Episode 21 - Joshua Rilko - Separate But Together

Live from Banjo

In episode 21, I sit down with Joshua Rilko, founding member of Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys and current touring mandolinist for Sierra Ferrell. Joshua grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. While a teenager and going to folk circles with his father, he discovered bluegrass and the mandolin. While in college, he fell in love with bluegrass jams, eventually formed The Flatbellys, and met Lindsay Lou. Quickly a personal and musical partnership burgeoned, and Joshua and Lindsay spent over a decade touring and recording with a small group of other members. Joshua and Lindsay recorded four full-length Eps together in this time. Joshua is a talented multi-instrumentalist, hacky sacker, and footbagger and spent a portion of his touring years as a “veggie-bus mechanic.Joshua has spent the pandemic transcribing many of his favorite mandolin tunes and passing this info on to other mandolinists. Joshua recently recorded his first solo full-length EP and, currently, has a Kickstarter in place to help get the album finalized and out into the world. Joshua has played and recorded with many of the stars of the bluegrass and Americana scene. He is currently on tour with fellow Nashville artist Sierra Ferrell. In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I discuss the origins of ska music, the inner workings of a veggie-bus symptom, and a moment of weakness.Please enjoy episode 21 and Joshua Rilko’s solo podcast interview debut.