Virtual Listening Party: Glad You’re Here’s ‘On Air, Vol. 1’
Singer-songwriter and podcast host Grant Glad leads us through his new album, a stunning compilation of performances by a variety of Minnesota artists recorded on-air for his show.
On Air: Vol. 1 album artwork
Grant Glad started his podcast in 2022 with a vision: to put a spotlight on our local scene, especially emerging Midwest artists you should know about even if you don’t yet. Each episode features an in-depth conversation with an act as well as live performances of a few of their songs.
Since its debut, Glad You’re Here has accumulated over 60 of these fascinating sessions. As a stellar singer-songwriter himself, Glad’s knack for spotting talent is impressive; many of the acts who may have been lesser-known at the time of recording have since gained accolades and prominence in the Midwest and beyond.
Now Glad has curated nine of his favorite songs over the years into an album, On Air: Vol. 1, available today on streaming platforms. He describes the collection as “intimate raw performances and recordings that let the words breathe and the songcraft shine.”
Ranging from a singer-songwriter who’s not yet 20 to a veteran Midwest musician with 20 years of touring experience, comprising seven originals (some unreleased) and two covers, the album brings together some of the most prized musical gems of our region. Depending on your familiarity with the scene, it’s either an anthology of well-loved and promising local artists or a starter pack for you to discover the breadth of talent the Minnesota (and greater Midwest) region contains.
We invited Glad to what we like to call a “virtual listening party” and give his impression of each of these songs. Feel free to listen via the YouTube link below or stream the album on your platform of choice and listen along as you read Glad’s thoughts and learn more about each artist!
1. Kelley Smith, “Annabelle”
“This is a cover of a Gillian Welch tune, and Kelley really makes it her own, letting the story of Annabelle cut you to the core.”
Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
2. The Penny Peaches, “Ready To Die”
“Hattie shared on the podcast that this song was written after a near death experience she had. Hearing her and her sister Grace sing about something so personal really seems to highlight those blood harmonies even more.”
3. Josie Langhorst, “Lucky 7”
“I try not to judge people based on their age, but you know how Bob Dylan released Freewheelin’ at 20, no one could believe a 20-year-old could write songs like that? Well, with this song Josie reminded me that age means nothing in regard to how great a songwriter you can be.”
4. Clare Doyle, “Showing Up”
“This song has been living rent free in my head since I first heard it live at the Hook around 2021. It’s what prompted me to invite Clare on the show, and again it’s what prompted this project getting completed. It’s so good. There’s a line in here about forgetting a birthday card and I think about it at every birthday party I attend now.”
Photo credit: no_aesthetic_stills
5. Austin Castle, “River Bottom Roads”
“This was the song that Austin played that won him the Dylanfest Songwriter Contest in Duluth in 2024. And it’s easy to see why.”
6. Carrie Sue & the Woodburners, “Marietta”
“This is one of those songs that feels like it’s always existed. Like Carrie just plucked it right out of the universe and brought it to life for the rest of us. I’ve always been jealous of writers who can create things that feel timeless from day 1, and Carrie’s one of those writers.”
Photo by Eric Frahm.
7. Kyle Orla, “Waiting on a Friend, That’s All”
“Kyle is a renaissance man. A luthier (or guitar repairperson as he calls himself), music teacher, YouTuber, student of the Delta blues, and songwriter; he pours all of his vast musical education into this song and really creates a poignant experience for the listener.”
8. shugE, “Facial Bone Structure”
“For 3 years I’ve been trying to put my finger on who this sounds like. Someday I might figure it out, but I think the real answer is just that it sounds like shugE.”
9. Drew Peterson, “Souvenirs”
“This was towards the tail end of our interview when I was just throwing out songs and Drew was playing them. Completely forgot it existed until I went combing through old episodes in preparation for this album, and boy am I glad to have found this one. I mean, it’s Drew Peterson doing John Prine, what else is there to say?”
About Grant Glad
The music of Duluth-based Americana singer-songwriter Grant Glad transforms the day-to-day struggle of American living into foot-stomping, full-hearted anthems about chasing dreams and dancing while you do it. At times twangy, at times funky, his albums stretch the boundaries of several genres to produce something entirely new: songs that offer the loose, raw spirit of punk rock, the bold, driving rhythms of roots rock-and-roll, and the rich sense of personal history that makes classic country forever relevant.
His latest full-length album came out in early 2024. Our reviewer Jacson Miller had this to say: “I was in awe at the end of One Man’s Story, like being in a theater staring at the screen after a great movie. Glad displays his tremendous talent as a storyteller on this album.” Glad has released several singles since then, including “Quitters” and “Wizard of Oz.”
Glad You’re Here airs live on Happy Productions online radio and is also available on streaming podcast platforms including Apple and Spotify.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carol Roth. Photo credit: Dan Lee.
Adventures in Americana co-founder Carol Roth is a novelist who publishes both under her name and the pseudonym T.A. Berkeley in a range of genres, from horror to thriller to YA. She loves to play guitar and sing and occasionally write songs. Her wide-ranging passions also include vegan cooking, personal finance, watching queer romance TV/movies and learning to speak Thai. By day she’s a marketing writer/brand strategist.
