Cassandra Wilson recently passed away aged 70, leaving behind an extraordinary body of work. In this episode of The Real Americana with Louise & Blair, we explore her remarkable voice, her jazz, blues, folk & country influences, her Grammy-winning album "New Moon Daughter", and her ability to cross musical boundaries. We also look at her songwriting, her influence on other artists, and hear interpretations of Van Morrison and Billie Holiday classics alongside other great songs.

Patty Griffin is a songwriter whose music is direct, honest and deeply human. In this episode of The Real Americana with Louise & Blair, we explore her unlikely Motown and Smiths influences, the Americana award-winning "Children Running Through", and songs about love, family and everyday life. We also talk about her battle with cancer, the impact it had on her voice, her relationship with her mother, and finish with her beautiful take on Tom Waits’ “Ruby’s Arms”.

Bruce Cockburn is one of Canada’s great singer-songwriters - a phenomenal guitarist, traveller and observer whose songs have explored love, spirituality, politics, human rights and the environment. In this episode of The Real Americana with Louise & Blair, we follow his journey from “Going to the Country” and “Wondering Where The Lions Are” through “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” and “If A Tree Falls”, finishing with the beautiful “Pacing the Cage”.

What happens when your father is a musical legend? Louise & Blair explore the rewards, expectations and challenges of following a famous father, with music from Lukas Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Justin Townes Earle, Teddy Thompson and Spencer Tweedy. From Willie Nelson and Woody Guthrie to Steve Earle, Richard & Linda Thompson and Jeff Tweedy, we discover five very different stories of musical inheritance - including one tragic tale and several remarkable careers forged in their own right.

For this special and sadly timed episode of The Real Americana with Louise & Blair, we remember the Irish troubadour Glen Hansard, who died recently following a motorcycle accident. From The Frames and The Swell Season to the Oscar winning film and stage show Once, and his acclaimed solo career, we explore the songs that tell his story including “Falling Slowly”, “Low Rising”, “Song of Good Hope” and more. A sad episode, but ultimately an uplifting celebration of an extraordinary artist. 🎙️🎸

Blair & Louise introduce one of Americana's great unsung singer-songwriters, tracing Peter Case's journey from power pop pioneers The Nerves and The Plimsouls to his acclaimed solo career. Along the way they explore his landmark 1986 solo debut, extraordinary storytelling, and the surprising connection between Peter Case and Central Otago's gold rush through "Farewell to the Gold". 🎙️🎸

To mark America's 250th birthday, Louise & Blair tell the story of the United States through five remarkable songs. From Independence Day and the Mayflower to Gettysburg, the American Dream and California hope, they explore the nation's triumphs, contradictions and enduring ideals through music by Dave Alvin, Eva Cassidy, The Brandos, Margo Price and Wilco. 🇺🇸🎙️

For this special episode, Blair is joined by fellow Ōtautahi singer-songwriter Tess Liautaud to discuss her new single Jolie Louise, Daniel Lanois, Springsteen's Nebraska, songwriting, vinyl, and releasing original music. Along the way they share their own Bruce Springsteen stories - from Tess joining him on stage in Paris to Blair catching The Boss's attention with a sign at the 2017 Christchurch concert. Featuring music by Tess, Neil Young and Ward Hayden & The Outliers 🎙️🎸