The Alt-Country Show

Ariel Bui is a Nashville-based musical artist, activist & educator.

On today's episode, Ariel joins guest host Brandon Telg to discuss their most recent release, upcoming projects, representation in music, and Cowboy Carter.

Immerse yourself in an eclectic blend of tunes carefully curated for your enjoyment today, courtesy of our esteemed guest host, Brandon Telg.

With an unwavering dedication to the music community, Brandon has become a pivotal figure, championing independent artists not only in his hometown of Gainesville, Florida but also on a broader scale.

Through his invaluable contributions to Spirit House Records, 4Bits Records, MusicGNV, and his adept management of artists like Johanna Warren, Brandon has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the music landscape.

So, sit back, relax, and let this meticulously crafted mix transport you into a world of sonic bliss. Enjoy!

Musicians and songs that have been important to me in different ways for many many years:

Why Should The Fire Die by Nickel Creek

Furr by Blitzen Trapper

Soul Searching by Ricky Kendall

Pin Oaks (The Rockfield Sessions) by Johanna Warren

Souvenirs (The Singing Mailman Delivers version) by John Prine

Covers!

When You Were Mine by Bright Eyes

The Middle - Acoustic Version by Caroline Spence

Lopin' Along Thru The Cosmos by Jake Sherman

Early Morning Breeze by Kishi Bashi

Artists that you may not consider part of the country/alt country canon but have dabbled!

Waylon Jennings Live! by The Mountain Goats

Worried Mind by Megafaun

Rowboat by Beck

Nitro 66 Cannonball Blues by No-No Boy

Gainesville highlight (specifically Heartwood Soundstage - these are all live recordings from there)

Summer's Song by Quincy Allen Flint

Some Other Time by A. Sunroom

Hey, If You're Witholding by Michael Claytor

Let's take a hard turn into country country, but specifically female voices

Small Town Hypocrite by Caylee Hammack

Diane by Cam

Kindness by Tanya Tucker

Saint To A Sinner by Loretta Lynn

Howdy Friends! 🤠

Today, we're shaking things up with a special crossover episode. The Alt-Country Show and Ambient Country podcast have teamed up to introduce you to a genre that might be flying under your radar. But fear not, we've got the lowdown on all things Alt-Country and Ambient Country in today's handpicked mix, curated by the one-and-only Stelth Ulvang (Heavy Gus, The Lumineers).

Joining us on the podcast is none other than Bob Holmes, the brains behind Ambient Country and the vibes of SUSS. Together, they're here to guide you through a musical journey that's bound to uncover some hidden gems.

🎶 Our mission? To help you discover new artists that'll have you hitting repeat. Show some love by snagging an album, grabbing merch, or even catching a live show – let's support these fantastic musicians!

🎧 So kick back, relax, and soak in the good vibes. Today's mix is your ticket to uncovering fresh sounds and maybe stumbling upon your new favorite artist. Enjoy the tunes!

Emily chats with Indianna Hale about her new album, Yesterday's Glitter, which is out now on Perpetual Doom.

Indianna's co-producer Jason Cirimele also joins in on the chat and the two discuss their collaboration on this record, as well as their many additional musical projects.

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Yesterday’s Glitter, a new record from San Francisco’s Indianna Hale features indie rock in the vein of Cate Le Bon, Faye Webster, and Cass McCombs and draws from 1950s torch-pop icons like Patsy Cline, the songs on Yesterday’s Glitter come wrapped in A.M.-era gauze. It's classic Indianna Hale —the perfect fusion of Marty Robbins and Liz Phair you never knew you needed.  

The twelve tracks on Yesterday's Glitter resonate with vintage timbre but they also cut with a twenty-first century urgency. Lead Single “I Can’t Talk To You” lightly teases a lover for being too self centered, while the melodic bass and chimey guitar weave a counterpoint that almost tells a story of its own. “Nothing you can say to a person with a broken heart,” she sings. “Nothing you can hear when the song in your head’s too country.” The album's second single, "Hollow the Words," is sonically peppy and lilting, but finds clouds behind its silver lining. "It was tragically beautiful being with you," Hale sings. She describes the song, inspired by the transience of San Francisco, as "a love song to my friend family." It's emblematic of an album whose rumbling bass and soaring vocals are always pretty, but never simple.

