Suitcase Sessions
Suitcase Sessions
Bob Bowman
The "Suitcase Sessions" Podcast is where you will discover and explore the world of Cigar Box Guitars.  This is where you will learn new things from the history of the cigar box and its use to the authors who’ve written about it.  We’ll travel the 4 corners of the earth to talk to builders and players, influencers, and innovators, we’ll stop along the way to enjoy some music and together we’ll draw closer as a community and be more informed as we spread the word! 
SSE22 Devin C Williams
In this interview, I sit down with Devin C Williams. Devin is a musician you will want to listen to and follow for both his prowess on the guitar and the message he delivers in each lyric. He currently resides in Illinois but can be found performing all over the United States and most recently Europe. To check out where you can find him performing next, follow him via his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/devin.williams.391048. Watch the epidsodes on my...
Oct 5, 2025
45 min
SSE21 Karl-Heinz Lau
In this episode, I had an opportunity to sit down with Karl-Heinz Lau. Karl lives in Alma, Michigan and has one of the most artistic and creative minds in the CBG builders community that I've come across. Operating under the Pigasus label, Karl prefers to build six-string guitars that are exacting in their specs but each a work of art. His work can be found via his Facebook page and he is a member of multiple Cigar Box Guitar builder and player groups. There you can al...
Sep 27, 2025
16 min
SSE20 Jack Bensema
In this episode, I had the privelage of interviewing Jack Bensema from Manhattan, Illinois while at the US 10 Cigar Box Guitar Festival. Jack is an excellent builder and his cigar box guitar vending booths is one of the best setups around that I've seen. He builds under the Scrapgrinder Guitars label and his work can be found via his Facebook page. His work can be found at various festivals throughout the greater Chicago region. If you are in the area - look him up!&nb...
Sep 9, 2025
18 min
SSE19 Preston Laisure
In this episode, I had the privelage of interviewing Preston Laisure while at the US 10 Cigar Box Guitar Festival. Preston is a member of the CBG Minded Michigan'ders and we had a great conversation on our shared love of building and playing Cigar Box Guitars. Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878 Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody G...
Sep 1, 2025
19 min
SSE18 Dean Dostal US 10 CBG Festival
Season 2 Opener with Dean Dostal who is putting on the US 10 Cigar Box Guitar Festival. In this episode we discuss all the specifics to include the venue, activities, food trucks and sponsors along with the Charity that will be supported by the revenue that will be generated by the event. Location: Custer, Michigan on Date: 19 July 2025. Time: Noon - 9pm Cost: FREE Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos Cover Art by Ali...
Jun 3, 2025
28 min
SSE16 Chris Bowman
In this episode I invited my best friend and wife of over 42 years to give us her unique perspective on a variety of topics to include: Antiquing, Dumpster Diving, Visits To My Shop, The People in the Cigar Box Guitar Community, Her Favorite Builds, Post Surgery Purchases (and my no longer being able to use the phone to make them while still under anesthesia), and finally, her advice to Builders and their Spouses. Chris's laughter and views are infectious. It is a fun one and we always...
Aug 27, 2024
25 min
SSE15 Anthony Walker
In this episode I was able to sit down with Anthony Walker of Southpaw Cigarbox Guitars. Anthony lives in Blythewood, South Carolina and has a long history in Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement. He is a prolific builder of high quality, hand crafted Cigar Box Guitars and aside from being a regular vendor at the Soda City Market in Columbia, South Carolina he is also a supporter of school band programs within the state. In that capacity Anthony has partnered with MGB Gu...
Aug 19, 2024
41 min
SSE14 Bonus Fun With Dan & Haley Bowman
In this episode, I am deviating from the norm to have a little bit of fun with my son Dan and his wife Haley. They traveled about 9 hours from their home in Florida to spend some time in Gadsden, Alabama seeing the Cigar Box Guitar exhibit at the Mary G. Hardin Center For Cultural Arts Museum - and to spend some time catching up with me! We decided to film our time catching up and treat it as a normal episode on the Suitcase Sessions Podcast. If you want to spend a few minu...
Aug 12, 2024
18 min
SSE13 Tom Banks Museum Director MGHCCA
In this edition, I had the privelage of interviewing Tom Banks, Executive Director of the Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation, and the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. Tom is excited to host a permanent display of Cigar Box Guitars in Gadsden, Alabama and ensured that some 60 Cigar Box Guitars had a promonent location on the wall adjacent to the Performance stage within the Museum. Gadsden sees and hosts concerts and music festivals, attracting both performing artists and mus...
Aug 5, 2024
10 min
SSE12 Roberto Vasquez
In this episode, I sit down with Roberto Vasquez. If you're paying attention, you'll note the 3-string, paint can lid resonator leaning against the suitcase at a crossroad in my podcast logo. Roberto made that cigar box guitar for me about 7 years ago as a part of a Christmas exchange among a group of builders, and it has been my favorite to noodle around on. Roberto lives in beautiful San Bernardino County, California in Fontana and talks to us about how he found the cigar ...
Jul 29, 2024
27 min
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