Karen Leyse's blog

In the Key of Folk, July 9, 2025

Sometimes we just have to do a little dancing to lift our spirits, and today In the Key of Folk will get you moving with some favorite tunes by bands that provide contra dance energy. We'll include tracks by Countercurrent, Nova, Nightingale, Syncopaths, and others. We'll also include a couple of great recent releases by Ray Lambiase. With any luck, we'll sneak in tracks with Nina Gerber and Eliza Gilkyson, and a little more. So tune in at 2 p.m. today at KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis and KDRT.org worldwide. See you soon!

In the Key of Folk, July 2, 2025

This week we have some musical jewels on In the Key of Folk. Rhiannon Giddens, who was recently touring in the region, begins the hour with a quintessential demonstration of her magnificent singing. We follow with tracks by the Spell Songs project, Laurie Lewis, Steve Tilston, Le Vent du Nord, Ivan Drever, Countercurrent, Silly Sisters and others. Older classics and others ready to become new classics. So join us live at 2 p.m. today. The show repeats at 7 a.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Sunday. All at KDRT 95.7 (Davis) and KDRT.org!

In the Key of Folk, June 25, 2025

We have another day of recent releases on In the Key of Folk, including tracks by Avery Hill, I'm With Her, My Politic, Steve Gillette, and Helene Cronin. We'll also play a couple of tracks from our neighbors to the north and a few from celtic groups. So join us for another fine hour of largely acoustic music. Tune in at 2 p.m. on KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis, or online at KDRT.org where you can also find when the show replays and oh so many more things!

In the Key of Folk, June 18, 2025

We are so rich in music these days, with new releases hitting the airwaves! So join us on In the Key of Folk today to hear more new releases and old gems, too.  

The hour will include tracks by Steve Gillette, Heather Hurlock, Arlon Bennett, the Weary Ramblers (love that name!), and classics by Guy Clark, Gordon Lightfoot and more. So again, join us, you might find a new favorite song! Starting soon at 2 p.m. on KDRT 95.7 FM | KDRT.org

In the Key of Folk, June 11, 2025

This week we bring you more new releases from new artists, along with a few old favorites. Singer-songwriters include Oregon's Avery Hill, The Faux Pas, Ryan McCombe, Helene Cronin, Mike Ward, and the Weary Ramblers. Oh, and did we mention? ... a real oldie from Simon and Garfunkel. So join us live at 2 p.m. today to immerse yourself in new songwriter creativity for an hour. Repeats Thursday at 7a.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. And it's available on Apple Podcast, etc.

KDRT 95.7 FM | KDRT.org

In the Key of Folk, June 4, 2025

This is a week of new and recent releases for the most part. Join in the discoveries on In the Key of Folk at 2 p.m. today! They'll include the solo singing debut by Scottish piper Donald Lindsay, and tracks by Poor Man's Gambit, Rrinaco, The Faux Pas, Lisa Bastoni, and others. We'll also feature a track by Jaeger and Reid, who will be performing in Davis this weekend, along with another track from Kora Feder's excellent new album, Some Kind of Truth. Stay cool and find a place to tune in!

KDRT 95.7 FM | KDRT.org

In the Key of Folk, May 28, 2025

Sometimes things just need to be repeated and amplified. With that in mind, today on In the Key of Folk, I'll be playing more tracks from the recently released album by I'm With Her, along with other new releases. Included are tracks from albums by C. Daniel Boling (featuring Tom Paxton),  Dee Robinson, Lee Hunter and the Gatherers, and a new single by Lisa Bastoni. I also plan tracks by Kora Feder and Justin Farren, who will be playing in Sacramento this week, and Evie Ladin.  So join in at 2 p.m. today at KDRT 95.7 FM | KDRT.org

In the Key of Folk, May 21, 2025

There is something new and different to start off today's program, so join In the Key of Folk at 2 p.m. to check it out. During the hour, we'll feature tracks from newly released albums by Joshua Bonnetta, I'm With Her, and the True North Duo. You'll also hear tracks from Mike Beck, Dave Alvin, Rhiannon Giddens, Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz, along with several regional musicians. So dial in your radio or join us online at KDRT 95.7 FM | KDRT.org. Oh, and the progam repeats at 7 a.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

In the Key of Folk, April 23, 2025

April is Earth month and yesterday was Earth Day! Therefore, today In the Key of Folk honors mother earth with tracks that cover the good, bad, and little-known aspects of life on our planet. We'll cover tracks by Laurie Lewis, Rita Hosking, Dougie MacLean, and Alien Folklife, among others.

The second half of the hour will be devoted to a sample of favorite contra dance tunes in honor of the 39th Anniversary Contra Dance this Saturday night, put on by the Sacramento Country Dance Society. You'll hear tracks by The Free Raisins, Toss the Possum, the Syncopaths, and String Fire. Tune in at 2 this afternoon, and don't forget to put your dancing shoes on! Right here on KDRT 95.7 FM |  KDRT.org!