at RockyGrass 2026, KGNU's Fergus sits down with pioneering banjo player Tony Trischka to discuss Earl Jam 2, his project inspired by the private jam sessions between Earl Scruggs and John Hartford. Trischka shares the remarkable story of how he gained access to recordings of those historic sessions, reflects on memorable experiences performing and learning with Hartford, and talks about...

At RockyGrass 2026, KGNU caught up with the winners of this year's instrument contests to talk about their performances, preparation, and musical influences. Flatpicking guitar champion Forest Thurman discusses building original arrangements inspired by legends like Doc Watson and Tony Rice, while runner-up Luke Stecklein recounts the challenge of finishing his performance with a wasp on his face....

KGNU's Indra Raj spoke with Will Scherer of Scherer Violin Shop and old-time fiddler Joe Vittetoe at RockyGrass 2026 about the upcoming Second Annual Louisville Old Time Fiddle Contest. They discuss what defines old-time fiddle music, why the tradition emphasizes community and playing together, and how the contest celebrates the roots of American fiddle music. Joe shares how he discovered old-time...

Steep Canyon Rangers join KGNU from RockyGrass 2026 to reflect on their long history with the festival, their evolution as a band, and their latest album, Next Act. The Grammy Award-winning group discusses their return to a more traditional bluegrass sound, the songwriting and recording process behind the new record, and the excitement of sharing new songs with longtime fans. The band also introdu...

The Kody Norris Show had a conversation with KGNU to talk about their new concept album, Spirit of America, a collection inspired by the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. In this interview, Kody Norris, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris, Charlie Lowman, and 14-year-old banjo player Jim Hensley share the story behind the album’s creation, their distinctive stage style, and life on the road a...

Ann Hall joins DJ Fergus Stone to talk about the vibrant artwork that has transformed the Planet Bluegrass grounds for RockyGrass and other festivals. In this conversation, Hall shares the story behind the now-famous bobcat on the stage, reflects on growing up in Lyons, and describes her journey from creating small fiber-based artwork to designing massive stage installations for Telluride Bluegras...

Fresh off their RockyGrass 2026 main stage debut, British Columbia's Under the Rocks joined KGNU to talk about their roots in the Okanagan Valley, their songwriting process, and the band's growing momentum on the bluegrass scene. The conversation covers their first RockyGrass experience, their upcoming third album produced by Trent Freeman with guest appearances from John Reischman, their recent I...

Ahead of their appearance at RockyGrass 2026, David and Martin Howley sat down with KGNU's DJ Fergus Stone to talk about the evolution from We Banjo 3 to their new band, Howley, and the musical journey that brought them from Ireland to Colorado. The conversation explores the deep connections between Irish traditional music and American bluegrass, the banjo's remarkable history on both sides of the...

Montana Palmer joins KGNU's Wendy Mills to talk about her studies in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado Boulder, her passion for music, and the inspiration behind her original song, "Rain Is Shine." Written in a CU songwriting class, the song reflects on finding hope and growth through life's hardships and is dedicated to her father, Adam Palmer, who died in an avalanch...

Singer-songwriter Sierra Spirit joins KGNU's DJ Jules to talk about the power of Indigenous storytelling through music and the importance of creating spaces where Native youth can see themselves reflected on stage. She shares how songs like "Devil's Tower" draw from traditional stories passed down by her family and discusses the role music plays in carrying forward oral history. Sierra also previe...

In this interview, KGNU’s Joel Davis speaks with Ulana Bihun of Sunflower Seeds Ukraine about the upcoming Boulder performance by Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha at Chautauqua Auditorium on July 22nd, presented by KGNU, and the role of music and culture in supporting Ukraine during the ongoing war. Bihun discusses DakhaBrakha as cultural defenders and ambassadors, and how their music continues to conne...

Pianist Alice Sara Ott joins Sanford Baran on KGNU to discuss her evolving artistic journey, from her early rise as a virtuoso to her work as a thoughtful interpreter and musical storyteller. She reflects on the power of music beyond words, the importance of silence and connection in performance, and how she has found her own voice through carefully chosen projects. Ott also shares her passion for...

Singer-songwriter Kat Lane joins KGNU’s Ginger Perry in the Kabaret Studio for a live session featuring original music, conversation, and collaboration with guitarist Ryan Gelinas. Kat shares her journey from classical violin to the Colorado folk and bluegrass scene, talks about her songwriting process, and discusses being selected as a troubadour for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival songwriting c...

Fergus Stone welcomes musicians Beth Gadbaw and Margot Krimmel to KGNU for a conversation about Celtic music, harp traditions, and the stories behind their longtime musical partnership. The duo discusses Scottish mouth music, their inspirations, and how folk traditions connect people across cultures. Gadbaw and Krimmel also share stories from their travels, their experiences as performers, and the...

Boulder-based band Big Pinch joins Andy Zicklin for KGNU’s Afternoon Sound Alternative for a live studio session and conversation about their music, influences, and the growing DIY alternative scene in Boulder. The band members, Will, Burke, Andy, and Ari, talk about their beginnings, their mix of '80s and '90s rock influences, and the independent venues and communities that support local music. T...

Ahead of their April 29 performance at Summit in Denver, badbadnotgood sat down with KGNU to discuss the band's musical evolution, the lasting influence of jazz, hip hop, and sampling on their sound, and the importance of collaboration in their creative process. The conversation also explores the changing landscape of the music industry, from AI and streaming to community organizing and independen...

Joanne Cole welcomes members of Colorado's Groove Goddesses into the KGNU studio for a lively conversation about the band's history, musical influences, and upcoming performances. The all-women ensemble shares how the group has evolved since its founding in 2005, blending blues, funk, soul, rock, R&B, and original music into a dynamic live show. The band discusses its appearance at the Boulder Roo...

Meredith Carson welcomes Texas singer-songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson for a live studio session at KGNU. Visiting Denver while on tour for his newly released album, Emerson talks about his roots in Canton, Texas, his journey from open mics to major stages like the Grand Ole Opry, and the stories behind his songs. He performs selections from his new record, including “Jet Plane,” “Living in the Pas...

Lucy Moore joins Meredith Carson in the KGNU studios for a wide-ranging conversation ahead of this year's Mountain Fam Jam in Gold Hill. They talk about Lucy's musical roots in the O'Brien and Moore family, growing up around KGNU and Colorado's folk scene, becoming the event's music director, and carrying forward the tradition of the longtime "Charles" concert. The interview also features live per...