Sometimes Folk

Bill Wagman explores an eclectic range of music, including traditional folk of the British Isles and the U.S, contemporary singer/songwriters on both sides of the Atlantic, and American roots music and some of its lesser-known offshoots. Tune in for a great music mix!

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Live Wednesday 10-11am
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The Folk Brothers for July 21, 2021: Remembering Bill Morrissey

For the 10th anniversary of his death, we remember one of New England's finest singer-songwriters (and novelists). Bill Morrissey left behind a dozen albums in a recording career that stretched from 1984 to 2007. On today's show, we remember Bill through his music and the lens of fellow songwriters Marc Erelli and (the late) Eric Taylor. Bill Morrissey died on July 23, 2011, in a motel room in Dalton, Georgia, while on a short tour of the South.

Also on today's Folk Brothers: new music from Rachel Baiman, Watchhouse, I See Hawks In LA, and WB Yeats poems set to music!

The Folk Brothers for July 14, 2021: When bluegrass fiddle went rock and roll

The Rolling Stones' hit single "Honky Tonk Woman" was countrified for inclusion on the band's 1969 Let It Bleed  LP. Gram Parsons -- who had just left The Flying Burrito Brothers to pursue his solo career -- told his pal Keith Richards to ask a young bluegrass musician named Byron Berline to add a fiddle track. Berline -- who had already done stints with Bill Monroe, The Dillards, and was preparing to join the Burritos -- recorded his part on the sidewalk outside of Elektra's Hollywood studio, picking up the iconic traffic sound used in the final mix. He went on to have a distingished career in the world of bluegrass, rock, country and Americana music, and passed away this past Saturday at 77.

Also on today's show: new tracks from Joe Troop, Slaid Cleaves, Dawn Riding, I See Hawks in LA. And so much more!

The Folk Brothers for July 7, 2021: Los Cenzontles and friends

Oakland's Los Cenzontles is more than an award-winning band: It's a grassroots, artist-driven organization sharing the roots of Mexican culture through classes, events, and performances. This week we present music from the band as well as from some of its many musical collaborators, including Linda Rondstat -- whose support of Los Cenzontles is featured in the current documentary "Linda and The Nightingales" -- Jackson Browne, Joel Rafael, and Joe Troop (founder of Che Apalache and appearing at Ruhstaller Farm on July 18).  Also: New music from I See Hawks In LA, Billy Strings and Del McCoury, Diana Jones, and Peter Bruntell. 

The Folk Brothers for June 30, 2021: We come from the land of ice and snow

Brother Bill is back from Iceland with greetings from KDRT listener and Dr. Volcano himself, Thor Thordarson (pictured here in front of a still steaming pahoehoe flow). On today's show, Bill shared highlights of his trip as well as some traditional Icelandic folk music from Barra Grimsdottir, her partner Chris Foster, and others. Also: tracks from both sides of the Atlantic from The Magpie Arc, Brooks Williams and friends, Haymakers, Joni Mitchell and James McMurtry. And some good banter about Townes Van Zandt!

The Folk Brothers for June 23, 2021: When Phil went all Elvis

Contrary to its title, Phil Ochs' final studio album -- 1970's Greatest Hits -- actually was a collection of new material that moved him in a new country/folk/rock musical direction, which today we'd call Americana. The album cover featured Ochs -- in homage to Elvis Presley -- dressed in a gold lame Nudie outfit. Also on today's show: new music from Adam Holmes. Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche, Dave Alvin, Dirk Powell, and Andrew Marlin. And much more!

The Folk Brothers for June 16, 2021: Ballads and fiddlers

This week: modern and ancient ballads from Gretchen Peters, Lau with Karine Polwart, Salt House, and Kacy and Clayton. Also some instrumental tracks featuring gorgeous fiddling from the likes of Sam Sweeny, Benedict Morris and Christian Sedelmyer (with Andrew Marlin). And new music from Eli West, Jeffrey Foucault , Amanda Anne Platt and The Honeycutters, and The Travellin' McCourys.

The Folk Brothers for June 9, 2021: A modern folk ballad about an Olympic swimmer

At 17, Yusra Mardini and her sister fled Syria after their home was destroyed during the civil war. The story of their fraught voyage across the eastern Mediterranean as they were smuggled from Turkey to Greece -- as well as Yusra's participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the Refugee Olympic Team -- has been set to words and music by Irish singer-singwriter Declan O'Rourke on his new album Arrivals. Also on today's show: new tracks from Tim O'Brien, Sarah Jaroz, Lula Wiles, and Teddy Thompson. And much more!

The Folk Brothers for June 2, 2021: Nefesh Mountain infuses bluegrass with Jewish American spirituality

Nefesh Mountain's Doni Zasloff and Eric Linberg say that they draw "stories that we all know from the Bible, enabling us to present a more universal song while still being true to our own heritage as Jewish Americans." Incidentally, "Nefesh" is Hebrew for "spirit" or "soul."  This morning we played a new track from them, "Where Oh Where," which features musical contributions from John Doyle, Jerry Douglas and Micheal McGoldrick.

Also today: new music from Gnoss, Bellowhead, Sarah-Jane Summers, and Juhani Silvola, plus some classic tracks from Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle, Eric Andersen, Richard and Linda Thompson. And much more.

The Folk Brothers for May 26, 2021: Transatlantic hurdy-gurdy mania

The hurdy gurdy features prominently in European folk music, but it has also worked its way across the big pond. Today's show features hurdy gurdy-rich tracks from Spain (Milladoiro), France (Gilles Chabenat), as well as one with a Davis connection: from the late Ethan James, who was once a member of '60s psychedelic band Blue Cheer. Also on today's show: new music from John Spillane, The Felice Brothers, Watchhouse, John R Miller, and Eddie Berman. And more!

The Folk Brothers on May 19, 2021: Nightingales, Bevin Boys, and Angela Carter

English folk singer, ethnomusicologist, and bird enthusiast Sam Lee has written a new book, The Nightingale: Notes On A Songbird, and released some tracks in which he harmonizes with nightingales (as well as the harmonium and fiddle of fellow-folkie Lisa Knapp). And singer Polly Paulusma has just released an album -- inspired by her Ph.D. dissertation research -- exploring the traditional folk songs and tales that inspired the fiction of magical realist Angela Carter.

Also on this week's show: a new song from Reg Meuross about the Bevin Boys, the young British men who were conscripted to dig coal rather than fight Nazis during WW2. And much more!

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Comments

Davis resident, Dave Nachmanoff is an award-winning singer-songwriter and renowned guitarist.  He tours nationally and internationally as a solo act, as well as valued accompanist to Al Stewart.  Over the many years he has resided in Davis, Dave has been a generous supporter of this community.  In a rare local appearance, Dave will be doing a benefit concert on December 12th for Yolo Food Trucks who are raising the funds to purchase a new refrigerated truck.   Dave will be joining the Folk Brothers live in the KDRT studio between 10 and 11 AM on Wednesday, Dec. 9th.   He’ll bring his guitar, play some songs, talk about his storied musical career, and tell us why we heard him singing in Starbucks across North America last month. Please join us!

 

 

Submitted by Peter Schiffman on Wed, 12/02/2015 - 11:13am

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