December 18th, 2011

Hi All,

The last show of 2011 went like this...(next week KMSU will be airing holiday music throughout the weekend).

1) A holiday message from James McMurtry

2) Bob Dylan: Winter Wonderland; Christmas in the Heart

3) Bob Dylan; Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas; Christmas in the Heart

4) Tim O'Brien; Bah Humbug; Christmas on the Mountain

5) The Indigo Girls; Your Holiday Song; Holly Happy Days

6) Chris Knight; It Ain't Easy Being Me; Chris Knight

7) James McMurtry; Peter Pan; It Had to Happen

8) Dave Alvin; Gary Indiana; Eleven. Eleven

9) Emmylou Harris; Christmas Time's a Coming; Light of the Stable

10) Emmylou Harris; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Light of the Stable

11) Emmylou Harris; Silent Night; Light of the Stable

A bunch of songs from John Prine's new release, The Singing Mailman Delivers

12) Hello In There

13) Sour Grapes

14) Quiet Man

15) Angel from Montgomery

16) Spanish Pipedream (fade out)

Happy Holidays everybody. Thanks for listening...

December 4th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the 4th went like this...

1) Iris Dement; Let the Mystery Be; Infamous Angel

2) Guy Clark; Indian Head Penny; Cold Dog Soup

3) Slaid Cleaves; Drinking Days; Wishbones

4) The Flatlanders; Baby Do You Love Me Still; Wheels of Fortune

5) The Jayhawks; Hide Your Colors; Mockingbird Time

6) The Jayhawks; Tiny Arrows; Mockingbird Time

7) Emily Hurd; Long Lost Ghosts; Long Lost Ghosts

8) Emily Hurd; My Favorite Part; Long Lost Ghosts

9) Michael Jonathan; Ramblin Man; For the People Woody--An American Folk Opera

10) Steve Earle; Christmas Time in Washington; El Corazon

11) Alejandro Escovedo; Velvet Guitar; Man Under the Influence

12) Alejandro Escovedo; Castanets; Man Under the Influence

13) Merle Haggard; Workin' Man Blues; Working in Tennessee

November 20th & 27th, 2011

Hi All,

The show on the 20th was an "encore presentation" of a show that aired earlier this year and for which I do not have the playlist. Among other things, the show featured nice new stuff from Red Beet Records and Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion

On the 27th, our Thanksgiving weekend show features Pete Seeger's Children's Concert at Town Hall for the entire hour. Grab the kids and enjoy...

November 13th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the 13th went like this...

1) Tom Waits; Chicago; Bad as Me

2) Beck & Emmylou Harris; Sin City; Return of the Grievous Angel

3) Pete Yorn; Splendid Isolation; Enjoy Every Sandwich

4) Carrie Rodriguez & Ben Kyle; Unwed Fathers; We Still Love Our Country

5) Merle Haggard; What I Hate; Working in Tennessee

6) Merle Haggard; Truck Driver's Blues; Working in Tennessee

7) Tom Waits; Raised Right Men; Bad as Me

8) Tom Waits; Bad as Me; Bad as Me

9) Guy Clark; Maybe I Can Paint Over That; Songs and Stories

10) Robert Earl Keen; Show the World; Ready for Confetti

11) Gurf Morlix; Clay Pigeons; Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream

12) Loudon Wainwright III; Come a Long Way; Attempted Mustache

13) Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion; Speed of Light; Bright Examples

14) Loudon Wainwright III; The Swimming Song; Attempted Mustache

15) Mavis Staples; Don't Knock; You Are Not Alone

October 30th, 2011

Hi All,

The pledge drive edition of Listen to Your Folks is below. A big thanks to everyone who has already contributed to the fall pledge drive. If you would still like to do so, please call (507) 389-5678 or (800) 456-7810 or visit KMSU online.

1) Robert Earl Keen; Ready for Confetti; Ready for Confetti

2) Greg Brown and friends; I Still Miss Someone; Live at the Black Sheep

3) Stan Rogers; Canol Road; Northwest Passage

4) Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion; Hurry Up and Wait; Bright Examples

5) Todd Snider; Play a Train Song; The Storyteller

6) Robert Earl Keen; Play a Train Song; Ready for Confetti

7) Robert Earl Keen; Lay Down My Brother; Ready for Confetti

8) Guy Clark; Dublin Blues; Stories & Songs

9) Tom Russell; I'm on Fire; Thunder Road: Tracks Inspired by the Boss

10) Aimee Mann & Michael Penn; Reason to Believe; Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska

11) Warren Zevon; Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School; Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School

12) Dave Alvin; Two Lucky Bums; Eleven, Eleven

October 16th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the 16th went like this...

