Accessibility links
Songwriters & Tour Riders Songwriters & Tour Riders is a music podcast from KOSU, focusing on musicians coming from Oklahoma and those just passing through. Join host Matthew Viriyapah as musicians tell stories of recording, touring and living as artists.
Songwriters & Tour Riders

Podcast Directory
Songwriters & Tour Riders

Songwriters & Tour Riders

From KOSU

Songwriters & Tour Riders is a music podcast from KOSU, focusing on musicians coming from Oklahoma and those just passing through. Join host Matthew Viriyapah as musicians tell stories of recording, touring and living as artists.

Most Recent Episodes

Steven Stark is bringing Oklahoma music to the big screen

A music video showcase titled OKC MTV is coming to the historic Rodeo Cinema at the Stockyards in Oklahoma City. Composer and classical musician Steven Stark talks about what inspired the event and how he hopes to foster more connections between Oklahoma's film and music industries.

Josh Crutchmer

Rolling Stone writer and New York Times editor Josh Crutchmer has spent years in the Red Dirt music scene, from the back of bars and concert halls to being on stage at Cain's Ballroom. He also recently gave Oklahoma State University's fall commencement speech. Matthew Viriyapah spoke to him about his journey from Oklahoma State University student to covering artists like The Great Divide, Turnpike Troubadours, and attending more than 30 shows of Wyatt Flores for his latest book, Red Dirt Unplugged.

Bob Dylan Center Director on 'A Complete Unknown'

Matthew Viriyapah spoke with Steven Jenkins, the director of the Bob Dylan Center, ahead of the biopic 'A Complete Unknown' starring Timothee Chalamet about his favorite parts of the film, the impact he hopes the film will have on younger viewers, and other films in Bob Dylan's filmography.

Wilderado

Tulsa band Wilderado had a whirlwind of a summer. They were featured in blockbuster movie Twisters, both on the soundtrack and on screen. Now, fresh off the release of their second album, Talker, they are headlining a sold out show at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. Singer Max Rainer talked about the album having a more "Oklahoma sound," as well as a band and crew that all call Oklahoma home.

The Great Divide

Red Dirt band The Great Divide came out with a new album in 2022, titled Providence. It was the first album of new, original songs by the original lineup in 20 years. The band returned to Stillwater in 2023 with an additional member of the band, Bryce Conway, who prompted the latest release. In this episode, hear Mike McClure, JJ Lester, and Kelley Green talk about what it was like going into the studio for their latest album, playing concerts in Stillwater, and why they prefer being called the "uncles" of the Red Dirt scene.

Willi Carlisle

This is Songwriters & Tour Riders, a music podcast from KOSU hosted by Matthew Viriyapah. Folksinger Willi Carlisle is not a native of the Arkansas Ozarks. But it's a place that he fell in love with. He has a new album out titled 'Critterland,' partially about trying to find community there and how he tries to share that with people who come to listen to his music. In this episode, hear Carlisle talk about the album, moving to Arkansas, and his favorite Oklahoma story.

King Cabbage Brass Band

This is Songwriters & Tour Riders, a music podcast from KOSU hosted by Matthew Viriyapah. Tulsa's King Cabbage Brass Band is bringing a taste of the Mardi Gras iconic sound to Oklahoma. They released their self-titled album last October and are playing with acclaimed New Orleans outfit, the Soul Rebels, on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Beer City Music Hall in Oklahoma City. In this episode, hear founder Gregory Fallis talk about the culture of Mardi Gras and New Orleans brass band music, and starting his own brass band in Tulsa.

Skating Polly

This is Songwriters & Tour Riders, a music podcast from KOSU hosted by Matthew Viriyapah. Punk band Skating Polly has released a double LP titled Chaos County Line. The band is made up of siblings, Kelli and Kurtis Mayo and Peyton Bighorse. After five years, Kelli Mayo said that they wanted to "walk to the separate corner of the map on all of our influences." In this episode, hear Kelli talk about writing a double album, and how after years of being in a band with her siblings, they're getting more honest with their lyrics.

Thunder Jackson

Kyle Bradley was raised in Piedmont, Oklahoma. But his alter-ego, Thunder Jackson, was born in Los Angeles, California, after years of playing in smoky bars and busking since he was a teenager. He released his debut self-titled album in 2020, but after its release he said that music wasn't making sense to him anymore. It wasn't until he moved back to Oklahoma where he found the inspiration to create again. He released an EP titled Take Me Back last fall and is working on new music while splitting his time between L.A. and Oklahoma. In this episode, hear Thunder Jackson talk about how his father was an Elvis impersonator and got him a license to play in bars as a teenager, creating the moniker Thunder Jackson, and returning to Oklahoma.

The Lone Bellow

The Lone Bellow's latest album is titled Love Songs for Losers and was recorded in Roy Orbison's former home. Matthew talked with singer Zach Williams just before they started their first tour of 2023, which fell right around the 10-year anniversary of the release of their debut album. In this episode, hear Williams talk about producing their own album, going back on tour, and what it was like recording in Roy Orbison's former home.

Songwriters & Tour Riders

Podcast Directory