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.

Avsnitt(534)

Podcast 516: Isaac Stalling

Podcast 516: Isaac Stalling

On this week's episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, we introduce you to Brooklyn-based guitarist Isaac Stalling. Isaac sits down with editor Sofia Wolfson to talk about his musical roots in Oklah...

19 Sep 202556min

Podcast 515: Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford (Live from the 2025 Fretboard Summit)

Podcast 515: Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford (Live from the 2025 Fretboard Summit)

Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford are wildly creative guitarists who happen to play with some of the most-streamed artists of the last few years, including Ed Sheeran (Dylan), Phoebe Brid...

5 Sep 202558min

Podcast 514: Guitar Retail in 2025 (Fretboard Summit Panel)

Podcast 514: Guitar Retail in 2025 (Fretboard Summit Panel)

Do guitars still sell in 2025? Is there a glut of unsold instruments? How have tariffs affected the high-end musical instrument space? At this year's Fretboard Summit, we asked a handful of guitar ret...

29 Aug 202558min

Podcast 513: Jayne Henderson on the Asheville Guitar Project

Podcast 513: Jayne Henderson on the Asheville Guitar Project

One last Fretboard Summit 2025 announcement: Jayne Henderson (EJ Henderson Guitars and Ukuleles) stops by the Fretboard Journal to tell us about the Asheville Guitar Project group build that she'll be...

19 Aug 202529min

Podcast 512: 3Bender's Wade Black

Podcast 512: 3Bender's Wade Black

3Bender's Wade Back joins us this week to share the fascinating history of 3Bender and reveal an incredible new product he's unveiling at this year's Fretboard Summit, the Steelmaster. The Steelmaster...

18 Aug 202523min

Podcast 511: Northfield Instruments' Adrian Bagale

Podcast 511: Northfield Instruments' Adrian Bagale

"Here's what happens when you invite a mandolin company, with crazy curiosity, to a guitar show four years in a row." -Adrian Bagale Northfield's Adrian Bagale joins us this week for what has to be o...

12 Aug 20251h 27min

Podcast 510: Dave Hill

Podcast 510: Dave Hill

Dave Hill is a comedian, actor, author, musician and podcaster. He's also a guitar fanatic. In fact, at the 2025 Fretboard Summit, he'll be performing an entire stand-up set on guitar (!) and doing so...

7 Aug 20251h 1min

Podcast 509: James Kee (East Nash Grass)

Podcast 509: James Kee (East Nash Grass)

James Kee of East Nash Grass joins us this week to talk about his band's forthcoming album 'All God's Children' and the guitar he just acquired and restored, a 1955 Martin D-18 formerly owned by Earl ...

29 Juli 202558min

Populärt inom Nöje

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
filip-fredrik-svarar
mardromsgasten
dialogiskt
rss-p3-musikdokumentar
chilla-med-de-vet-du
schulman-show
badfluence
mannen-utan-spar
fem-i-topp
gott-snack-med-fredrik-soderholm
skandal
hemma-hos-strage
karatefylla
podme-bio-4
sexet
rss-bl-metal-podcast
hundaren-motgangspodden-av-tomas-andersson-wij
vardagsmysterier
rss-made-in-sverige-podcast