1) The Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore; Time Changes Everything; Heirloom Music

2) John Mellencamp; Save Some Time to Dream; No Better Than This

3) Alejandro Escovedo; Anchor; Street Songs of Love

4) Richard Buckner; Blue and Wonder; Bloomed

5) Johnny Cash; Sam Stone; Live in Austin

6) Fred Eaglesmith; Millie's Cafe; Millie's Cafe

7) Ramblin Jack Elliot (with A. Guthrie); Riding Down the Canyon; Friends of Mine

8) Drive By Truckers; I Do Believe; Go Go Boots

9) Drive By Truckers; Everybody Needs Love; Go Go Boots

10) Cowboy Junkies; This Street, That Man, This Life; Black Eyed Man

11) Todd Snider; Good Fortune; The Excitement Plan

**T.S. will be in St. Paul on November 9th!

12) The Devil Makes Three; Do Wrong Right; Do Wrong Right

13) The Seldom Scene; Home Town Blues; Scenechronized

October 2nd, 2011

Hi All,

Today's show was an encore presentation of a program that first aired earlier this summer. The playlist came from Troy Murphy, an old friend from these parts who now lives in Michigan. Thanks to Troy for a great morning of music. His playlist went like this...

1) Uncle Tupelo; No Depression (Demo Version); No Depression

2) The Everybodyfields; By Your Side; Plague of Dreams

3) The Everybodyfields; Good to be Home; Plague of Dreams

4) Chris Buhalis; Small Disguise; Kenai Dreams

5) Uncle Tupelo; Black Eye; 89/93--An Anthology

6) Ryan Adams; My Winding Wheel; Heartbreaker Country

7) Billy Bragg; Dry Bed; Rare Family Songs of Woody Guthrie: Daddy O Daddy!

8) The Carolina Chocolate Drops; Hit 'Em Up Style; Genuine Negro Jig

9) The Punch Brothers; Rye Whiskey; Antifogmatic

10) The Decemberists; January Hymm; The King is Dead

11) The Decemberists; June Hymm; The King is Dead

12) The Avett Brothers; The Fall; Four Thieves Gone--The Robbinsville Sessions

13) The Avett Brothers; Swept Away; Mignottee

14) The Avett Brothers; I Love; Sweetheart 2010

15) Randy Travis; Will the Circle Be Unbroken; Three Wooden Crosses: The Inspirational Hits of Randy Travis

September 25th, 2011

Hi All,

The show on the 25th featured a couple Springsteen songs in honor of his 62nd birthday on September 23rd...thanks for listening.

1) Bruce Springsteen; Gotta Get That Feeling; The Promise

2) Mary Chapin Carpenter; Emmylou Harris & Sheryl Crow; Flesh & Blood; Kindred Spirits

3) John Hiatt; Old School; Master of Disaster

4) Drive By Truckers; Carl Perkins' Cadillac; The Dirty South

5) Big Harp; Everybody Pays; White Hat

6) Big Harp; Goodbye Crazy City; White Hat

7) Bob Dylan; Someday Baby; Modern Times

Four songs from Guy Clark's new live CD, Songs and Stories

8) L.A. Freeway

9) Maybe I Can Paint Over That

10) If I Needed You

11) The Cape

12) Bruce Springsteen; Working on a Dream; Working on a Dream

September 18, 2011

It's another guest spot this week for Ben Leonard with Dave Engen as executive producer. Hope you enjoyed most of it. Either way, the playlist looked like this:

1) She and Him; Why do you let me stay here; She and Him

2) Townes Van Zandt; If I needed you; Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas
3) Hot Water; Painless; Hot Water Music
4) John Prine and Iris Dement; In Spite of Ourselves; In Spite of Ourselves

5) Todd Snider; Vinyl Records; New Connection
6) Todd Snider; I May Smoke Too Much; Todd Sings Kris [Kristopherson]
7) Bob Dylan; Let Me Die In My Footsteps; The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3

8) The Weakerthans; One Great City; Live At The Burton Cummings Theater
9) Peter Mulvey; Hard Times Come Again No More; Alaska Bootleg, 4-19-06
10) William Elliot Whitmore; Dry; Song of the Blackbird

11) Jenny Owen Youngs; Start and Stop; Transmitter Failure
12) Dead Man Winter; Nicotine [edit]; Bright Lights
13) Death Cab For Cutie; I Will Follow You Into The Dark; Plans

14) Tallest Man on Earth; Like the Wheel; Bootleg, Live in the Netherlands 2010
15) Matt the Electrician; For Angela; Animal Boy
16) Patty Griffin; Long Road; 1,000 Kisses

17) Stacy Earle and Mark Stuart; Walkin' With Travis; S&M Communion Bread [FADE OUT]

There you have it! As a bonus, here's the funniest unreleased Todd Snider Song ever. If you're under 18, or squeemish, you may want to pass.

