In Episode 1 (Season 2) I speak with singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, illustrator, and actress, Nicole Atkins. We discuss her pandemic release Italian Ice, and Sinatra-esque reimagining release Memphis Ice. We discuss Nicole’s youth, her family in Neptune City, New Jersey, and her path to now. We commiserate on the acceptance of obsolete …

In Episode 34, I speak with singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jeffrey Martin. We discuss his most recent single, “I Know What I Know,” Life as a PK in Eugene, Oregon. Jeffrey’s songwriting, the beat writer’s place in history, “Billy Burroughs,” I fanboy out a little too much on the majesty of Jeffrey’s song Coal Fire, and we discuss the value of a …

In Episode 33, I speak with the singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jason Pipkin, known as The Lone Bellow's keys and bass player, but has also produced one of the bands EPs and spent some time as the band's banjo player. Jason is also married to and has a child with Kanene Pipkin, the lead female vocalist in the Lone Bellow. We…

In Episode 32, I speak with the multi-instrumentalist and Columbus, Ohio native Evan Westfall, known for and wide as the banjo player and co-founder of the folk powerhouse CAAMP. Evan and I chat about playing for humans, young and new love, his straightforward path to being a professional musician, and the brotherhood that keeps CAAMP heading in a …

In Episode 31, I talk with roots musician Noah Engh known for his distinct singing and ragtime and blues guitar and ukulele. We discuss both Noah’s and Uke’s journies in music; we reminisce about our time in Hollywood and discuss a portion of blues and roots music history. We also walk back through the pandemic and how Uke In A Suit came to exist, …

In Episode 30, I have a very open and vulnerable conversation with the incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ana Tivel. We discuss Ana’s new album, “Blue World,” her life-long interest in observation, violin, the sea, touring with The Shook Twins, songwriting, relationships, dealing with the pandemic, and dealing with li…

In Episode 29, Joe Troop and I sit down to discuss Joe's new album, Borrowed Time, co-produced with Jason Richmond (Avett Brothers, Branford Marsalis) We discuss working with legends Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Tim O'Brien, and Charlie Hunter, and ow his life working with along side activists changed his viewpoint and inspired his songwriting. We…

In episode 28, Marcus talks with Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist Lauren Morrow. They discuss her upcoming solo debut LP, her and her husband Jason’s transition from Atlanta and The Whiskey Gentry, songwriting in Nashville, growing up as the child of an addict, writing with Sadler Vaden, alcohol vs. marijuana, micro-dosing, and aliens. In the wrap-…

In Episode 27, I sit down with Keith Billik, the podcast host for The Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast. This week’s episode discusses Keith’s introduction to music through his mom’s homemade La Bamba soundtrack bootleg. We chat about his time studying audio engineering at Michigan State University, his rise to floor manager at Elderly Instruments, and h…

In Episode 26, I sit down with Lauren and Daniel Goans of Lowland Hum. Both members of the husband and wife duo split singing and songwriting duty for the band. During the pandemic, they brought a child into the world and have already had to learn how to navigate writing, recording, and producing with a newborn in tow. Their little guy also makes a…

In episode 25, I gained the ear of Mike Marsh. Mike is a drummer and a producer the currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Mike has been the drummer for The Avett Brothers since 2012. Mike grew up in Florida, raised by his brother, and started playing the drums in middle school. Through the support of Mike's brother and mother, he was able to f…

In episode 24, I sit down with Erin Rae. Erin is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Erin and I discuss her life, growing up in Jackson, TN, and Bellevue, a neighboring community of Nashville. Erin discusses her journey in music, which started at home, with both her mother and father performing as local musicians and …

In Episode 23, The Live from Banjo Podcast hit the road and headed to Lafayette, GA. With heavy rains just coming to an end and the crowd in full party mode, ready for a series of incredibly acts to take the stage, Jon Stickley and I sat down for a live recording at Forward Festival in May of 2021.Jon is the guitarist and frontman for Jon Stickley …

In episode 22, I sit down at the kitchen table of Daniel Rodriguez. He is a singer and songwriter who has spent the last few years recording and performing as a solo act. He has released one EP and one full-length album as Daniel Rodriguez. He was a founding member of the transcendental indie folk-rock group Elephant Revival and toured with the ban…

In episode 21, I sit down with Joshua Rilko, founding member of Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys and current touring mandolinist for Sierra Ferrell. Joshua grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. While a teenager and going to folk circles with his father, he discovered bluegrass and the mandolin. While in college, he fell in love with bluegrass jams, eventuall…

In this week's episode, I talk with Cristina Vane, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist solo artist that recently released her first full length solo album, "Nowhere Sounds Lovely." Cristina is of Italian-American and Guatemalan descent. I ask her about food from home. We discuss coming to America to go to Princeton, and how her music br…

In this week's interview, I sit down with Taylor Meier. Taylor is the singer, songwriter, and co-founder of CAAMP. In today's episode, we look back at Taylor's start in music and the multiple influences driving CAAMP's sound. We cover their meteoric rise on Spotify and the subsequent tour with Rainbow Kitten Surprise. CAAMP recently celebrated thei…

In this week's interview, I sit down with David Wax. David is the singer, songwriter, and founder of the incredible "David Wax Museum." In today's episode, we discuss life at the smallest college on earth, living with intention, bringing Mexican folk music to Boston, and making music and conversations that are inclusive. We get back into David Wax …

