*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – The Soul of Martin Luther King
We visit with two great performers who carry on the legacy of MLK in life and spirit. First, the great songwriter, arranger and performer Isaac Hayes who defined R&B for a generation recalls his participation in lunch counter sit-ins and Memphis protest marches, and integrating the Stax office staff. And ’60s soul singer “Able” Mable John talks about recording strong statements like “Stay Out of the Kitchen,” and “Don’t Hit Me No More” as well as her work now as a minister in Los Angeles.
Banks of the Ohio
This week, learn to distinguish “Fiddlin” Arthur Smith, Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith, and Knoxville songwriter Arthur Q. Smith. Hear bluegrass from Bill Monroe to Alison Krauss, and influences from Uncle Dave Macon to the Beatles. And you won’t want to miss John Hartford’s unforgettable recitation of “Do you Have Room in Your Heart for the Five-String Banjo?” A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, with host Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Breakdown – Bradley Walker Live
We’ll be falling down mute at the feet of the 2007 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, a voice that would make Lefty Frizzell proud and one of the genre’s most poignant success stories. He’s universally loved and knows all too well that while you can take bluegrass out of the country, you can’t take the country out of bluegrass. By day, he’s a worker at a nuclear power plant, but by night, he becomes the next great voice in Bluegrass. From Athens, Alabama, Bradley Walker and Friends will be picking live.
Bluegrass Review
We do a lot with fiddling in today’s show. Our Gem of Bluegrass features some of the special features of the fiddle. Also, we present a conversation with the great Iowa Fiddler, Al Murphy. Al has played old time music, bluegrass, western swing, and tells us about some of the different styles of old time fiddling. We’ll also have a focus on bass players in lead roles that serves as a postscript to the recent features of jazz grass and progressive acoustic music.
Bluegrass Signal
This week Peter Thompson an explores of a new Northern California-based band: Rustler’s Moon with Kathy Kallick & Bill Evans. Kathy’s earlier music with Good Ol’ Persons, Laurie Lewis, The Kathy Kallick Band, and her solo albums, plus Bill’s with Dry Branch Fire Squad, Due West, Suzanne Thomas, and his solo albums provide a bit of background for their new demo recording — which has two new Kathy Kallick compositions, one from another NorCal composer, and one from a somewhat unlikely “brother duet.”
*etown with Nick Forster
Two young ace songwriters and singers converge at etown this week. First, Matt Nathanson, a talented musician and conversational ‘free-spirit’ with a marvelously gregarious stage presence, makes his first visit to etown. He plays some stripped down versions of his songs and others accompanied in exceptional style by Nick & Helen Forster and the etones. We also welcome Ian Ball, of the successful British rock trio, Gomez, offering his own blend of honest and bold Brit-pop tunes. Then, Matt, Ian, Nick and the etones rock our world with a unique finale! Plus, we’ll share another moving e-chievement award story with you, too, right here in etown.
LIVE Friday Night Free for All – 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET
The Old Home Place with Lisa Kay Howard , LIVE Tuesday 12p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (1/27)
LIVE The Gary Henderson Show Saturday 8-11 a.m.
The Katy Daley Show Mon-Fri, 7-10 a.m.
The Lee Michael Demsey Show Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard
*Mountain Stage with Larry Groce
Rebroadcast from January, 2007 featuring Greg Brown, the Be Good Tanyas, Mieka Pauley, The Alternate Routes, Erin McKeown, and Craig Carothers.Playlist
Music from Foggy Hollow
Mike Kear features Mountain Heart’s first-ever live album in this week’s Music from Foggy Hollow. The CD is called “Road That Never Ends: The Live Album” and Mike plays quite a few songs from the CD. Also on the show plenty of other great acoustic music from Ron Block, The Greencards, Australian sister trio The McClymonts, Austalian brother duet the Davidson Brothers, and plenty more. It’s a big show as always from the little bandicoot, so dont miss it!
Open Mic – Mountain Stage featuring Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Yonder Mountain String Band, Tim O’Brien, Odetta, and Dale Jett.
LIVE The Ray Davis Show Sunday 10a.m.- 1 p.m., Mon-Fri, 3-6 p.m.
Special Programming
Host Bob Webster talks with long-time banjo icon from North Carolina, A.L. Wood. A.L. has been playing bluegrass and fronting bands since the early 1960’s. He’s written over 40 bluegrass songs, some of which have been recorded by Rhonda Vincent, The Bass Mountain Boys, and, most recently, Dailey and Vincent.
Also, segments from NPR on Merle Haggard and the radio station WSM.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
New gospel numbers by Pat Flynn, with help from Rebecca & Sonya Isaacs,
the CrossPoint String Band, Southern Skye, and of course a few old hymns
will give you joy on this week’s edition of Stained Glass Bluegrass.
*Thistle and Shamrock – At the Edge
Hear the evolving sound of a new Celtic music inspired by jazz and classical arrangements, and driven by contemporary and world rhythms. Solas, Secret Garden, Kila and Shooglenifty all contribute.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.