Hale describes recording Yesterday's Glitter as a serendipitous process of "electric collaboration" alongside producer and guitar player Jason Cirimele. "While tracking 'The Tighter the Grip,' Jason said 'You know what this song needs?' To which I replied, 'Fuzz bass chords on the chorus!' He said 'That’s exactly what I was going to say!'" Over the course of three years, the pair brought in friends and bandmates to create the record’s rich sound, including Brian Bethel on bass and Rob Mills (Spooky Mansion) and Cody Rhodes (Geographer, Curls) on drums. On Yesterday’s Glitter, mid-century country pop stylings get fitted with fuzzy guitars and filtered through a curtain of dreamy Casio nostalgia to create an album you’ll have on repeat.

We've packed today's episode full of fantastic new releases and along the way, we will fill you in on some cool things happening in Alt-Country-land.

We've got an exciting interview episode releasing soon and our first video from The Alt-Country Show(case) at AmericanaFest is dropping soon as well. We’ll let you know the who, what, where, when, and how... turn it up!

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You Have Bought Yourself a Boat (LIVE) - MJ Lenderman 
Whiplash - Jobi Riccio
Edgefield - She Returns From War
Dublin, Texas - RF Shannon
The Conductor Calls - Will Johnson
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100 Guns - Rae Fitzgerald
Critterland - Willi Carlisle
The Heartbreak Store - Lizzie No
Empty Love - Wildeyes
The Nurse - Willy Tea Taylor
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Woman of God - The Montvales
Coyote - Dylan LeBlanc
Kid 1 - Dead Gowns
Same Risk - Madi Diaz
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Queen of Diamonds - Tucker Riggleman
Sometimes - Hello June
L.A. Fever - Charlie Hill
On Yer Own - Tommy and the Ohs
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Stop Freaking Out - Indianna Hale
Safeway - Convinced Friend
Talk - Sturt Avenue 
Bluff Country Paradise - Molly Brandt
Goodnight Bluebird - Nathan Seeckts 
Saturday - Nathan Xander 
Half Of My Hurting - Brandon Padier
Cousin - Wilco
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Goodbye, Sweetheart - Will Payne Harrison (feat. Van Plating)

On today's episode, we are deep-diving into Van Plating's new album Orange Blossom Child.

We'll listen to the album from beginning to end and hear the background behind each song from the woman herself! 

Join this very special listening party and let us know what you think! What other albums would you like a deep-dive into?

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Van Plating, the captivating and genre-defying artist, unveiled her third album, Orange Blossom Child, on September 15th, 2023. With an unwavering determination to capture the essence of Florida’s unique music, Van Plating embarks on a musical journey like no other. Behold the birth of what she aptly calls “Orange Blossom Country.”

Orange Blossom Child (OBC) is a mesmerizing musical world crafted by Van Plating, driven by her desire to create something truly distinctive. Throughout the album’s creation and mixing process, her influences naturally emerged, resulting in a sound that authentically reflects her upbringing. OBC blends elements of her family’s heritage—bluegrass and old-time/outlaw country—with the sounds that shaped her adolescence, such as Tom Petty, Jeff Buckley, and Bob Dylan. Van Plating’s natural vocal prowess and prominent violin playing define her artistic signature, while her personal voyage becomes a profound exploration of self-discovery.

Van Plating’s journey began after her time at Florida Southern College, where she immersed herself in the enchanting realms of violin and voice. In her twenties, she serenaded audiences as part of her band, Pemberley, named after the iconic estate in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Their success flourished as they shared stages with renowned acts like Copeland, The Postmarks, Matt Pond PA, and Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s. However, life took an unexpected turn, leading to a nine-year hiatus—a period of silence that eventually led to her triumphant return in 2019 with her self-titled LP, a melodic masterpiece reminiscent of Lilith Fair.

Delving into the power of place and narrative, with raw vulnerability rooted in her upbringing in rural Florida during the latter half of the 20th century. Each element, from the lyrics to the musical influences, intricately weaves together a sonic tapestry intimately tied to a specific time and geographical location. With a fusion of folk, bluegrass, 80s Tom Petty, and cosmic country rock akin to Graham Parsons, Van Plating masterfully crafts a heartfelt journey that serves as a love letter to her childhood in Orange Blossom Country.

Working tirelessly in her home studio in Lakeland, Van Plating poured her heart and soul into each song, meticulously crafting the album. Embracing collaboration, she invited 33 performers from the US and Ireland to contribute their talents, resulting in a harmonious symphony that mirrors the beauty of a flourishing botanical garden. The creative process was intensive, with countless Facetime calls and text messages exchanged, mirroring the intricate interplay of petals and roots. By the end of this artistic endeavor, Van Plating’s eye started to twitch from the immense effort poured into every detail.

