The purity of the unaccompanied human voice is one of the most beautiful sounds. Songs sung without accompaniment or a capella have a long history in folk music. You don’t need an instrument to make beautiful music whether you’re working … Continue reading →
And the TRADITIONS Playlist for September 6, 2015 Glancing at the calendar on my phone just a few minutes after the “On Air” light flicked on, I came to the realization that this week marks the 40th anniversary of my … Continue reading →
Today is Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada. Our song this week is not a murder ballad proper, but I felt drawn to write about it because it portrays the sacrifices and risks of working. Just as my friend, Maureen, mentioned a few … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/74225912″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Folkfinds has hit Scandinavian old-time before, but our visit to Jesper Deleuran marks our first time in Denmark. Jesper is an old-time enthusiast with a command of several instruments, an eclectic repertoire of … Continue reading →
In celebration of Labor Day this week’s program dedicated to the American Labor Force. A recent Associated Press survey found 58% of American Adults approve of Labor Unions. This is the highest level since 2008 when 59% supported the establishment … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/162570562″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Loran Otzer is a talented though humble Italian sing-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist equally enamored of country, pop, folk, bluegrass and Celtic music. His quirky lo-fi productions frequently call all those to mind, but filtered … Continue reading →
This week we complete our two week feature focusing on tribute recordings. We’ll hear tributes to Muddy Waters and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. We’ll also pay tribute to the late John Martyn and John Stewart and finish up with a short … Continue reading →
A few weeks ago, artist, musician, composer, and all-around creative Kentuckian Dan Dutton was kind enough to speak with me in depth about his early years as student of the ballad tradition. He also related his experiences learning ballads and … Continue reading →
Preview of a new CD from Dan Schatz and WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS Playlist for August 23, 2015 There are numerous songs that address the frailty of our environment. Numerous collections have gathered songs that point out the human impact upon our … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/122150142″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Kurt Plahna of Milwaukee records under the name Gratton and divides his efforts on Soundcloud between experimental music, remixes, and some of the prettiest fingerpicking compositions you’ll find. He owes a clear debt … Continue reading →
