Musical Miles Podcast

Byron Duffin
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

Sharing our love of live music, from dive bars, festivals to stadium events. One on one interviews with the artists, song writers and venues, one mile at a time!

  1. 9h ago

    J Plank | The Stories, Songs & Soul Behind the Slide Guitar

    Send us Fan Mail J Plank, the performing name of Jeff Plankenhorn, is an internationally touring singer-songwriter, guitarist, and master of the lap steel whose music lives at the crossroads of Americana, blues, roots, folk, and soul. Known for his soulful voice, expressive songwriting, and unmistakable slide-guitar work, Plank has built a career around musicianship that serves the song rather than overshadows it. Before establishing himself as a solo artist, Plankenhorn spent years as a highly regarded Austin, Texas session and touring musician, working alongside artists including Ruthie Foster, Joe Ely, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Jimmy LaFave. That time in Austin helped shape both his playing and songwriting, earning him recognition in the city's celebrated music community. He received Austin Music Award nominations for Musician of the Year and Best Guitarist, and won Best Miscellaneous Instrument for his custom-designed hybrid lap steel guitar known simply as “The Plank.” His solo career took a major step forward with the 2016 album SoulSlide, which showcased the combination of groove, blues, soul and storytelling that has become his signature. The project and its song “Trouble Find Me” earned Austin Music Award nominations for Album and Song of the Year. Now based in British Columbia, J Plank continues to tour internationally while maintaining strong ties to the Texas music community. His travels have taken him throughout North America as well as Europe and Japan. His more recent work includes the Colin Linden-produced Alone at Sea and the stripped-down The Bend, which puts the focus squarely on Plank's voice, songwriting, acoustic guitar, piano and lap steel. In 2026, Plank also joined forces with acclaimed musician Gabriel Rhodes for Slow and Steady. Recorded live in Rockport, Texas, the project embraces the less-is-more philosophy associated with J.J. Cale—two voices, guitars, slide, subtle rhythm and plenty of room for the groove to breathe. J Plank is ultimately a songwriter's musician and a musician's songwriter—an artist equally comfortable delivering a quiet, revealing lyric or digging into a deep roots groove with a lap steel in his hands. His performances are built around connection: bringing an audience together through memorable songs, musicianship and the shared experience of live music. That makes J Plank a natural fit for the Musical Miles Podcast—where the road, the songwriter and the stories behind the music all come together. MORE ABOUT J PLANK: Website: https://share.google/fDFxoI4yIuGQIUqZ2 Instagram: https://share.google/4Ak4T5q3pggvofEVf Facebook: https://share.google/v4gRMY9OtlG251fOj Bandcamp: https://share.google/6mcrZIyfx4qmaj7oD   🎵 In This Episode: • J Plank interview • Lap Steel • Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival • Songwriter MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #jplankmusic, #lapsteelplayer, #folkmusic, #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #grandmesasongwriterfest #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  2. 3d ago

    Erik Stucky: From Colorado to Nashville | Songs, Stories & a Mandolin

    Send us Fan Mail Erik Stucky is a Colorado-born singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends Americana, roots, country, folk, soul, jazz, and bluegrass influences into a sound distinctly his own. Raised among the rugged mountains of Western Colorado, Stucky's connection to music began early when he picked up his first mandolin at just eight years old. That mandolin would eventually take him far beyond Colorado. After releasing his debut album, Stray Clouds, in 2017, Erik packed his instruments and headed for Nashville, where he continued developing his songwriting and building a career as a touring musician. Influenced by artists including New Grass Revival and Lyle Lovett, Stucky has developed an approach that combines thoughtful lyric writing, acoustic instrumentation, and arrangements that aren't afraid to cross traditional genre lines. His sophomore album, Good Vibrations, released in 2021, demonstrated that versatility by bringing together elements of country, soul, jazz, pop, and Americana. Performing primarily on mandolin and guitar, Erik combines the traditions of roots music with a contemporary singer-songwriter sensibility. Over the course of his career, Erik has performed across the United States and Europe and has been featured by outlets including RFD-TV, Today in Nashville, The Cowboy Channel, The Bluegrass Situation, and Nashville Entertainment Weekly. His work has also received praise from Americana UK, Roots Music Report, M Music & Musicians Magazine, and award-winning country music legend Crystal Gayle. Erik's newest chapter is Bag of Bones, his third project and first EP. The five-song collection features "Bag of Bones," "Night Train," "Jealous of the Wind," "Because You're Right," and "Crying Side of You," with Stucky taking on the roles of songwriter, lead singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. In 2026, Erik was also part of the songwriter lineup at the Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in Cedaredge, Colorado, alongside artists including Martin Gilmore, Andy Sydow, Havilah Rand, Deb Scheer, Susan Gibson, Kalyn Beasley and others, with Rodney Crowell serving as the festival headliner. For Musical Miles Podcast, Erik Stucky represents a great intersection of what the show is all about: Colorado roots, miles traveled, songs written, and stories collected along the way. From picking up a mandolin as an eight-year-old in Western Colorado to pursuing music in Nashville and performing internationally, Erik continues to build his career one song and one stage at a time. Real Roads – Real Songs – Real Stories. MORE ABOUT ERIK STUCKY: Website: https://share.google/eVfzjRNdqasLGmY7B Instagram: https://share.google/qqY65LPOkZXYKpGkA Facebook: https://share.google/CRMsI8mG0HqFQc99W Spotify: https://share.google/LS3OqxtrhFkCJZHHg Bandcamp: https://share.google/ksm2WMxdamgcfvYSr 🎵 In This Episode: • Erik Stucky interview • Folk Music • Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival • Songwriter MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #erikstucky, #mandolinplayer, #folkmusic, #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #grandmesasongwriterfest #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  3. 5d ago

