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In this episode, we sit down with Ivan Neville and Tony Hall of Dumpstaphunk backstage at the High Sierra Music Festival for a lively conversation about friendship, family, and the unmistakable sound of New Orleans funk. From their teenage years playing alongside musicians connected to The Meters and The Neville Brothers to their individual journeys and eventual partnership in Dumpstaphunk, Ivan and Tony share stories, memories, and a few surprises they hadn't even shared with each other. Hear how The Neville Brothers "stole" Ivan's drummer, the surprising history behind Tony's band Joyride, and how a side project became one of New Orleans' most beloved funk bands. We also explore the deep connection between New Orleans and the Bay Area music scenes, the importance of passing musical traditions to the next generation, and those unforgettable moments onstage when everything just clicks. It's a conversation filled with laughter, musical history, and the kind of stories that only come out in the green room. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. https://onlyinthegreenroom.com

What happens when an artist stops trying to be perfect and starts trusting exactly who she is? Cassandra Lewis joins Only in the Green Room for an unfiltered conversation about cosmic Americana, heartbreak, psychedelics, creativity, and learning to trust her own voice. She takes us through the wonderfully strange mix of influences that shaped her music, the relationship that inspired Lost in a Dream, and what it means to take the driver's seat by producing her own record at Nashville's RCA Studio A. But this conversation ultimately becomes about something bigger: vulnerability. Cassandra talks candidly about letting go of perfectionism, giving everything she has onstage, and accepting the mistakes and imperfections that make live music—and all of us—human. In her words, vulnerability can be a “radical act.” And in a world increasingly shaped by AI and technology, maybe being imperfectly human matters more than ever. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human.  #CassandraLewis #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #CosmicAmericana #AmericanaMusic #HighSierra #SingerSongwriter #LiveMusic #WomenInMusic

Nashville-born singer-songwriter Maisie Owen joins Only in the Green Room at High Sierra for a conversation about finding her own voice, making music without hiding behind production, and the unexpected influences that shaped her sound. Growing up in a musical family, Maisie initially gravitated toward painting, writing, photography — and classical music. Years of playing viola ultimately shaped the way she approaches guitar and songwriting today, from unusual time signatures to melodies that follow instinct rather than rules. Maisie talks about discovering Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, falling into the music of Bert Jansch and Mazzy Star, writing from dreams and journal entries, and why she wants her recordings to feel almost indistinguishable from hearing her perform live. We also get into her debut festival experience at High Sierra, growing up in Nashville without necessarily sounding “Nashville,” the unexpected ways listeners interpret her songs, her love of Gordon Lightfoot, and why she’s perfectly happy making music alone. It’s an intimate conversation with an emerging artist committed to keeping the imperfections, breaths and quiet moments intact. Where Artists Remain Human. Subscribe to Only in the Green Room for more backstage conversations with the artists, musicians and creative people keeping human connection at the center of music. #MaisieOwen #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #HighSierraMusicFestival #SingerSongwriter #Americana #IndieFolk #NickDrake #NewMusic #MusicPodcast #BehindTheMusic

What happens when the spotlight takes you away from the music that made you want to step onstage in the first place? Backstage at High Sierra Music Festival, Paul McDonald joins Tami and Dennis for a candid, funny, and heartfelt conversation about finding his way back. From an unexpected American Idol audition to the whirlwind of Hollywood, Paul reflects on the experiences that shaped him—and the sense of belonging he’s found with his band, the Mourning Doves. He shares the personal story behind “Dark Side” and So Long to the Dark Side, how losing his mother brought him back to the records he grew up with, and why kindness matters as much as talent when choosing the people beside him on the road. Along the way: songwriting with Andy Frasco and friends, jamming with Lebo, and some unforgettable American Idol backstage encounters. A conversation about letting go, finding your people, and getting back to the music. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. Explore more episodes at onlyinthegreenroom.com.

