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Hey, Davis musicians, this is a must-listen for you. Joel Daniel received his grant last year, and he and the city want you to know about it. Here it is, in Joel's words:

1) With the aim of bettering the quality of music that comes from Davis, I applied for a grant that I hope will impact it over many years to come. I have called it the Davis Independent Music Initiative (“DIMI”). The main parts of the grant are:

First, over the next few months, I will host a free and public series of talks aimed at songwriting and the process of recording and marketing a work. These will take place at Repower Yolo and will be hosted by Bike City Theater Company. This will be the first Wednesday in April (executive production), the first Wednesday in May (songwriting) and the second Wednesday in June (publicity/promotion). I hope this will be an opportunity for musicians of ALL levels to network, and to start to think about how to better their work. 

Recently NBC’s Think newsletter featured a report from a radio consultant which encouraged corporate program directors to limit the number of songs by women in their playlists to make ratings.

From “Think”: “This type of story — of the limited space for women — is all too common in country music. For years, women have been told that there is only one spot for women on playlists and label rosters, that they should avoid releasing ballads, that their music isn’t good enough and that their songs cannot be played back-to-back.”

KDRT 95.7FM is grassroots community radio and as hosts of our radio programs aren’t beholden to corporate radio interests, in other words we have the freedom to play whatever the “H” we want.. Tomorrow (Tuesday at 11:00 to Noon) on High Country Music Radio Rusty will feature several of the great female bluegrass and country artists. Played "back-to-back" we'll listen to timeless music from Laurie Lewis, Rita Hosking, Kora Feder , Hazel Dickins, Tift Merritt, Patty Griffin and many others. Tune in tomorrow or stream at KDRT.org!

Bay-Area Celtic band Tempest blends Irish reels, Scottish ballads, with Norwegian influences and other world-music elements creating an internationally renowned folk rock sound. Since forming in 1988, the Celtic-rock quintet has earned a reputation for delivering exuberant live performances.  This Tuesday's High Country Music Radio will get a chance to speak with Lief Sorbye - founding member and lead singer/electric mandolinist - in preparation for their upcoming concert at The Palms Playhouse, in Winters, CA this Saturday evening Feb. 15th at 8 p.m. This week's episode also explores some of the English, Irish and Scottish roots of bluegrass and country music.  We thank Lief and The Palms for donating a pair of tickets for host Rusty to give away during this Tuesday's episode 11 a.m. to noon. Stream live at KDRT.org

On tomorrow’s High Country Music Radio Rusty’s playlist begins with a bit of bluegrass from Trampled by Turtles and Mohavisoul, veterans of the SoCal bluegrass scene. Rusty’s pick-up will take a turn on the gravel road to some country sounds including music from Townes Van Zandt, Darius Rucker (yes, that Darius from Hootie and Blowfish), Dom Flemons, Tift Merritt and Loretta Lynn. Hope you can join us on the front porch this Tuesday from 11:00 to Noon on KDRT 95.7 or KDRT.org.