Go, Pack. Go.

Gonna premiere a new song from Sam Lewis tonight on the Americana Pulse. It's part of a full show devoted to music from 2026 releases. Sam's new album, Everything's Fine, will release March 6h. The single, "Chase the Moon," is out on Friday, or you can hear it tonight in the 7:00 hour on WDVX.

It is my belief that Scott McCaughey is maybe the hardest working musician in the biz. Tons of projects. Tons of output. Here’s a new Young Fresh Fellows tune with Neko Case(!). open.spotify.com/track/6GyaCT...

Found out today that Ameila Day is coming to WDVX to play the the Big Plate live at Barley's next Friday at noon. I'm kind of excited to see that show. open.spotify.com/track/14Hosw...

This week’s Americana Pulse features 3 hours of music from 2026 releases. Mon Rovîa Lucinda Williams Courtney Marie Andrews Band of Heathens Infamous Stringdusters Rissi Palmer & much, much more. Tune in Wednesday night from 7:00-10:30, and get ready for another year of great music on WDVX.

I’ve mentioned a few times that I’m going to be part of a new podcast called Dive Bar Music Club. A bunch of episodes introducing some of the regular contributors released today… including mine. Follow & listen here, or in your favorite podcast app. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

Wonderful. Awesome. Something to look forward to. I guess I do turn 48 this year… Sooo… This probably tracks.

About to start…

Tonight's Americana Pulse on WDVX features 50+ more songs and artists that made 2025 a great year for music. We start at 7:00 with a look at some local East Tennessee releases, and we'll spin everything from Billy Strings to Bombadil before we're done. Tune in from 7:00-10:30 on WDVX!

Recording a three hour radio show while also nursing a lingering cough brought on by a Holiday sinus infection is not the super fun time you might think... The finished product will still sound... ok... but editing this thing is gonna be hell.

I have podcast homework… It’s kind of exciting.

There is, sadly, no Avengers trailer before the Sponge Bob movie…

Jim Croce’s widow sent me a nice email once because I wrote about Jim on my old website.

I’ll be part of the rotating cast of contributors to the new Dive Bar Music Club podcast in 2026. It’s hosted by @sloanespencer.bsky.social of @countryfriedrock.bsky.social. Look for preview episodes in January. Check out a preview episode and subscribe at the link in the next post.

Describe your Bluesky account in a single image

My wife came through with the winning gift for me this year.

Home to visit family for the holidays… forgot to pack pants. And that, dear readers, is how I wound up clothes shopping at an Eastern Kentucky Wal-Mart in my pj’s on Christmas Eve morning.

It’s a special Best of 2025 edition of The Americana Pulse tonight at 7:00 on WDVX! 50 songs from 50 artists representing my favorite music of 2025. Over three hours of great music from this year. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and I hope to see you on the radio tonight from 7:00-11:00 on WDVX.

Absolutely featuring some classic R.E.M. Fan Club Holiday tunes at the end of the show this week… Christmas Griping, etc…

Drinking a splash of bourbon… Listening to an early mix of this week’s show… Wrapping presents… Merry Holidays, y’all!

#Albumsof2025 Kathleen Edwards - Billionaire The Canadian songwriter moved south and worked with Jason Isbell as a producer. Listen to this in conjunction with Edwards' Covers EP that came out in the spring to get a full picture of her year. open.spotify.com/track/4ruCWi...

Trying to finish this up today...

#Albumsof2025 Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover - What of Our Nature Haley & Max trade vocals and writing credits on this Guthrie inspired collaboration... their second album together. The pair bring a modern viewpoint to Guthrie's themes. open.spotify.com/track/6oRUG8...

#Albumsof2025 S.G. Goodman - Planting by the Signs I loved getting to interview and catch a set from my fellow Kentucky native Goodman at Americanafest this year. She is an artist who has grown with every record, and delivers a masterpiece here. open.spotify.com/track/3UDt3N...

#Albumsof2025 Southern Avenue - Family Family soul from Memphis. I got to see them twice this year at Americanafest and on the WDVX Blue Plate Special. High energy, tight sister harmonies, amazing guitar work. One of my favorite live acts this year. open.spotify.com/track/4JX2se...

#Albumsof2025 Galactic & Irma Thomas - Audience with the Queen The Soul Queen of New Orleans joins forces with the Big Easy’s jazz-funk heroes for a fun collaboration that deserves more attention. The 83 year old Thomas delivers. open.spotify.com/track/4ri4Fy...

