It has been a very humbling month for me, and I hope you don’t mind if I take a moment from the “normal” operation of this website to share some personal news.

Earlier this month, I was honored to discover that I have been nominated for an award in the Folk Alliance Awards. I have been nominated in the Folk Broadcaster category along with some impressive company – Rich Warren host of “The Midnight Special” of WFMT in Chicago (as well as XM satellite and syndicated on numerous stations across the country), John Platt of WFUV, Susan Forbes Hansen of WHUS in Connecticut and Mike Regenstreif of CKUT in Montreal. I am really honored to be even mentioned in the same sentence with these individuals.

The Folk Alliance (www.folk.org) is an organization in the U.S. and Canada with approximately 2000 members. The goal is to promote folk music and the organization includes record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, music support services, manufacturers and lots of musicians. Each year the Folk Alliance holds an annual “international” conference in February. I’ve attended previous conferences in Nashville and Montreal. This year it will be in Memphis. At the conference, there is an awards ceremony for categories such as songs, artist, folk festival, venue, etc. as well as the Folk Broadcaster. The idea behind the awards is to help promote the folk music community to a wider audience. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio’s Channel 15 – the Village. You can hear the broadcast on Wednesday February 20th. The real highlight of the ceremony is the presentation of the Folk Alliance Lifetime Achievement Awards, which will include: Living Award: Mavis Staples,Legacy Award: Tommy Jarrell and Business/Academic Award: Rounder Records.

Speaking of XM, I am going to be a guest on XM Satellite Radio! On Tuesday January 29th at noon eastern time (with a repeat broadcast on Friday night February 1 at midnight), I will be appearing on XM 15’s “Village Liberation” program, part of the great lineup of programs on XM 15 – The Village. Each month, XM’s folk channel chooses a different Folk DJ from different parts of the U.S. and Canada to host a two hour program. It gives listeners an opportunity to sample the various programs that are available across the country and discover the diversity of our folk community. For hosts like myself, it is an incredible opportunity to share our music – and I am honored and extremely grateful!

If you are subscriber, please be sure to tune in! You can also listen in on XM’s website – www.xmradio.com. (They offer a limited free online trial, which I believe is for three days)

Below is a list of the upcoming January and February specials on XM 15. ( You will also notice that Modern Man are doing a show on XM as well! They will be appearing at the Hurdy Gurdy in Fair Lawn on Saturday March 1 with special guest Abbie Gardner. Be sure to tune in to XM for a sneak preview!)

I would also like to thank everyone who reads this website. Since it’s launch in June of 2006, the Ron Olesko Folk Music Notebook has been steadily growing, and I am grateful for your support.

Thanks for listening and allowing me to share. We now return to our regular scheduled program, after this important message from XM Radio!

Ron Olesko

Upcoming Specials on XM15 The Village – Spread the Word!!!

XM15 The Village presents Remembering Phil Ochs
Tues Jan 15
Join the Village for a suite of specials. This week we are remembering the life, the music, the influence of Phil Ochs. Today Sonny Ochs hosts this show with the next generation of Folk singers: Greg Greenway, Magpie, John Flynn, and Pat Wictor. Acoustic performances will be featured from the XM Performance Theatre.
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Jan 15, noon,
Friday Jan 18, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Jan 15, 9 AM,
Friday Jan 18, 9 PM (1 hour approximately)

Artist Confidential: Arlo Guthrie
Mon Jan 21
The Master storyteller: Arlo Guthrie. Unplugged and unbridled, Arlo tells tales of his rich musical life. From answering the door when Bob Dylan pops by to meet his legendary Dad to just being who he is, and where he’s been, Arlo is positively engaging in a wonderful mix of songs and conversation that defines the Artist Confidential experience
Eastern Time:
Monday, Jan 21, 1 PM
Friday, Jan 25, 1 AM
Pacific
Monday, Jan 21, 10 AM
Thursday, Jan 24, 10 PM (About an hour, probably longer.)
This is also airing on XMX Channel 2 – all day long.