    Andy Sydow | Singer, Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist & Producer

    Send us Fan Mail Andy Sydow is a Colorado singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and podcaster whose music blends Americana, folk, roots rock, and the classic singer-songwriter tradition. Originally from the Denver area, Andy spent an important chapter of his career living and working in Nashville before recently returning home to Colorado. Now based once again in the Denver area, he brings the experiences, relationships, and musical growth gained in Music City back to the Colorado music community where much of his career began. A versatile musician and storyteller, Sydow has spent more than a decade developing a sound built around thoughtful lyrics, memorable melodies, and musicianship that can move effortlessly from acoustic guitar and lap steel to piano and full-band roots rock. His music has drawn comparisons to artists including Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Sydow has toured nationally and internationally and has shared bills with an impressive roster of artists, including John Hiatt, Shane Smith & The Saints, Dawes, Lucero, Brett Dennen, Chuck Prophet, Dick Dale, and Anders Osborne. His songwriting has also earned considerable recognition. He has been a two-time Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Competition finalist and a 2024 Telluride Troubadour Contest finalist, along with receiving recognition in several other songwriting competitions. A major chapter in Andy's recording career came with his 2024 album Night Skin, produced by acclaimed New Orleans singer-songwriter and guitarist Anders Osborne at Dockside Studio in Louisiana. Osborne also performed on the project alongside percussionist Mike Dillon and bassist Casandra Faulconer. The album helped introduce another side of Sydow's songwriting and musicianship while further establishing him within the independent Americana and roots-music community. Andy's creativity extends well beyond the traditional singer-songwriter format. After studying orchestration and film composition, he arranged and scored his own material for classical musicians, resulting in the 2023 EP Measure 1: Orchestral Arrangements by Andy Sydow. He's also worked as a producer, helping other artists develop their music while continuing to write, record, and perform his own material. When he's not making music, Andy also sits on the other side of the microphone as host of the Middle Class Rock Star podcast, where he talks with musicians and music-industry professionals about the realities of building and sustaining a career in music. Andy joined the lineup of songwriters at the 2026 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in Cedaredge, Colorado, bringing his songs and stories to an event built around the craft of songwriting. For Musical Miles Podcast, Andy's story is about more than the songs. It's about the miles between Colorado and Nashville, the lessons learned along the way, and ultimately finding his way back home to Denver while continuing to build a career as a songwriter, performer, producer, and storyteller. From intimate songwriter rounds and full-band rock shows to orchestral arrangements, record production, and podcasting, Andy Sydow represents today's independent musician—an artist willing to follow a great song wherever the road leads. More About Andy Sydow: Website: https://share.google/O9NZRIk8JMNzd1cbC Instagram: https://share.google/pwmtiLGTEZHpRcojO Facebook: https://share.google/8gTshSwh7QbT4x4q9 Spotify:  https://share.google/Vzud4KuaKHOy7FpK0 🎵 In This Episode: • Andy Sydow interview • Folk Music • Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival • Songwriter MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #andysydow, #folkmusic, #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #grandmesasongwriterfest #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  4. 6d ago

