Shows / Basic Folk
Basic Folk
Basic Folk features honest conversations with folk musicians hosted by Cindy Howes and Lizzie No. We approach interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. Since 2018, this podcast has dignified under the radar roots musicians by providing a platform that they might not otherwise have. You’ll hear interviews from Three-time Grammy-winning guitar gods like Molly Tuttle, Haitian American folk legends like Leyla McCalla and deep feelers like songwriter John Hiatt.
Basic Folk is dedicated…
Episodes
Basic FolkJacob Sharp after Mipso: Parenthood, Co-writing, and Still a Teamplayer, ep. 355
A founding member of the beloved North Carolina bluegrass-ish band Mipso, Jacob Sharp has always loved a team. He attributes this to being a middle child…
Basic FolkCharlie Parr's Tiny Things, ep. 354
It's Lizzie No speaking to you from Dublin, Ireland, where I recently moved! It's fall here which makes my mind wander back to my home state of origin, New…
Basic FolkMichaela Anne: Loving the Mundane in the Middle of the Chaos, ep. 353
Michaela Anne grew up in a military family that moved a lot: Washington, Michigan, California, Virginia, and Italy. She and her family are currently in the…
Basic FolkJimbo Mathus: still singing for Rosetta & Squirrel Nut Zippering, ep. 352
Jimbo Mathus grew up in a house full of musicians, and by the time he was 8 years old, he was sitting in on family jam sessions. He dropped out of college…
Basic FolkRachel McCartney's Return to Music, Being a Horse Girl, & Accidentally Snubbing David Gray, ep. 351
For 17 years, Rachel McCartney had set aside a music career and all the anxiety and uncertainty that came along with it. She was in her mid-30s and wanted a…
Basic FolkKeb' Mo' Defines the Blues as Honesty Music, ep. 350
We are so honored to welcome Keb' Mo' (aka Kevin Moore) on the show for our 350th episode! After many decades of incredible music, his new solo acoustic album…
Basic FolkHrishikesh Hirway: From Monikers to Podcasts to Music Under His Own Name, ep. 349
If you have been paying attention to music circles for the past 25+ years, you will be familiar with Hrishikesh Hirway. He formerly released music under the…
Basic FolkMayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348
Lancaster, Pennsylvania-born, Nashville-based songwriter Maya de Vitry has been on Basic Folk a half dozen times (she's only second to our fave man-bestie Mark…
Basic FolkLizzie No & Kimaya Diggs Celebrate America's Outlaws, ep. 347
Lizzie No, Kaïa Kater, Nathan Evans Fox, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, Tray Wellington, A.J. Haynes, and more are featured on the new compilation album 'Outlaws’…
Basic FolkAlela Diane: Gold in France, That 1990s/1890s Life, and Michael Hurley
Back in the mid 2000's Alela Diane's Gospel Pirate album was ringing my bell and apparently, it was ringing a lot of other people's bells, too, especially…
Basic FolkMilk Carton Kids Are Making a Mountain out of a Molehill, ep. 345
Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, the Milk Carton Kids, are calling their latest album, 'Lost Cause Lover Fool,' "the one." They have finally figured…
Basic FolkClub Passim's Matt Smith on 30 Years of Building Community, ep. 344
Matt Smith is a living legend with his unbelievable 30-year run at Club Passim, the historic folk venue nestled in a Harvard Square basement. Currently…
Basic FolkFolk State of the Union: Rissi Palmer, Rose Cousins, Kaïa Kater & Jobi Riccio Live on Cayamo, ep. 343
Well, is this not an excuse to get the girlies together if we've ever heard one!? For our final live interview aboard Cayamo, we arranged a check-in with some…
Basic FolkAbraham Alexander & Kashus Culpepper: Handsome Club Convenes at Sea, ep. 342
We are live at sea aboard Cayamo 2026 with Abraham Alexander & Kashus Culpepper! The pair had not met prior, but we found a couple of very cool parallels…
Basic FolkDawes Welcomes Inner Critic, Says "No, Thank You" To The Comment Section
We are so excited to kick off our Interviews at Sea series with DAWES! We had the chance to talk to brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith aboard Cayamo: A…
Basic FolkJulian Taylor's Folk Evolution: From Misfit to Musical Storyteller, ep. 340
One of the things I [lizzie] really enjoyed about interviewing Toronto-born singer-songwriter Julian Taylor is his relationship with the truth. He has a really…
Basic FolkThe Mammals Do Not Want Your Old Farm Equipment, ep. 339
Mike and Ruth Merenda have been making music together as the Mammals since 2001, with a little break in 2008 to play as Mike & Ruthy. They've been back as the…
Basic FolkJoe Henry & Mark Erelli Wanted to Hang Out, So We Let Them, ep. 338
Joe Henry has released 15 studio albums, apprenticed for legendary producer T Bone Burnett and, in turn, has produced many other musicians' albums on his own…
