The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

Today, we pay tribute to singer-songwriter Glen Hansard (1970-2026), frontman for the Frames and Swell Season. 
In 2009, Fretboard Journal publisher Jason Verlinde sat down with Glen at Seattle's Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub for an hour-long chat about guitars (including his famously worn Takamine), meeting your heroes, busking, and more. Today, we're sharing the audio from that conversation for the very first time. 
This interview ended up serving as the cover story for our 17th issue, which we published in 2010.
As you'll hear, this was recorded 16 years ago in a busy pub and was not meant to be a podcast. There is plenty of background restaurant noise and the occasional interruption from fans and waitstaff. But we think it paints a nice portrait of a truly unique artist. We hope you enjoy it. 
The article that came out of this interview can be found here. We also filmed Glen busking in front of Pike Place Market minutes after this interview. Watch that here.
Register for our 2026 Summit: https://fretboardsummit.org/tickets
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine. Issue 60 is just a few weeks away:  https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com
 (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

Today on the podcast, Summer School Electronics founder Mark Turley joins us once again. We talk about Summer School's current pedal offerings, the 2026 Fretboard Summit, and the two pedal-making classes that Mark will be teaching at the Summit.
https://www.summerschoolelectronics.com
Sign up for Summer School's Pedal Classes: https://www.summerschoolelectronics.com/shop/p/fretboard-summit-pedal-building-class-amnk8
Register for our 2026 Summit: https://fretboardsummit.org/tickets
Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine. Issue 60 is just a few weeks away:  https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com
 (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

Today on the podcast, we are joined by guitarist Louis Campbell, who talks to us about growing up playing traditional music, studying with Martin Simpson, his affinity for using the electric guitar like a piano, and much more.
You can check out his original music via his duo Spafford Campbell: https://www.spaffordcampbell.com

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine. Issue 60 is just a few weeks away:  https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com
 (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

LA-based singer-songwriter/composer/guitarist Micah Preite joins us this week! 
https://micahpreite.bandcamp.com
Though millions have streamed his lo-fi/indie songs on Spotify, Preite's background includes time with SoCal jazz legend Bruce Forman, a visit as a teenager to the OG 2015 Fretboard Summit in California, and studying music at CalArts. He's now working on his first full-length movie score and more songs. It's a great chat with a young musician who can seemingly do it all.
Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (August 20-22, 2026) for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and live podcasts with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org
This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands, performances by Hand Habits, Deep Sea Diver, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Shane Parish, Michael Daves and Antoine Boyer! 

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine. Issue 60 is just a few weeks away:  https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com
 (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

Today's podcast episode is with songwriter and guitarist @alex.amen, who has a new album out today on ATO Records.
https://alexamen.com
In this conversation, we talk about Alex's Texan roots, mountaineering, living on a California commune, and the musical influences found on his new album.
Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago (August 20-22, 2026) for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and live podcasts with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org
This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear! 2026 speakers include Josh Scott (JHS), Mark Stutman (Folkway Music), Chris Martin IV (Martin Guitars), Fender historian Terry Foster, and many other fretted instrument luminaries. 

Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription

We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com
 (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout).

Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com