This is an unassuming Americana album—a harmonious offspring born of violins, banjos, and guitars, wild and untamed like the unexplored marshlands. It aims to live in smoky bars where humidity hangs heavy, amplifiers crackle and sizzle with the fervor of a botanical storm. Yet, amidst this organic tapestry, this album fearlessly embraces the pulsating rhythms of drum machines and the hypnotic allure of Miami bass—why shy away when such harmonious alchemy awaits?

“I want it to be really clear that I made this thing; this was my specific vision and my objective,” Van Plating affirms. “I am the Orange Blossom Child, after all, and along the way, I invited people to join me in the process. The result is a creation that is so much larger, more colorful, and more lush than anything I could have created alone. No one is an island. This time, I didn’t create like one.”

Philip Bowen chats with Emily about his upcoming debut album, Old Kanawha, his journey on America's Got Talent, growing his TikTok following to over 1 million followers, and the difference between the violin and the fiddle.

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Philip Bowen is a massively talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a sound that uplifts the soul and is inspired by his Appalachian roots. He’s performed at iconic venues like The Bluebird Cafe and 3rd & Lindsley, and even graced the stage of NPR’s Mountain Stage. In May he was the featured guest on Us & Them by West Virginia Public Broadcasting where they discussed how the 38-year-old learned classical violin as well as how to improvise on the fiddle, combining musical styles and genres.

After completing his MBA at the University of Tampa, Bowen was encouraged by a friend to create a TikTok account to showcase his fiddle covers and original songs. The rest, as they say, is history. With his infectious positivity and musical talent, Bowen caught the attention of artists like Brandon Davis, Noah Kahan, Spinmont, Styles Haury, Jenna Paulette, Josiah & the Bonnevilles, and many others, earning him over 100 credits as a session fiddle player. 

Old Kanawha is a musical journey that takes you from the peaks of happiness to the depths of despair, all while celebrating the beauty and resilience of Appalachia and West Virginia. It’s not just about catchy melodies and clever lyrics, it’s about the universal human experience of navigating the ups and downs of life. Bowen draws inspiration from his own life, from the carefree days of college to the unexpected responsibilities of fatherhood and a draining corporate job. He tackles some tough topics head-on, from addiction to recovery to loss. He wants his music to be a beacon of light for anyone going through a difficult time, reminding them that things can and will get better. And don’t expect a one-dimensional portrayal of his home state. Bowen understands that Appalachia and West Virginia are often misunderstood and misrepresented. That’s why he weaves in themes and imagery that celebrate the beauty and strength of the region, while also shining a light on the struggles and hardships faced by its people.

Bowen was dead set on capturing the essence of West Virginia, so he made it a mission to recruit the most talented musicians from the area. With a WV-based producer and a team of incredible players, they hunkered down at the McCord House Studios in Bridgeport, WV. He met producer Zach McCord, through his buddy Charles Wesley Godwin, who he has worked with in the past. Godwin shows up on the title track to help with vocals. They spent about a week in the studio, days turning into nights turning into days just felt like a blur. The chemistry was on point, the music was flowing, and the vibe was just right.

The songs on the record were written between 2019 and 2023, with some dating back to the Fall of 2019 when Bowen finally decided to give music one more serious attempt before giving up on the dream. Two of the songs, “Vampire in Appalachia” and “A Murder,” took the longest to write and were finished just before the last day of recording. The songs were written in various locations including West Virginia, Detroit, Nashville, and the Oregon Coast.

We're 1/2 way through 2023 and excited to share tunes from some of our favorite albums released thus far. Some of these will be critically acclaimed and some are just too fun to pass by.

We also asked our listeners to chime in with their favorites and if you responded to our poll, we may be playing your suggestions.

Have we heard everything? No. Did we forget something? Probably. Is music subjective? Absolutely.

All we're saying is these albums have brought us a ton of joy this year.

Turn up the tunes and find your new favorite artist!