Basic FolkLaurie Lewis' Bluegrass Love Letter to California, ep. 337
A foundational participant in the '70s Bay Area bluegrass scene, Laurie Lewis knows the power of collaboration. She's been a part of an ensemble in recent…
Basic FolkNaomi Westwater is Spiritually Creative, But Also Very Very Organized, ep. 336
Something you might notice about Boston musician Naomi Westwater is that they have both sides of the brain on lock. They are very good at community organizing…
Basic FolkGreat Lake Swimmers' Tony Dekker: Accidental Bandleader, ep. 335
Accidental bandleader and beloved Canadian Tony Dekker joins us to talk about Great Lake Swimmers' new album, 'Caught Light.' Tony is up to old tricks again…
Basic FolkMary Chapin Carpenter is the Woman in the Truck, ep. 334
Mary Chapin Carpenter's latest album, 'Personal History,' is as lush in production and color as the beautiful farmland she calls home in Virginia. Carpenter…
Basic Folk2025 Wrap-Up: Gals Chat, A Corn Cob, Alaska, and One Man, ep. 333
To send 2025 off into the great abyss, we have a sensational year-end Basic Folk roundtable featuring Lizzie's group chat: Kaïa Kater, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, and…
Basic FolkMadison Cunningham is Embarrassed All the Time. ep. 332
Our episode with Madison Cunningham was one of those all-time Basic Folk moments where a guest gets really deep really quickly. I'm so grateful to have had the…
Basic FolkFrazey Ford Revisits the Subtle Grooves of 'Indian Ocean', ep. 331
Frazey Ford has always loved soul music. She fell in love with Otis Redding at age 11 and discovered people like Ann Peebles along the way, but it was Al Green…
Basic FolkThe Barr Brothers Rally Around Mysticism, ep. 330
In the eight years since The Barr Brothers last released an album, Andrew has been drumming with people like Feist, Mumford & Sons, and Broken Social Scene…
Basic FolkDavid Wilcox Can Heal Your Heart in Two Minutes, ep. 329
Asheville-based songwriter David Wilcox has been through some s-h-i-t. A difficult childhood in Northeast Ohio sent him seeking answers – mostly on his bicycle…
Basic FolkKathleen Edwards: Making up for 30 Years of No Tears, ep. 328
Kathleen Edwards claims that she's now a pretty frequent crier after not crying for the first 30 years of her life. One reason for this change is the…
Basic FolkPeter Rowan: The Bluegrass Buddha's Tex-Mex Roots, ep. 327
Legendary Massachusetts-born, California-based musician Peter Rowan is best known for his bluegrass roots. A practicing Buddhist, he did time in Bill Monroe's…
Basic FolkRissi Palmer & Miko Marks: "Buckle Bunny," No Cringe, and My Black Country, ep. 326
This time on Basic Folk, we are checking in with country singer-songwriter and Color Me Country radio host Rissi Palmer and Americana country artist Miko…
Basic FolkVibe Coaches: Maya de Vitry, Ethan Jodziewicz, Joel Timmons, & Shelby Means, ep. 325
Maya de Vitry, Ethan Jodziewicz, Joel Timmons, and Shelby Means are on Basic Folk today talking about their new collaborations. Maya produced both Shelby and…
Basic FolkPaul Brady on Tina Turner, Irish Music and Not Being Too Famous, ep. 324
Bob Dylan once called Paul Brady a "secret hero" and meant it as a compliment. The Irish songwriting legend has not been bothered by the fact that his…
Basic FolkEveryone Has a Friend in Joe K. Walsh, ep. 323
Originally from northern Minnesota, Joe K. Walsh grew up in Duluth and became enthralled with the mandolin (his primary focus, currently) after hearing the…
Basic FolkEveryone Belongs at the Olive Klug show, ep. 322
Olive Klug and I (Cindy) recorded this interview in my closet while they were in Portland, Maine to play a show. They stayed along with their band Cori, Haley…
Basic FolkGina Chavez: From Choir Kid to Latin Grammy Nominee, ep. 321
New bestie Gina Chavez speaks about her journey in music, her deep love for connecting with people, and the influence of her mixed cultural background on Basic…
Basic FolkTony Kamel Believes in Life and You Should Too, ep. 320
You may recognize the voice, face, and vibe of wonderful human being Tony Kamel from his acclaimed bluegrass group, Wood & Wire. But Tony is on Basic Folk…
Basic FolkKora Feder is the Future of Political Folk Songwriting, but also Has Too Many Craft Projects, ep. 319
On this episode of Basic Folk, Kora Feder talks about her new album, 'Some Kind of Truth,' as well as reflecting on the incredible changes and growth she's…
Basic FolkTami Neilson: On Taking Wynonna's Call, Her Scary Near-Death Experience, and Willie Nelson, ep. 318
In recent years, Tami Neilson has been learning to carry both great joy and great sorrow simultaneously. The New Zealand-based, Canada-born powerhouse's new…
Basic FolkIndigo Girls: Activism Through Fashion and Community Through Food (REISSUE), ep. 317
