Station Archive

International Workers' Day (aka "May Day") is celebrated annually around the world on May 1 to honor laborers and recognize the continuing struggle for working class rights. Everywhere, that is, except for the United States and Canada, who hold their "Labo(u)r Day" celebrations on the first weekend of September. Whatever. The change of date is ironic since the holiday initially commemorated the May 1, 1886 protests in the United States for an eight-hour workday, which resulted in the Haymarket massacre in Chicago on May 4, 1886. This week, we commemorate May Day with music from Billy Bragg and Wilco, Tom Waits, Phil Ochs, Fantastic Negrito, Merle Haggard, The Love Me Nots, Chumbawamba and the wonderfully named Flame N'Peach and the Liberated Waffles. 

Rocky is joined by a very special guest - the one and only Flux himself - Jerry Douglas. They celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most important bluegrass recordings of all time - the J.D. Crowe and the New South album better known as Rounder 044. Jerry is one of only 2 surviving members of the band that created a new standard of excellence in bluegrass when they released this album back in 1975. In the 50 years since, Jerry has cemented his place in music history as the greatest dobro player of all time. He has won 16 Grammy Awards and appeared on thousands of recordings in a career that is unmatched by any other resophonic guitar player on planet Earth. Jerry reminisces on the legendary New South recording sessions, playing alongside Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Slone and J.D. Crowe.