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American Songcatcher: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Nicholas Edward Williams
Tracing the roots of American music from its cultured past to artists playing it forward, folk musician, musicologist and host Nicholas Edward Williams takes listeners on a unique documentary-style podcast experience. Dive into the stories of centuries-old Traditional songs and migrants who carried their musical heritage here, and uncover the lives of pioneers and integral musicians who created and shaped styles such as Bluegrass, Ragtime, Jazz and Swing, Country, Gospel, Blues, Old-Time, and the Folk music that's derived from it all. Here's to the songs of old, may they live on forever.
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- 3 weeks ago1h 0m
ROOTS MUSIC REVUE // Leah Song (of Rising Appalachia)
Today, we proudly present the very first live radio show from American Songcatcher, called "Roots Music Revue" centered on Appalachian music history. This new 60 minute program is recorded and filmed at the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC - and syndicated with our partner station WNCW. Our first guest was Leah Song, one half of the world folk group Rising Appalachia, a songstress who has an extremely unique and cultured lens on traditional music, a humanitarian, storyteller, and multi-instrumentalist. Enjoy! This program was made possible by Sound Archive Books - books for the future of music. Discover their books and support ongoing publishing projects from leading musical artists across genres at SoundArchiveBooks.org. More about the featured guest: Leah Song of Rising Appalachia OCTOBER 29th | Tickets for Roots Music Revue: Travis Book (of The Infamous Stringdusters) Support American Songcatcher, a flagship program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit ReString Appalachia Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram AS Official Website Credits: Host & Producer - Nicholas Edward Williams Co-Producer & Location Host - Earl Scruggs Center Recording - WNCW 88.7
- Sep 9, 20261 min
ANNOUNCEMENT // ROOTS MUSIC REVUE
Coming this fall, listen in for American Songcatcher's "Roots Music Revue", the first live radio show centered on Appalachian music history, recorded at the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC and syndicated on NPR'S WNCW and online at WNCW.org. Season 1 Lineup: September 24th | Leah Song (of Rising Appalachia) TICKETS October 29th | Travis Book (of The Infamous Stringdusters) TICKETS November 19th | Melissa McKinney (of MAMA) TICKETS Here's to the songs of old, may they live on forever. Follow American Songcatcher Now a flagship program of the 501c3 nonprofit ReString Appalachia
- Mar 17, 202638 min
Talkin' Blues // Cameron Knowler
Today, I'm sharing a conversation I had with guitarist, writer, archivist, teacher and scholar Cameron Knowler, who has lovingly absorbed an archive's worth of early American guitar styles, and it shows. His self-illustrated book Guitars Have Feelings Too views flat picking as a continuation of the dance music that became bluegrass, not just virtuosic instrumental music. Cameron is a writer for Fretboard Journal magazine, and his new record CRK, released in April of this 2025, was heralded by Acoustic Guitar magazine, who said: "The dynamic performances, which evoke words like sensitive, nuanced, restrained, and understated, hint at a disinterest in flash for its own sake." We talked about Norman Blake quite a bit, learned about his fascinating background, and as always, geek out on some music history. Enjoy! Official Website CRK Album Instagram ___ Support Educational Programming: Join the Patreon Community One-time donation via Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution
- Dec 2, 202525 min
TAKEOVER // Finding Lucinda: Episode 1
Today on the program, we're letting our friends at The Bluegrass Situation takeover our feed with a brand new series called "Finding Lucinda." Episode One: Introducing Finding Lucinda As we join the story, Ismay has been living and working on their family ranch for almost a decade – and they're looking for change. For several years the independent singer-songwriter has been playing in a Lucinda Williams tribute band and writing their own music. An opportunity to record an album sparks a new and different idea: to instead embark on a road trip to uncover the early days of Lucinda's music career and, hopefully, find a way forward creatively. However, they are plagued by self doubt about whether pursuing music can still be worthwhile for them. But in spite of this uncertainty, Ismay dives into research to see where a journey across the country – and further into the life and music of Lucinda – could lead. Links: Finding Lucinda on The Bluegrass Situation Facebook Instagram X Website Credits: Distributed by The Bluegrass Situation Produced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLC Music by ISMAY and The Lake Charlatans Artwork by Avery Hellman Guests: Mary Gauthier, Wolf Stephenson, John Grimaudo, Charlie Sexton Special thanks to: Joel Fendelman, Liz McBee, Rose Bush, Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Jonathan McHugh, Jacqueline Sabec, Lucinda Williams & Tom Overby About Finding Lucinda: Finding Lucinda follows a young singer-songwriter on a road trip of self discovery to trace the roots of their musical hero Lucinda Williams. Amidst self-doubt and uncertainty, ISMAY sets out from the family ranch in Northern California and travels to Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee. There ISMAY meets Lucinda's early collaborators, digs through the archives to uncover hidden treasures, and visits the studios and venues where Lucinda got her start. Interviews include Charlie Sexton, Buddy Miller, and Mary Gauthier. Finding Lucinda is ultimately a story about not knowing whether you have what it takes to be the artist you want to be, and looking for answers on how to move forward anyways. It's about finding a small way to be more like your hero. Listen on The Bluegrass Situation or where you get your shows and look out for the Finding Lucinda film coming Fall 2025.