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the past several weeks, Basic Folk has been digging back into the archives and reposting some of our…
Basic FolkJoy Oladokun Writes Worship Music for Youth Group Rejects (REISSUE), ep. 316
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the past several weeks, Basic Folk has been digging back into the archives and reposting some of our…
Basic FolkWatchhouse in Conversation with Jacob Sharp (Mipso) (Bonus)
(Editor's Note: Oh, WOW! A bonus, surprise episode with Watchhouse? Yes! And it is a treat. We are pleased to have Jacob Sharp of Mipso as our guest host in…
Basic FolkChris Thile: Calvin and Hobbes, Classical Music, and Curiosity (REISSUE), ep. 315
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite…
Basic FolkDar Williams: Music was Decided for Me (REISSUE), ep. 314
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes…
Basic FolkJohn Hiatt is Actually Not Scared to Talk about His Feelings (REISSUE), ep. 313
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite…
Basic FolkAnaïs Mitchell: 2019 Pre-Broadway interview on Hadestown, Lamb Rearing, and Untangling Third Wave Feminism (REISSUE), ep. 312
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite…
Basic FolkMorgan Toney on Circles, Elders, and Phil Collins, ep. 311
Circles have played a huge role in fiddler and singer Morgan Toney's life thus far: from drum circles, to talking circles, to the Earth itself (a circle!). In…
Basic FolkKris Delmhorst: Inching Forward through Sleepless Nights, ep. 310
Kris Delmhorst is not a good sleeper. The Western Massachusetts songwriter is usually awake from 2 or 3 am to about 4 or 5am. Sometimes it feels nice and…
Basic FolkSara Watkins on I'm With Her's Witchy AF New Record, ep. 309
Sara Watkins joins Basic Folk to talk about 'Wild and Clear and Blue,' the new album from I'm With Her, her band with Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. The new…
Basic FolkMary Gauthier & Jaimee Harris on THE Three Shoes, Alchemy and Weeding out Baddies, ep. 308
Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris talk to Lizzie and Cindy for Basic Folk on-board the Cayamo cruise in front of a live audience. We get down to business in…
Basic FolkSusan Werner on Defining Hard Work, Paid Vacations, and Relaxing as Indie Musician, ep. 307
The dynamic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Susan Werner talks to us onboard the Cayamo cruise, which she describes as a "paid vacation."…
Basic FolkJon Muq: Uganda, Cruise Ship Food and His Googly-Eyed Guitar, ep. 306
Originally from the village of Mutungo, Uganda (near the country's capital of Kampala), Jon Muq's journey to his current life of touring with an Austin, Texas…
Basic FolkAni DiFranco & Carsie Blanton: Menopause, The Wild Child, and Naps to fight Capitalism, ep. 305
Basic Folk is making trouble at sea with Ani DiFranco and Carsie Blanton! Hosts Lizzie and Cindy had the opportunity to speak with the two like-minded radical…
Basic FolkLoudon Wainwright III: Oversharing, Family Ties, and Musical Legacy, ep. 304
The legendary Loudon Wainwright III, whose career has spanned over five decades, is known for his deeply personal songwriting and sharp wit – and oversharing…
Basic FolkOlivia Ellen Lloyd: West Virginia to Brooklyn, Finding Ground in Water, ep. 303
Olivia Ellen Lloyd's latest album, 'Do It Myself,' sees the West Virginia-born Brooklyn-based songwriter reflecting on the powerful imagery of water. She…
Basic FolkBonnie "Prince" Billy On Making Nashville Musical Magic, ep. 302
Will Oldham, also known as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, has led an illustrious, sometimes mysterious career which has spanned decades and genres. Hailing…
Basic FolkRose Cousins & Edie Carey: Bast Friendship, Music, and the Art of Spatula-ing Life, ep. 301
Rose Cousins and Edie Carey's friendship has blossomed for over two decades. On the occasion of Rose releasing her new album, 'Conditions of Love - Vol 1,' the…
Basic FolkSierra Hull: Mandolin Magic and Small Town Roots, ep. 300
When mandolinist Sierra Hull was little, her dad told her she was really good "for a ten year old." The older Hull knew Sierra had a fiery passion for…
Basic FolkBasic Folk Presents: Folk Files: Shady Grove
Editor’s note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed! Folk Files is a podcast…
Basic FolkGary Louris talks to Mark Erelli on Songwriting, Late in Life Love, and Technology, ep. 299
You probably know Gary Louris as the leader of The Jayhawks – or as they refer to themselves, “a band from Minnesota.” The Jayhawks are pioneers of roots rock…
Basic FolkLilly Hiatt: Driving Tunes and Life Lessons, ep. 297
Singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt has an interesting way of working melodies and a down to earth way of telling stories about her life and about how she sees the…