This coming January, more precisely, January 5th – 10th, 2026, the 40th Steamboat MusicFest will take place. MusicFest has been described as “The Superbowl of Texas Music”, and anyone who’s ever been would say that’s an accurate statement.

In this episode Carly and Pete were able to visit with the founder and creator of this incredible event, Mr. John Dickson. John recounts how he first got the idea to create such a unique festival and how it has grown to be universally regarded as the Best of the Best of Texas / Red Dirt Music Festivals.

If you’ve never been to a MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, CO, and you’re a fan of this kind of music, it certainly needs to be on your bucket list. Attendees of MusicFest will see their favorite musicians perform in various settings from intimate bars and huge outdoor stages at the base of the mountain, to the “Largest Dancehall in Colorado” – a climate-controlled tent brought in especially for MusicFest, that can hold 3,000 people!

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, August 27th and reservations can be made by clicking this LINK. And you better get on it early because the festival sells out every year! Packages include access to all musical performances, lodging, lift tickets, ski rentals and more!

John is also responsible for various other destination music festivals including the all-inclusive Big Beach Fest in Costa Rica coming up this June!

A great big TROUBADOUR THANK YOU goes out to John and all the fine folks at Dickson Productions for getting this episode lined up as well as their massive contributions to Texas County and Red Dirt music for decades!

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You can listen to all of our previous episodes with over 200 hours of interviews with folks like Ray Wylie Hubbard - Ray Benson - William Clark Green - Casey Donahew - Pat Green - Corb Lund - Jack Ingram - Paul Thorn - Shane Smith – Bruce Robison & MORE by getting a $3 BACKSTAGE PASS by visiting our PATREON PAGE

Hosts only episode. HIATUS needed.

Brody Buster was a child prodigy on the harmonica and was already making appearances on major television shows like the Tonight’s Show with Jay Leno and the 90’s sitcom staple Full House, all before he turned 10 years old!!!

Brody was baptized into the blues scene in Kansas City at a very early age and began forging a career that has allowed him to share the stage with the likes of B.B. King, Keb Mo, Quincy Jones, Chaka Kahn and others!

As you’ll hear in the episode, his battle with addiction nearly took him completely out of the game altogether, but thankfully, he’s in recovery and back to playing live and he’s got a brand-new record perfectly titled, Redemption, coming out in the Spring of 2025.

Brody will also be playing one of the most unique gigs a guy could ever land this summer by performing on the Durango Blues Train in both May and August.

Enjoy the episode!

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You can listen to all of our previous episodes with over 200 hours of interviews with folks like Ray Wylie Hubbard - Ray Benson - William Clark Green - Casey Donahew - Pat Green - Corb Lund - Jack Ingram - Paul Thorn - Shane Smith – Bruce Robison & MORE by getting a $3 BACKSTAGE PASS by visiting our PATREON PAGE

On this episode we visit with Canadian singer-songwriter Carter Felker. Carter has a brand-new album out called “Loser”.

He’s a good lyricist and definitely worth a listen. He talks about what it’s like to make a living as a singer-songwriter in Canada and the challenges of loading in and out to gigs in the cold as well as getting in to venues that require you to go up stairs to get to the stage or down into basements.

The best way to check out what Carter is up to is by following him on Instagram at @carterefelker. ENJOY THE EPISODE!

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GET HEALTHY WITH PETE !

You can listen to all of our previous episodes with over 200 hours of interviews with folks like Ray Wylie Hubbard - Ray Benson - William Clark Green - Casey Donahew - Pat Green - Corb Lund - Jack Ingram - Paul Thorn - Shane Smith – Bruce Robison & MORE by getting a $3 BACKSTAGE PASS by visiting our PATREON PAGE

Get a Backstage Pass by visiting our Patreon page

MIKE McCLURE & CHRISLYN LAWRENCE – CROW & GAZELLE

This episode features legendary red-dirt musician and songwriter, Mike McClure, along his wife Chrislyn Lawrence. They’ve been doing a duo project for the last few years under the moniker Crow and Gazelle. If you haven’t caught their show live you have to put it on your list. They perform original heartfelt songs and the aura of the show itself is pretty dang awesome. You’ll feel better after you see this show – trust me.

In this episode we get to hear how Mike and Chrislyn met and how they became a part of each others lives; something that you can tell has been a blessing to both of them.

Chrislyn also does some cool work outside of Crow and Gazelle and you can check it out by visiting her website by clicking HERE.

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Get a Backstage Pass by visiting our Patreon page

Enjoy the episode!

Get a Backstage Pass by visiting our Patreon page

EPISODE #210

WILL WESLEY

This episode features Louisiana country-rocker Will Wesley.

Will has been beating the streets as a troubadour for years playing all over the states as well as overseas from Thailand to Switzerland.

He’s most recent single “The Search” just dropped and you can check out his music by using THIS LINK.

He’s been nominated for several Josie Awards as well!

Towards the end of the episode, he tells a pretty cool ghost story you won’t want to miss!

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EPISODE #209

TRAVIS MEADOWS

This episode with Travis Meadows just might be my favorite interview we’ve ever captured here on The Troubadour. Travis has lead one hell of a life as you’ll hear in the episode.

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He spent 17 years as a preacher and Christian songwriter. He was well into middle-age before he become known as a hit songwriter with folks like Eric Church, Dierks Bentely, Jake Owen and Wynonna recording his songs.

TRAVIS MEADOWS-SONGS CUT BY OTHER ARTISTS

Over his life he also battled addiction and in the midst of dealing with that and multiple stints in rehab, he started writing the best songs of his life.

He’s a true inspiration to all humans, not to mention, aspiring writers who think they have what it takes to write alongside the best songwriters in the world in Nashville.

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Enjoy the episode!

EPISODE #208

COLM GAVIN

On this episode of The Troubadour, I got to interview talented and accomplished singer/songwriter Colm Gavin. Colm is from Dublin, Ireland and we had a great conversation! I’d certainly say we’re both musically kindred spirits, although I’ll leave the drinking of Guiness to Colm! LOL

Colm’s music can be found on Spotify using this LINK.

Colm can be found on Instagram HERE

Colm can be found on Facebook HERE

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Enjoy the episode!