Matt Wickstrom
Matt Wickstrom is a freelance journalist based at the foothills of Appalachia in Waco, Kentucky. His passion for the music of Tyler Childers, Kelsey Waldon and other acts from his home state is only rivaled by his love of mountain drives, auto racing, University of Kentucky basketball and a good bourbon (on the rocks).
LIVE REVIEW•Review: Railbird Festival
Railbird’s merging of top shelf music, bourbon and horse racing culture helped to create an event that was uniquely Kentucky in every way imaginable.
INTERVIEW•Introducing: Sierra Ferrell
While prepping for a run of west coast shows, Ferrell caught up to discuss all things Long Time Coming, busking, Billy Strings, overcoming her anxieties and more. But before all of that, we started with food – a certain West Virginia institution in particular.
INTERVIEW•Introducing: Brit Taylor
Calling from a front porch swing on her Mt. Juliet, Tennessee farm with dog Whiskey by her side, Taylor candidly reflected on everything from using nature as inspiration to working on your own terms, while discussing the long and difficult road to releasing Real Me.
INTERVIEW•One Hot Minute: Joy Oladokun
Oladokun talks candidly about learning to open up during co-writes, how meditation and nature have kept her grounded and being an inspiration to others as a queer Black woman.
INTERVIEW•My Essentials: Arlo McKinley
As we sit down to mull over the five essentials he couldn’t live without, Arlo McKinley shares what kept him going through a period of self-doubt and what continues to bring him comfort in both music and life.
INTERVIEW•Introducing: Emily Scott Robinson
A truly nurturing soul, Telluride, Colorado-based songwriter Emily Scott Robinson has mastered the art of using music as a means of healing.
LIVE REVIEW•Jade Bird at The Burl in Lexington, KY
It may have been billed as an intimate evening of acoustic music, but at their show at The Burl in Lexington, Kentucky, vocal powerhouses Jade Bird and Savannah Conley certainly filled the instrumental void (and then some).
INTERVIEW•Cuts The Deepest: Lilly Hiatt
Lilly Hiatt catches up with Holler to discuss the music and albums most dear to her heart for Cuts The Deepest.
INTERVIEW•In Conversation: Jade Bird
As she tucks into a cherry bagel, cup of tea and chocolate orange, Jade Bird discusses her new album Different Kinds of Light, her transition to moving to the USA and why acoustic performance allows her to express herself with total honesty.
INTERVIEW•Who The F*** is Think I'll Just Stay Here and Meme?
Electrician by day, meme king by night. That’s the Clark Kent / Superman dynamic portrayed by Jonathan Oost, a lifelong native of Owensboro, Kentucky and the brains behind Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Meme.
INTRODUCING•New Artist of the Week: Sam Filiatreau
Sam Filiatreau's self-deprecating new single 'Wrecking Ball' showcases his quirky lyricism.
INTRODUCING•New Artist of The Week: Eric Bolander
Kentucky singer-songwriter Eric Bolander has no problem cutting straight to the cold, hard truth in the soul-stirring country ballads he spins.
INTERVIEW•In Conversation: Blackberry Smoke
Charlie Starr discusses working with Dave Cobb, the cultural misconceptions highlighted within You Hear Georgia and how he makes sense of genre classifications.
INTERVIEW•One Hot Minute: Kelsey Waldon
Oh Boy Records artist Kelsey Waldon talks with Holler about her artistic bond with John Prine, finding her way in Nashville and more for Introducing.
OPINION•Preview: 10 Artists to see at Railbird Festival 2021
Our top artist recommendations for a weekend of great live music at Railbird Festival in Kentucky!
INTERVIEW•Introducing: John R. Miller
Ahead of the release of Depreciated, we spoke with Miller about linking up with Rounder Records, chance musical encounters and his West Virginia roots.
INTERVIEW•Introducing: Bendigo Fletcher
Folk-rock melodies, a thunderous howl and wide-eyed performances - Bendigo Fletcher are Elektra Record's next best thing. Their frontman Ryan Anderson caught up with Holler to talk about the group's new album, 'Fits of Laughter'.
LIVE REVIEW•Katie Pruitt and S.G. Goodman Live At The Burl, KY
For many music lovers in Central Kentucky, the Burl is a home away from home, so to get to step foot back inside and lay eyes on the glowing stain glass behind the stage is nothing short of magical.
ALBUM REVIEW•Billy Strings - Renewal
Renewal is Billy Strings’ Sistine Chapel; his grandest work to date that’s sure to cast a wide net of influence over bluegrass music for years to come.
ALBUM REVIEW•Cristina Vane - Nowhere Sounds Lovely
Leaning heavily on old school rock and pre-war blues, Vane’s songwriting also explores paths of gospel, bluegrass, delta blues, country and even waltzes, resulting in a record that resembles a patchwork quilt of influences, both old and new.
INTERVIEW•Introducing: Great Peacock
Led by longtime friends and musical collaborators Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd, Great Peacock have been carving out folky, southern rock ballads for close to a decade.