A recent episode of the Why Music Matters with Jeff Miers podcast featured an engaging conversation with Jennifer Brazill, the visionary founder of the Borderland Festival. The annual music gathering is setting to celebrate for the fifth year at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, N.Y., this weekend, starting tonight, Sept. 15, and carrying on through Sept. 17.

Brazill’s journey through the music industry, which spans two decades, culminates in this year’s Borderland Festival, promising three full days of roots music, Americana, and jamband sounds across multiple stages, with headline acts Goose, Trey Anastasio Band, and moe.

Brazill’s career has taken her on a musical odyssey across the United States. She has worked in various capacities, including at independent record labels, in concert production and promotion, and even as part of the management team for the renowned Dave Matthews Band. Her passion for music eventually led her back to her roots in Western New York, where she founded the Borderland Festival in 2018. Throughout her journey, Brazill has been guided by a deep and unwavering love for music and an enduring belief in its power to transform and elevate lives.

The Why Music Matters podcast, produced in collaboration with 678Main Studio in Buffalo, N.Y., delves into the profound impact of music on individuals and communities. Hosted by Jeff Miers, a seasoned musician and music journalist, the podcast invites a diverse range of guests who have dedicated their lives to music. It seeks to answer thought-provoking questions like: “What can music teach us about ourselves and each other?” and, “How does music connect us with our best selves?”

Enjoy a look into the mind of the founder of Borderland Festival ahead of its launch below.