September 4th, 2011

Hi All,

A couple weeks off from posting here...but will now get back to it. Talked quite a lot on today's show about the upcoming Rock Bend Folk Festival in St. Peter on Sept. 10th and 11th.

The playlist for the 4th went like this...

1) Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash; Girl From the North Country; Nashville Skyline

Three songs from the new cd Heirloom Music, by Jimmie Dale Gilmore and the Wronglers.

2) Time Changes Everything

3) I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes

4) Big Rock Candy Mountain

5) Dave Alvin; Gary Indiana; Eleven, Eleven

6) Dave Alvin; Two Lucky Bums; Eleven, Eleven

7) Mavis Staples; You Are Not Alone; You Are Not Alone

8) Mavis Staples; Losing You; You Are Not Alone

A set of four songs featuring artists who will be performing at the Rock Bend Folk Festival, Saturday September 10th and Sunday, September 11th

9) City Mouse; Sittin' On Top of the World

10) Red Horse; Blue Chalk

11) Eilen Jewell; Shakin' All Over

12) City Mouse; Smile All Over

The last two songs of the show...

13) Richard Thompson; Haul Me Up; Dream Attic

14) Drive By Truckers; Everybody Needs Love; Go Go Boots

August 14th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the 14th went like this...

1) Justin Townes Earle; Can't Hardly Wait; Midnight at the Movies

2) Iris Dement; Mom & Dad's Waltz; My Life

3) Stacy Earle & Mark Stuart; Town Square; S & M Communion Bread

4) Richard Thompson; From Galaway to Graceland; Watching the Dark

Three from John Hiatt's new release, Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns

5) I Love That Girl

6) Adios to California

7) Detroit Made

And three from Gurf Morlix's release, Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream

8) Crawl Back to You

9) Big Cheeseburgers and Good Fries

10) Clay Pigeons

11) Jamey Johnson; Stars in Alabama; That Lonesome Song

12) Warren Zevon; Heartache Spoken Here; Mr. Bad Example

13) Tom Waits; Hold On; Mule Variations

14) Elizabeth Mitchell; Sunny Day; Sunny Day

August 7, 2011

This show was guest hosted by Ben Leonard. As always, thanks for listening. If you have any comments, concerns, or words of disbelief, along with suggested listening, please email Ben @ ben@nchsmn.org. The playlist went like this...

1) Mary Lou Lord; Farming it Out; Baby Blue

2) Johnny Freakin' Cash; Sunday Morning Coming Down (Kris Kristopherson); The Essential Johnny Cash
3) Adam Carroll; Ol' Milwaukee's Best; Lookin' Out the Screen Door
4) Gear Daddies; Drank So Much; Can't Have Nothin' Nice

5) Haley Bonar; Bad for You; Golder
6) Bellwether; Front Yard; Turnstiles
7) Charlie Parr; West Bank 10th Street Rag; King Earl

8) Laura Cantrell; Churches Off the Interstate; Not the Tremblin' Kind
9) Zee Avi; Honey Bee; Zee Avi
10) Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps; Closing the Doors; Backyard Tent Set

11) Dead Man Winter; Golden; Wolves EP
12) Trampled By Turtles; Still in Love With You; Trouble
13) Rilo Kiley; The Absence of God; More Adventurous

14) Steve Earle; Jerusalem; Jerusalem
15) Joe Pug; Nation of Heat; Nation of Heat EP
16) Be Good Tanyas; Lakes of Pontchartrain (trad.); Blue Horse

17) Vandaveer; Out Past the Moat; Grace and Speed
18) Elephant Revival; Real McKay Wedding; Elephant Revival [FADE OUT]

July 24th, 2011

Hi All,

Today's show was an "encore presentation" of a program that first aired back in March of this year. The playlist went like this...

