Singer-songwriter Will Thomas, of the band River Mann, joined Meredith Carson live in the KGNU studio for an intimate set and conversation. He performed three original songs, including an autumn-inspired piece and one written in Taos, New Mexico, showcasing his poetic and reflective songwriting style. Thomas discussed River Mann’s upcoming shows—Roots Music Fest at Stone Cottage Studios in Boulder that evening, and a performance with Clay Rose on October 24 at Lanigan’s in Estes Park—as well as the community spirit surrounding Boulder’s new Roots festival. (Studio Session: 10/17/25)
Meredith Carson: We have a guest who’s going to play for us live in the studio—his name is Will Thomas. You might know him as a solo performer, or you might know him with his band River Mann. They’ve got a gig with Clay Rose next week on the 24th.
Is that a Friday?
River Mann: It’s Friday.
Meredith Carson: Next Friday in Estes Park—what’s the venue?
River Mann: It’s in the back room at Lanigan’s.
Meredith Carson: Oh, cool! The taproom up there?
River Mann: Yeah.
Meredith Carson: That’ll be fun. Alright, cool. We have you here today, so let’s hear a couple of tunes. Do you have a release out that you want to plug?
River Mann: We have some stuff out on Spotify—some live recordings—and we’ve got a release coming out in an undisclosed amount of time. I just got some of the final mixes this morning. I was listening to that song—wow, that’s exciting. Yeah, this is an autumn song.
(Performs song)
Meredith Carson: Will Thomas live in the KGNU studios! We’re so glad to have you here this morning—it’s sometimes tricky to get a whole band to do anything, especially on a Friday morning!
River Mann: Yeah, no kidding. This came together really sweetly though.
Meredith Carson: Cool! Could we hear another one?
(Performs second song)
Meredith Carson: Will Thomas live in the KGNU studios! Thank you. Will is the main songwriter and one of two lead singers for the band River Mann. You can catch them next Friday at Lanigan’s in Estes Park. Super playing.
River Mann: It’s through Upstream Concerts—they also put on the SnowyGrass Festival up there. Tickets and info are on their website, upstreamconcerts.com.
Meredith Carson: Is there a link on the River Mann website?
River Mann: Yeah, I think so. River Mann—two N’s—rivermann.com. You can find links to all of our upcoming gigs there.
Meredith Carson: Any others you want to mention?
River Mann: We’re playing Roots Music Fest tonight at Stone Cottage Studios.
Meredith Carson: Oh, cool! Tell people about that.
River Mann: Yeah, if you haven’t gotten your ticket to Roots Music Fest, it’s quite the deal. Stone Cottage Studios is a venue and recording space—they also sell hi-fi audio gear. They’re partnered with Crescendo Fine Audio out of Wheat Ridge.
I’ve got this spiel because Davis, who’s one of the owners—he and his dad own it—plays bass in River Mann. I’ve worked some there. It’s on 20th and Pearl, and we’re playing there at 9:45 this evening.
Meredith Carson: Cool, cool, cool. And lots else going on all over town with Roots Music Fest—it’s so cool. It’s time Boulder had a new festival.
River Mann: Yeah, this is the first year! They got a bunch of support from the community and were able to upsize it from what they originally planned.
Meredith Carson: That’s great! So much fun. Can you give us one more song before you go?
River Mann: Sure.
Meredith Carson: Cool—I can see the Rolodex flipping through your brain. You probably don’t even know what a Rolodex is!
River Mann: (laughs) I’ll do this short, pretty one. It’s a soft kind of call to a certain kind of relatedness, I think.
(Performs third song)
Meredith Carson: That is such a pretty song.
River Mann: I wrote it in Taos, New Mexico a few winter solstices ago.
Meredith Carson: My sister lives there—it’s gorgeous! Were you just down there?
River Mann: Not recently. I’ve spent a bunch of time down there, but that was about three years ago, I think.
Meredith Carson: The fall down there—it’s amazing. We’ve had the whole Aspen thing here, but their cottonwoods are just coming on, and it’s beautiful.
River Mann: Yeah, I was driving down from my house—I live up Four Mile Canyon—and all those trees are changing. You get the upper wave and then the wave down here.
Meredith Carson: It really is beautiful. Well, get out and enjoy your day! Thank you so much for getting up early on a good day.
River Mann: Oh, it’s great. Such a pleasure—thank you so much for having me. And yeah, I hope to see folks at the shows—Roots Music Fest tonight, and next week with Clay Rose at Lanigan’s in Estes Park.
Meredith Carson: Sounds great! Thank you so much, Will Thomas, y’all.
River Mann: Thank you.
Meredith Carson: You’re so welcome. And now—for something completely different!
