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.

Praise Time with Preacher presents the power of gospel music

This show has been gracing KDRT's airwaves since 2017. Check it out at praisetime.

"Host Preacher believes gospel music is powerful, whether the listener is or is not Christian -- that everyone can enjoy listening to gospel because it is uplifting and inspiring, sung with passion and belief from the artist, touching all who hear it in a good and heartfelt way. The aim of the show is to help listeners find what Preacher believes lives in everyone: a good spirit that drives us to be the best we can be."

Each Tuesday at 4, with replays Sunday mornings at 7, or stream it anytime.

New release from Lankum, with tunes and song from near and within the Celtic Lands

This week's session presents selections from the Dublin-based band Lankum and their new album, False Lankum. Also featured are Dervish, Ye Vagabonds, whistle player Mary Bergin, Emily Smith with Hawk & Crow, Altan, Kris Colt, Martin Carthy, Sandy Denny, Spiers & Boden, and DeDannan. 

 

News Cycle, April 10, 2023: Why isn't Ramadan a school-observed holiday?

An opinion piece on why non-Christian religious holidays such as Ramadan should be school holidays, a Creed 3 movie review, a look into popular colleges, and insight into the Race and Social Justice Project.

Packages by Saadya Mahmood, Ben Mitchell, Boyeon Choi, and Naneh Grigor.

IMPLOSION is here — 5 April 2023!

Don't miss the inaugural edition of IMPLOSION on Wednesday, April 5.  This new show is hosted by Nick Saloman, leader of the English rock band The Bevis Frond, a trusted and prolific source of brilliant sounds spanning five decades! IMPLOSION features Nick sharing his favorite music and musical knowledge — from rock to folk, psyche to punk,  jazz to soul... Tune in every Wednesday evening 5–6 p.m. Pacific for the latest episode, with Sunday morning replays at 11 a.m.

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.