    Byron Duffin | What I Wish I’d Known About Retirement Before Starting a Podcast

    Send us Fan Mail Byron Duffin is the creator and host of the Musical Miles Podcast, but becoming a podcaster was never part of his retirement plan. After a longtime career as a manufacturing executive, Byron unexpectedly found himself retired and facing a question familiar to a lot of people entering a new chapter of life: “What do I do now?” The answer came from his daughter, Kallie, who suggested that Byron and his wife, Shanda, turn their lifelong love of live music into a podcast. In July 2024, Musical Miles Podcast was born. Just two weeks later, Byron conducted his first interview with singer-songwriter Heath Clark—whose family band had performed at Byron and Shanda’s wedding reception in 1983. What started almost on a whim quickly became far more than a retirement hobby. Today, Byron and Shanda travel the country attending songwriter festivals, concerts, Western music gatherings, rodeos and music events, sitting down face-to-face with the people who make the music happen. One principle has remained at the heart of the show from the beginning: the interviews are conducted in person. For Byron, being in the same room with an artist—and often in the places where their music is actually being performed—creates conversations that simply can't be duplicated through a screen. The show has grown dramatically since that first interview. Apple Podcasts currently lists Byron Duffin as the creator of Musical Miles Podcast and more than 240 episodes, while Buzzsprout identifies Byron as host and Shanda Duffin as co-host. Along the way, Byron has interviewed everyone from unknown and emerging independent artists to award-winning performers and Hall of Fame-caliber songwriters. But the mission has remained the same: give artists a place to tell their stories, preserve the stories behind the songs, introduce listeners to new music, and celebrate the venues, festivals and fans that keep live music alive. For Byron, retirement didn't mean slowing down. It meant discovering an entirely different road. The microphone, camera equipment, editing, social media, YouTube, websites, travel schedules and endless hours required to build a podcast were things he had to learn along the way. And that's become part of his story too—the lessons, mistakes, surprises and opportunities that come from starting over at an age when you're supposedly supposed to be winding down. What began with the question “What am I going to do in retirement?” has turned into thousands of miles traveled, hundreds of conversations and an unexpected second act built around something Byron and Shanda have loved their entire lives: music and the people behind it. Real Roads. Real Songs. Real Stories. That's Musical Miles—and for Byron Duffin, it's proof that retirement doesn't have to be the end of the story. It can be the beginning of the best chapter yet. Musical Miles Podcast 🎵 In This Episode: • Byron Duffin   • What I Wish Id Known before retiring • Starting a Podcast • What you need to know MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #byronduffin, #musicpodcasthost, #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #songwriterfestivals, #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  5. Sep 7

    Deb Scheer | It’s Never Too Late to Chase the Songwriting Dream

    Send us Fan Mail Deb Scheer is a Colorado singer-songwriter whose music reflects a lifetime of influences ranging from folk and Americana to country, jazz, and musical theater. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Deb has called Colorado home since 1984, bringing both her East Coast beginnings and Western experiences into her songwriting. Music has been part of Deb's life since her teenage years. She began singing and playing in high school, even starting a country band during her senior year. Her passion for music continued into college, where she began writing her own songs and ultimately earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from SUNY Oswego. Like many songwriters, Deb's musical journey didn't follow a straight line. She stepped away from performing and songwriting for a period to raise her family, but the desire to create music never disappeared. Eventually she returned to writing and performing with a renewed perspective, spending recent years learning from and working with accomplished songwriting mentors in Nashville. That commitment to developing her craft earned Deb recognition in 2024 when she was selected as a Bronze Scholar in the inaugural John Cirillo Songwriting Scholarship program, an organization created to support and encourage songwriters through education, mentorship and community. Deb has also become part of Colorado's growing songwriter community. She appeared at the Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in both 2025 and 2026, joining accomplished writers for intimate performances built around original songs and the stories behind them. Musical Miles Podcast caught up with Deb at the 2026 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival, where we had the opportunity to talk about her music, songwriting journey and what it means to return to a creative passion after putting it aside to raise a family. Deb Scheer's story is a great reminder that there is no expiration date on chasing a dream. Sometimes the miles between where you started and where you ultimately arrive are exactly what give you the stories worth turning into songs. Real Roads – Real Songs – Real Stories. 🎵 In This Episode: • Deb Scheer interview • Folk Music • Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival • Songwriter MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #DebScheer, #folkmusic, #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #grandmesasongwriterfest #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  6. Sep 4