1) Uncle Tupelo; Still Be Around; Still Feel Gone

2) Townes Van Zandt; Many a Fine Lady; First Album

3) The Skylighters; See What Love Can Do; The Skylighters

4) Tony Rice; Never Meant to Be; Night Flyer

5) John Prine; Bottomless Lake; Live and in Concert

6) Merle Travis; That's All; Folk Songs of the Hills

7) The Three Pickers; Down in the Valley to Pray; The Three Pickers

8) Porter Wagoner; My Many Southern Trips; Wagonmaster

Three from "Blessed"--the new release from Lucinda Williams

9) Seeing Black

10) Blessed

11) Buttercup

12) Rachel Harrington; He Started Building My Mansion in Heaven Today; Celilo Falls

13) Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Love Will be Enough; Salt of the Earth

14) Bryan Sutton; Bully of the Town; Never Too Far From the Tree

Thanks for listening...

July 17th, 2011

The playlist for the 17th went like this...thanks for listening.

1) Keb Mo; You Can Love Yourself; Just Like You

2) John Prine; Dear Abby; Great Days--John Prine Anthology

3) Billy Bragg & Wilco; California Stars; Mermaid Avenue

4) Jewell; Have a Little Faith in Me; Phenomenon Soundtrack

Three from Sports Illustrated's recent list of 40 best sports songs...

5) Bob Dylan; Who Killed Davey Moore; Boogleg Series vol. 1

6) Simon & Garfunkel; The Boxer; The Concert in Central Park

7) Warren Zevon; Boom Boom Mancini; Sentimental Hygiene

8) The Jayhawks; Two Hearts; Tomorrow the Green Grass

9) Los Lobos; Can't Stop the Rain; Colossal Head

10) The Devil Makes Three; Do Right Wrong; Do Right Wrong

11) Gillian Welch; Look at Miss Ohio; Soul Journey

12) Dana Cooper; Bird on the Wing; Mud on Mud

13) Lorianna Matera; Wandering Heart; Nobody's Angel

July 10th, 2011

Hi All,

Missed a couple posts here--one repeat show over the 4th and a new show before that for which the playlist has not yet been found. At any rate, we had another new show on the 10th. The playlist featured a whole lot of Lucinda Williams who performed in Mankato on the evening of the 10th.

1) Lucinda Williams; Ramblin' On My Mind; Ramblin'

2) Todd Snider; Play a Train Song; The Storyteller

3) John Hiatt; Drive South; Slow Turning

4) Rodney Crowell; Closer to Heaven; Sex & Gasoline

5) Lucinda Williams; Something About What Happens When We Talk; Lucinda Williams

6) Lucinda Williams; Buttercup; Blessed

7) Lucinda Williams; Blessed; Blessed

8) Blaze Foley; My Reasons Why; Oval Room

9) Richard Thompson; 1952 Vincent Black Lightening; Rumor and Sigh

10) Loudon Wainwright III; I'm not Gonna Cry; Last Man on Earth

And four more from Lucinda Williams...

11) Right in Time; Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

12) Jackson; Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

13) Passionate Kisses; Lucinda Williams

14) Steal Your Love; Essence

Thanks for listening...

June 19th, 2011

Hi All,

Today's playlist came from Troy Murphy, an old friend from these parts who now lives in Michigan. Thanks to Troy for a great morning of music. His playlist went like this...

1) Uncle Tupelo; No Depression (Demo Version); No Depression

2) The Everybodyfields; By Your Side; Plague of Dreams

3) The Everybodyfields; Good to be Home; Plague of Dreams

4) Chris Buhalis; Small Disguise; Kenai Dreams

5) Uncle Tupelo; Black Eye; 89/93--An Anthology

6) Ryan Adams; My Winding Wheel; Heartbreaker Country

7) Billy Bragg; Dry Bed; Rare Family Songs of Woody Guthrie: Daddy O Daddy!

8) The Carolina Chocolate Drops; Hit 'Em Up Style; Genuine Negro Jig

9) The Punch Brothers; Rye Whiskey; Antifogmatic

10) The Decemberists; January Hymm; The King is Dead

11) The Decemberists; June Hymm; The King is Dead

12) The Avett Brothers; The Fall; Four Thieves Gone--The Robbinsville Sessions

13) The Avett Brothers; Swept Away; Mignottee

14) The Avett Brothers; I Love; Sweetheart 2010

15) Randy Travis; Will the Circle Be Unbroken; Three Wooden Crosses: The Inspirational Hits of Randy Travis

