FolkPod

Ellis Delaney is Our Folk Family

The Pride Month celebration continues here on FolkPod with the always engaging Ellis Delaney! At once open-hearted and introspective, Ellis is a feel-good musician on a mission to connect people through her songs. With an infectious laugh and music that is by turns funny and deeply emotional, Ellis finds joy in the everyday and refuses to shy away from the bigger issues we all face. Her conversation with Cheryl covers it all, from her love of fancy caffeinated beverages and writing under pressure to how living in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020 changed her. We promise lots of laughs and tons of music with Ellis Delaney on FolkPod! (One mild instance of profanity.)

Crys Matthews is a Proud Band Nerd

Celebrate FolkPod’s first ever Pride Month episode with the inspiring Crys Matthews! In a family filled with fantastic singers, Crys thinks she probably wouldn’t win the family talent competition, but we disagree. Growing up in the South as a Black, lesbian, daughter of a preacher in the '90s was a tumultuous journey, but Crys tells Cheryl and our listeners that those difficult times helped shape who she is today. From writing early college tunes about romance to her transition to composing social justice songs, Matthews seeks to change the world in profound ways through love. Maybe that’s why she’s been called “the next Woody Guthrie.” Find out about Crys’ theories of “pandemic perks,” including the chance to collaborate with Heather Mae. Plus, a previously unrecorded song played live, exclusively for FolkPod!

David Amram: Student at the School of Hang-Out-Ology

When we say David Amram has worked with everyone, we mean EVERYONE, including Aaron Copeland, Dizzy Gillespie, Theolonious Monk, Pete Seger, Jack Kerouac, and more! An American composer, arranger, & conductor, David composed the music for The Manchurian Candidate, and in 1966, David was chosen by Leonard Bernstein as the first composer in residence for the New York Philharmonic. Now you might wonder what all of this has to do with folk! David has been attending folk music conferences and festivals forever. Jamming with other musicians until the wee hours of the night, David's always the one closing down the house!  His youthful energy and spirit are practically boundless, and now we are lucky enough to have him share his stories, filled with wit, wisdom, and grace with FolkPod's own Cheryl Prashker. 

Eliza Gilkyson Folk Music Royalty

Eliza Gilkyson started her professional life by singing on Disney demos written by her father Terry Gilkyson, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on "The Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book." With music in her blood, Eliza always knew this life was her destiny. Now Eliza tells Cheryl about her early influences, the difficulties of being signed as a young woman artist, and the pitfalls of being both a mother and musician, as well as her journey from back-to-the-land hippie to true political activist working through her art to enact change.

Vance Gilbert: Stop Playing So Damn Much

Vance Gilbert makes us laugh like no one else. From how he met Ellis Paul (not in a bordello) to his big, big dreams (being a cocktail singer) to his heart's most secret desire (to be Shawn Colvin), Vance sees the world from a slightly different perspective than other people. Listen to his chat with Cheryl for road stories from Vance's days as an opening act for George Carlin, the truth about how many pairs of airplane pajamas he really owns, and how to get the guitar out of your damn way. 

Ellis Paul: A Creative Life

Celebrate our 10th episode with the incredible Ellis Paul, a musician and storyteller with a gift for making personal stories feel universal. Through music, poetry, and illustration, Ellis is an unparalleled creative force. From tiny open mics in Boston, to sold-out shows and Hollywood soundtracks, to his latest chapter as a mentor, teacher, and on-line artist, Ellis never stops looking towards the future and for ways to improve his music. Because of this, he continues surprise us all, taking the last year as an opportunity for a huge leap into digital performance. Don't miss this personal conversation with Cheryl about his life in music, getting a song in Me, Myself, & Irene, and the time he helped stop a nearly naked carjacker in the snows of Wisconsin!

Pat Wictor Death Metal Fan Folk Artist

Pat Wictor defies simple descriptions. He's a singer-songwriter, world traveller, Brother Sun alum, a cappella improv impresario, paleo baker, and even that doesn't begin to cover all of his accomplishments. He's played trumpet, saxophone, guitar, slide guitar, and sung with some of the finest musicians of the blues, jazz, and folk scenes. From Phil Ochs nights to Brother Sun to a week with Bobby McFerrin, Pat talks to Cheryl about the unparalleled diversity of his experiences and how he folds all of it into his music. Plus, we get the amazing treat of a never before recorded song, performed live, exclusively for our FolkPod fans! 

Banana - Only His Dentist Calls Him Lowell

How do you get the nickname "Banana," you ask? Turns out it's a long and winding road from a childhood in California immersed in music, to flipping off the college Dean, and then sleeping on floors on your way up to becoming a founding member of 1970's hit band The Youngbloods. Plus Banana fills Cheryl in on how a dinner party intro gone wrong and his personal motto landed him the gig of a lifetime with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. 

Scarlet Rivera Passed Bob Dylan's Test

Scarlet Rivera was a rock violin goddess even before Bob Dylan discovered her walking down the street in the Village. From her first night improvising on stage with Dylan and Muddy Waters to the Rolling Thunder Revue, jazz fusion, Celtic music and now a solo career as a singer-songwriter, Scarlet gives Cheryl an inside look at how music has given her life purpose and direction, and how she has no interest in ever slowing down.

Tracy Grammer: Karaoke & Kamikazes

Tracy Grammer has come a long way from singing in a recording booth on a California pier, and that journey has been both colorful and powerful. Now she talks and laughs with Cheryl about everything from her love of the violin to her incredible partnership with the late Dave Carter to her next chapter as a thriving solo artist. Plus, get the skinny on Tracy's theory on dating your bandmates, good (and bad) reasons to uproot your life, her favorite John Denver tunes, and how long it really takes to write something new.