Podcast 159: Sam Amidon

Podcast 159: Sam Amidon

Sam Amidon is, quite simply, one of our favorite musicians. His visionary music is mesmerizing, he somehow melds traditional Appalachian folk with experimental music. On this week's podcast, we talk to Sam about his music-filled childhood (his parents are folk singers Peter and Mary Alice Amidon) and his transition from being a professional traditional fiddler to a groundbreaking solo artist.

Sam tells us about his discovery of avant-garde music and free jazz, what it was like to get lessons from Leroy Jenkins and his time in the indie band Stars Like Fleas. He also discusses his collaboration with hero Bill Frisell (2014's Lily-O), the energy he finds in primitive field recordings, why he wore a kung fu outfit to his first solo gig… and a lot more. Sam has had a fascinating musical journey and he walks us through it all.

Sam's 2017 Nonesuch album, The Following Mountain, is his first recording to feature his own songs. We can't recommend it enough.

Audio note: There's some cell phone distortion in the first ten minutes of this call; it gets better as the conversation goes on. Stick with it.

This episode is sponsored by Dying Breed Music and Retrofret Vintage Guitars.

Order a subscription to the Fretboard Journal via our site and use the coupon code PODCAST to save $5 off any order.

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Podcast 531: The Fretboard Journal's Year-End Wrap Up

Podcast 531: The Fretboard Journal's Year-End Wrap Up

To wrap up this year, Fretboard Journal editors Jason Verlinde and Sofia Wolfson talk about some of their favorite moments from 2025. We discuss the inner workings of the magazine, our favorite articl...

31 Dec 20251h 7min

Podcast 530: Breedlove Guitars' Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard

Podcast 530: Breedlove Guitars' Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard

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20 Dec 20251h 3min

Podcast 529: John Reischman

Podcast 529: John Reischman

Mandolin hero John Reischman joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'The Salish Sea.' We chat about the influence the Pacific Northwest has had on his music-making, discuss his famed Lloyd L...

12 Dec 202538min

Podcast 528: Guru Singh Returns

Podcast 528: Guru Singh Returns

Every year during the holiday season, we chat with Guru Singh, a third-generation yogi and spiritual teacher who also happens to live and breathe guitars. On this installment (Guru Singh's third visi...

8 Dec 202559min

Podcast 527: Liam Kazar

Podcast 527: Liam Kazar

Today's podcast episode is with Liam Kazar, a Chicago-born singer-songwriter and guitarist currently touring in Jeff Tweedy's band. Liam just put out a new record, Pilot Light, which he made at Flying...

28 Nov 202542min

Podcast 526: Love of Fuzz's TJ Hiemel

Podcast 526: Love of Fuzz's TJ Hiemel

On today's episode of the podcast, Sofia Wolfson talks to TJ Hiemel, owner of Troy, New York's Love of Fuzz store. TJ shares with us some of his favorite gear that has come through the shop, his role ...

21 Nov 202543min

Podcast 525: Paul Asbell

Podcast 525: Paul Asbell

Vermont-based guitar hero Paul Asbell joins us this week to talk about his new book, 'Stages: Ruminations, Rants, and Reminiscences on a Life in Music.' In 'Stages,' Paul recounts stories from early i...

14 Nov 20251h 4min

Podcast 524: Paul Burch

Podcast 524: Paul Burch

Musician and Fretboard Journal contributor Paul Burch joins us this week to talk about his just-published debut novel, Meridian Rising. The book, an imagined memoir by Jimmie Rodgers, is filled with i...

7 Nov 202557min

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