In this episode, we catch up with Boy Golden backstage at High Sierra Music Festival for a conversation that goes well beyond the music. The Winnipeg singer-songwriter opens up about The Church of Better Daze, why songwriting has become a spiritual practice for him, and his belief that music and creative expression can be deeply healing. We also get into the story behind the name Boy Golden, his early years playing hundreds of shows, his love of albums, the way he approaches songwriting, and why his ultimate mission isn't simply to make people listen — it's to make them want to create something themselves. For Boy Golden, a life filled with as many “creative days” as possible is a life well lived. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human.#BoyGolden #HighSierraMusicFestival #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #ChurchOfBetterDaze #SingerSongwriter #IndieMusic #Songwriting #MusicPodcast

What was supposed to be a conversation about the Grateful Dead quickly becomes something else entirely when photographer Jay Blakesberg and singer-songwriter Steve Poltz join us at High Sierra. The two give us a preview of Working Man’s Dead, their wonderfully unpredictable live collaboration combining Jay’s iconic Grateful Dead photography and storytelling with Steve’s music — including songs he writes spontaneously in response to stories and images he hasn't seen coming. They talk about Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and the strange magic of improvisation. Jay also recounts watching an all-white-clad Steve Poltz make his way toward the rail at the Sphere as the crowd seemingly parted for him “like Moses” — leading Jay to describe Steve as “a cross between Bob Dylan and Moses.” And then things go completely off the rails. Charlton Heston. Planet of the Apes. Paper routes. Behind the Green Door. A mysterious bag of vintage magazines. And several moments when we completely lose control of our own interview. Underneath the insanity, though, is a friendship between two gifted storytellers and a shared love of the Grateful Dead, spontaneity and the kind of live experience that can never happen exactly the same way twice. This is Steve Poltz and Jay Blakesberg — unfiltered, unscripted and very much Only in the Green Room. Steve Poltz, Jay Blakesberg, Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead stories, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Workingman's Dead, Grateful Dead photography, High Sierra Music Festival, Only in the Green Room

What if a dream changed the course of a band? Don Was joins Jay Lane and Only in the Green Room for a remarkable conversation about Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, Wolf Bros and the music that continues to connect them all. Don shares the story of the phone call from Bob Weir that started with something extraordinary: Rob Wasserman had come to Bob in a dream — and told him why he had introduced Don and Bob decades earlier. That call helped lead to the formation of Wolf Bros. From Don locking himself in a New York hotel room for 10 days to learn six songs they never ended up playing, to Bob eventually giving him the advice that changed the way he approached the music: “Just forget about all this and be yourself.” Don and Jay also reflect on the enormous influence of Rob Wasserman, revisit Blues for Allah 50 years later, and talk about what makes this music continue to transcend generations. A backstage conversation about friendship, fearlessness, musical legacy — and the people who change the course of our lives. Watch the full conversation on Only in the Green Room. #DonWas #JayLane #BobWeir #WolfBros #RobWasserman #GratefulDead #BluesForAllah #OnlyInTheGreenRoom

What started as a conversation about Bob Weir and RatDog turned into one of the most personal stories we've ever captured. In this episode of Only in the Green Room, drummer Jay Lane shares what it was like joining Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman despite knowing very little about the Grateful Dead, learning songs from Heaven Help the Fool, navigating unpredictable RatDog setlists, and witnessing Bob's determination to keep creating after Jerry Garcia's passing. Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Jay opens up about his own adoption story, his remarkable adoptive mother, Mary D. Lane, and discovering his biological mother, prior to his birth, had a daughter with acclaimed jazz bassist Donald Rafael Garrett. As the story unfolds Jay pieces together a long-hidden mosaic of family, music, and coincidence, sharing how deeply his life had been intertwined with San Francisco's legendary music scene long before he ever knew it. This is a story about music, identity, family, mentorship, and the incredible coincidences that can shape a life. If you enjoy authentic conversations with the artists behind the music, please Like, Subscribe, and share this episode. #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #JayLane #BobWeir #RatDog #GratefulDead #AdoptionStory #MusicPodcast #BehindTheMusic#SweetwaterMusicHall #David Nelson, #Ramblin' Jack Elliott, #Lorin Rowan, #Matt Jaffe, #Matty Michna, #Jay Lane# Barry Sless, #Jason Crosby, #Samson Grisman# Bobby & The Midnites - I Want To Live In America 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWscxdleZzI YouTube: @inmotion68 "Not Fade Away" - Bob Weir and Wolf Bros | 8/25/2019 | LOCKN' 2019 | Relix  YouTube: @RelixMag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfnfGM77Ob8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdteIsK1qU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6a-A7gP9Mc

Michael Mullins (trombone) and Bradford Lewis (guitar) — two more members of the Legacy Coalition, and bandmates in their own project — join us to fill in the rest of the story. They walk us through how the Coalition really came together: an idea years in the making, a chance meeting at a recording session, and the moment a teenage keyboard player named River showed up and made the whole thing click. They talk about their new single "Brand New Day," a music video shoot funded in part by a Jazz and Heritage Foundation grant, and the weight — and the freedom — of carrying a family legacy forward. As Bradford puts it: "our job is not to fill their shoes, our job is to wear our own." Only In The Green Room goes backstage with the artists carrying jam, funk, roots, and Americana music forward.

