Sometimes the theme for a program comes right out of the headlines. The Peabody Energy Company has filed for bankruptcy. If you recall John Prineâs classic song Paradise refers to âMr. Peabodyâs coal trainâŚâ. This week weâll hear some classic … Continue reading →
Occasionally a listener of the SORM will suggest a theme for a program. Sometimes they are way too broad a subject or entirely too personal but this time the suggestion was a fine one-Blues Evangelists. The Blues has always had … Continue reading →
& WFDU-FMâs TRADITIONS Playlist for April 17, 2016 Folk songs, once recognized as transmitted from generation to generation in an oral tradition, took on a new method of delivery during the folk revival. Songs would be written and tried out … Continue reading →
Murder Ballades I attended eighth blackbirdâs performance of Bryce Dessnerâs Murder Ballades few weeks ago, on Good Friday, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Matthew Duvall, eighth blackbirdâs percussionist, had mentioned the performance on our Facebook page, and … Continue reading →
     Hackensaw Boys Charismo Free Dirt 0078 www.freedirtrecords.com  Charismo is the first full album of new Hackensaw Boys music and material in about a decade, an exuberant album buoyed by the Hackensaw cheekiness that was … Continue reading →
& WFDU-FMâs TRADITIONS Playlist for April 10, 2016 Fair and balanced used to be a significant principle for journalists before it became a catchphrase for Fox News. Perhaps there is a bit of sarcasm involved in that networkâs use of … Continue reading →
You can tell Spring has arrived when a whole batch of new Bluegrass recordings are released as the festival season starts anew. In my mind the unofficial beginning of the festival season is the massive Merlefest held each year in … Continue reading →
âThose songs are giftsâ On warm, humid evenings in Pahokee, Florida in 1947, teenager Mel Tillis would hear the neighbors arguing. Through open windows, broadcasting across the space between their home and his, their recurring shouting match of distrust and acrimony … Continue reading →
Singer-songwriter Joe Giacoio joined me in the studio for a segment of WFDU-FMâs TRADITIONS this past Sunday. The Bronx-born and current New Jersey resident visited me to share songs from his new CD I Love Hamburgers. This new recording is … Continue reading →
    KATHY KALLICK BAND Foxhounds Live Oak Records www.kathykallick.com  The next time someone wrinkles their nose at the mention of bluegrass, slap on these tunes. Kathy Kallick and her band are the real deal, and they … Continue reading →
