Americana Podcast

In this special episode of Americana Podcast, host Robert Earl Keen takes listeners on a journey from the heart of Nashville to the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, exploring the rich history and evolving future of Americana and Country music. His guest is Shooter Jennings, an outlaw by birth and a tastemaker by trade, who has carved out a unique role in shaping the genre's direction.

As the son of country legend Waylon Jennings a...

In this special episode, Americana Podcast steps beyond music to examine another vital thread of American culture: fashion. Host Robert Earl Keen sits down with Roger and Jackie Chieffalo, founders of Chieffalo Americana, a Fort Worth-based western outfitter reimagining classic style for the modern age.

Together, they explore:

The origins of Chieffalo Americana and how a shared love of tailoring sparked a creative partnership

How fash...

Americana Podcast explores the artists and ideas shaping American roots music, focusing this episode on the genre-defying Steve Poltz. Poltz is celebrated for his originality, blending tradition with unpredictability in a career that spans decades. Born in Nova Scotia and raised in Southern California, he first gained widespread attention as the co-writer of Jewel’s hit You Were Meant for Me. However, his true impact lies in his co...

As Robert Earl Keen & team look forward to more touring, a new record, and a new season of the Americana Podcast, join us as we take a moment to look back, in order to look forward for what’s to come. This episode contains the previous season’s best-of moments from the 51st State. Hear conversation clips from bluegrass genre-bender Billy Strings (01:41), American Aquarium's BJ Barham (08:56), modern day troubadour Brent Cobb (14:45...

Hello and welcome Americana Podcast listeners to a very special and celebratory episode. Long time listeners and new friends, we are so excited to share with you that as of April 29, 2024- we are celebrating the 5th Anniversary of this show. It has been such an honor to have been documenting the story of Americana through the artist’s lens. And we’ve heard some incredible stories, from Billy Strings to Lori McKenna, to Shinyribs an...

Hello and welcome to a new episode and a new year Americana Podcast listeners. We’re so happy to be back and we have a very exciting episode for you today to celebrate the new year. I’m particularly excited for this show because it really brings us to a full circle moment in the history of this podcast. From long-time audience members to latest episode listeners, you know that every episode features a  break in programming to featu...

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We have a very special guest in this episode. Today, we're diving into the rich tapestry of the extraordinary songwriter, Gretchen Peters. Growing up next to the legendary Greenwich Village folk scene, before moving to Colorado where she cut her teeth as a performer, and finally settling in Nashville at the height of the traditional country to p...

It's time to break out the party hats and pop the champagne because the Americana Podcast is celebrating its 4th anniversary! For the past four years, this podcast has been a leading voice in the Americana music scene, sharing interviews, stories, and music from some of the genre's most talented artists. And in our tireless efforts to promote and celebrate the diverse range of sounds and styles, we’ve made plenty of memories and la...

It seems we’re back in that strange space in time where there are days that can 70 degrees and sunny and beautiful. The birds are singing and the blossoms on trees are beginning to light up the branches like a holy and natural Christmas lights… and then the next day we’re right back into the holds of a winter that every year seems to overstay its welcome. You get a taste of that warmth in your bones, and it’s just enough to whet yo...

It’s a new year Americana Podcast listeners! And with a new year, means new discussions on what makes Americana… well Americana. When we look at this genre, we talk a lot its history and its future. And over time we’ve been able to piece together this ongoing timeline and certain elements that are key to its existence. Base influences in songwriting, certain instrumentation, and geography. If you’ve been a long-time listener, you k...

Many would know Vince Herman as the guitarist and primary lead vocalist and songwriter of the renowned jam band, Leftover Salmon. Herman has been playing professionally since the late 80’s and, Leftover Salmon aside, also formed and played in ever-evolving project group Great American Taxi. Between the two bands, Herman has recorded over 10 albums and has toured the world over, whilst simultaneously developing his festival guru per...

Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin but raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, Paul Thorn has had quite the roundabout career. Son of a Pentecostal preacher, Thorn wasn't allowed to indulge in music outside of the church, but honed his skills early on within its walls. Thorn worked as everything from a professional boxer to a furniture manufacturer before being discovered by famed manager Miles Copeland. In 1997, Thorn released his first record Ham...

There are four types of discourse in language- descriptive, narrative, expository and argumentative. And it seems that all four of those are readily present in any niche interest group on the internet these days. Anything from the way a machine works (descriptive), the exact timeline of Tolkien's world building (narrative), someone breaking down the latest universe development in a comic-book based film (expository), and argumentat...

If it’s one thing that we love here at americana podcast, it is the concept of the artistic process. We’re not alone in this, it seems that when anyone speaks about artists, musical, visual, conceptual- you name it- one of the first things people will go into or ask about, is how a piece of art came to exist.

We’ve been doing it for three years on this show. 

And even when you ask an artist “how did you do this?” There’s no guarantee...

Over the course of nearly three years, we at Americana podcast have spoken with a wonderful collective of artists and industry professionals alike about the workings in and of this ever expanding umbrella of music we lovingly refer to as Americana music. Parts of that discussion have at times touched on its history- but we have never really broached the subject of its early days and what that entailed. And who exactly was there at ...

This show is going to be a little different from our usual programming. As I’m sure you’ve noticed- we’ve taken a little bit of a break over the last few months as we’ve taken the time to regroup, and reconstruct etc. As we move forward, it is important to us to reiterate that we are still very much dedicated as a platform to the expansion and definition of Americana Music through conversations with those working within its spectru...

We’ve all heard the common phrase “a master of none” in reference to an individual who is seemingly versatile, flexible, and knowledgeable in their pursuits. Regardless of what they are. We’re not surprised when an artist is an avid reader nor are we shocked when a mathematician takes an interest in subjects like music. The term “master of none” alone, suggests that having multiple interests and being good at them is part of the de...

It’s happened to all of us. we’re chatting with another person, getting to know each other and then the question “What kind of music do you like” comes up.. At which point many of us are better off reading a thesaurus outloud trying to describe it as we do our best impression of that scene in High Fidelity where Dick is describing the enigmatic Mardie de Salle to Rob “She's kind of Sheryl Crow-ish crossed with a post-Partridge Fami...

Hailing from Americus Georgia, Brent Cobb got his start with his first record “No Place to Leave” in 2006, a roots meets red hot chilli peppers- esque album produced by his cousin Dave Cobb. After “no place to leave”, Brent returned to Georgia but moved to Nashville shortly after with the encouragement of singer Luke Bryan- where Cobb then joined carnival music publishing as a regular songwriter. Since then Cobb has written songs f...