Rephonic
Artwork for Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina

Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina

Blue Ridge Music Trails
North Carolina
Bluegrass Music
Bluegrass
Doc Watson
Bluff Mountain Festival
Banjo
John C. Campbell Folk School
Blue Ridge Mountains
Storytelling
Andy Griffith
Betty Smith
Balsam Range
Blue Ridge Music Trails
Traditional American Music
Southern Mountain Music
Ralph Lewis
Charlie Poole
Madison County
Tropical Storm Helene
North Carolina Heritage Award

Music legends and traditions of the North Carolina mountains and foothills.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes100Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina

Latest Episodes

Dr. Ted Olson and Laura Boosinger continue to discuss the 1925 Asheville Sessions. Olson explains the influence the sessions had on artists and musical styles. Boosinger discusses the city's growth during 1924 and 1925.

Heard in this episode:

* A... more

In this episode, we dive into the backgrounds of some participants from the original sessions. It was reported that out of 300 applications, only 25 musicians were chosen for the original Asheville Sessions. Listen to learn about two of those musicia... more

Something big happened in Asheville music in 1925.

A two-week recording session was held at the Vanderbilt Hotel. Musicians and groups performed traditional Southern Appalachian music. Afterwards, OKeh Records pressed and released a catalogue of re... more

Three luthiers have collaborated to create a guitar, which will be raffled off through LEAF Global Arts at the annual LEAF Festival, taking place from October 16 to 19, 2025. The guitar was crafted from wood harvested from trees that fell during Hurr... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Get Up in the Cool
Get Up in the CoolCameron DeWhitt
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life

Recent Guests

Dr. Ted Olson
Historian and author contributing to the Asheville sessions narrative
Scholar/Author
Episode: Episode 3: Music From the Land of Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions (Part Three)
Ted Olson
Musicologist from East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Episode: Episode 2: Music From the Land of Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions (Part Two)
Bethany Chaney
Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School
John C. Campbell Folk School
Episode: Episode 20: 100 Years of John C Campbell Folk School, part one
Helen Gibson
A 2025 North Carolina Heritage Award winner involved with the Folk School's wood carving program.
John C. Campbell Folk School
Episode: Episode 20: 100 Years of John C Campbell Folk School, part one
Connie Regan-Blake
Professional storyteller and cultural figure
Episode: Episode 18: Storytelling in the Blue Ridge with Connie Regan-Blake - Part Two
Jayne Henderson
Luthier and environmentalist, daughter of Wayne Henderson, making guitars and ukuleles.
EJ Henderson Guitars
Episode: Episode 14: Jayne Henderson: Luthier and Environmentalist
Jim Lauderdale
An acclaimed musician and songwriter known for his contributions to American roots music.
Episode: Episode 8: Citizen Vinyl: Asheville's Recording History
Brian McDowell
Canton native sharing his story of the Crusoe flood
Episode: Episode 3: The Great Flood of 2024: Tropical Storm Helene
Rhonda Gouge
A fixture in the Mitchell County music scene, multi-instrumentalist, and educator
Episode: Episode 17: Rhonda Gouge and the Joy of Musical Connection

Host

Laura Boosinger
Host of Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina; widely associated with Blue Ridge craft, music, and heritage initiatives.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Lil Nas x

    Yeah I’m gonna take my horse 🐎 to the old town road . I’m gonna ride till I can’t no more . I got the horses in the back 🦜🐎🐎🐎

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    art train fan ryhn
    United Kingdom7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners likely value in-depth insights into crafts and music history.
Sponsorship appeal appears strongest for regional arts organizations, craft schools, and heritage festivals.
Shows strong local culture focus and authentic storytelling from regional experts.

Top Music Podcasts

The Joe Budden Podcast
The Joe Budden PodcastThe Joe Budden Network
New Rory & MAL
New Rory & MALiHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Music Saved Me Podcast
Music Saved Me PodcastBuzz Knight Media Productions
Takin’ A Walk Nashville
Takin’ A Walk NashvilleBuzz Knight Media Productions
DISGRACELAND
DISGRACELANDExactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Joe and Jada
Joe and JadaiHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Song Exploder
Song ExploderHrishikesh Hirway
The Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg Show
The Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg ShowEbro, Laura, Rosenberg

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 2: Music From the Land of Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions (Part Two)
Q: Why weren't Aunt Samantha Baumgartner and Eva Smathers Davis at the 1925 sessions in Asheville?
It could have been that Aunt Samantha and Eva were obligated to record for other companies or were beholden to existing deals, which prevented their participation at the Asheville sessions, though artists sometimes moved between labels regardless of commitments.
Episode 1: Music From the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions (Part One)
Q: How come this session isn't more widely known?
Dr. Olson explains that the Bristol Sessions received disproportionate attention, in part due to later publications and lore, but that recent scholarship has worked to highlight Asheville and other Appalachian recording sites as equally significant.
Episode 7: 25 Years of JAM: The History of the Junior Appalachian Musicians
Q: Where do you find the instruments to deliver to the affiliate programs?
Instruments come primarily from partnerships with organizations like Hungry for Music and private donations.
Episode 7: 25 Years of JAM: The History of the Junior Appalachian Musicians
Q: How many states is JAM in now?
JAM operates in seven states, including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Georgia.
Episode 5: Marc Pruett's Bluegrass Journey
Q: How did you get your first big break?
Marc recounts how he met Tom McKinney at a festival, who became a mentor and led him to opportunities in the music business.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners are drawn to regional North Carolina culture, with a focus on traditional music, storytelling, crafts, and community heritage. Episodes highlight local history, influential figures in folk and bluegrass, and the ways rural communities preserve artisanal crafts, celebrate music and dance, and respond to natural events. The show probably appeals to fans of regional arts, heritage tourism, and hands-on craftsmanship, offering intimate conversations with organizers, artisans, and performers that illuminate long-running traditions and contemporary revival efforts. A notable strength is its consistent emphasis on community involvement and regional identity, often featuring firsthand perspectives from organizers, musicians, and storytell... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Get Up in the Cool
2. Fresh Air
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. This American Life

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dr. Ted Olson
2. Ted Olson
3. Bethany Chaney
4. Helen Gibson
5. Connie Regan-Blake
6. Jayne Henderson
7. Jim Lauderdale
8. Brian McDowell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days