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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The Folk Brothers for April 12, 2023: Painters, poets, playwrights, pugilists, and presidents

Kris Drever has released a new song about mid-20th Century Scottish painter Joan Eardley (self portrait pictured), who created beach and seascapes around the fishing village of Catterline. Pete Morton wrote a song about the "Peasant's Poet" John Clare, who walked from his home in Cambridgeshire to sign a contract with his publisher in 1819. Tom Russell wrote songs about William Fawkner's time in Hollywood trying to make money as a film scriptwriter, as well as about the heavyweight champion Jack Johnson who, despite all his atheletic acheivements, faced racial discrimination his whole life. Norman Blake wrote about the assassination of James Garfield. And Steve Earle wrote a tribute to his friend, the late Townes Van Zandt, songwriter and poet.

The Folk Brothers for April 5, 2023: New and old sounds from Ireland

Amelia Baker -- a.k.a. Cinder Well -- is a native Californian who played in folk/punk bands around Santa Cruz. She was introduced to Irish traditional music through meeting members of the Dublin-based experimental folk band Lankum at a festival in Amsterdam. Subsequently Baker moved to County Clare to enroll in a master's program in Irish traditional music performance at Limerick University. This spring, both Well and Lankum have released new albums which are helping define the current sound of Irish folk music.

In 1981, Irish supergroup Planxty -- then at the point of disbanding -- were commissioned to create a music and dance piece for the Eurovision contest held that year in Dublin. Apparently that project, entitled "Timedance," was an inspiration for Michael Flatley to create "Riverdance" in 1994.

The Folk Brothers for March 22, 2023: The songs of Ewan MacColl

Ewan MacColl (1915-1989) -- one of the leading lights of the British folk revival of the '50s -- was among many things a singer, a song collector, an actor, a radio presenter, and a prodigious songwriter. This morning we celebrate the latter with contributions from Pete Morton, Seth Lakeman, Christy Moore, Johnny Cash, as well as the great man himself.   

The Folk Brothers for March 8, 2023: Remembering David Lindley

Multi-instrumentalist Mr. Dave, as he was affectionedly called, was a musician's musician: a session player as well as solo artist who always chose the right notes and tones. Best known for helping to create Jackson Browne's signature sound in the '70s, Lindley also led his own bands -- Kaleidoscope in the late '60s and El Rayo X in the '80s -- as well as playing in duos with percussionists Hani Nassar and Wally Ingraham, frequenting the Palms Playhouses both in Davis and Winters. This morning we explored some of his many musical projects with Ry Cooder, Henry Kaiser, Linda Ronstadt, and many others.

The Folk Brothers for Feb. 22, 2023: 21st Century folks

The BBC recently commissioned singer-songwriters -- including Martyn Joseph, pictured here -- to pen ballads about ordinary people in northeast England who have done extraordinary things for their community. Joseph wrote "Albert's Place," a song about a soup kitchen and food bank in Sunderland run by Andrea Bell.  

Also on today's show, Brother Bill celebrates Black History Month with songs by African-American country and western singers.

The Folk Brothers for Feb. 8, 2023: 'Tiny Notes' for suicide prevention

The Young-Uns, a mainly a capella trio from the northeast of England, have consistently penned modern ballads centered on local people who have affected positive social change in their communities. Their latest release -- Tiny Notes -- was inspired by Paige Hunter, who in 2018 began tying handwritten notes to the railing of the Weamouth Bridge in Sunderland. These messages have now saved over 30 lives, as well as inspired others to leave similar messages on bridges across the world.

Also on today's show: a new bluegrass supergroup fronted by Andrew Marlin, and a love letter to the Silver State from Mike Beck. And lots more too!

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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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