Basic Folk 04 – Nora Jane Struthers

Nora Jane Struthers started in bluegrass, but has leaned towards Americana and rock and roll in the past decade. She’s also got an incredible life story that includes overcoming dyslexia, infertility and falling in love with her bandmate. She plays and records as Nora Jane Struthers and The Party Line. Originally a high school English … Read more

Basic Folk 03 – Anna Tivel

Anna Tivel is my guest this week. Tivel is known for her character songs that portray the beauty and pain in everyday individuals. Born in a small farming town in Skagit Valley, Washington, Anna came to songwriting as a recent college grad waiting tables in downtown Portland. Her first song, she reports, was about “whales … Read more

Basic Folk 02 – Suitcase Junket

In this week’s episode, I sit down (and basically LOL the entire time) with one-man-band Matt Lorenz of The Suitcase Junket. Originally from a small town in rural Vermont, Lorenz’s first instrument was a free, second-hand piano the family had gotten from a posting on a bulletin board. As his musical career continued so did … Read more

Basic Folk 01 – Ana Egge

In the inaugural episode of Basic Folk (!), I talk with Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Ana Egge. Dubbed the “Nina Simone of Folk Music,”  Ana and I sit down to discuss her early influences growing up on a commune in rural New Mexico, crafting her own guitar at the age of 15 and writing herself into understanding. … Read more

Basic Folk Trailer

Meet the host Cindy Howes! I love folk music and interviewing people. I have over 20 years experience in broadcasting and being super obsessed with music. This episode introduces myself and the intention of Basic Folk: “Conversations with authentic Americana, singer-songwriters and roots musicians that fly under the radar.” The intention is to foster this … Read more