    Martin Gilmore | Award-Winning Songwriter Keeping Bluegrass & Western Music Alive

    Send us Fan Mail Martin Gilmore is an award-winning Colorado singer-songwriter, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and educator whose music lives at the intersection of folk, bluegrass, Americana, and the musical traditions of the American West. Raised on the prairies of the Nebraska Panhandle and now based in the Denver area, Gilmore has built a career around preserving traditional roots music while creating original songs for a new generation. And the accolades are impressive. Martin won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Competition in 2024, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase in 2024, and was a 2025 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk winner. He was also nominated for the 2025 IBMA Momentum Award for Mentor of the Year. Martin's career reaches far beyond Colorado. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally, including Ireland, Canada, Egypt and Cyprus. He has shared stages with artists including The Infamous Stringdusters, Stephen Stills and Judy Collins, while his Martin Gilmore Trio was selected as an official showcase group at the 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass. He's also a dedicated music educator. Martin has taught folk and bluegrass music through the University of Northern Colorado, Swallow Hill Music Association, and the University of Denver Enrichment Program, sharing his knowledge of guitar, songwriting, singing, bluegrass and American roots-music history with the next generation of musicians. His recent work continues to explore Western stories and traditions. His 2025 release Thea Is a Light Blue was followed by "The Dry & Dusty West" and the 2026 release "Last Ride of an Old Cowhand." "The Dry & Dusty West" combines traditional bluegrass instrumentation with orchestral arrangements from the Colorado Symphony and celebrates the stories and landscapes of Colorado. Musical Miles Podcast caught up with Martin Gilmore at the 2026 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in Cedaredge, Colorado, where we talked about songwriting, bluegrass, Western music, teaching, and a musical journey that has taken him from the Nebraska plains to stages around the world. More About Martin Gilmore: Website: https://share.google/i0wSlLg01ciMeRePh Instagram: https://share.google/UCECvQJ4ddyTvDpcN Facebook: https://share.google/th2qPvlE1UsRr758t Bandcamp: https://share.google/mqgxDz7J9QRZ5MT0G 🎵 In This Episode: • Martin Gilmore interview • Americana Music • Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival • Songwriter MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #martingilmore #bluegrass  #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #grandmesasongwriterfest #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  7. Sep 2

    Havilah Rand | Songwriting, Storytelling & Inspiring the Next Generation

    Send us Fan Mail Havilah Rand is an award-winning singer-songwriter, performer, and educator whose career has taken her from the jazz halls of New York City and the post-grunge music scene of Seattle to Austin's legendary songwriter community and stages throughout the United States and Europe. Her music moves comfortably between Americana, folk, blues, jazz, and country, driven by thoughtful lyrics, soulful vocals, and a lifelong commitment to storytelling. Havilah's relationship with songwriting began remarkably early. She started composing songs around the age of six on an old piano given to her family and grew up listening to artists including James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones, and The Police. Her talent eventually led her to study at Interlochen Arts Academy and the Manhattan School of Music, where she received formal training in jazz and classical vocal technique. After leaving New York, Havilah headed west to Seattle, where she fronted the pop-rock band Wish before picking up the guitar and pursuing a solo career. She recorded her first three albums in the Pacific Northwest and spent more than a decade touring regionally and nationally. Her musical journey later carried her to Europe, including Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean, before she relocated to Austin, Texas, in 2007. She is now based in Bellingham, Washington. Over the course of her career, Havilah has released five full-length albums, with songwriting that combines poetic lyricism with groove-oriented Americana. Her catalog includes Superfarmhouse, Bengalese Butterflies and A High Wave, along with more recent releases including "Walk With Me," "Come Back to the Living," and "Catherine." A sixth full-length project, Mountains, is slated for release in late 2026. But Havilah's work reaches well beyond the stage. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master's degree in teaching and the founder of Holistic ArtVentures, which uses songwriting to encourage creativity, empathy, collaboration, and confidence. Through her songwriting programs and LifeSong Project, she has worked with hundreds of children and elders, helping people transform their own experiences and stories into songs. Her work has also earned her a nomination for the Esme Barrera Music in Education and Activism Award. In June 2026, Havilah brought those worlds together in Colorado, leading a Young Songwriter Summer Camp connected with the Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival. Young participants learned lyric and melody writing and were given the opportunity to perform during the festival's opening concert. Musical Miles Podcast met up with Havilah Rand at the 2026 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in Cedaredge, Colorado, where we had the opportunity to hear more about the life, music, travels, and experiences behind the songs. She's an artist whose story demonstrates that songwriting can be much more than entertainment—it can be a way of connecting generations, preserving stories, and helping others discover their own voice. More about Havilah Rand: Website: https://share.google/x0aHmns79xnVh2ZHE Instagram: https://share.google/BJhHU2EDpibqPpPLM Facebook: https://share.google/ByrX1SlLCkNYLMuRs Spotify: https://share.google/yQbXedhXWCdcAFi5K Soundcloud: https://share.google/9PUO7muooyNCRO68d 🎵 In This Episode: • Havilah Rand interview • Americana Music • Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival • Songwriter MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #havilahrand #klosguitars, #americanamusic, #songwriter, #grandmesasongwriterfest #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

