On this episode of Acoustic Music Talk, Brad interviews musician, singer, songwriter, Anna Brinker. Anna was born in Illinois, but moved around often as a kid until her family found roots in Arkansas in 2002. She has loved singing since she was a little girl and vividly remembers her parents smiling and singing Bobby McGee in the living room while her daddy played guitar. She sang in church with her momma and had lots of car jam sessions with her, listening to John Denver and The Eagles on 8-Track. Her first guitar was a pawn shop Abilene, gifted to her by her daddy with a set of strings in 20 ..read more

On this episode of Acoustic Music Talk, Brad Apple talks with amazing acoustic bassist, Missy Raines.  GRAMMY® nominated Missy Raines was named 2020 International Bluegrass Music Association Bass Player of the Year, for the 9th time, more than any other bass player in the history of the organization.  Missy Raines has proven herself without doubt as an iconic bluegrass instrumentalist. But with her newest release, Royal Traveller, Raines has stepped into the spotlight as a songwriter for the first time. The album digs deep into Raines' family life and her upbringing in West Virginia ..read more

In this episode, Brad talks with Greg Cahill of the band Special Consensus.  Greg plays the banjo and has been at the helm of Special C for 46 years as of 2021.   Chicago born and bred, Greg Cahill has been playing bluegrass banjo since the early 1970s. He co-founded The Special Consensus in Chicago in 1975 and has continued to tour nationally and internationally with the band ever since. In 1984, he created the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program to introduce students of all ages to bluegrass music. He has appeared on all 20 of The Special Consensus recordings, on numerous reco ..read more

On this episode of Acoustic Music Talk we talk to bass player extraordinaire, Ronnie Simpkins.  Ronnie has been on the bluegrass trail playing bass with some of the best in the business including the Bluegrass Cardinals, Virginia Squires, The Tony Rice Unit, and currently works with the Seldom Scene.  Ronnie talks about his career in bluegrass music, bands, basses, and much more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/support ..read more

In this episode, Brad talks with flatpicking guitar legend, Dan Crary.  Dan is one of the early innovators of flatpicking acoustic guitar and has influenced generations of flatpickers since.   As a child Dan was impressed by a local Kansas guitar player, Don Sullivan and that twangy, stringy sound stayed with him.  He also cites hearing Hank Snow take leads on acoustic guitar as an influence. When going to school in Kentucky, he joined the Bluegrass Alliance and Lonnie Pearce insisted that Dan needed to learn to take lead guitar breaks on some of the fiddle tunes they were doing ..read more

This week we interview Jeff Midkiff, a mandolinist, clarinetist, and composer from Roanoke, Virginia.  Jeff first probably came to the attention of the masses when he played the mandolin with the Lonesome River Band.  He recorded two albums with the LRB, "I Guess Heartaches Are In Style This Year," and their self-titled Rebel Records debut.  Jeff stayed with the Lonesome River Band for their first few years, then left to pursue a career as a clarinet player.   The last many years, he has been a music educator, teaching for Roanoke City Schools.  Jeff has also composed ..read more

Bassist Michael Manring visits with Host, Brad Apple, about his music career, recordings, and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/support ..read more

Brad Apple interviews Mandolin Master Jimmy Gaudreau Part Two --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/support ..read more

Brad Apple interviews Mandolin Master Jimmy Gaudreau --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/support ..read more

Brad Apple interviews banjo great, Butch Robins --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brad-apple/support ..read more