WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:24 — 53.6MB)
We were thrilled to host a Firehouse Session with Nick Shoulders on November 23, 2025, ahead of his show that night at The Bluebird. Hosted by Abby Noroozi, the session was a deep, joyful dive into tradition, experimentation, and possibility.
A singer, whistler, yodeler, and visionary country artist, Nick’s music pulls from old-time country, jug-band sounds, holler singing, and the natural world — all filtered through a lens that feels both reverent and radically alive. He performed songs from his newly released album Refugia Blues, sharing reflections on growing up in Arkansas, finding music early in life, and how nature, place, and curiosity continue to shape his songwriting.
The conversation moved through his commitment to making country music more inclusive and honest, his excitement about contemporary folk and country artists, and the ethos behind Gar Hole Records, the label he runs. Nick also spoke about his work as a visual artist and lifelong birder, and how drawing, lettering, and time spent outdoors all flow from the same creative source as his songs.
Rooted, generous, and quietly radical, this Firehouse Session was a reminder of how expansive country music can be — and how powerful it is when tradition is treated as something living. A special session, and the perfect lead-in to an unforgettable night at The Bluebird.
Host: Abby Noroozi
Producer: Abby Noroozi
Session Engineers: Alex Hammel and Richard Jermain
Post Production: Chama Henry