June 12, 2011

Thanks for tuning in this week everyone. Dave let me host once again. I can't believe he keeps letting me do that. I really enjoy it. Hopefully the song selection was tolerable for you as well. Middle Brother and Caitlin Rose are new to me, but I can't say enough good things about them. Rose has two albums, with "Own Side Now" released in 2010. She's also featured on the cover of Deer Tick's "War Elephant" album. Middle Brother is a side project made up of members from Deer Tick, Delta Spirit, and Dawes. Their self-titled release came out March 1st 2011. Anyway, here's the show:

1) They Might Be Giants; Drink!; Mink Car

2) Caitlin Rose; Own Side; Own Side

3) Middle Brother; Wilderness; Middle Brother

4) Deer Tick; Song About a Man; Born on Flag Day

5) Mary Milne; Already Gone; Don't You Know I Love the Leavin'

6) John Freaking Prine; Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone; Bruised Orange

7) The Boss; Highway Patrolman; Nebraska

8) Kasey Chambers and Shawn Nicholson; Once in a While; Ratlin' Bones

9) Dylan; You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go; Blood on the Tracks

10) Phosphorescent; Reasons to Quit; To Willie

11) Carolina Chocolate Drops; Trouble in Your Mind; Genuine Negro Jig

12) Vandaveer; Pick up the Pace; Dig Down Deep

13) Rilo Kiley; Go Ahead; Take Offs and Landings

14) Donovan; Colours; Fairy Tale

15) Rhett Miller; Question; The Believer

16) Jeff Tweedy; Pecan Pie; Live @ The 400 Bar (legal bootleg circa 2003)

17) The Dexateens; Can You Whoop It; Single Wide

18) Pert' Near Sandstone; Dandy Lusk; Up and Down the River (fade out)

June 5th, 2011

Hi All,

Talked today about upcoming Mankato dates for Trampled by Turtles, Lucinda Williams, and the Jayhawks. Click here for more information. The Trampled by Turtles show is part of Arts by the River, a two-day event being held on June 11th and 12th in Mankato's Riverfront park-- the event features all kinds of great music...

The playlist for the 5th went like this...

1) Loudon Wainwright III; Feel So Good; Strange Weirdos

2) John Hiatt; Through Your Hands; Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan

3) Anna Coogan; Dreaming My Life Away; The Nocturnal Among Us

4) Peter Cooper; Elmer the Dancer; The Lloyd Green Album

5) Katherine Hall; Hard and It's Hard; Old Town School of Folk Music (vol. 3)

6) Levon Helm; Poor Old Dirt Farmer; Dirt Farmer

7) City Mouse; Sittin' On Top of the World; It's About Time

8) Lucinda Williams; Mama You Sweet; West

9) The Jayhawks; Falling Star; The Bunkhouse Album

10) Trampled By Turtles; Ain't No Use in Tryin'; Songs From a Ghost Town

11) The Devil Makes Three; Do Wrong Right; Do Wrong Right

12) Kris Delmhorst; To the Wire; Shotgun Singer

13) Guy Clark; Hank Williams Said it Best; Dublin Blues

May 29th, 2011

Hi All,

Phil Molling co-hosted once again this morning...great having him on the air. The playlist went like this...

1) Tom T. Hall; Ravishing Rudy; The Ultimate Collection

2) Trampled by Turtles; Shelter from the Storm; Duluth Does Dylan Revisited

3) Eric Brace & Peter Cooper; Suffer a Fool; Master Sessions

4) Robert Earl Keen; Rose Hotel; Rose Hotel

5) Greg Brown; Freak Flag; Freak Flag

6) John Prine; Spanish Pipedream; In Person and On Stage

7) Steve Goodman; Between the Lines; No Big Surprise: The Steve Goodman Anthology

8) City Mouse; Means to an End; Live at Rockbend 2010

9) City Mouse; People Get Ready; Live at Rockbend 2010

10) Dandy Warhols; Bohemian Like You; Tales From Urban Bohemia

11) Mumford and Sons; Winter Winds; Sigh No More

12) Woody Guthrie; 1,2,3,4,5,6, 7, 8; Songs to Grown On for Mother and Child

13) Billy Bragg; Dry Bed; The Essential Billy Bragg

14) Woody Guthrie; Rattle My Rattle; Songs to Grow On for Mother and Child

May 22nd, 2011

Hi All,

Before we get the the playlist, just another reminder of the very cool new exhibit brought to the area by the Nicollet County Historical Society and the Arts Center of St. Peter: "New Harmonies: American Roots Music." Here's a blog post about the exhibit from Ben Leonard, Executive Director of the Nicollet County Historical Society. And here's a story in the Saint Peter Herald about the exhibit as well as a link to the Arts Center of Saint Peter where you can find more info about the exhibit and the great programming related to it.

