Best of Soundcheck: Mary in the Junkyard, Ryan Bingham

Some songwriters take their inspiration from fiction, summarizing the journeys of compelling characters in music. Others find such characters in real life and tell their stories from a surreal lens. Texas aficionado Ryan Bingham is a singer-songwriter who gained wide recognition by earning both an Oscar and a Grammy Award for “The Weary Kind,” which he co-wrote and recorded for the film, Crazy Heart. He then went on to play the character called Walker on the hit neo-Western television series, Yellowstone, and it’s safe to say that both as an actor and a musician, Bingham has always been involved with the art of fiction. London-based art rock trio Mary in the Junkyard acquire their sung heroes from all sorts of places, both real and imagined, and create a musical form of dream state where the mood is oddly otherworldly. Their critically acclaimed sophomore record Role Model Hermit turned heads in North America, and the band has just been announced to make their Coachella debut in April 2027. Hear both their and Ryan Bingham’s exclusive live performances from our studios on this episode of Soundcheck.

Mary in the Junkyard's Setlist: 1.New Muscles  2.Myrtle  3.Blood

Ryan Bingham's Setlist: 1.Let the Big Dog Eat  2.Relevance  3.Blue Skies