In this week's interview, I chat with David Wax. David is the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and founder of the incredible, “David Wax Museum.” In today’s episode we discuss their first big TV sync, with the use of "Big Sur" on the Netflix show, “Firefly Lane.” We chat about "Guesthouse," Bike Injuries, ankle injuries, and getting the wh…

Today I talk with Mat Davidson, the singer and songwriting powerhouse behind the incredible band Twain. We discuss Mat's life growing up in multiple areas around the country, his time at Berklee College of Music, and time on the road with a number of incredible musician including, but not limited to, Low Anthem, Spirit Family Reunion, Big Thief, an…

This week, I sit down with David Brazil and Sarah Pritchard, co-founders of Abolition Apostles. David is a pastor, poet, and translator, and Sarah is a pastor and dancer. They have a baby boy Sam that is very present in the interview. They both also assisted with creating the 4-day “Abolition 2021” virtual benefit music concert featuring members of…

This week I chat with Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. She is a founding member and the violinist of the bluegrass rising stars, "Mile Twelve." In 2017 Mile Twelve received the IBMA band momentum award for emerging artists, and in 2020 Mile Twelve won the best new artist of the year, proving that they are continuing to evolve and showing longevity in the indus…

In this week's interview, I sit down with Paul Defiglia. Paul is currently the owner and operator of the Daylight Recording Studio located in Nashville. Tennessee. Previously, Paul was the bass player for Langhorne Slim and The War Eagles. Next, he temporarily stood in as the Avett Brothers' bass player before landing a full-time position on the ke…

In this week's interview, I sit down with Paul DeFiglia. Paul is currently the owner and operator of the Daylight Recording Studio located in Nashville. Tennessee. Previously, Paul was the bass player for Langhorne Slim and The War Eagles. Next, he temporarily stood in as the Avett Brothers' bass player before landing a full-time position on the ke…

In this week's interview, I get to chat with my favorite vocalists of all time Kanene Pipkin. Kanene is one of the three lead vocalists for one of the greatest bands in history, "The Lone Bellow." Kanene and I discuss her life prior to "The Bellow," including meeting her husband at a spelling bee, studying linguistics in college, study abroad, trav…

In this week's episode, I have a very open and honest discussion with Langhorne Slim. Langhorne and I discuss his new album, Strawberry Mansion, his and I's battles with addiction and continuing struggle with anxiety. We discuss our thoughts on spirituality, and Langhorne discusses his younger years, including the gift of the relationship he shared…

In this week's episode, I sit down with Brian Elmquist. One of the three key vocalists and lead guitarist for The Lone Bellow. Elmquist discusses his introduction to the stage while playing guitar in his childhood sanctuary, brightly illuminated with a neon pink cross. Brian's journey as a musician took Brian from his small town in Georgia to Nashv…

In this week's episode, I chat with Kyle Tuttle, International Banjo Player and bandleader for The Kyle Tuttle Band. Kyle started playing guitar as soon as he was big enough to get one in his hands, but transitioned to banjo at 17 years old and is now one of the premier banjo players in the U.S. and around the world. In 2017, Kyle Released his firs…

In this week’s episode, I speak with Taylor Shuck and Aaron McCloskey, two pieces of the quintet Wood Belly. Wood Belly began playing together in 2015. They recorded their first full-length album, “Solid Ground,” in 2018. They won the Telluride Bluegrass Bland Competition in the same year, and also were nominated for the 2018 IBMA Momentum Band of …

In this week’s episode, we speak with Lindsay Lou, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She has spent most of the last decade performing with the Flatbellys. In 2020, her all female trio, The Sweet Water Warblers released their first full length album, and Lindsay is releasing some solo works in the near future. We discuss non-attachment …

This week I talk to Josh Turknett MD. Josh is a board certified neurologist that has pivoted multiple times in his career, but has consistently utilized his in-depth knowledge of neurology and neuroscience in whatever venture he tackles. Josh received his BS in neuroscience from Wesleyan University and his MD from the prestigious Emory University S…

In this week’s episode I speak with Clay Rose, singer, songwriter and frontman for the Colorado based Gasoline Lollipops. We discuss Clay's hesitation of jumping into sold out post-COVID performances. We delve into Clay’s tumultuous life and childhood; including his stay at a psychiatric facility as a teenager, his time on the road with his father,…

In this weeks episode rock climber and photographer Mary Eden, a.k.a. @tradprincess on IG, sits down and discuss her early life training horses and helping to raise her nieces, what took her from Kentucky to Utah, and how climbing helped her narrow her focus in life. Mary tells an epic tale of watching her family home burn down whilst wrestling a g…

In this episode of the Live from Banjo Podcast we discuss the comfort and anonymity of mask life, The Infamous Stringduster's new Christmas album, Dust the Halls, Travis' life before and after his entrance into the Dusters, winning IBMAs and Grammy's, staying open to new ideas, detaching from labels, and the Travis Book Happy Hour. Travis' positive…

Andy Thorn has been the banjo player for the Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass Jam Band, Leftover Salmon, for over 10 years. However, he has been preparing nearly his entire life, as he has both loved and dedicated himself to music since he was very young. His positive attitude, eclectic musical background, and vast banjo knowledge has allowed Andy to pla…