Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations

We chat with American folk legend Jim Kweskin about his latest album Never Too Late: Duets With My Friends, which features a collection of 18 recordings and storied collaborations with some of his favorite female musicians. The new album stands as a testament to the generation and genre-spanning brilliance that has defined Kweskin's illustrious career for the past six decades.

Nice Horse is a wild, fresh, and fierce pair that has established themselves as one of the most buzzed-about acts in the Canadian music industry. The duo, made up of Katie Rox (vocals/banjo/acoustic guitar) and Brandi Sidoryk (vocals/bass), has garnered significant accolades, including two Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) wins, eight CCMA nominations, and ten Country Music Alberta Awards. They talk about their new album dropping April 19, how they were friends before the group, how Nice Horse came to be, their name, growing up in Alberta, learning to play instruments and so much more!

Discover the captivating sound of Nashville recording artist Jake Bush, a true purveyor of traditional, rug-cutting country music. Tailor-made for the dedicated honky-tonk crowd, Jake Bush has emerged as an authentic craftsman of country music, with crowd-pleasing melodies seamlessly blending the nostalgic essence of ‘90s country with the vibrant spirit of modern country. Jake talks about how he got into music, his journey in the business, how things changed when "Gravity & You" hit the top of the Texas charts, his lastest single "God and Good News", what else is happening in 2024 and more.

Koe Wetzel might just be the last real rebel out there. The Platinum-selling East Texas-born singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer shakes up the status quo, shatters expectations and sticks to his guns with a sound steeped in country storytelling, yet spiked with grunge grit. He’s unapologetic, undeniable and unlike anyone else you’ve ever heard.

Southern-Rock influenced country may seem contradictory in the Great White North, but that's where Devin Cooper hangs his wide-brimmed hat. Kicking off 2024, Cooper was nominated for 5x Country Music Alberta Awards, released his country-rock love anthem “She’s My Religion”, with a highly anticipated album coming later in 2024.

By the age of 16, Dalton Dover had picked up a guitar and started teaching himself to play, yet it was his grandfather who turned him on to country music and artists such as Keith Whitley, Rhett Akins, Joe Diffie and Steve Wariner. We chat with Dalton about his grandfather, growing up in small town Georgia, going on The Voice, getting to play the Opry, travelling, releasing Take Me Home: The Covers, what else is coming in 2024 and so much more.

Amy Sheppard, alongside her siblings George and Emma, is a founding and current member of the indie-pop sensation Sheppard. The band stands as one of Australia's most prominent musical exports of the past decade. Amy has launched the next chapter of her country music career with the release  ‘Overthinking’ from her debut full-length album. In the first 18 months of her solo country music career, Amy has amassed four Top 3 hits on the Australian country airplay chart and was the most played Australian female artist on country radio in 2022-23. Amy talks about growing up in Papau New Guinea and Australia, getting into country music, forming Sheppard with her siblings, visiting Nashville, going on the Masked Singer Australia, her single Overthinking and so much more.

Throughout his distinguished career, Donovan Woods has built a devoted following who cling to the acclaimed songwriter’s every word. Never one to mince words, Woods is one of music’s most vulnerable storytellers.

Born and raised in Toccoa, Georgia, Scoot Teasley has been immersed in the world of music since his earliest days. With a deep-rooted passion for rhythm and melody, he initially found his groove behind the drum kit and in the church pews fostering a lifelong love of music. Drawing inspiration from artists like Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers, Scoot is on a mission to carve out his unique niche within the world of country music. We chat with Scoot about his name, his debut EP Country Back, how he spends his downtime, where he found his love of music, when he decided to dive into music fulltime, his latest single This Truck Misses You, what's next and more.🥃Jonathan’s pouring: Castle & Key Restoration Rye 2021 Batch 3

Comprised of newcomers Leo Brooks and Andrew Millsaps, Neon Union is a duo preparing to take country music by storm. Brooks grew up in Miami and has collaborated with artists like Pitbull, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green and John Legend. Millsaps grew up in North Carolina and has been writing songs ever since the age of 13. Together as Neon Union, Brooks and Millsaps are bringing a new sound to country music, with 808 kick drums married to a traditional country lyric and anthemic pop melodies. They talk about having fun on social media, how Neon Union came to be, their influences, their latest single This Side of Dirt, releasing their EP, upcoming music and more.

