Texas to Tennessee with Soule Gravy

On this episode of the Texas Tennessee Podcast, Cory Michael and Soule Gravy sit down with Texas-based singer-songwriter Ben Coleman to talk about finding his way into live music—from open mics in Colorado to building a community of musicians in Texas. Ben shares how songwriting became central to his life, the balance between playing covers and sharing original music, and his plans to get more songs out into the world. They also discuss the realities of making a living as a musician, social media, Ben’s heartfelt song “Sweet Irene,” and the stories behind his musical journey. The conversation wraps up with rapid-fire questions and plenty of laughs.

At the North Springs Music Festival, we sit down with singer-songwriter Keagan Hatton to talk about finding his way from guitar playing to songwriting, learning to tell stories through music, and building a career with a close-knit team. Keagan also shares the artists who shaped him, the song “Simple Life,” and why independent music communities matter.

She was a West Point grad, an Army aviation officer and a lawyer. Then Hope MacGregor went back to Plan A and started cold-emailing venues. Hope's story is the one you need if you think it's too late to chase the thing you actually want.Hope sits down with host Soule Gravy and returning guest-turned-co-host Nate for a conversation that goes from a failed cruise-ship karaoke debut to a Texas venue that tried to renegotiate her pay, until she told the owner what her day job was. Hope is a songwriter based in Jackson, Tennessee, and she is not heading to Nashville.Hope shares:The exact tools and routine she uses to book shows in cities where she knows no one, including the databases she searches and her email and voicemail follow-up rhythmWhat it was like to quit her day job for an independent musician's budget, and her answer to anyone who says to go do your Plan BWhy she records at Jackson Records with a band, bass player and co-writer who all live down the road, and why she isn't looking for a record deal right nowThe story behind her new five-song EP, which follows the arc from desperately single to falling in love. The lead single, Vinyl Vices, arrives September 4, and the full EP lands September 24Two songs that people message her about most: Dog Dishes Laundry, built on her mom's advice for getting through the worst days, and Why Dogs, written for her yellow lab, Lucy. Nate shares his own dog story in the middle of the conversation, and it gets emotionalNate pushes Hope to stop glossing over her résumé, then joins Soule for a rapid-fire round that covers her favorite chord, her ideal green room, her pick for the best Little Debbie and a historical dinner guest you won't see coming. The episode also opens with a game of "famous people from Hope's birthplace" and ends with the one song she says to hear first.Independent artists live or die on follows, engagement, ticket sales and merch table purchases. Hearing how one of them built momentum in a few years from a barbecue-joint open mic shows what that support makes possible.Perfect for songwriters figuring out how to book their first run of shows, Americana fans, dog lovers and anyone who has ever started over.

Travis learned every Chris Knight song first, then started writing his own at 22. Now he explains how he writes, why he walked away from music, and what finally brought him back.Soule Gravy is flying solo, so Dustin Perkins takes the co-host chair. Travis grew up in Fannin County, Texas, and Dustin was the local act he followed. He even recorded at the same Fort Worth studio Dustin used. This conversation is two friends with a shared history asking each other the questions they've always wondered about.Travis shares:Why he writes melody first, never writes much down, and treats what sticks in his head as a built-in filterHow Jason Isbell became his "manual to songwriting," and the verse in his latest single that nods to himWhat Austin did to his sound, from the throw-and-go open mics to the dive bars, Texas swing and house-party jamsWhy performing was miserable for him at first, and what changed once he believed in his songsThe story of a woman in Del Rio who made one of his songs her ownBoth artists get honest about the stretch when they stepped away. Dustin says music never left him and a realization that his songs might outlive him sent him back. Travis calls his a burnout from chasing outcomes, money and clout for the wrong reasons. Then comes the question of what "making it" really means. Dustin's answer involves a brick mason dad and a $600 paycheck.Stick around for the rapid-fire round: a dream Chris Knight tribute band with Dustin up front, a Metallica detour, a first concert at Six Flags, and a Little Debbie debate that ends in an argument over whether it counts.Travis's new music arrives August 21, including the single "Lightning," recorded at Soundstage in Nashville with producer Matt Zavala and finished in Texas with Eric McKinney. He's also playing Dustin's River Jam in September.Perfect for songwriters, independent artists, and anyone who has ever wondered whether to keep going. Hit follow on these artists wherever you stream.

