Elizabeth Nichols had quite the guest list for Easter dinner. The country singer and songwriter recently sat down with us on Whiskey Riff Raff, and she’s one of the many young artists who have rose to fame in the social media age of music discovery. Nichols initially went viral thanks to her clever country song “I Got A New One,” and she’s rode that wave all the way to her first ever headlining tour. Much of our conversation with Elizabeth Nichols revolved around her love for country music, and more specifically, Toby Keith. She’s doing what she can to bring funny, storytelling songs back to the genre, and Nichols just recently spun all of her success into her first ever headlining tour. Needless to say, her unique music is resonating with country fans. It’s even led her to get connected with some long lost family members. Well, “self proclaimed family members” might be the better way of putting it. While we had time with Nichols, we had to ask about her recent post with the one and only Dog the Bounty Hunter. In case you missed the unlikely collaboration, the country singer shared this video on social media a couple of months back: “My Uncle Dog said he would track down my exes.” View this post on Instagram “Uncle Dog” would be the man for the job if exes needed to be tracked down. We asked for some background information on that meet up, and Nichols said that her “Uncle Dog” was over at her house for Easter. As to how that came to be, the “Oh The Things Men Do” singer said that she extended an Easter invitation after the reality TV star made an appearance at her church: “Oh my gosh, my Uncle Dog. No, (we’re not related). He was at my house for Easter. We invited him to Easter. He preached at my church, and then he came over for Easter dinner. Then I was like, ‘We have to make a TikTok.'” Yeah, how could you not see if Dog the Bounty Hunter needed Easter meal plans? Nichols says the celebrity bounty hunter could not have been nicer, and even told her that he’d be willing to kick things into bounty hunter mode if she ever needed help dealing with her ex-boyfriends: “He was like, ‘You let those boys that you are writing songs about know that your Uncle Dog will come get ’em.’ I’m like, ‘I will. I 100% will.’ That’s where Uncle Dog came from… he proclaimed it. It was self proclaimed, and I accept that.” @whiskeyriff @Elizabeth Nichols #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff You can hear about all of that and more (like a Talladega Nights star being in her band) by checking out the interview on YouTube or making sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here. We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts. Cheers, y’all. Audio Video The post Why Elizabeth Nichols Had Dog The Bounty Hunter At Her House For Easter first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

A heartfelt look at our awkward high school days. With today’s new batch of superstars in country music getting younger and younger seemingly by the minute, headlined by the likes of Sam Barber, Ty Myers, Waylon Wyatt, Hudson Westbrook and more, it’s becoming increasingly harder to sort out the best of the best when it comes to young talent in genre today. While Barber and Wyatt have made waves in the ever-prominent acoustic/folk scene and Myers has seemingly taken a page out of John Mayer’s playbook throughout his career, there’s a growing need for a hot, young group to carry the torch (and traditions) of Appalachia. That group is none other than Low Gap. In case you’re not familiar with the duo, comprised of brothers, Gus and Phin Johnson, they’ve been making waves across many independent country circles for the past few years. When they were in their early teens back in 2021, they burst onto the scene with their debut single, “Mockingbird,” which has since become a cult-classic among their ever-growing fanbase and has scored the siblings well over a million streams on Spotify alone. Since then, Low Gap has become what can only be described as one of the most exciting young voices in the genre, blending the sounds and stylings of their Appalachian roots in both Lexington, Kentucky and Holmes County, Ohio. Not only have they expanded out over the past year or so, piecing together a stellar band comprised of Levi Brown on the drums, Christopher Bias on the steel guitar and Samuel James on bass, they also dropped one of the most impressive debut albums I’ve heard in years back in January with Geneva. Since dropping Geneva, they’ve been keeping the momentum going, scoring an opening slot on the Whiskey Riff Madnesss champion himself, Colby Acuff’s, HANDMADE HORSEPOWER Tour and continuing to expand their ever-growing fanbase. Wasting no time, the young Appalachian duo is back with their first follow-up since their debut album, a brand new single simply titled “Timmy.” View this post on Instagram If there’s one thing that becomes apparent while listening to Low Gap, it’s their knack for relatable, honest storytelling from track-to-track. In many ways, the young duo is wise beyond their years, often touching on themes of religion, history and philosophy. Here, however, they decide to take a step back and tell an incredibly relatable story of something we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives: the awkward days of high school. Brilliantly, Gus and Phin set the scene of a Billy Strings-loving, straight-edge high schooler who’s simply trying to figure out the growing world around him. As for why they chose Billy Strings, Gus would explain that the bluegrass hero perfectly captures the essence of “Timmy,” given that he’s the “perfect combination of nerdy and brilliant.” “I felt like Billy Strings is the perfect combination. I mean, for one, Billy Strings is great. He’s like the perfect combination of nerdy and brilliant and very enjoyable. There’s something there. I can’t imagine most high schoolers are going to a Billy Strings concert, but a mildly