David A. Reynolds's blog

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.

This week’s High Country Music Radio (1/28/2020) features the sound of traditional roots music and the old time banjo from artists no longer with us (but live on in song!) and artists, some young and some with a bit of gray, that continue playing and interpreting that music. To discover this old time music you can start with an artist and then find out who their influences were. Then keep working your way backward and, eventually, you’ll find musicians such as Dock Boggs, the Carter family or Lead Belly. That list is long. 

Tomorrow at 11:00 on High Country Music Radio KDRT 95.7FM Rusty will feature the Donut Exchange, a band recently relocated to Davis, Dock Boggs, Abigail Washburn, Tim Eriksen, Laurie Lewis and others. Thanks for listening!

Tomorrow, Tuesday January 21st, High Country Music Radio will open with Rhiannon Giddens performing a beautiful a cappella cover of Pretty Bird,  a song written by coal country activist Hazel Dickens. Hazel Dickens also appears on this week's playlist performing  two of her songs. Carolina Chocolate Drops alum Dom Flemons is featured as well with a pair of songs from his post Chocolate Drops catalog.

Rusty will also feature the Lonesome Ace String Band who are performing locally this week, the Brothers Comatose, The Lowest Pair and others on High Country Music Radio at KDRT 95.7 FM.

Tomorrow, Jan 13th, at 11:00 a.m on High Country Music Radio host Rusty Nail will warm up these cool days with songs from the award winning AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Special Consensus, The Grateful Dead, Rita Hosking, Asleep at the Wheel along with other great artists. Tune in at KDRT 95.7 fm or stream on KDRT.org! You can listen to High Country Music Radio anytime by visiting iTunes and subscribing to the podcast. 

Following a short break for the holidays, today's High Country Music Radio will kick-off the new year with mandolin driven songs from Sam Bush, David Grisman and Peter Rowan. We’ll then journey into alt country with Dolly Parton, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch with David Rawlings. I updated today's playlist to include a song from the exciting alt country band Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. Hope you can join us at 11:00 a.m on KDRT 95.7FM or stream live at KDRT.org!

Winter! Snow is up to the windows at Rusty's cabin so a bluegrass winter with a wee bit of Celtic is the theme this week at 11:00 am to Noon on High Country Music Radio at KDRT 95.7FM !

Musicians wrote songs and sang of passenger and freight trains, reflecting their affinity with the railroad as a way of  travel and freedom. Trains are the theme on this week’s High Country Music Radio (Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. to Noon) with Rusty featuring traditional and contemporary songs of the railroad. 

Join us tomorrow as we listen to Leon Russell with the Newgrass Revival, Jim and Jessie, Greensky Bluegrass, Dale Ann Bradley, Arlo Guthrie, a bluegrass version of the Monkee's "Last Train to Clarksville" and more  for an hour of song about those long steel rails.

If your cabin is near a remote spur of the transcontinental railway, High Country Music Radio can be streamed at KDRT.org