  8. Aug 31

    Green Room Stories with Braxton Hamblen | Dusty Vaquero Days

    Send us Fan Mail Braxton Hamblen is a Northern Colorado singer-songwriter whose music is firmly rooted in the Western way of life, blending influences from Red Dirt country, cowboy music, and indie folk. Raised around agriculture, horses, and small-town life, Braxton doesn't simply write about the cowboy lifestyle—he lives it, spending time team roping and helping his family train horses when he's not making music. Braxton picked up the guitar at an early age and began developing his own songs while still young. Influenced by artists such as Turnpike Troubadours, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Stoney LaRue, he's developed a sound built around honest songwriting, Western storytelling, and experiences drawn from his own life. His growing catalog includes his 2024 album Broken Boys Dream, along with songs including "Cowboy Dreams," "Mexican Pony," "Shit Colts," "Watch Me Pack," and "Work in Progress." His music reflects a young artist carrying the traditions of the West forward while putting his own stamp on the independent country and Red Dirt scene. Musical Miles Podcast caught up with Braxton during Dusty Vaquero Days in Gillette, Wyoming, for an informal conversation in the green room. Away from the stage and without the formality of a traditional sit-down interview, Braxton joined us for a relaxed chat about his music, his cowboy roots, songwriting, and the experiences shaping his journey as an artist. Braxton Hamblen represents exactly the kind of artist we love discovering on the road—a working cowboy, songwriter, musician, and storyteller whose songs come from a life genuinely lived. Real Roads – Real Songs – Real Stories. More about Braxton Hamblen: Instagram: https://share.google/GPcxPxTHVabGfVYH1 Facebook: https://share.google/9Os7AABOKRkxIhkIn Spotify: https://share.google/B6c26fzFZ3bYEZZo3 🎵 In This Episode: • Braxton Hamblen interview • Green Room Conversation • Dusty Vaquero Days • Cowboy Music MORE ABOUT MUSICAL MILES PODCAST: Website: https://share.google/njnmmglKCpu8nX7jn Instagram: https://share.google/PvAJe1qGxIKhYSVZ7 Facebook: https://share.google/OcbFlCHb3fSntAVhX TikTok: https://share.google/ikD2YSj8qEMv3ROY2 Spotify: https://share.google/ooaz1mIUqHoM9CW9z YouTube: https://share.google/7xkaESL50rsQx93Qr SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION: Contact Byron Duffin musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com 208-690-1426 SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS: Click the links for more info Our Guitar Sponsor Klos Guitars ~ www.klosguitar.com ROPER ~ Wear The West For Discounts on Boots, Shoes and Western Apparel ClICK THE LINK:  https://eroper.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN TIN HAUL ~ 30% DISCOUNTS For our Musical Miles Podcast followers Click the link to shop. https://tinhaul.com/?ref=BYRONDUFFIN FOR PODCAST EPISODE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Byron Duffin 208-690-1426 musicalmilespodcast@gmail.com #braxtonhamblen, #cowboymusican, #dustyvaquerodays #klosguitars, #cowboymusic, #songwriter,  #countrymusic,  #musicalmilespodcast,  #PodcastInterview, #MusicalMiles, #songwriterinterview, Support the show TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST DONATE HERE: https://patreon.com/MusicalMilesPodcast

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Sharing our love of live music, from dive bars, festivals to stadium events. One on one interviews with the artists, song writers and venues, one mile at a time!

Information

  • Creator
    Byron Duffin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    247
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Musical Miles Podcast
  • Show Website
    Musical Miles Podcast

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