The community radio station for which I am a programmer has the following mission statement:

We seek to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other media

Crys Matthews has her own personal mission statement that perfectly aligns with community radio: To amplify the voicesof the unheard; to shed light on the unseen and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.

An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends Country, Americana, Folk, Blues, and Bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. She is made forthese times. I look forward to meeting up with Crys again this summer at the 2026 Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah,OK.

Enjoy this conversation and musical performance from North Carolina’s own Crys Matthews.

#communityradio #folkmusic #rootsmusic

I recently welcomed my friend Sky Smeed to spend an hour with me on the Mid-Coast Live! program on KKFI. I have a fifteen-year history with this Kansas songwriter; he was the first artist I had join me live in the KKFI studios as I launched The Tasty Brew Music Radio Show in 2010. I’ve hosted Sky at my home for a house concert. A good number of the songs masterfully captured by Barak Hill on his latest album, a live recording at The Rock House in Reeds Spring, Missouri are familiar to me as are some of Sky’s life experiences that gave rise to songs like “Don’t Know What to Do” “Lunker Bass” and “Without Music.” That familiarity does not diminish the emotional impact of hearing these songs on this recording nor is it required to appreciate the underlying artistry of the words, stories and guitar accompaniment.

It is ALWAYS a treat to hear a new (to me) Sky Smeed tuneand this recording introduces me to precious guitar work on “Hangin’ On”, the affirmation that “Good Luck” is indeed “sick” according to Sky’s daughter Rosalie, the bittersweet and comedic reality of not wanting to work “Nine to Five” anymore and concurrence with “Keep Rolling On” that things do/life does change in the blink of an eye.

Sky exhibits wonderful crowd work and pacing on this record;his Prine-like sense of humor is front and center on tunes like “Chicken of the Trees,” “Barbecue” and “Bumper Sticker.” I have always appreciated his homage to those masters that came before him. His take on Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” is stellar. Just sing along…it’s okay.

I have been privileged to attend a number of musicalevenings at The Rock House over the years. The folks that were in attendance on this particular evening got to witnesslightning being caught in a bottle. Kudos to Rock House Co-Hosts Jeanette Bair and Bruce Anderson, recording engineer (and awesome songwriter in his own right) Barak Hill and of course, to my friend, Sky Smeed. Well done!

#songwriter #rootsmusic #communityradio #tastybrewmusic

I had my first experience as a panelist at a Folk Alliance Region Midwest mini-conference or “Farmette” in Emporia, Kansas. My co-presenter, Nick Carswell, and I were to share our insights and opinions on what an artist needed to have in their tool kit to be “radio ready”. During the day’s activities I had the pleasure to meet many Heartland artists for the first time, including The Shandies of Springfield, Missouri.

The Shandies are Shannon Stine (vocals/guitar) andNatalie Wlodarczyk [Vwo-dar-chik](vocals/guitar). They deliver intimate, lovely marital harmony-rich performances shaped by a decade of performing and traveling together. Their songs are personal, a little playful, and perfect for listening rooms. Shannon’s family tradition of generating musicians and Natalie’s calling as a music educator make a very special pairing.

Speaking of special pairing… A shandy is a refreshing, low-alcohol tasty brew made by mixing beer (typically a light lager or pilsner) with a citrus-flavored carbonated beverage, such as lemonade, lemon-lime soda, or ginger ale. Consider pouring yourself one and enjoy this conversation and musicalperformance from Shannon and Natalie…. The Shandies!

#tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #songwriters #folk #folkalliance #theshandies