Adventures in Americana

06/19/2026

We're so sad another season of Smouse in the House is ending, but at least it's ending on a high note! We're delighted to reveal our final guest for the 7th season of our podcast: Carriage House! Tom Smouse had a blast talking to the husband and wife duo (and a bandmate), now based in La Crosse WI, about their songwriting and how it connects to the natural landscape around them. We'll also get to hear and learn about two of Tom's favorite songs of theirs. Check the comments below to hear a bit of what our last guest Molly Maher thought of their music, and then tune in next Thursday 6/25 to say hello to Carriage House and bid a fond farewell (for now) to our podcast.

06/18/2026

FREE TICKETS—COMMENT TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY! We’re giving away a pair of passes to see Ken Pomeroy with Ramsey Thornton on Thursday 7/2 at 7th St Entry 7th St Entry in Minneapolis. Comment on this post for a chance to win!

Kentucky Dawn arrived to many ears, seemingly out of the blue, with her 2025 Rounder Records debut, Cruel Joke. The album, with its hushed tones and intimate nature, felt like being welcomed into a secret world: familiar but fresh, flashes of darkness filled with hope, and the kind of songwriting that opens up with repeated listens. A singer-songwriter in the purest sense, Pomeroy’s observations tap into an emotionality steeped in universal truths: longing, freedom, and the joys and heartaches of home.

Ramsey Thornton makes modern-day folk music for early mornings and quiet hours. It’s a warm, rhythmic sound, fueled by intricate fingerpicking and the observational storytelling of a lifelong musician who’s still discovering new horizons. While backing up artists across Tulsa during his early 20s, Ramsey started writing songs of his own, creating a unique version of American roots music fueled by banjo twang and folky hooks.

How to enter: Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm CT on Sunday 6/21. The randomly drawn winner will be announced Monday 6/22. You can comment once a day until the entry period ends and get an entry for each time. (Please note: if we can’t confirm our winner can make it to the show, we may choose another.)

Show details:
Ken Pomeroy with Ramsey Thornton
Thursday, July 2, 2026
7th St Entry, Minneapolis
7PM Doors
8PM Showtime
18+ show

06/18/2026

Episode 10 of Smouse in the House season 7 is out now, featuring the wonderful, quietly iconic Minnesota artist Molly Maher! Our host Tom Smouse visited the basement music room of her St. Paul home to talk songwriting, especially how environment and experiences seep into her music. They also talked about some of the many music events and festivals Molly has curated and hosted over the years. We're so honored to feature this pillar of the local music community on our show! Check the comments below for a snippet about an emerging theme in some of her recent music, and then check out the full interview (including an EXCLUSIVE performance of an unreleased brand new song!) on our SoundCloud or website (link in comments) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 7, Episode 10 : Tom sat down with local singer-songwriter Molly Maher in her basement, surrounded by iconic photos of Dylan and a collection of instruments, to discuss not just writing and performing but her role as an advocate and connector for local musicians.

06/16/2026

ICYMI: The latest episode of The Hook features Bandits On The Run! This charming and ubertalented NY-based trio has a brand new album out, and they talked about their unique approach to music-making, which is shaped by theater, busking, and being attuned to the importance of music as a real, active experience grounded in the world around them. Check out the full episode on our YouTube or website (link in comments) and then go listen to the new album “Rough Magic”!

06/14/2026

We’ve got a special Sunday treat for you! On the latest episode of The Hook, co-host Andy Ellis had a great chat with Adrian Blake Enscoe, Sydney Shepherd, and Regina Strayhorn of Bandits on the Run, whose new album Rough Magic is out now! They talked about the busking community in New York, told us about the recording process, and dug into their song “may this love,” which has three versions on the album! Check out the full episode on YouTube or our website (links in comments)!

06/13/2026

Last up at the Entry, celebrating his album release, Tommy Goodroad! I’ve been following this Chicago-based Minnesota artist for a while, and he can do throwback country twang like nobody’s business—but he’s added a chewy Stones-esque sound with a little Southern rock thrown in, and it’s a really good fit. Very cool to watch an artist stretch and grow like this.

06/13/2026

TFW a bill feels tailor made for you! Next up at the Entry is Minneapolis: Walker Rider. I saw this act once and have been looking for another chance. Yeah, second time’s the charm—I dig their sound and storytelling lyrics a lot.

06/13/2026

First up on a triple bill at 7th St Entry in Minneapolis: Lone Rock Bride! This band has been on my radar for a while which can sometimes raise unrealistic expectations, but they did not disappoint! I’m crazy about how they blend country instruments with alt rock sensibilities, and I can’t wait to see more of them!

06/12/2026

FREE TICKETS—COMMENT TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY! Happy Pride! We’re giving away a pair of passes to see Emmy Woods, Lake Davi, Tomboyy & pine & fire at the 2nd Annual Country Qu**rs Make Do show on Friday 6/26 at the Turf Club in St. Paul. Comment on this post for a chance to win!

Emmy Woods was born and raised on an old dirt road in small town North Dakota and currently resides in Saint Paul MN. With hints of country, folk, and blues, Emmy’s songs, at once soft and strong, fragile and fierce, showcase her knack for storytelling, her musical artistry, and her impressive vocal abilities cultivated by years of practice. When asked to describe her music in three words, lover of music Kyle Smith said “Queer Farm Vibes.”

Lake Davi is an Americana band local to Minneapolis. Their sound is hook driven and pays homage to classic country, ‘60s pop, indie rock, and melancholic women everywhere. Lake Davi describes itself as ‘alt country for midwestern lesbians,’ and the proof is in the lyrics. Singer/songwriter Andy Goelzer scatters local references amongst carefully constructed scenes of love and heartbreak in a community that can feel a lot like a small town.

Tomboyy is a two-piece garage band from Minneapolis, MN. Connie and Sarah met over a pool table and have been a duo ever since. The sound is loud and anthemic with a surfy, doom country vibe.

pine & fire is a working class folk duo from the north woods of Minnesota, formed by longtime best friends, Jobi Adams and Brandi Foster. They blend traditional roots music influences with a modern punk sentiment, creating a unique and driving sound. Together they sing original songs woven with themes of love, escapism, home, and growth.

How to enter: Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm CT Tuesday 6/15. The randomly drawn winner will be announced Wednesday 6/16. You can enter once a day until the entry period ends. (Please note: if we can’t confirm our winner can make it to the show, we may choose another.)

Show details:
Country Qu**rs Make Do
Friday, June 26, 2026
Turf Club, St. Paul
7PM Doors
8PM Showtime
21+ Show

06/12/2026

We are SO very excited to reveal our guest for the penultimate (sob) episode of Smouse in the House season 7: Molly Maher! Our host Tom Smouse had a wonderful chat with this mainstay of the Minnesota Americana community in her beautiful and impressive home music space, and you'll get an exclusive listen to a rendition of an unreleased song. Check the comments to hear what our last guest Daphnejanemusic thinks of Molly's music, then tune in next Thursday for this special treat!