Davisville, March 15, 2021: Longtime Davis schools/arts writer Jeff Hudson calls it a career

Education during the pandemic, the reason why Davis schools enrolls close to a thousand students who don't live in town, the opening of the Mondavi Center at UC Davis, reviews of countless theater and music performances -- Jeff Hudson has written and reported about such subjects for the Davis Enterprise and Capital Public Radio since the 1990s. Today we talk about stories and some of the beats he has covered, and now that he has retired, what he wants to do next.

Celtic Songlines, March 16, 2021: Live tunes to celebrate St. Paddy's Day

This week on Celtic Songlines we'll feature live tunes and songs that reflect the magic of Ireland and celebrate St. Paddy's Day. You'll tune in to hear live sets from Solas, The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, Banshee in the Kitchen, Tempest, Clannad, The Chieftains and Patrick Street. 

Twang Thang, March 14, 2021: Spring forward this week with DJ Dirk

Rise and shine! Sunday and Monday mornings arrive with new episodes of It’s A Twang Thang. DJ Dirk has a set prepped to get your week started right - especially for early risers adjusting to Daylight Saving Time. Listen in for tracks from Johnny Cash, Robbie Fulks, Paul Thorn, The Chicks, The Gourds, Buddy & Julie Miller, and so many more. Twang Thang kicks off our live programming each week at 8 AM Sundays, with replays 10 AM Mondays and 8 PM Wednesdays.

Na Mele O Hawai'i, March 11, 2021: Featuring a visit with kumu Kaliko Beamer-Trapp

This week, we pick back up where we (accidentally) left off in our exploration of mele (songs) studied in the virtual course, Papa Mele Hawai'i, taught by kumu Kaliko Beamer-Trapp through his website, 'Ōlelo Online. DJ Beth has been participating in this virtual class since last summer, where they study a song each week to assist in learning the Hawaiian language. Our nice long conversation is featured just after the start of the second hour. Mahalo e Kumu Kaliko!

Sounds So Sweet, March 10, 2021: Women in Jug Band Music

Women have been an important part of Jug Band Music since Sara Martin in 1924. In honor of Women’s History Month, we'll take a look at the history of Jug Band Music and the importance of women's contributions from Sara Martin to Rhiannon Giddens. Pictured is an illustration of Lizzie Douglas (1897-1973), also known as "Memphis Minnie," who has been described as the most popular female country blues singer of all time. She transcended both gender and genre. Her recording career reached from the 1920s heyday of country blues guitar to cutting early electric sides in 1950s Chicago studios. Show host Wayne, a founding member of the California Jug Band Associaton and a member of its Board of Directors, has been hosting "Sounds So Sweet" at KDRT since 2007.

The Folk Brothers, March 10, 2021: Who wrote 'Copper Kettle'?

Jake Xerxes Fussell has a great new cover of the neo-traditional, Prohibition-era ballad "Copper Kettle." Authorship of this song -- recorded by many, perhaps most memorably by Joan Baez -- is an enigmatic, almost gumshoe-like tale in itself. We won't tell that tale, but you can learn all you might want to know in Ross Altman's "Folkworks" blog

Also on today's show: new music from Jon Boden, Lau, Andrew Marlin, and the Paul McKenna Band. And Brother Bill delves into '70s Brit folk rock with tracks from Jade, Magna Carta and others.

Photo: Brian Stansberry, copper moonshine still

Jazz After Dark for March 09, 2021

Tonight on Jazz After Dark! Lester Young & The Kansas City Six,  Billie Holiday, Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie & Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie & His Orchestra, Count Basie Kansas City Septem.  Jazz After Dark broadcasts locally at 8 pm Tuesdays on KDRT-LP, 95.7 FM in Davis, CA with replays Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 11 p.m.  Show page here: https://kdrt.org/program/jazz-after-dark

For podcasts, look for us on iTunes or your favorite podcast site.   https://player.fm/featured/jazz

COVID-19 Community Report, March 9, 2021: Student Voices Part 2

Episode 55 wraps up my monthlong series on reopening the schools in the Davis Joint Unified School District. Last week's chats with elementary and junior high school students, and the two segments with high-school seniors this week, are among the more important interviews I've done this year. These young folks are going to be living with the post-pandemic reality for a very long time, and their varied perspectives are fascinating to hear. I believed it was important to give them a voice at this point in time.

A Constant Grin for March 5, 2021 -- 'Wristwatch' starts a seven-song poem

This week's one-line poem song descriptor is "Tall acid worms in plain priest wristwatch streams." It's derived from the seven song titles played this week on "A Constrant Grin" from the following artists: Pine Marten, Soltero, Land Lines, Saintseneca, Adam and The Amethysts, The Dinner is Ruined, and For Stars. Three of these bands are new to the show.