The Folk Brothers for Aug. 4, 2021: British folk songs of political reform

Long-time Davisite and traditional folk singer, Dick Holdstock, has written a book about the spread of broadside ballads as agents of political reform in 18th and 19th century Britain. On this week's show, we celebrate the publication of Dick's book with ballads sung by Chumbawamba, Maggie Holland, The English Country Blues Band, The Waterboys and others. Also: new music from Skipper's Alley, Show Of Hands, John Spillane, Watchhouse, and Vincent Neil Emerson.

Jazz After Dark August 03 2021

Jazz standards by classic performers tonight.

Louis Armstrong and His Hot 7 with Potato Head Blues, Artie Shaw doing Begin the Beguine, Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian with Rose Room and Benny Goodman doing Body and Soul. We'll hear Erroll Garner with his composition Misty, Andy Kirk doing A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm. Miles Davis performs 'Round About Midnight, Louis Prima with Body And Soul, Ella Fitzgerald sings Fascinating Rhythm. Duke Ellington And His Orchestra play Lullaby Of Birdland; Billie Pool with Stormy Weather, Duke Ellington doing One O'Clock Jump. Ella Fitzgerald: performs You'll Have to Swing It, and then we take it out with Dianne Reeves singing Ain't Nobody's Business (If I Do).

Davis Garden Show, July 29, 2021: Water 50% for ornamentals, 100% for food producers

NEW, EASY WAY to figure out your drought watering! Don shared the research from the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources -- Center for Landscape & Urban Horticulture, showing how little water different plants can survive on. Not be happy, but survive.

Lots of info about watering -- trees, shrubs, food plants, and beneficial insects. (Lois asked about making an insect watering hole with wet sand.) One listener writes about her "spider mite apacalypse" and wonders how to keep her melons alive until harvest. 

Why do plants look stressed the third year in the ground when "they did fine last year"? How much water a plant needs depends upon how big it is! So as a young plant grows bigger, you need to give it more water (either water longer or add another sprinkler head).

"Grad Students Help with Soil" is the Davis Enterprise headline; "providing soil diagnosis [texture and pH test] and advice to gardeners" is the service; Saturdays (9:30-11:30) at Davis Farmers Market is the when/where. The service will continue every Saturday thru August 21.


The Folk Brothers for July 28, 2021: The new faces of Irish folk

A quiet revolution of Irish folk music is stirring amongst young acoustic bands (like Lankum and Skipper's Alley) as well as from singer-songwriters (like Declan O'Rourke, Joshua Burnside and John Spillane) and singers of traditional ballads. On today's show, we highlight three such singers: Dublin's John Francis Flynn, County Armagh's Dani Larkin, and Santa Cruz transplant Amelia Baker. The latter (pictured here), trading under the name Cinder Well, has just released a stark and beautiful, pandemic-inspired album titled No Summer.

Also on today's show: new music from Sharon Shannon, JP Harris, Joe Danks, Logan Ledger, Jenny Reynolds, Bella White and Barbara Bergin. And classic tracks from The Incredible Band and Mike Beck.

Jazz After Dark July 27 2021

Our featured performer tonight is Tommy Flanagan, mellow jazz pianist whose recording career spanned more than four decades with his own band, as sideman on countless albums, and as the primary accompanist to Ella Fitzgerald for over a decade.

We’ll hear the Tommy Flanagan Trio; Tommy Flanagan with Paul Chambers, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell & Kenny Clarke. Then playing with the Benny Golson Quartet, Illinois Jacquet, Benny Carter, and backing Ella Fitzgerald.

Davisville, July 26, 2021: The story behind Davis' thousands of natural air conditioners

We all know trees are vital, especially in Davis. Imagine this city without them, especially when it's 112 degrees* outside. Today we talk with Erin Donley Marineau, whose job as executive director of Tree Davis means she's one of the people responsible for keeping the city well-tree'd.

Davis Garden Show, July 22, 2021: Tree roots, watering, and redwoods

Watering in  a drought. Reducing lawn water while keeping your trees alive. Root distribution of trees, "circle watering" strategy.

Coast redwoods in interior California. Many redwoods were planted in Davis years ago; should we add new ones now? What might we substitute for them?

What's wrong with these struggling tomato plants? 

Compacting soils can cause problems.  

"Mulch is for on top, not underground."

And more answers to listeners' questions. Submit yours for inclusion in a future show by emailing Don Shor and Lois Richter at DavisGardenShow@gmail.com

The Folk Brothers for July 21, 2021: Remembering Bill Morrissey

For the 10th anniversary of his death, we remember one of New England's finest singer-songwriters (and novelists). Bill Morrissey left behind a dozen albums in a recording career that stretched from 1984 to 2007. On today's show, we remember Bill through his music and the lens of fellow songwriters Marc Erelli and (the late) Eric Taylor. Bill Morrissey died on July 23, 2011, in a motel room in Dalton, Georgia, while on a short tour of the South.

Also on today's Folk Brothers: new music from Rachel Baiman, Watchhouse, I See Hawks In LA, and WB Yeats poems set to music!