Woody Guthrie Special with Special Guest: Nora Guthrie
Tues Jan 22
This week our special guest Nora Guthrie, daughter of Woody Guthrie, tells stories and plays her favorite Woody Guthrie songs.
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Jan 22, noon,
Friday Jan 25, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Jan 22, 9 AM,
Friday Jan 25, 9 PM About 2 hours

Village Liberation presents Ron Olesko of WFDU 89.1 FM in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Tues, Jan 29
Join us to celebrate folk radio in North America with The Village Liberation. XM15 will bring you the best folk DJs in the US and Canada as only Satellite Radio can do. Travel across the land right with your favorite folk DJ from the comfort of your coffee table. The Village Liberation presents Ron Olesko of WFDU-89.1 FM in Teaneck , New Jersey on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University. Hosting two folk shows – Traditions and a celtic show called The Session, he also finds time for a folk music blog (http://www.ronolesko.blogspot.com), concert organizing and a fulltime job!
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Jan 29, noon,
Friday Feb 1, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Jan 29, 9 AM,
Friday Feb 1, 9 PM
About 2 hours

Acoustic Traveller with John McEuen
Tues Feb 5
John McEuen Acoustic Traveller-The founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band guides us through the cross-pollination between acoustic folk and pop music. Armed with his trusty guitar, John shares behind-the-scenes stories from his tours and brings a breadth of music history knowledge to his show from his recording studio in California. www.johnmceuen.com
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Feb 5, noon,
Friday Feb 8, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Feb 5, 9 AM,
Friday Feb 8, 9 PM 1 – 2 hours

XM15 The Village presents Modern Man
Tues Feb 12
Modern Man (Dave Buskin, Rob Carlson and George Wurzbach) steps into the XM studios and talks about the weather. Actually, they talk about their new CD “Assisted Living” and play many cuts from the new CDl. Please note some of their folk tunes have a rap beat. There will be some hints adult content on this show – so if there are kids present, please turn to another channel. www.modernman3.com
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Feb 12, noon,
Friday Feb 15, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Feb 12, 9 AM,
Friday Feb 15, 9 PM Over an hour

XM15 The Village presents Ina May Wool with Daniel A. Weiss
Tues Feb 19
Wonder what’s going on with the New York City folk scene? Ina May Wool and Daniel A. Weiss’s acoustic performance from XM Satellite Radio studios bring you to the Upper West Side with a great view of Central Park. Bigger-hearted folks from the Big Apple. www.inamaywool.com
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Feb 19, noon,
Friday Feb 22, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Feb 19, 9 AM,
Friday Feb 22, 9 PM About 1 hour

Village Liberation presents Kevin Elliott of WEFT-90.1 FM in Champagne, IL
Tues Feb 26
Join us to celebrate folk radio in North America with The Village Liberation. XM15 will bring you the best folk DJs in the US and Canada as only Satellite Radio can do. Travel across the land right with your favorite folk DJ from the comfort of your coffee table. Today we travel to the Midwest with Kevin Elliott of WEFT 90.1 FM at the helm of the Village Liberation train with his show ” From the Joshua Tree Inn.” A singer-songwriter and performer himself, he released a CD in 2006: You Really Had to Be There. Kevin Elliott has been immersed in folk music for the past 30 years. Sit back and enjoy a taste of Illinois – folk style!
Eastern Time:
Tuesday Feb 26, noon,
Friday Feb 29, midnight
Pacific Time:
Tues Feb 26, 9 AM,
Friday Feb 29, 9 PM About 2 hours

Mary Sue Twohy
(((XM)))
XM 15 The Village
1500 Eckington Place, NE
Washington DC 20002 USA
direct: 202-380-1571

Friends and Family Discount! Go to http://friends.xmradio.com
Then enter MarySue.Twohy@xmradio.com