This week we revisit a show that featured The Lil Smokies from Montana and Emily Scott Robinson from Telluride to eTown Hall. The Lil Smokies have graduated from ‘up and coming’ to ‘fully arrived’ – they showcase their hyper-melodic brand of song-strong Bluegrass music. Emily Scott Robinson shares the stage with her sultry voice and plays a ‘spooky’ tune with Nick, Helen and The eTones. Also, Christina Carlson, from Urban Peak in Denver, talks to Nick about youth and homelessness.

The Lil Smokies have grown far beyond the labels often placed on them. The band leans into space, texture and reflection, expanding their acoustic roots into a more contemplative sound shaped by Montana’s wide-open landscapes. Their songs this week reflect their tendencies to slow things down and trust mood and patience as much as melody, favoring feel over flash and atmosphere over rush.

Joining them is Emily Scott Robinson, a master storyteller whose work balances emotional clarity with deep compassion. Emily records for Oh Boy Records, the label founded by John Prine. Since the broadcast, she has released her 2026 album Appalachia, recorded at Dreamland Recording Studios, exploring love, loss and hope through songs she describes as prayers meant to reach the people who need them most.

In conversation with host Nick Forster, Christina Carlson joins us to talk about youth homelessness and the work of Urban Peak, which supports young people ages 12 to 24 with housing, healthcare, education and long-term stability.