Soule Gravy and Talbo sit down with Texas singer-songwriter Isaac Jacob. He grew up in Falfurrias, bought his first guitar at 13, and now fronts his own band out of New Braunfels. Isaac talks about:Opening for Randy Rogers in front of 5,000 people, and the show that ended in a fight and mace.The skunk evacuation that led to his first-ever performance.What goes wrong on stage, from unplugged cables to dead mics and power outages.Recording three projects at Yellow Dog Studios and the advice he'd give artists picking a studio.The songwriter nights in New Braunfels that led to his song "Angel's Son."Touring beyond Texas, including Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico.Making "The Brush Country Tapes," a crowdfunded album that came out July 17.The episode also has a round of "Why Are They Famous?" about Falfurrias and Brooks County, and rapid-fire questions on favorite chords, dream venues, green rooms and Little Debbie snacks.

Texas to Tennessee welcomes Drew Cooper, a country singer-songwriter based in Tucson, Arizona. Soule Gravy hosts, with Evan Boyer, the voice of the show's intro, as a guest co-host. Drew shares his story.

Justin Corley joins the Texas to Tennessee hosts to talk about turning his family's screen-printing shop into a music venue. He owns The Armadillo Ranch in Azle, Texas, about 10 miles west of Fort Worth. He explains how the Skinny Armadillo print shop got its name and how years of making band merch led him into the music world. He also explains how a small open house led to a 75-seat listening room. The room started with a sold-out first show in November 2024, and it has hosted about 27 shows since.Justin also covers:How he books artists and why he puts sound quality first.What radius clauses are and why venues use them.What he wishes artists knew when they reach out.

Emily Woodhull sat down with me at North Springs Music Festival

Texas country with a soul core, family-band chemistry, and a live show built on harmonies, hot guitars, and songs that actually mean something. The Reed Brothers sit down to talk about the sound they're sharpening right now, the new album they're building, and why their best music comes from keeping enough room for the studio to surprise them. Keegan and Kyle Reed trace the band’s path from San Antonio roots and childhood nights at Cibolo Creek Country Club to the present-day version of the group, where recording, writing, and performing all feed each other. You’ll hear how their process has evolved from learning the ropes in the studio to co-producing as a full band, why they don’t want to overcook a song before it gets recorded, and what changes when the people creating the parts are the same people who will take them on stage. We break down the songwriting habits that actually work for them, from midnight text ideas and voice memos to songs that arrive fully formed on the road. Kyle talks about the pull of the studio and the thrill of hearing parts come together in real time, while Keegan opens up about writing with the band in his head and chasing the moment a song finally feels alive.They also get into the live experience that sets the Reed Brothers apart - harmonies, tube amps, a blend of country, rock, and R&B influences, and a rotating cast of voices that keeps each set fresh. Nate’s standout vocals, Jordan’s country-leaning bass work, their side project Les Odessa, and the covers that fit their lane all come up, along with the brothers’ long history of playing with and learning from Adam Hood, Jason Isbell, Keith Gattis, and the rest of the Texas songwriting world.If you care about family bands, well-built songs, or the kind of roots music that still feels dangerous when the lights go down, this one is for you. You’ll come away with a better sense of how the Reed Brothers make their records, why their live show lands, and what’s coming next as they roll out a full album the right way.Perfect for listeners who love Texas music, thoughtful songwriting, and bands that sound even bigger when you’ve seen them in the room.

Twin Fin: Building a Sound—and an Audience—of Their Own How do you grow a band when your music doesn’t fit neatly into one genre? Robbie Kelly of Twin Fin joins the Texas to Tennessee Podcast to talk about making surf-country, Americana, and reggae-inspired music in Hawaii—and finding fans far beyond the islands. Robbie shares how he builds songs on acoustic guitar, brings the band into the studio process, and creates a lively, crowd-focused show with unexpected covers and plenty of personality. He also reflects on the surreal feeling of selling out venues in cities where the band had never played, hearing fans sing along, and discovering how deeply a song can become tied to someone’s memories. The conversation gets into the realities of touring from Hawaii, the costs and risks of life on the road, choosing openers, and why playing live helps Twin Fin connect with listeners when their sound is difficult to categorize. Plus, the guys put Robbie through rapid-fire questions and the podcast’s signature Little Debbie snack debate. A warm and candid conversation about creative collaboration, independent music, and building a career one show—and one fan—at a time.