Songwriters & Tour Riders

Sam Westhoff almost quit music and started working at Lowe's.Now, under the moniker Haffway, he's starting his first headlining tour in Tulsa after releasing his album, Wither, last fall.The album purposefully is a roller coaster of highs and lows, reflecting Westhoff's mental health journey, one that took him from a psych ward in September 2024 to the stage at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville just six months later.In this episode, he talks about moving from Tulsa to Nashville, and the difficulty of releasing his album Wither.

​It’s been 20 years since Oklahoma band Cheyenne’s first album “I Am Haunted, I Am Alive” was released and singer Beau Jennings is bringing the band back together to play through it.At the time, Jennings was graduating college and unsure of where his life would take him. On this episode, he reflected on the album and reconnecting to songs written by a younger him and the decades since.

It's been seven years since Broncho's last album release. In the time since, singer Ryan Lindsey has had two children and moved to Tulsa. Broncho's latest album, Natural Pleasure, is a return to a pace more natural to Lindsey.In this conversation, Lindsey reflects on 15 years of Broncho, the origins of the band and his musical life, and how this album is different from previous Broncho albums.

Brent Cobb has been writing songs and playing music since he was a teenager.Inspired by his son's discovery of classic and southern rock, Brent's latest album, Ain't Rocked in a While, looks back at his earliest influences while also exploring what it takes to be a working musician, just trying to make a living for the last two decades.In this episode, he talks about the highs of touring with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers and Luke Combs, while still having to deal with hecklers, like one he encountered in Oklahoma City.

Noeline Hofmann was playing bars after quitting her job working on a ranch when Zach Bryan came across her singing on TikTok in 2023.The two recorded a duet of that song “Purple Gas” which kickstarted the Canadian twenty-something's country career that has continued to overlap with Oklahoma.She toured with Stillwater's Wyatt Flores and had her first American sold-out headlining date in Tulsa earlier this year.She’s spent this summer opening up for The Turnpike Troubadours and Zach Bryan on their European tour, and is opening for them and Oklahoma rock band Kings of Leon in San Francisco this Friday, Aug. 15.Matthew Viriyapah spoke to her before her show in Oklahoma City at 89th Street this spring to talk about those Oklahoma connections, her song "Purple Gas" and her latest music.

Despite a valiant effort by KOSU listeners and public media supporters nationwide, Congress has voted to rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is devastating, and one NPR estimate shows that roughly 18% of the country’s public radio stations will close imminently, and nearly a third of listeners would lose access to NPR programming.The rescission package is expected to be signed by President Trump soon, as he initially requested the move from Congress.To be clear, this does not mean KOSU is going away. Thanks to you, KOSU is set up well for the future. However, this loss of foundational funding will likely result in a reduction of programming or local news without additional support.What can I do to help?Support KOSU directly by making a donation, or increasing your existing monthly or annual gift. This is the most effective thing you can do for KOSU. Support from people like you makes up the largest part of KOSU’s budget.Sign up for email alerts from KOSU so you never miss an update. You can do that here.Spread the word. Share this page with your family and friends, and tell them what KOSU's news, information and music service means to you and our community.Still have questions about how you can help?Please reach out to us at director@kosu.org.

In the next few days, the U.S. Senate will consider a package that would devastate many public radio stations by clawing back two years of previously approved funding. At KOSU, it would significantly impact our ability to provide emergency alerts and Oklahoma news.You can help by calling Senator Lankford and Senator Mullin to ask them to resist the rescission because of the impact it would have on Oklahoma. Here is a sample script.Sen. James Lankford: 202-224-5754Sen. Markwayne Mullin: 202-224-4721Don't live in Oklahoma? Check this listing for your Senator's contact information.Find out more on how you can make a difference at kosu.org/cuts.

Oklahoma Singer-songwriter Samantha Crain new album is titled Gumshoe, named in part about how she became a detective to solve the mystery of being a lone wolf but wanting to find community.In this episode, hear her talk about overcoming newfound stage fright, spending hours beading her album cover, and how studying Choctaw helped solve her personal mystery.

A music video showcase titled OKC MTV is coming to the historic Rodeo Cinema at the Stockyards in Oklahoma City.Composer and classical musician Steven Stark talks about what inspired the event and how he hopes to foster more connections between Oklahoma's film and music industries.

Matthew Viriyapah spoke with Steven Jenkins, the director of the Bob Dylan Center, ahead of the biopic 'A Complete Unknown' starring Timothee Chalamet about his favorite parts of the film, the impact he hopes the film will have on younger viewers, and other films in Bob Dylan's filmography.

Red Dirt band The Great Divide came out with a new album in 2022, titled Providence. It was the first album of new, original songs by the original lineup in 20 years. The band returned to Stillwater in 2023 with an additional member of the band, Bryce Conway, who prompted the latest release.In this episode, hear Mike McClure, JJ Lester, and Kelley Green talk about what it was like going into the studio for their latest album, playing concerts in Stillwater, and why they prefer being called the "uncles" of the Red Dirt scene.

This is Songwriters & Tour Riders, a music podcast from KOSU hosted by Matthew Viriyapah.Tulsa's King Cabbage Brass Band is bringing a taste of the Mardi Gras iconic sound to Oklahoma.They released their self-titled album last October and are playing with acclaimed New Orleans outfit, the Soul Rebels, on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Beer City Music Hall in Oklahoma City.In this episode, hear founder Gregory Fallis talk about the culture of Mardi Gras and New Orleans brass band music, and starting his own brass band in Tulsa.