The Mandolins and Beer Podcast

Episode Notes

Did you know you can support my podcast for as little as $1 a month? You can do that by heading over to my Patreon HERE!! 

New Merch HERE!!!

My guest this week is Grammy Award winning songwriter Melody Walker. 

Melody Walker is a GRAMMY-winning songwriter, producer, performer, and fervent believer that songs can change the world. Best known for her writing with Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell, Della Mae and her own band Front Country, Melody’s post-2020 recalibration has found her finally digging into her home of Nashville, TN, co-writing with her talented neighbors and hosting her acclaimed writers’ round, Writers’ Kitchen in East Nashville. Her blend of grassroots pop has won her accolades from Merlefest to Telluride and now the GRAMMYs with three songs on Sierra Ferrell’s GRAMMY-winning album Trail of Flowers, including winner of the Best American Roots Song “American Dreaming” and co-writes on Molly Tuttle’s GRAMMY-winning albums Crooked Tree and City of Gold. Recent years have found Melody releasing her first solo music in a decade, stepping into her own as a songwriter and artist and finding magic in queer collaboration. Whether teaching at music camps or playing Newport Folk Fest and the Kennedy Center with her Grateful Dead drag band BERTHA, Melody is ready to ride whatever cosmic creative waves the universe sends her way.

Melody’s Links: 

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Songs featured in this episode:

All songs talked about in this episode, plus more are available HERE!

As Always a HUGE thank you to all of my sponsor’s that make this podcast possible each week!

Mandolin Cafe

Peghead Nation promo code mandolinbeer

Northfiled Mandolins

Ear Trumpet Labs

Ellis Mandolins

Pava Mandolins

Tone Slabs

Elderly Instruments

String Joy Strings promo code mandolinbeer

Episode Notes

*Did you know you can support my podcast for as little as $1 a month? You can do that by heading over to my Patreon HERE!!* 

****New Merch HERE!!!

My guest this week is the 2026 National Mandolin Champion Anthony Howell.

Anthony was born, and raised, near Kosciusko, MS. He originally found an interest in the guitar by growing up watching his dad play. At age 11, Howell began taking music lessons from Alan Sibley, of Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers. Alan taught him how to play the mandolin, guitar, and banjo and he later taught himself to play the bass.

His musical influences include Jens Kruger of The Kruger Brothers, Charlie Waller, Jimmy Martin, Jesse McReynolds, Bill Emerson, Tony Rice, Tim Stafford, Larry Wallace, Scott Vestal, Jesse Brock, and many more. Anthony takes influence from many areas. He always wanted to be original and not sound like anyone else. Noticing how many musicians today focus on trying to sound like other musicians, Howell felt a need to try to be unique and innovative. He has spent many hours a day writing original music and coming up with new licks and ideas for the banjo.

Anthony is the 4 time consecutive IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist Of Year Nominee, 2023 Walnut Valley National Banjo Champion, 2025 Alabama State Mandolin Champion, 2021 Alabama State Banjo Champion, 2015 Mississippi State Banjo and Guitar Championship, and he also placed 2nd in mandolin that same year. Howell also secured a 1st place victory in the 2026 National Mandolin Champion and 2nd place in the 2026 National Flat Pick Guitar Championship. He is also an accomplished session musician who has worked on 60+ projects in his short, yet successful career.

He spent his early years playing around home with Tyler Carroll & Pineridge and The Bluegrass Cartel. Throughout his career, he has been seen playing on stage with Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers, Williamson Branch, Edgar Loudermilk Band, Jim Hurst, Micheal Cleveland & Flamekeeper, and in 2025 he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, playing with Dailey & Vincent. Howell now plays with Seth Mulder & Midnight Run in 2024 playing guitar but he now plays banjo full time in the band and sings.

Anthony’s Links: 

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Songs featured in this episode:

Anthony doesn’t have any mandolin recordings out there, however, here are a few videos you should check out!

2026 Winfield Mandolin Championship

David Davis Evening Prayer Blues

As Always a HUGE thank you to all of my sponsor’s that make this podcast possible each week!

