Welcome to Five String Holler, a podcast straight outta Eastern Kentucky where the banjos ring, the stories run deep, and not a whole lot gets sugarcoated.
Hosted by David Barnett (aka Banjo Barnett), this show dives into all things music—especially bluegrass and country—mixed with real conversations, local legends, and the kind of everyday stories you only hear sittin’ on a porch somewhere in the hills.
You’ll hear from pickers, players, and good folks from all walks of life—some you know, some you oughta know. From talkin’ shop about tone and technique to tellin’ stories that’ll make you laugh, shake your head, or both… this ain’t your polished Nashville production—and that’s the point.
It’s real. It’s raw. It’s honest.
So whether you’re a lifelong musician, a weekend picker, or just somebody who enjoys a good story and a better laugh—pull up a chair and settle in.
This is Five String Holler.
BackPorch Twisters Episode 7: From Death Row to the Dollar Store
Send us Fan Mail Things are getting plum ridiculous on this episode of BackPorch Twisters! Banjo Barnett and the Professor of Shred, Travis Fields, are back to tackle another batch of bizarre news, questionable decisions, and good old-fashioned hillbilly foolishness! We kick things off with the unbelievable story of Christa Pike’s botched execution, then head to Russia, where reports of a mysterious illness have folks wondering if the Black Death is trying to make a comeback! Next, we dive in...
22 Sept 2026
Back Porch Twisters Episode 6: Mitch & The Corndog of Destiny
Well folks, after weeks of speculation, seances, and checking for a pulse… MITCH McCONNELL IS ALIVE! We finally got a good look at him, and fellas… Mitch looks like he just woke up from a 200-year nap and somebody told him Social Security was running out. This week, Banjo Barnett and the Professor of Shred dive into the latest Mitch McConnell update before heading straight down the rabbit hole of the Dead Internet Theory. Is the internet still full of real people… or are we all ju...
10 Sept 2026
Back Porch Twisters Episode 5: Séances, Sniffers & Serial Killers
BackPorch Twisters Episode 5 may be our strangest trip down the holler yet. We kick things off, as tradition demands, with Missing Mitch. The mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell has gotten plum crazy, so Banjo Barnett and the Professor of Shred hold another séance in hopes of finally making contact. Mitch, buddy… if you can hear us, knock twice. Then we put the foolishness aside for a serious conversation about some downright disturbing subjects—the controversy surrounding AI-generated CSAM, ...
Pull up a chair and tighten down your tinfoil hat, because the porch is twisted again. Naturally, we kick things off with our favorite recurring segment: Where’s Brother Mitch?” At this point, we ain’t entirely convinced there’s an illness. Could be sick, could be filming weekend at Bernie's, could be charging overnight in a broom closet somewhere in Washington. Until somebody pokes him with a stick and gets a response, the investigation continues. Then we head back home to Eastern Kentucky, ...
30 Jul 2026
BackPorch Twisters Episode 3: MeatGate 2026 - No Strings Attached
The conspiracy deepens as Banjo Barnett and the Professor of Shred investigate one of the greatest mysteries of our time: where did the red string around the bologna disappear to… and why did it suddenly come back? We also revisit the ongoing mystery of Mitch McConnell, dive into the controversy surrounding AI data centers, debate whether mountain lions are really prowling the hills of Eastern Kentucky, and unravel another Back Porch Twister Tale with the infamous Nasty Dew. Then, to close ou...
21 Jul 2026
BackPorch Twisters Episode 2: Weekend at Mitchie’s - Rise of the Meat Ticks
On Episode 2 of Back Porch Twisters, Banjo Barnett and The Professor of Shred are back on the porch stirring the pot again. This time, we follow up on the continued mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell, the Tiger King now calling a Lexington prison home, and dig into the rumors of a secret AI data center hiding out in Letcher County. Then things get even stranger as we cover the explosive diarrhea bug making the rounds and the wild story of genetically engineered ticks causing people to develo...
13 Jul 2026
BackPorch Twisters Episode 1: Enter The Rabbit Hole
The first episode of our new series on Five String Holler, BackPorch Twisters is officially in the books, and Banjo Barnett is joined by none other than The Professor of Shred himself, Travis Fields. On this episode, we kick things off with a pile of conspiracy talk, strange questions, and a few deep dives that may or may not get us put on a list. We talk about AI, how folks have gotten so desensitized that now anything they don’t understand gets labeled “AI,” and how hard it is to know what’...
24 Jun 2026
Episode 5: Astor Taylor - East Ky Tyme!
This week on Five String Holler, we pull up a chair on the front porch with Eastern Kentucky bluegrass legend Astor Taylor. For more than 40 years, Astor has been a fixture in the mountain music scene, carrying the traditions of bluegrass from local stages to festivals across the country. A Vietnam veteran, retired coal miner, and longtime frontman of the legendary East Ky Tyme, Astor shares stories from a lifetime spent making music. From picking all over the region to spending time with ico...
2 Jun 2026
Episode 4: Gary Joseph - From Gospel Roads to Honky Tonk Shows!
This week on Five String Holler, Banjo Barnett sits down with singer, songwriter, and music promoter Gary Joseph. Gary’s musical journey has taken him through just about every corner of the music world. Growing up deeply rooted in gospel music, he learned the value of faith, family, and traditional music at an early age. As the years rolled on, his love for music led him into the world of bluegrass before eventually finding his home in country music as a member of The Country Troubadours. ...
19 May 2026
Episode 3: Randy Wyatt - From The Jail to The Stage
Episode 3 of Five String Holler is one for the books! This week we sit down with Honky Tonk Pappy himself, Randy Wyatt — bass player, guitar picker, banjo man, former radio DJ, and retired law enforcement officer with enough stories to fill up a Waffle House jukebox. Randy talks about hosting the legendary Bluegrass Express alongside Fiddlin Verlin Sanders, life behind the microphone, years in law enforcement, and memories from hanging around icons like Gary Stewart, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skag...
13 May 2026
Episode 2: Travis Fields - The Professor of Shred
This week on Five String Holler, we sit down with Eastern Kentucky’s own Travis Fields — musician, songwriter, educator, podcast host, and all around good man. Travis has spent years shaping young minds in the classroom while absolutely melting faces on stage with a guitar in his hands. We talk about growing up around music, becoming both a teacher and musician, guitars, songwriting, life lessons, and the stories behind his brand new album that just dropped. Whether you know him from the cl...
5 May 2026
Pilot/Episode 1: Brent Amburgey - FastLane to the Teardrop Inn
Welcome to the very first episode of Five String Holler! To kick things off, I sat down with one of my biggest influences and a true standout in the banjo world, Brent Amburgey. Known for his work with Fastlane and the classic “Tina at the Teardrop Inn,” Brent has spent years shaping the sound of modern bluegrass with his driving style and unmistakable tone. In this episode, we talk about his journey, the music, the stories behind the songs, and what it really takes to become the kind of pl...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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