Flat River Band consists of three brothers Andy, Chad and Dennijo Sitze, who grew up in a multi-generational family band. Performing alongside their parents and grandparents, they held residencies at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Throughout their tenure in music, the Missouri natives have charted #1 hits on the bluegrass gospel charts and have opened for The Chicks’ Natalie Maines, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, TG Sheppard and more. The brothers talk about the trouble they got in growing up, what it was like to play in a family band, how Flat River Band came to be, getting to play with the Gatlin Brothers, their new song "Home Sweet Home", what's coming this year and more.

Late nights (and early mornings) under the influence of a guitar and a bottle, thousand-mile moves for the sake of new love, and a once-in-a-lifetime friendship carried Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy to Lakeview. The Nashville-by-way-of-Pittsburgh duo distill country soul, rock scope, and pop ambition into a singular style rooted in old school storytelling and elevated by modern attitude and production. Jesse and Luke talk about their van breaking down in the desert, how they met, both dating the same girl, taking the jump to Nashville, their latest single Drunk Prayer, how they approach songwriting, what's next and more.

Singer-songwriter Annie Bosko pairs a sound anchored deep in the organic twang of ‘90s country with simple songs told from the heart, preaching equal parts healing and honky-tonk hope. We chat with her about her busy start to 2024, dropping her self-titled EP, how she got her first guitar, getting into music professionally at a young age, rediscovering her sound, meeting Vince Gill, playing the Opry, what's next and more!

A look back at Bourbon and Beyond Day 3. We talk about finally checking out the Bluegrass Stage, including checking out Della Mae, and another great day with standouts Old Crow Medicine Show and The Black Keys.

Wesley and Aaron Smith, the brothers at the heart of Brother Smith, are shapeshifters of the highest order. Wes shreds guitar, plays beautiful piano, lays down a rock-solid rhythm guitar, and even occasionally breaks out a horn. Aaron switches back and forth between fiddle and drums. We chat with both about how they got into music, how their sound has evolved over the years, playing so many different instruments, their latest releases, what's coming in 2024 and more. Jonathan's pouring: Remus Repeal Reserve VII

Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra write music steeped in 20th-century American traditions—jazz, folk, country, blues, and rock—but tackle modern subjects with urgency, humor, and a well of deep feeling. The quartet has released four studio albums with their fifth album "Did You Do The Thing We Talked About?" dropping Feb. 16. We chat with Ethan about the album, the group's name, what else is happening in 2024 and more.

A look back at Bourbon and Beyond Day 2, including the bad and good. Mostly good, like performances by Bastille, The Killers, Hozier, Brittany Howard, Wayne Newton and so many more.

We take a look back at Day 1 of Bourbon & Beyond 2023. We talk about the setup, the food and, of course, the lineup. Some standouts include Buddy Guy, Midland, Train, Brandi Carlile, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.

Formed in their teens, Boy Named Banjo includes Barton Davies (banjo), Ford Garrard (bass/standing bass), Sam McCullough (drums) Willard Logan (mandolin, acoustic/electric guitar) and William Reames (acoustic guitar/harmonica). We chat with the guys about their major label debut album Dusk, being able to capture all the band's personalities on it, making their Opry debut, being from Nashville, how the group came together, why they're a five-way partnership, what's coming up and more.

A Nashvillian by way of Philadelphia, Vinnie Paolizzi has spent the better part of the last decade in the songwriting trenches, making a name for himself as a rising singer-songwriter to watch. Vinnie talks about his new album Vinnie Paolizzi LP, growing up in Pennsylvania, ending up in Nashville, writing music, working with talented artists, favorite song to perform on stage, what folks can expect in 2024 and more.