awkward kid who’s smarter than all of his peers is the type of guy that would be at a Billy Strings concert. It fit the vibe pretty well. Kind of a homage in some sense.” Like most high school stories, “Timmy” wouldn’t be complete without a love story, and that’s exactly the direction the young brothers take on the track in the second verse. Introducing his love interest, “Penny,” the titular character then works up the nerve to ask her to dance at homecoming, despite being let down that they didn’t play any Billy Strings. “He’s sweating out a river as she walked him to the floor But I guess old son’s got rhythm; they waltzed a mean 3-4 Well, Timmy, you’re gonna be a star tonight Just don’t hold her hand too tight” If there’s one word I would use to describe “Timmy” (and Low Gap’s entire discography at large), it would simply be “earnest.” As noted in Geneva, it’s become abundantly clear that Gus and Phin aren’t here to chase any trends from both a lyrical or sonic standpoint. Instead, they’re carving their own path in today’s homogenized state of the genre with some lush, traditional production and heartfelt, relatable storytelling from release to release. If you’re looking for a heartfelt, honest reflection of growing up and breaking out of your shell, look no further than “Timmy.” “Timmy” Low Gap Tour Dates July 11 – Ozark, Arkansas – Bank OZK July 23 – Duck, North Carolina – Duck Town Park Boardwalk July 25 – Macon, Georgia – Bragg Jam August 12 – Greeley, Colorado – Moxi Theater August 14 – Pinedale, Wyoming – Summer Series August 15 – Denver, Colorado – The Black Buzzard August 18 – Carbondale, Colorado – Steve’s Guitars August 22 – Virginia City, Nevada – Red Dog Saloon August 27 – Custer, South Dakota – Custer Beacon August 29 – Aberdeen, South Dakota – Red Rooster Coffee House September 25 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 89th Street September 26 – Tulsa, Oklahoma –  Mercury Lounge October 1 – San Antonio, Texas – Sam’s Burger Joint October 2 – Austin, Texas – Meanwhile BrewingThe post Low Gap Delivers An Incredibly Earnest Look At Growing Up On New Track, “Timmy” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

If you’ve sought out any new bluegrass music in recent years, you’ve probably come across Mountain Grass Unit. And if you haven’t, now would be the time to change that. The four-piece jamgrass outfit has been a buzz-worthy up-and-coming group for a few years now, but with new music on the way and an extensive touring schedule, they appear as poised as ever to take the next step towards bluegrass stardom. A couple of weeks ago, the band announced that their second record Appalachian Smoke will drop on August 28, and they released three killer tracks to give the fans a taste of what they’re in for. Titled “Forest Mississippi,” “Window for a Friend,” and “Appalachian Smoke,” these singles are each an absolute masterclass in bluegrass musicianship. MGU released their debut record Where I Land in 2022 as a largely unknown band comprised of three childhood friends; Drury Anderson (lead vocals, mandolin), Luke Black (guitar), and Sam Wilson (upright bass). Josiah Nelson joined the crew on the fiddle not too long afterwards, completing the band’s current powerhouse lineup. And since then, largely on the strength of their awe inspiring live show, the group has built a reputation as one of the most promising young bands in the genre. They released a 5-track EP Runnin’ From Trouble in 2024 to keep fans at bay, but it feels like Appalachian Smoke is the project everyone has been waiting for. And it could be just what the band needs to take their next step. Checkout the tracklist below, and give the three songs released thus far a spin while you’re at it. Appalachian Smoke Tracklist: “Earthquake” “Homebound Troubadour” “Appalachian Smoke” “Wait For Me” “Window For A Friend” “Darkness Rollin’ In” “Forest Mississippi” “Suspicion” “One Last Time” “Eagle’s Nest” “Take Your Time” “Where Steamboats Go To Die” “Another Sunday Again” As I’ve already mentioned, Mountain Grass Unit is known for their live show. And in my personal opinion, there aren’t too many bands out there that do it better. They have an extensive tour planned for 2026, and I highly recommend catching the show closest to you. Mountain Grass Unit Tour 6/20 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater 6/21 – Casper, WY – The Rialto 6/24 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge 6/25 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater ^ 6/26 – Sisters, OR – Big Ponderoo * 6/27 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery % 6/29 – Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo House of Music 6/30 – Trout Lake, WA – Trout Lake Hall (SOLD OUT) 7/1 – Enterprise, OR – OK Theater 7/3-4 – Grass Valley, CA – High Sierra Music Festival * 7/18 – Whitefish, MT – Under the Big Sky Festival * 7/18 – Whitefish, MT – The Remington Bar # 7/25 – Hiram, ME – Ossipee Valley Music Festival * 8/8 – Alta, WY – Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival * 8/12 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live 8/13-14 – Manchester, VT – Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots * 8/26 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry 9/6 – Mill Spring, NC – Earl Scruggs Music Festival * 9/18-20 – Flagstaff, AZ – Pickin’ In The Pines Bluegrass Festival * 9/20 – Annapolis, MD – Annapolis Baygrass Festival * 10/10 – Eureka Springs, AR – Hillberry Music Festival * 10/22-25 – Live Oak, FL – Hulaween * 1/19-23 – Puerto Aventuras, MX – Panic en la Playa * * Festival Appearance ^ Supporting Dierks Bentley & Cole Goodwin % Supporting Dierks Bentley & Kaitlin Butts View this post on Instagram The post Mountain Grass Unit Announces Sophomore Record, ‘Appalachian Smoke,’ Releases Three New Tracks first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Dan and Shay just keep getting better and better. Continue reading…