Davisville, Dec. 27, 2021: ‘Carol’ is more than an ornament, plus prospects for more theater in Davis

Mon, 12/27/2021 - 5:30pm | Bill Buchanan

Few things created in 1843 are still relevant, but A Christmas Carol still is. One of the lasting versions of Charles Dickens’ classic story is the adaptation that today’s guest, Richard Hellesen, wrote for the Sacramento Theatre Co. in 1987. Its latest run wrapped up this month. Today we talk with Richard about what he calls the “pure luck” that landed him the offer to write the play, why Carol is timely, and why & how Davis could become more of a regional center for live theater. UC Davis, where Richard studied, is a catalyst.

The Folk Brothers for Dec. 22, 2021: Brother Bill's schmaltzy holiday show

Wed, 12/22/2021 - 11:10am | Peter Schiffman

It's that time again when Brother Bill drags out (just a small fraction of) his collection of cheezy holiday tracks, including ones by The Three Weissmen, The Yid Kids, Jimmy Sabata, as well as Percy Dovetonsils (who was one of Ernie Kovacs' alter egos). We are off next week and back live on Jan. 5. Happy holidays!

The Folk Brothers playlist for 12/22/2021

Celtic Songlines Winter Solstice

Tue, 12/21/2021 - 11:00am | David A. Reynolds

We’re now at that special time of year when many of us celebrate holidays during the Winter Solstice, such as Yule and Christmas. Our homes feature candles, mistletoe, holly or pines creating a close connection with the natural world.

The playlist on this week’s Celtic Songlines features artists who celebrate this season through their music, to help us pause and allow us to contemplate our connection with life on this earth and with each other.

Tune in for Loreena McKennitt, Ashley Davis with John Doyle, The Gothard Sisters, Kate Rusby, The Chieftains, John Fitzpatrick, Al Petteway with Amy White, Maggie Sansome and Bonnie Rideout, and Libana.

(image used with permission of the artist, Karen Davis @moonlight and hares)

Pieter is back in the studio, oh my -- on Listening Lyrics, Dec. 17, 2021

Fri, 12/17/2021 - 5:10pm | Pieter Pastoor

Yes, your Listening Lyrics producer was back in the studio. With one heck of a show. 

Songs by Nils Petter Molver, Brotherly Mud, Ekimi, The Beatles, The Trials of Cato, Fairport Convention, and even a tune written by Charlie Chaplin. Some holiday stuff, a song about Thomas Paine, and so much more. It's the last show of the year, so hope to see or hear you all next year.

Happy holidays, merry Christmas, and all the best for 2022.

Photo by Ron Lee

The Folk Brothers for Dec. 15, 2021: Go Your Way

Wed, 12/15/2021 - 11:10am | Peter Schiffman

After nearly 15 years, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have reunited for their second duo album -- Raise The Roof -- on which they cover Anne Brigg's "Go Your Way." Briggs, a key figure in the 1960s British folk revival, recorded only three albums and an EP before calling it a day in 1973. But she had an outsized influence on singers like June Tabor, Maddy Prior, Sandy Denny, and Richard Thompson -- who penned "Beeswing" with Briggs in mind.

Also on today's show: new tracks from Jake Xerxes Fussell, Christy Moore, The Spell Song Project, Paul Kelly and Grant Peoples.

The Folk Brothers playlist for 12/15/2021

Jazz After Dark December 14 2021

Tue, 12/14/2021 - 5:00pm | Don Shor

jazz logo 2021.jpg

Tonight on Jazz After Dark: the 1940s, with Mary Lou Williams' Girl Stars, Dizzy Gillespie with the Stan Getz Sextet, Louis Armstrong & Billie Holiday, and Earl Hines. Then 1955-6 with Herbie Mann, Herbie Nichols, Ella Fitzgerald, the Oscar Peterson Trio, and the Claude Williamson Trio.  From 1962-3 we'll hear Sam Lazar, Charlie Byrd, and McCoy Tyner, and then Milcho Leviev takes it out with a 2006 version of Blues in Elf by Don Ellis.

Davisville, Dec. 13, 2021: For decades, they’ve been making a ‘magic match’ in Davis each December

Sun, 12/12/2021 - 2:45pm | Bill Buchanan

Every December, the volunteers for STEAC’s Holiday Program clear out a big room at the First Baptist Church in west Davis, fill the space with boxes of donated food and gifts, and then give it all away in a few hours, this year to 475 low-income families and singles in Davis. Today’s Davisville focuses on the program and the nonprofit behind it.

This is a story about people, Davis, adaptation, the pandemic, bringing donors and recipients closer together, changing demographics, poverty, relief, logistics, food, gifts — and a growing need, matched by a growing willingness to meet that need. We talk with Kelly Coleman, who runs the Holiday Program; Liane Moody, the Short Term Emergency Aid Committee's executive director; and two of the volunteers who worked on this year’s distribution day, Saturday, Dec. 11.

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