The High Note

Shaun Smith
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MUSIC

Shaun Smith brings you the latest in new music, concert reviews and music news as well as music-related information in the Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey region.

  1. JAN 26

    Just Wiln

    In this episode of The High Note podcast, I sit down with New Jersey alternative rock artist Just Wiln to discuss his debut full-length album "Primer," released Dec. 12, 2025. We dig into the creative process behind compiling updated mixes of previously released singles alongside brand new material, and explore what makes this his most personal and raw record yet. About Just Wiln Justyn Wielenta, known to music fans as Just Wiln, is an alternative and country rock artist from Hamilton, New Jersey. His sound blends elements of alternative, folk, grunge, indie, and rock into something distinctly his own. "Primer" marks his first full-length album, following a series of singles, EPs, and the 2023 release "Bad Chemistry." He is also a photographer. About the Album: "Primer" Released December 12, 2025, "Primer" is a 13-track collection that brings together updated mixes of previously released singles with new, unheard material—including live in-studio performances. The album was produced, mixed, and mastered by Just Wiln and Greg Recchia. Please support The High Note and Buy Me A Coffee. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher, and TuneIn. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    1h 6m

  2. 11/21/2025

    John Flynn

    John Flynn stops by The High Note to talk about his long history with the Philadelphia Folk Festival, his meaningful work with incarcerated individuals through New Beginnings - Next Step, and his new album "Kindred Spirits," which is out now. We also get into his friendship with the legendary Kris Kristofferson. You can catch John live this fall and winter. On November 23rd, he'll be in Devon, PA for a benefit concert supporting disaster relief for victims of this past summer's devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas. On Thursday, December 4th, he's playing the storied Lansdowne Folk Club in his native Delco—get details at folkclub.org/concert-schedule. And finally, on December 18th, John continues his annual tradition (30 years now!) with a fundraiser for Camp Dreamcatcher, a therapeutic summer camp for kids dealing with AIDS/HIV, at The Kennett Flash - https://kennettflash.org/events.  Our apologies for some minor sound issues in this episode. Mother Nature had other plans—it was a stormy day on the East Coast. Please support The High Note and Buy Me A Coffee. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher, and TuneIn. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    56 min

  3. 08/19/2025

    John Brancy

    Grammy-winning baritone and New Jersey native John Brancy joins The High Note ahead of his show John Brancy and Peter Dugan Live at the 609 Club this Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Celebrity Theatre inside The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. We talk about his South Jersey roots, his career on the world's greatest stages and the cabaret-style performance he and pianist Peter Dugan are bringing home as part of the North to Shore Festival. Listen to "Journey Home: Live from the Kennedy Center" Get tickets to John Brancy and Peter Dugan Live at the 609 Club benefiting the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher and TuneIn. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    59 min

  4. 08/11/2025

    Jayne Toohey

    On this episode of The High Note podcast I'm joined by Jayne Toohey — photographer, author and the press contact for the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Jayne is the creative force behind "Smiling Banjo: A Half Century of Love & Music at the Philadelphia Folk" Festival, a beautiful collection of images and stories that capture the heart of the event. The 62nd annual Philadelphia Folk Festival kicks off Thursday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania. It's the longest-running continuously held outdoor music festival in North America, celebrating a mix of folk traditions, contemporary artists and community spirit. In our conversation, Jayne shares insights about the history of the festival, her journey photographing its people and performances, and what makes this year's lineup special. 🎵 Links and Resources Buy the book: "Smiling Banjo: A Half Century of Love & Music at the Philadelphia Folk Festival" Philadelphia Folk Festival Aug. 14-17, 2025: folkfest.org Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher and TuneIn. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    52 min

  5. 12/20/2024

    Captain Cork

    In the latest episode of The High Note, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Atlantic City-based DJ and producer Captain Cork. My good friend Cory Kaisand and I talk about his creative process, the art of crafting engaging DJ sets, and his experiences performing across the country. For fans eager to catch Captain Cork live, he has several performances scheduled in Atlantic City, including Dec. 28 at The Pool at Harrah's and Jan. 9 at Anchor Rock Club. Keep an eye on his Instagram @captain__cork for the latest updates and event details. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher and TuneIn. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    58 min

  6. 11/05/2024

    Dave Gunning Returns

    Dave Gunning returns to The High Note Podcast to discuss his musical journey since we last spoke in 2019, including his success in environmental activism, new community initiatives, and his partnership with JP Cormier. You can listen to our first conversation from 2019 here. Time Stamps &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8"> [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:00] Dave's return to Philadelphia Folk Festival [00:02:45] Navigating the pandemic [00:07:00] Collaboration with JP Cormier [00:11:00] Discussion of "The Same Storm" album [00:16:00] Environmental activism and mill closure [00:24:00] Musical collaborations and future projects [00:30:00] Zero Hunger Fund initiative Key Topics Discussed &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8"> Post-pandemic return to festivals Victory in the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, environmental campaign Collaboration with JP Cormier and Rose Morrison Dave Gunning Zero Hunger Fund Denmark tour Festival performance preparation New Projects Mentioned &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8"> "The Same Storm" - Latest solo album Collaboration with Rose Morrison Dave Gunning Zero Hunger Fund School "Little Free Stores" initiative Causes & Initiatives &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8"> Dave Gunning Zero Hunger Fund &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8"> Goal: $200,000 Cost per school: $5,000 Partner: Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia Where to Find Dave &]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8"> Personal website: davegunning.com Duo project: gunningandcormier.com Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher and TuneIn  Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    35 min

  7. 10/01/2024

    A Day Without Love

    In this episode of The High Note podcast, I sit down with Brian Walker of A Day Without Love at the 61st annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. We discuss his songwriting process, the significance of playing at the folk festival and in Philadelphia, his experiences moving from Philly to Boston, and his latest album. Brian shares insights on overcoming challenges, the role of music in healing, and his mission to inspire others to be the best version of themselves. Key Topics: A Day Without Love's journey from Philly to Boston Brian's songwriting process and inspiration The importance of community and connection in music His reflections on performing at the Philadelphia Folk Festival Insights into his new album and upcoming projects Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher, TuneIn and Google Podcasts. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    46 min

  8. 09/10/2024

    Shanna In A Dress

    In this episode of The High Note, I sit down with Shanna in a Dress, a delightful singer-songwriter whose humor and heartwarming stories captivated audiences at the 61st annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. We dive into her creative process, stories behind her songs, and the inspiration she draws from her cross-country bike tour that shaped her music career. Shanna shares her thoughts on what it's like to perform at such a historic festival for the first time, creating spontaneous moments with fellow performers like Miss Emily and Adam Ezra, and how she balances heartfelt, emotional songs with her light-hearted and comedic approach. Plus, she opens up about the personal story behind her song "Shelly" and what it means to her as an artist. Whether you're a fan of folk music, singer-songwriters, or just love good stories, Shanna in a Dress will inspire and entertain you. Listen in to hear more about her upcoming album "Sweet Spot," her musical adventures, and her philosophy of embracing imperfection.  Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music,  Stitcher, TuneIn and Google Podcasts. Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Shaun Smith brings you the latest in new music, concert reviews and music news as well as music-related information in the Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey region.

Information

  • Creator
    Shaun Smith
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The High Note
  • Show Website
    The High Note