- Oct 23, 20251h 11m
Earl Scruggs // King of the Five String
Today on the program, we're sharing our most robust and entertaining episode since beginning five years ago, honoring the king of the five string banjo, Earl Scruggs. Featuring more than 25 different voices all touched by Earl, this part narrative, part field recording feature will give you a glimpse into the life of Earl Scruggs and his story that is completely unique, informed by those who knew him and those who are holding his legacy high today. Immerse yourself in the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, and learn why it was chosen as the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association Event of the Year. Special thanks to the Earl Scruggs Center and the Earl Scruggs Festival for having me this year! Have an instrument to donate? ReString Appalachia Support Educational Programming: Join the Patreon Community Send a one-time donation on Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher: Instagram | TikTok Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, writing recording and distribution Jamie Tews - Research, Writing Assistance
- Aug 11, 20252 min
ANNOUNCEMENT // Béla Fleck Banjo Raffle
Get your raffle ticket here! For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes of a person who plays music, whether they're professional, amateur or just getting started. Imagine what it would be like to lose the instrument that helps you understand your life, to make sense of the world. Now, imagine losing it and most of what you own during the most traumatic event of your life. Who is going to help you get music back? This is the mission of ReString Appalachia. An initiative that started with American Songcatcher after Hurricane Helene, ReString is now a 501(c)3 nonprofit who has given over 800 instruments to musicians from natural disasters in Appalachia and Los Angeles, and soon, the Texas Hill Country. You can help us accomplish this by buying a raffle ticket to win a signed, one of a kind bluegrass banjo from world renowned banjoist Béla Fleck. This fundraiser is in partnership with the Henhouse Prowlers, their nonprofit Bluegrass Ambassadors, ReString Appalachia, and American Songcatcher. Raffle ends Sept 1st! www.ReStringAppalachia.org We'll be back VERY soon with a few interviews, and we'll have a very special field recording and feature on the Earl Scruggs Music Festival and his legacy. See you next time, on American Songcatcher.
- May 31, 20251h 5m
Talkin' Blues // Buffalo Nichols
Today, I'm sharing a conversation I had with one of today's most eclectic roots musicians, Buffalo Nichols. Since his earliest infatuations with guitar, Carl, who goes by the name Buffalo Nichols has asked himself the same question: How can I bring the blues of the past into the future? A student of African traditions and its roots in the blues, as well as the black influence on "white" music in country, bluegrass, old time and folk, the depth and airy nature of his voice lends itself to all these traditions, as represented in his music. We talked about his trajectory as a musician early on, being picked up by labels, and now being independent, the misinformed music history narrative that's been pushed on all of us since the 1920's, and many things in between. Enjoy! Tour Listen Instagram Patreon ___ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join our Patreon Community One-time donation via Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution
- May 12, 20252 min
ANNOUNCEMENT // American Songcatcher's Future
Over the last 5 years, we have had the privilege of bringing you stories of Pioneering musicians such as Bill Monroe, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash, Lead Belly, Dolly Parton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie and so many more. However, a recently shift was forced upon the American Songcatcher program. Our distributor, Spotify for Podcasters/Creators, has taken down 1/4 of our episodes on all platforms, with more likely to follow, as they have began to crack down on the rights and usage of songs. Although this program is strictly education-based, and we don't sell products or produce any notable revenue from these episodes, they don't see what we do as fair use. It's a big blow, as over a year's worth of our work is now gone from the convenient places to listen to them. And so, our standstill for the last 5 months has been one of great pondering, and a lot of work with our nonprofit ReString Appalachia, where we have just surpassed 700 instruments given to those who had them taken away from natural disasters. It's been decided that from now on, American Songcatcher will strictly focus on traditional song history, field recordings, and interviews. We embrace our new direction, and we hope you will too. All of the episodes will be available on our website, AmericanSongcatcher.com in the next month. We'll be back with some new content soon, thank you for your patience, see you next time on American Songcatcher. __ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution
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About American Songcatcher
Tracing the roots of American music from its cultured past to artists playing it forward, folk musician, musicologist and host Nicholas Edward Williams takes listeners on a unique documentary-style podcast experience. Dive into the stories of centuries-old Traditional songs and migrants who carried their musical heritage here, and uncover the lives of pioneers and integral musicians who created and shaped styles such as Bluegrass, Ragtime, Jazz and Swing, Country, Gospel, Blues, Old-Time, and the Folk music that's derived from it all. Here's to the songs of old, may they live on forever.
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