Mandolin Cafe

Peghead Nation promo code mandolinbeer

Northfiled Mandolins

Ear Trumpet Labs

Ellis Mandolins

Pava Mandolins

Tone Slabs

Elderly Instruments

String Joy Strings promo code mandolinbeer

Episode Notes

Did you know you can support my podcast for as little as $1 a month? You can do that by heading over to my Patreon HERE!! 

New Merch HERE!!!

My guest this week on the podcast is Sam Parks from The Fretliners. The Fretliners are a band carrying the sound of a changing American landscape. Rooted in bluegrass and reaching into Americana, folk, and rock, their music feels weathered by the road and shaped by the people and places that raised them.

Winners of the Telluride and RockyGrass New Artist competitions, they write about real ground: dirt roads and dry creeks, the people who leave and the people who stay.

Their new album came the way the best things always have — not from strategy, but from showing up. A festival campground. A fireside conversation with folk hero. And one thing led to another, the way it does when the connection is real, until the band was making a record with the legendary T Bone Burnett.

The Fretliners are not chasing a revival. They are building something that lasts: honest songs, timeless stories, and a sound that feels like home.

Their brand new album comes out Oct. 26th and you can pre-order it HERE!

**

Fretliners’ Links:

Website

Instagram
 

Facebook

Sam’s Links:

Instagram

Facebook

Songs featured in this episode:

Silence Says it All by The Fretliners (When the Kettle Sings)

Floodwaters by Head for the Hills (Potions and Poisons)

Give Me a Reason by Head for the Hills (Potions and Poisons)

Sit and Whittle by The Fretliners (S/T)

Josephina by The Fretliners (When the Kettle Sings)

Art in America by David Peters

As Always a HUGE thank you to all of my sponsor’s that make this podcast possible each week!

Mandolin Cafe

Peghead Nation promo code mandolinbeer

Northfiled Mandolins

Ear Trumpet Labs

Ellis Mandolins

Pava Mandolins

Tone Slabs

Elderly Instruments

String Joy Strings promo code mandolinbeer

Episode Notes

Did you know you can support my podcast for as little as $1 a month? You can do that by heading over to my Patreon HERE!! 

New Merch HERE!!!

My guest this week is Ethan Bush from the band Arakansauce. Arkansauce has a brand new album out called Horizon Never Dies, available everywhere now! Be sure to catch their high energy live shows and head HERE to the website to pick up a copy of the album or some merch!!

Arkansauce Links:

Website
 

Instagram

Facebook

Previous episode featuring Ethan

Songs featured in this episode:

All songs previewed during this episode are available HERE!

As Always a HUGE thank you to all of my sponsor’s that make this podcast possible each week!

Mandolin Cafe

Peghead Nation promo code mandolinbeer

Northfiled Mandolins

Ear Trumpet Labs

Ellis Mandolins

Pava Mandolins

Tone Slabs

Elderly Instruments

String Joy Strings promo code mandolinbeer

Episode Notes

Did you know you can support my podcast for as little as $1 a month? You can do that by heading over to my Patreon HERE!! 

New Merch HERE!!!

My guest this week on the podcast is Scott Marquart. Scott is the founder of String Joy Strings. His story absolutely blows my mind. To start a string company essentially from scratch seems like it would be impossible. Then, he not only accomplishes that, but now he’s even accomplished his dream of getting his strings into Guitar Center. Now, you may not run there to buy a mandolin but if you are on the road and you realize you have no strings for your gig tonight, there is a good chance there is a GC somewhere near you. It’s a big deal. Scott was a great guest and after you listen, I think you’ll understand why he’s been so successful!

String Joy Links:

Website

Instagram
 

Facebook

Songs featured in this episode:

As Always a HUGE thank you to all of my sponsor’s that make this podcast possible each week!

Mandolin Cafe

Peghead Nation promo code mandolinbeer

Northfiled Mandolins

Ear Trumpet Labs

Ellis Mandolins

Pava Mandolins

Tone Slabs

Elderly Instruments

String Joy Strings promo code mandolinbeer