Backstage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum during French Quarter Fest, we caught up with Cyril Neville, his son Omari Neville, guitarist Jake Eckert, and his son River — the teenage keyboard player who rounded out the lineup of the Legacy Coalition, a band built entirely from the sons and daughters of New Orleans music royalty. The conversation moves through what it means to inherit a sound rather than learn it — from sleeping on drum risers at Tipitina's as a kid, to stepping onstage next to your own father and realizing the torch has already passed. Cyril talks about the "osmosis" of growing up around the music. Omari opens up about his debut album, out now with a release party at the Louisiana Music Factory. And the whole crew previews their upcoming set at High Sierra Music Festival. Only In The Green Room goes backstage with the artists carrying jam, funk, roots, and Americana music forward.

Trumpet player and vocalist Jennifer Hartswick sits down with us in the green room at Jazz Fest to talk about her decades-long love affair with New Orleans — a city she calls "its own planet" — and the musical relationships that have shaped her career.  Jennifer recounts her first New Orleans gig at the Maple Leaf, an overnight set that ran from 3am to sunrise, and reflects on what it took to earn that kind of audience. She shares the story of meeting Christian McBride, a musician she idolized as a kid, and forming what she describes as an instant soul bond. And she tells us about the night she met Phil Lesh — he didn't know who she was, noticed her trumpet in the green room, and the conversation that followed led to years of playing together in Phil & Friends.  We also talk about High Sierra Music Festival's move to a new home in Grass Valley, and why Jennifer believes this inaugural year there is going to be something special. Guest: Jennifer Hartswick Website: jenniferhartswick.com | Instagram: @jhartswick Recorded live at Jazz Fest, New Orleans#JenniferHartswick #PhilLesh #GratefulDead #ChristianMcBride #HighSierraMusicFestival #JazzFest #NewOrleans #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #MusicPodcast #MapleLeaf

Singer-songwriter Kristin Diable joins Only In The Green Room at the New Orleans Jazz Museum during French Quarter Fest — and the conversation goes deep. We talk about what it really means to lose your creative voice, how traumatic experiences can freeze a songwriter's ability to be vulnerable, and what it took to come back from that and finish her long-awaited album Impossible Things — out now. Kristin also opens up about leaving New York in her 20s for a writing sabbatical in New Orleans and never leaving, why the camaraderie between New Orleans musicians is unlike anything else in America, how she thinks about being the "parent of her songs," and what it means to choose joy when things are genuinely hard. Plus: teaching the "dark arts of songwriting" at Loyola University, running her own independent label Speak Easy, why she thinks festivals are the antidote to screen addiction, and a shoutout to Medium Build. Impossible Things is available now on all streaming platforms. Search Kristen Diable — D-I-A-B-L-E. Buy the vinyl and CDs at kristendiable.com. — CONNECT WITH KRISTiN —Instagram: @kristindiable] — ONLY IN THE GREEN ROOM —Subscribe for more candid artist conversations from backstage and beyond.Instagram: @onlyinthegreenroomWebsite: onlyinthegreenroom.com #KristinDiable #ImpossibleThings #NewOrleans #FrenchQuarterFest #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #SingerSongwriter #NewOrleansMusic #IndieMusic #Songwriting #LiveMusic

