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Justin Barney

Justin Barney

Hi, I’m Justin. I was born in Milwaukee, WI. I started as an intern at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee and worked my way up to Music Director. There I started a segment called “From the Music Desk” where I interviewed over 500 artists including Thom York, Lizzo, Steve Martin, and Phoebe Bridgers. At 88nine I also got to speak passionately about the music I love on the radio, which is a true gift and I still get to do every day. There I also made a podcast called “Backspin: The Search for Milwaukee’s First Hip-Hop Song” which I enjoyed doing more than anything else I’ve ever done and was acclaimed in The New York Times. Highlight of my life. I love music, I love people and I love a good yarn. At the end of the day my goal is to tell stories that are as good as the ones my dad tells me. I’ll tell em on the radio, in print, or next to you at the corner bar.

NashVillager Podcast holiday edition: Radio as a visual medium

By Justin Barney

December 22, 2025

Listen

How can a WPLN music story transport you somewhere new?

Filed Under: NashVillager Podcast, WPLN News Tagged With: 2025 Year In Review

Curious Nashville: Why did a Nashville bank release a Christmas album?

By Justin Barney

December 19, 2025

photo album cover First American National Bank Choir
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The album cover intrigues: A choir in red robes singing in the lobby of a bank lobby, with the conductor standing behind a desk of deposit slips. By how did it come to be?

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, Curious Nashville, WPLN News Tagged With: banking, Curious Nashville, First American National Bank, music, Regions Bank

5 albums that represent the evolving sound of Nashville in 2025

By Justin Barney

December 11, 2025

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Nashville has long been more than country music. The Nashville artists on these five albums are untied to genre or legacy, moving forward with completely new sounds.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: 2025 Year In Review, Chuquimamani-Condori, Fossil Creek, Jarren Blair, Local music, Nashville, Nickname jos, Snooper

Tom Waits tribute Get Behind the Mule raises $20,000 for Second Harvest

By Justin Barney

December 3, 2025

Get Behind the Mule: Tom Waits Tribute photo by  John Partipilo
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One night, legendary doorman Dave Knoll was sitting on the back steps of the OG basement complaining about all the musical tribute shows in Nashville. You know, the ones where multiple musicians play the music of one artist. Dave’s buddy asked him, “What tribute show you would actually pay to see?” Knoll said, “Tom Waits.” 

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Tom Waits

Bonnaroo lineup arrives for June 2026 festival

By Justin Barney

December 2, 2025

Bonnaroo stage 2022
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Rain forced Bonnaroo to cancel almost all of its shows last year, but the festival is back with a new lineup for 2026.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Bonnaroo

Curious Nashville: Why do we have Chicago-style gyro restaurants?

By Tony GonzalezandJustin Barney

November 20, 2025

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How a simple question about gyros in Nashville led to epic revelations about how regional food styles come into existence — and the role of one entrepreneur in changing gyros forever.

Filed Under: Curious Nashville, WPLN News Tagged With: Curious Nashville, food, history, Nashville Kurds

Live Nation announces new venue in Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood called The Truth

By Justin Barney

October 28, 2025

The new venue will hold 4,400 people and enters into an increasingly competitive segment of the music booking industry in Nashville.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News

Nashville musician Blood Root processes grief through guitar pedals in new album

By Justin Barney

October 24, 2025

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Nashville is full of music gear heads. But in Taylor Wafford’s hometown of Havelock, North Carolina musicians didn’t come through town. They definitely didn’t hang out, analyzing pedal boards. When she moved here, she found a community — and a sound — by tapping a guitar pedal.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WNXP Tagged With: Blood Root

Nashville’s Eric Slick reimagines Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” like no AI ever could

By Justin Barney

October 17, 2025

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For Halloween, Nashville indie rock musician Eric Slick released a five song, orchestral suite, covering Rob Zombie’s very un-orchestral hit, “Dragula.” The project started as a joke. But Slick took the piece so seriously that it transcended to a work of art.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WNXP Tagged With: Dragula, Erick Slick

A community grieves

By Justin Barney

October 13, 2025

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As multiple resources have come in from all levels of government to investigate what happened, neighbors and community members have come together to support one another.

Filed Under: WPLN News Tagged With: AES Explosion

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