Music Inside Out

Series produced by Music Inside Out

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Music Inside Out with Gwen Thompkins is a weekly, one-hour radio broadcast featuring the people of Louisiana who’ve devoted their lives to America’s music. What makes their music so varied and satisfying is the influence of other cultures — an ongoing dialogue with the rest of the United States and the world.

The interview series from Gwen Thompkins and the producers of Music Inside Out explores Louisiana music-makers. The series debut in 2012 featured Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Marcia Ball, Sonny Landreth, David Simon, the Zion Harmonizers and Shannon Powell.


Find out more about the program.

44 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: James Brown on stage in 1964, Credit: Getty
As live music venues open up, Gwen talks to New Orleans performers about the look of music in their shows -- and their earliest concert memories.

  • Added: Jun 02, 2021
  • Length: 52:00
Caption: Jason Berry
Journalist, author and documentary filmmaker Jason Berry joins Gwen with fascinating stories and characters populating New Orleans’ cultural and mu...

  • Added: Jun 04, 2021
  • Length: 52:00
Caption: Professor Longhair, Credit: Michael P. Smith © The Historic New Orleans Collection
In the spirit of Mardi Gras, this show is devoted to “Fess” -- Henry Roeland Byrd, aka Professor Longhair - the pianist whose music fills the stree...

Bought by KMUW


  • Added: Feb 11, 2021
  • Length: 51:58
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Reggie Scanlan, Credit: Fantail Media/Flickr
Gwen meets up with bassist Reggie Scanlan, a founding member and 33-year veteran of the Radiators, and who still keeps the groove going on stages i...

  • Added: Feb 05, 2021
  • Length: 51:58
Piece image
The Covid pandemic of 2020 challenged musicians, artists and performers like nothing before, ever -- and they adapted, in all different ways. "Musi...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2020
  • Length: 51:58
Caption: Singer Quiana Lynell
Singer Quiana Lynell’s path to accomplished jazz bandleader and vocalist has winded through years of church choir in Texas, classical training at L...

  • Added: Oct 16, 2020
  • Length: 52:01
Caption: Ann Savoy
Ann Savoy is a lot of things: a musician, scholar, mother, and world traveler. She took the scenic route from Virginia to South Louisiana in the m...

  • Added: Oct 09, 2020
  • Length: 52:00
Caption: Wendell Brunious at the French Quarter Festival, April 2019, Credit: Scott Threlkeld
Trumpeter Wendell Brunious hails from one of New Orleans’ storied musical families -- with more than a half-dozen trumpet-playing siblings, and fat...

  • Added: Oct 06, 2020
  • Length: 52:02
Caption: Spencer Bohren, Credit: Scotty Hall
Singer-songwriter Spencer Bohren (1950-2019) was raised in Casper, Wyoming, and made his home in New Orleans. In between, for seven straight years,...

  • Added: Sep 29, 2020
  • Length: 51:59
Caption: Tomi Lunsford and Gwen Thompkins at Tomi's home in Nashville, Credit: Jason Rhein
Singer Tomi Lunsford has spent her life immersed in country music, but her playful vocal style draws from jazz and blues. In spite of her singular ...

Bought by KGLP


  • Added: Nov 02, 2017
  • Length: 52:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Galactic
The members of the band Galactic have been groove-makers in New Orleans and beyond for more than 25 years, embracing R&B, hip hop, jazz, rap, rock,...

  • Added: Sep 10, 2020
  • Length: 51:59
Caption: Germaine Bazzle, Credit: Skip Bolan/Getty Images
Germaine Bazzle is New Orleans’ pre-eminent modern jazz chanteuse, eeking every emotional drop from the American Popular Songbook. For more than 5...

  • Added: Sep 04, 2020
  • Length: 51:57
Caption: Music Street in New Orleans
A look back at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 15 years later, to hear how some of New Orleans' best-loved musicians endured - and why. Gwen T...

  • Added: Aug 27, 2015
  • Length: 51:58
Caption: Tom Sancton
Writer and musician Tom Sancton entered his teens in the early 1960s playing clarinet on stage and on the streets with the veteran African-American...

  • Added: Nov 30, 2017
  • Length: 52:00
Caption: Irma Thomas, Credit: Rick Olivier
A return visit with singer Irma Thomas, who pays tribute to her musical influences - some surprising - and tells Gwen all about the bottom line of ...

Bought by KMUW


  • Added: Aug 14, 2020
  • Length: 51:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
More than six billion people live on the planet, and yet relatively few human voices are recognizable to the naked ear. Irma Thomas has one of tho...

Bought by Prairie Public


  • Added: Apr 03, 2014
  • Length: 51:59
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Saxophonist Charles Neville
Saxophonist Charles Neville was born into one of New Orleans' most famous musical families, and enjoyed a career spanning more than 60 years before...

Bought by KMUW


  • Added: Dec 14, 2017
  • Length: 51:59
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Ani DiFranco, Credit: From DiFranco's Facebook
Musician, singer, songwriter and feminist icon Ani DiFranco joins Gwen Thompkins for an interview and solo performance in front of a rapt New Orlea...

  • Added: Jul 23, 2020
  • Length: 51:58
Piece image
This week, we bring you that funky gentleman from the Ninth Ward, Jon Cleary, who talks about his native England, his grandmother, the piano back h...

  • Added: Oct 31, 2018
  • Length: 52:02
Caption: Louis Armstrong
Host Gwen Thompkins makes an exclusive visit to the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, NY, guided through Armstrong’s rare recordings and life...

Bought by KCNP


  • Added: Jul 31, 2020
  • Length: 52:00
  • Purchases: 1