Recorded live at Bayou Boogaloo during Jazz Fest in New Orleans — two of our favorites in one green room. Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce) and Wally Ingram (percussionist, collaborator extraordinaire) join us for a wide-ranging conversation as the golden-hour sun goes down over the bayou.  We get into the deep connection between the Grateful Dead world and New Orleans music, what it was like for Eric to join Phil Lesh on stage with no rehearsal and an 80-song set list, and how Wally ended up on the Bob & Phil duo tour with literally a djembe and a pair of bongos.  Plus: how Eric produced Aaron Neville's Grammy-winning album Apache, the story of Lawrence sleeping on his studio floor before they were famous, his new music collaboration platform Ensemble, and why Billy Kreutzmann plays like a New Orleans drummer. Oh, and Eric's five-year-old son is really into James Brown right now.  Just FYI. 🎙️ Only in the Green Room is the backstage music podcast — real conversations with artists in the moment, where the music lives. 📍  Recorded at Bayou Boogaloo | New Orleans, LA 🎸 Guests: Eric Krasno + Wally Ingram  🔔 Subscribe for more green room conversations: onlyinthegreenroom.om 📲 Follow OITGR: Instagram: TikTok: Facebook: 🎶 Follow Eric Krasno: Instagram: @erickrasno 🎶 Follow Wally Ingram: Instagram: @wallyingram

🎟 WIN PIT ACCESS + A SEAT AT OUR FESTIVAL INTERVIEWBuy tickets at highsierramusic.com and enter code GREEN at checkout. You’ll be automatically entered to win front-of-stage pit access for all shows + an exclusive seat at a live Only In The Green Room podcast interview at the festival. High Sierra Music Festival · July 2–5 · Grass Valley, CA 🎸 In this episode:— The New Orleans roots of High Sierra going back to the Radiators and the Grateful Dead world— The full 2026 New Orleans lineup: The Rumble, Dumpstaphunk, Anders Osborne, The Break (Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, Eddie Roberts), River Ecker, George Porter Jr., Cotadosa, Anna Moss & more— Don Was and his Blues for Allah 50th anniversary tribute— The Steely Dead Royal Scam 50th anniversary set + Pink Talking Fish late night mashup— Lebo's "50 Years in the Rearview" — curating 1976— Why High Sierra is a musician's festival: landing, connecting, sitting in— The new Grass Valley location and what it means for the future of the festival— Sunrise Kickball (yes, really)— How to get tickets before they're gone Dave has attended 49 consecutive Jazz Fests, and this conversation captures exactly why the connection between New Orleans music and High Sierra runs so deep. We cover the 2026 lineup, the new Grass Valley venue, and why musicians from Luther Dickinson to George Porter Jr. call High Sierra their favorite festival in America. 🎟️ Get your High Sierra 2026 tickets now: [LINK] 📍 Filmed at The Broadside, New Orleans, during Jazz Fest 2025 Only In The Green Room captures unscripted, candid artist moments backstage and on the road. Subscribe for more long-form interviews with the artists who make live music culture what it is. 🎙️ Also available on all podcast platforms: [LINK]🌐 Full episode + transcript: [YOUR SITE LINK] #HighSierra2026 #HighSierraMusicFestival #JazzFest #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #LiveMusic #MusicFestival #NewOrleans #GrassValley OnlyInTheGreenRoom #LiveMusic #MusicFestival #NewOrleans #GrassValley 0:00 Welcome to Only In The Green Room0:45 How Dave and Tami first met at The Broadside2:00 The Bay Area–New Orleans connection explained4:30 The Grateful Dead, the Nevilles, and how it all started6:15 How the Radiators brought Dave to High Sierra8:00 The 2026 New Orleans lineup revealed10:30 The Rumble + Dumpstaphunk late night throwdown12:00 Anders Osborne, The Break, and Stanton Moore's new trio14:15 River Ecker: 16-year-old piano phenom16:30 Luther Dickinson, Jake Ecker, and The Word18:00 George Porter Jr. with Lebo and the All-Stars19:30 Don Was, Cymande, and the soul of the 2026 headliners21:00 Steely Dead, Pink Talking Fish, and the late night mashup23:00 Why musicians call High Sierra their favorite festival25:30 The artist liaison program and why artists want to be there27:00 The new Grass Valley venue and the future of High Sierra29:30 Sunrise Kickball and the magic of the full festival experience31:00 Get your tickets now — why this year is unmissableHigh Sierra Music Festival founder Dave Margulies sits down with Only In The Green Room at Jazz Fest in New Orleans — where the two festival worlds collide.

🎧 Listen + full episode, transcript & more:https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/meels-interview  Only in the Green Room interviews Mill Valley-raised artist. "Meels" after her Sweetwater stage set, discussing her local upbringing and current life in Pasadena living with her 86-year-old grandmother - after five years in New York and attending NYU’s Clive Davis Institute.