We Used To Live Here - Fruit Bats
Better Days - Anna St. Louis
Crooked Creek - Bonny Doon
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No Good Man - Jesco Payne & The Painkillers
If I Try To Leave - Deer Tick
Go Down, Appalachia - Pony Bradshaw
Slow Burn - Rose City Band
Settle Down - Maya Elise
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Room In The City - Kassi Valazza
Faraway Skies - Dean Johnson 
Raining For Weeks - Lucero
Up On The Divide - Mighty Poplar
Buddy - Dylan Earl
Quarry - Wednesday 
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Her Voice Is In My Head - Clay Dixon and The Piccadillies
Therapy - Kara Jackson
Carolina - Mother Juniper
Blackest Crow/ Deerest Deer - Jude Brothers
Too Young To Die (feat. First Aid Kit) - M. Ward
Fortune  - Wye Oak
Rodeo - Dogwood Tales
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I'll Make You Mine - Joanna Sternberg 
If I Wanted To - Doug Paisley 
Stampede - Jess Williamson
Sunny Jean - Jeffrey Silverstein
Stay - Esther Rose
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The Ballad of William Spoon - Luke Pelletier
The Way I Oughta Go - Bella White
I Lost My Gun - Labrador
King of Oklahoma - Jason Isbell 
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Sad State of Affairs - Joey Frendo
Loving You Is The Only Way to Fly - Rodney Crowell 
Wednesday & The Milky Way - The Housing Crisis 
High Enuf (Astral Plane) - CRYS
Might Be Getting Over You - Summer Dean
Growing Away - Free Range
Manic - Blind Feline
The Drifter - Emily Rose and the Rounders
The Very Day I'm Gone - Mac Cornish
Floating - Grapes of Grain
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Country Road - Margo Price

Keeping the good tunes going with an abundance of new releases. 🎶

Find an artist in the mix you love and support them by buying an album or some merch. Get out and support live music! 

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Freakin’ Out The Cow - Willie & The Cigs
Wanita Go Home - Logan Bolling
Everybody Knows He Killed That Guy - Luke Pelletier
Little Dumb Dogs - Graves
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Chosen To Deserve - Wednesday
Pawnshop - Kara Jackson
Stranger - Dogwood Tales
Supernatural Thing - M. Ward
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Foothills - The Tallest Man On Earth
Acting School - Dean Johnson
Forgiving Ties - Deer Tick
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Send That Ca$h - The Lion Heart
And I Knew… - Autumn Sky Hall

Before the Summer’s Over - Delaney Ramsdell
Goodbye Old Horse - Dash Hammerstein
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Long Ride to Shreveport (Live at Chelsea’s) - Dalton Wayne and the Warmadillos
Ain’t No Saint - White Rose Motor Oil
One Glass of Whiskey - Robbie Fulks
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You Don’t Rub Me Right - Goatroper
Hey Dawn - Fanny LumsdenCool About It - boygenius
Dawns (feat. Maggie Rogers) - Zach Bryan
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I’ll Never Hang Up My Hat - Kyle Keller

It's impossible to ingest all of the music that is available to us in 2021. Technology has made it so we can hear independent musicians from across the globe at the click of a button but algorithms only go so far to support independent artists. Host Emily Smith listens to tons of new music and has been doing so for most of her life (professionally since 2002). On this episode she dives into some of her favorite discoveries of 2021. Did she hear every album released? Nope. Are these the greatest albums of the year? Maybe? Music is subjective. What we can guarantee is there are some incredible tracks in this mix and we don't want you to miss out on them.

Our ONE request is that you find an artist in the mix that you love and you support them by buying an album or some merch if you are able!

Support the artists you love.

Enjoy part 3 of 3. Subscribe and next episode we will dive into new tunes from 2022. 

It's impossible to ingest all of the music that is available to us in 2021. Technology has made it so we can hear independent musicians from across the globe at the click of a button but algorithms only go so far to support independent artists. Host Emily Smith listens to tons of new music and has been doing so for most of her life (professionally since 2002). On this episode she dives into some of her favorite discoveries of 2021. Did she hear every album released? Nope. Are these the greatest albums of the year? Maybe? Music is subjective. What we can guarantee is there are some incredible tracks in this mix and we don't want you to miss out on them.

Our ONE request is that you find an artist in the mix that you love and you support them by buying an album or some merch if you are able!

Support the artists you love.

Enjoy part 2 of 3 and subscribe to hear more amazing tracks next week!

It's impossible to ingest all of the music that is available to us in 2021. Technology has made it so we can hear independent musicians from across the globe at the click of a button but algorithms only go so far to support independent artists. Host Emily Smith listens to tons of new music and has been doing so for most of her life (professionally since 2002). On this episode she dives into some of her favorite discoveries of 2021. Did she hear every album released? Nope. Are these the greatest albums of the year? Maybe? Music is subjective. What we can guarantee is there are some incredible tracks in this mix and we don't want you to miss out on them. 

Our ONE request is that you find an artist in the mix that you love and you support them by buying an album or some merch if you are able! 

Support the artists you love. 

Enjoy part 1 of 3 and subscribe to hear more amazing tracks next week! 

The holiday season is here and the amount of incredible, original holiday tunes out there is staggering. Emily Smith has curated the perfect introduction to some of her favorites. Turn it up and enjoy. You'll hear Sharon Jones, Fitz and the Tantrums, Woody Guthrie, Mariya May, Deer Tick and much, much more!