About this episode

Joe Pug interviews Gary Louris, a key figure in modern roots and Americana music, discussing his career and contributions to various artists.

Our guest this week is one of the godfathers of modern roots and Americana music. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Gary Louris moved to Minneapolis as a young man in the 1970s and immersed himself in a Twin Cities music scene that punched way above its weight culturally. His group, The Jayhawks, would release a string of critically acclaimed and nationally beloved albums. One of Louris’s main gifts is his ability to contribute to the music of a wide array of artists, including Counting Crows, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Roger McGuinn, The Wallflowers, The Black Crowes, Nickel Creek and a host of others. As a member of the Jayhawks he’s appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. He’s recorded for what sounds like an anthology of record labels: Twin/Tone, American Recordings, Rykodisc, Lost Highway, Thirty Tigers, Rounder, Sony and New West Records. Over the years he’s appeared at Farm Aid, Stagecoach, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky festival. AllMusic calls him “one of the premiere songwriters of his generation.” The Bluegrass Situation, our host network, has written about him as a “musical Swiss Army knife.” Pitchfork has…

People in this episode

Host: Joe Pug

Guest: Gary Louris

Topics covered

• roots music
• Americana
• songwriting
• music history
• artist collaboration
• music festivals

Keywords

• Gary Louris
• The Jayhawks
• Americana music
• songwriter
• music collaboration
• music festivals
• Toledo
• Minneapolis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Jayhawks, AllMusic, The Bluegrass Situation, Pitchfork, Twin/Tone, American Recordings, Rykodisc, Lost Highway, Thirty Tigers, Rounder

Places: Toledo, Ohio, Minneapolis

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