Robert Earl Keens songs like Amarillo Highway and The Road Goes on Forever have helped define Americana music before the term itself ever caught fire. Now the Texas songwriter is making it his mission to introduce the genre to a broader audience with a new podcast. Dubbed Americana Podcast: The 51st State, the show finds Keen interviewing artists who are essential to the format.
Texas duo Jamestown Revival and Memphis rockers Lucero are Keens first guests when the podcast debuts April 30th with two episodes.
Our mission is reflected in the title, Keen said in a statement. We want to define and expand the Americana music genre. Lets unify the musical styles of folk, blues, bluegrass, country, string band, garage band rock into a powerful collectible under the same umbrella. Lets make Americana, as Shakespeare said, familiar in his mouth as household words.
Last month, Keen released a pair of new songs, The Unknown Fighter and Silver Spurs and Gold Tequila, via a live performance video. He recently wrapped up a spring tour and is gearing up for a string of summer dates with Tyler Childers, including Keens 4th on the River festival in Kerrville, Texas, on July 4th. Earlier this year he teamed with Randy Rogers to release the concept album Burn Band by the fictional Stryker Brothers.