Alela Diane: Gold in France, That 1990s/1890s Life, and Michael Hurley

Alela Diane: Gold in France, That 1990s/1890s Life, and Michael Hurley

Author: The Bluegrass Situation June 25, 2026 Duration: 1:00:56
Back in the mid 2000's Alela Diane's Gospel Pirate album was ringing my bell and apparently, it was ringing a lot of other people's bells, too, especially Europeans. Alela's debut album went gold in France and she's been able to maintain a pretty decent audience and career across the Atlantic. Meanwhile, at home in The States (she's based in Portland, OR), after 2013, she remained relatively unknown and undiscovered and that was just fine with her. She worked on her music, occasionally flew over to Europe to tour, played local gigs and raised her two daughters with her husband in their 1892 victorian mansion. While they were renovating their crazy old house, they also got their daughters' a landline and a CD player each along with their old CD collections. Everything was pretty chill and great. Then her friend and mentor Michael Hurley, the godfather of freak folk, died last year at the age of 83. After playing a tribute show to Michael, she started connecting with her Portland music community. She would go to shows, inviting people like Anna Tivel over, starting to collaborate with others in town. This all led to her new album, Who’s Keeping Time? This time around, she is really going full stop on a huge tour where she will be gone roughly 40% of the time from May through December of this year. It feels like a huge return for the singer-songwriter who is feeling so inspired by creating, collaborating and being in community again. Follow Basic Folk on social media: https://basicfolk.bio.link/ Sign up for Basic Folk's newsletter: https://bit.ly/basicfolknews Help produce Basic Folk by contributing: https://basicfolk.com/donate/ Interested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

There's a certain magic that happens when musicians are given the space to talk not just about their craft, but about the life that feeds it. That's the heart of Basic Folk, a series of conversations that feel more like catching up with an old friend than a formal interview. Hosts Cindy Howes and Lizzie No bring a genuine curiosity and easy warmth to each episode, creating an environment where artists often share stories and insights they might not elsewhere. Since 2018, this podcast has carved out a vital niche, actively seeking to honor and platform the incredible, sometimes under-the-radar, voices within the roots music world. You'll find a beautifully diverse tapestry of sound and experience here, from technical wizards and Grammy-winners like Molly Tuttle to culturally pivotal figures like Leyla McCalla, all united by their connection to folk music's expansive tradition. Produced by The Bluegrass Situation, each episode digs into the personal journeys, creative struggles, and quiet triumphs that shape the music. It’s less about celebrity and more about substance, offering listeners a chance to intimately understand the people behind the songs. Tune in for thoughtful, humorous and deeply human dialogues that remind you why folk music, in all its forms, remains a powerful force for storytelling and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Basic Folk
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