*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – After the Storm X: Dog Days of August
It’s hurricane season on the Gulf Coast. To commemorate it we gather songs made post-Katrina and Rita… as well as some enduring classics. Dr. John makes a soapbox of his piano and speaks out in song against the governmental missteps following our country’s greatest unnatural disaster. New Orleans jazz clarinetist Dr. Michael White joins us to talk about his new songs in traditional style made following the loss of his home and musical instruments to the flood. Plus the huge influx of talented outsiders is revealed in interviews with New Yorkers who have, post-storm, become New Orleanians–what brought them to and keeps them in the Crescent City.
Banks of the Ohio (a rebroadcast)
Visit 1959 in the third half hour, where you’ll hear the first bluegrass band to play Carnegie Hall (Earl Taylor), Earl Scruggs at the Newport Folk Festival, and the 17-year-old Kossoy twins, who recorded “I’ll Fly Away” and were surprised when their version was included in “O Brother Where Art Thou” more than 40 years later. Other highlights include Don Reno with Arthur Smith and the Crackerjacks (1953), Don Stover live (1985), Sally Van Meter’s innovative dobro arrangement of “Crossing the Cumberlands” (1986), and the songwriter’s version of “Wait a Minute” (1996). A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.
Bluegrass Breakdown – Ruby
We’ll be examining one of BluegrassLand’s most sparkling and revered gemstones—the highly prized ruby. Based on the plethora of songs about the subject, it would appear that what South Africa is to diamonds, BluegrassLand is to rubies. But, as we know all too well, what appears to be in the land Bill Monroe founded and time forgot, is not always so.
Bluegrass Review
Recording technology has evolved with old time and bluegrass music, as well as the business structure that supports the music. In their final show with us this summer, Lyle Lofgren and Adam Granger discuss the connection between technology, business and the music. According to them, it’s not always a good thing.
Bluegrass Signal- Who’s Going To Town, part 1
The first of two programs featuring ‘town’ songs: “Who’s Going To Town,” “Gonna Paint The Town,” “The Old Home Town,” “Talk Of The Town,” etc. In this one, we’ll compare/contrast two versions of the same song, sometimes widely disparate (Wade Mainer & Dave Evans), sometimes very close (Flatt & Scruggs & the Lilly Brothers). There’s a pair of west coasters (Vern Williams & Kathy Kallick), a pair of contemporaries (Reno & Smiley and Mac Wiseman), and a pair of Del McCoury performances (leading the Dixie Pals and with Bill Monroe). Oh, and “Our Town” too.
*The Dick Spottswood Show
Some extra bluegrass this week, as a Flatt and Scruggs Foggy Mountain medley is followed by a visit with Connie and Babe. We’ll take a long lonesome dive down where the dark waters flow and enjoy some juke box classics from the early ’50s. It’s the Obsolete Music Hour, where old age gets some respect!
*etown
Part Two of our special repeat 2006 ‘etown rocks’ continues with more great music and conversation from this show recorded at the exquisite Red Rocks amphitheater, with musical guest Beth Orton, plus more from David Gray. And former Vice President Al Gore phones in to talk with host Nick Forster about his passion, global warming.
LIVE Friday Night Free for All 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET
The Bill Miller Show Sunday 3 a.m. (8/24)
The Tom Cat Reeder Show Tuesday 12 p.m. LIVE, Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (831)
The Gary Henderson Show Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m., Friday 12 a.m.
LIVE The Katy Daley Show Mon-Fri, 7-10 a.m.
LIVE The Lee Michael Demsey Show Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard, Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m.
*Mountain Stage
Featuring Leon Redbone, Ryan Shaw, Marie Knight w/ Ernie Hawkins, Tracy Nelson, Mason Jennings, and William Lee Ellis. Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
This week, Mike Kear features Doc Watson in Music from Foggy Hollow. Sugar Hill has released a new CD called “Doc Watson: Americana Master Series – the Sugar Hill Years” and Mike plays several cuts from the CD and talks about Doc’s career and background. Also Mike plays music from Randy Kohrs, Sierra Hull, Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass, Jim Lauderdale, Audie Blaylock and Redline, and lots more. Plus the regular features from Sao Paulo in Brazil and the look back at what was on the show 5 years ago, some fun and humour and comment from down under too. It’s another big show, so don’t miss it!
Musician Tip – Mark Delaney
Open Mic
This week we Open the Mic for two bands, bringing you the best of old-timey sounds. Our resident Old Time expert, Hubie King, visits with the New Southern Cowtippers and we’ll hear a concert performance from The Freight Hoppers recorded at the Stecoah Valley Center in North Carolina.
Old Time Jam
Hubie introduces some new CDs he acquired at the Appalachian Stringband Music Festival at Clifftop, West Virginia. Included are an album of original tunes by fiddler Jim Childress; a CD by the Foghorn Duo, Sammy Lind and Caleb Clauder; Adam Hurt’s latest album of banjo tunes; and one by fiddler Matt Brown with Paul Brown’s banjo and Beverly Smith’s voice and guitar. A highlight of the last album is Beverly singing one of General JEB Stuart’s favorite songs, Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still, from 1860.
Special Programming
Hubie King was there to capture the Sounds of Clifftop as 3,000 musicians and fans attended the 2008 Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop West Virginia. Join the celebration of Old Time Music and hear about the concerts, contests and camping this week on Special Programming.
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass Hosted by Bob Webster
A few old ones from Don Reno & Bill Harrell, Charlie Moore & Bill Napier, plus Molly O’Day, and new recordings by the Primitive Quartet make up this week’s edition of our bluegrass gospel meeting. Don’t forget your song book for the old hymns to start the third hour as well.
*Thistle and Shamrock Saturday 6 p.m.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.
