Blogs

Donut Exchange is a folk group based in both Davis and in Berlin, Germany. Members Anya Sturm, Obin Sturm, and Emma Ware grew up playing traditional old-time, bluegrass, and Irish fiddle music. They blend the three styles on their debut album, Any Place Is Home, with 11 original tracks. The album, started from transatlantic voice memos, features a warm blend of strings, percussion, utensils, and the occasional bagpipes. Recorded in December 2019, during the only week when the bandmates were on the same continent, it captures the magic and charm of sleepless nights spent playing tunes with the people you love.

This program will also be streamed live on kdrt.org

Evan Daly and Connor Herdt from the Davis-based traveling band Boot Juice joined DJ Rusty Nail in studio this Tuesday, March 3rd. They talked about their music, Davis roots, their influences and recording. We listen to tracks from the band’s first album "Speaking in Tones" as well as selections from their musical influences including Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, Railroad Earth, Doc Watson and others. They also discuss their upcoming album project as the band returns to the studio to begin producing a second album.  Boot Juice is appearing live this Saturday evening, March 7th, 7 pm at the Davis Odd Fellows Hall. This event is an album fundraising show.

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