#Albumsof2025 Molly Tuttle - So Long Little Miss Sunshine New direction for Molly. I think I saw someone refer to it as "pop songs with bluegrass picking." I like that. This song is probably my song of the year. Joy Joyce production shines. open.spotify.com/track/6TaHuU...

#Albumsof2025 Sinners Motion Picture Soundtrack Americanafest hosted a panel with several of the people involved with this project. It was a highlight of the festival. This soundtrack blends originals with classic blues, and a stellar cast of performers. open.spotify.com/track/3zYGlW...

Should probably hit up Potchke Deli if you’re in Knoxville today, btw… Get some babka and pastrami while you’re there, too.

#Albumsof2025 Snocaps - Snocaps Katie & Allison Crutchfield with MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook... What's not to love? A sisterly supergroup with a surprise release back in October. Perfect for any Waxahatchee-holics out there. open.spotify.com/track/4LAiOk...

#Albumsof2025 Julien Baker & TORRES - Send a Prayer My Way The opposite of Robert Finley, in that this was a project nearly a half-decade in the making. An inspired collaboration, and a beautiful collection of queer country anthems. Maybe my favorite of the year. open.spotify.com/track/27fkRo...

#Albumsof2025 Robert Finley - Hallelujah Don't Let the Devil Fool Ya I interviewed Robert at Americanafest, I was utterly charmed by the story of how this record was made... fully improvised in the studio. Soulful gospel blues at its best. open.spotify.com/track/68HxKO...

Gonna share a few albums (10 or so) over the next few days. Some that are favorites of the year… Some that were overlooked… Some that were important… Top 10? I don’t know. But, certainly 10 worth highlighting.

This week is the "2025 Almanac" edition of the Americana Pulse on WDVX. We'll hear 2025 award winners, artists I saw live this year, and we'll spend nearly two hours on an In Memoriam feature to say goodbye to those we lost this year. Tune in Wednesday night from 7:00-11:00 on WDVX.

Please consider WDVX for your Year-End Giving. You can make a one time donation or become a sustaining supporter on our website. You can also find info about contributing to WDVX through your Donor Advised Fund. WDVX is a 501(c)3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

Ely McMurtry Mellencamp Prine Yoakam youtu.be/Eiv430vef_w?...

“I'll probably live to be some ripe ol' age If death'll just stay out of my way” Damnit. Rest easy, Joe Ely. youtu.be/q2dqsqosvbI?...

Shout out to Kentucky’s Ale-8-1… My only regret is that I never got my hands on the recent paw-paw flavored release down here in Tennessee.

Are the Americana Music Association UK Awards happening in 2026? They're usually held in January, but I haven't seen any nominations yet. Wondering if I've missed it somewhere. I usually like to put a show together based on the nominations. @americanauk.bsky.social, do you know?

What does the playlist look like for a 4-hour radio show that only played cover songs released in 2025? A whole lot like this, actually. The Raul Malo track at the beginning was added after the show was already finished.

Olivia Wolf on the WDVX Blue Plate Special earlier this year... youtu.be/vk37FfpYnXw?...

4 hours of 2025 cover songs tonight on The Americana Pulse on WDVX! Bluegrass Sabrina Carpenter… blues rock Janet Jackson… Americana Frou Frou… Gonna be a fun time tonight from 7:00-11:00 on WDVX.

I have another new podcast coming out in January. And the other new podcast that's also coming out in Jan. They have absolutely nothing in common with each other, down to differing formats and lengths and subjects. This is fun!

50 of my favorite tracks from 2025. 50 song... 50 artists... 3+ hours... Come for Molly Tuttle, Mavis Staples, Snocaps, & Sunny War... Stay for "Big Butt Billy." open.spotify.com/playlist/5uO...

And I am a fool for ever letting myself believe he might…

That time I sat in a room with about five other people and listened to Raul Malo & Whitney Rose… This was 2015 at Americanafest, and I think this was a session with Chuck Taylor at KHYI. Raul was playing a guitar he borrowed from Trisha Gene Brady.

The first time I saw Raul Malo was Americanafest in 2004. he sat in for a song with BR549, & I was blown away. Eventually got to interview him in 2016. He brought me on the bus, and we had a great conversation. Kind, engaging, funny... and one of the purest voices I've ever heard. This sucks.

Wednesday’s Americana Pulse on WDVX will feature 4 hours of roots based cover songs of 2025. This playlist is full of original versions (or early versions, at least, for some of the more traditional tunes) of every song I’ll be playing Wednesday night. open.spotify.com/playlist/5GM...