Now about the show on the 22nd...

Minnesota State University, Mankato student Phil Molling co-hosted today's show. Phil is very interested in community radio and did a great job on air--it was a pleasure having him on the show.

The playlist for the 22nd went like this...

1) Drive By Truckers; Bob; Brighter than Creation's Dark

2) Alejandro Escovedo; Down in the Bowery; Street Songs of Love

3) Lucinda Williams; Blessed; Blessed

4) Richard and Linda Thompson; Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair; Watching the Dark

Three songs from the excellent new release from Red Beet Records--Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow

5) Mark & Mike; The Song of the One-Legged Chicken

6) Buddy Miller; Sneaky Snake

7) Patty Griffin; I Love

8) Los Lobos; Johnny 99; Badlands

9) Bruce Springsteen; Good Eye; Working on a Dream

10) Slaid Cleaves; Lost of the V8s; Thunder Road: Tracks Inspired by the Boss

11) John Prine; The Sins of Memphisto; The Missing Years

12) Old Crow Medicine Show; Take em' Away; TransAmerica Soundtrack

13) Dave Alvin; Blue Wing; Wounded Heart of America: Tom Russell Songs

14) Elizabeth Mitchell; Keep on the Sunny Side; Sunny Day

15) The Kennedys; Namaste; Sowing the Seeds: The 10th Anniversary Appleseed Recordings

May 15th, 2011

Hi All,

Today's show was an encore presentation featuring guest host Ben Leonard. The show first aired in November of 2010. Ben's playlist went like this...

His playlist went like this...

1) Todd Snider; Age Like Wine; East Nashville Skyline

2) Ben Folds; Gracie; Songs for Sliverman

3) Loudon Wainwright III, Daughter; Strange Weirdos

4) Bellwether; Sweethearts; The Stinging Nettles

5) Drive By Truckers; Carl Perkins' Cadillac; The Dirty South

6) Regina Spektor; Samson, Begin to Hope

7) Justin Townes Earle One More Night in Brooklyn; Harlem River Blues

8) Josh Ritter; Girl in the War; The Animal Years

9) Basia Bulat; Heart of my Own; Gold Rush

10) Pete Drodge; Hampton Inn Room 306; Necktie Second

11) Old Crow Medicine Show; My Good Gal; Big Iron World

12) Jill Sobule; Don't Let Us Get Sick; Enjoy Every Sandwich (A Tribute to Warren Zevon)

13) Bright Eyes; Bottom of Everything; Motion Sickness

14) Darrell Scott; A Crooked Road; The Americana Music Awards Sampler

May 8th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the 8th went like this...

1) Steve Earle; Prison Cell Blues; The Harry Smith Project Revisited

2) Peter Cooper; Gospel Song; The Lloyd Green Album

3) Eric Hanke; Smoke Through the Old Screen Door; Autumn Blues

4) Eliza Gilkyson; Looking for a Place; Roses at the End of Time

5) John Prine; Carousel of Love; Fair and Square (EP)

6) John Prine; That's Alright by Me; Fair & Square (EP)

7) Greg Brown; Let the Mystery Be; Freak Flag

8) Drive By Truckers; Three Daughters and a Beautiful Wife; Brighter than Creation's Dark

9) Drive By Truckers; The Righteous Path; Brighter than Creation's Dark

10) Bruce Springsteen; Racing in the Street; The Promise

11) Robert Earl Keen; Leavin' Tennessee; West Textures

12) Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris; This is Us; All the Roadrunning

13) Rodney Crowell; Beautiful Despair; The Outsider

May 1st, 2011

Hi All,

Before we get the the playlist, just a reminder of the very cool new exhibit brought to the area by the Nicollet County Historical Society and the Arts Center of St. Peter: "New Harmonies: American Roots Music." Here's a blog post about the exhibit from Ben Leonard, Executive Director of the Nicollet County Historical Society. And here's a story in the Saint Peter Herald about the exhibit as well as a link to the Arts Center of Saint Peter where you can find more info about the exhibit and the great programming related to it.

The playlist for the 1st of May featured lots of brand new Greg Brown and went like this...

1) Greg Brown; Someday House; Freak Flag

2) Ryan Bingham; The Poet; Lucky Star

3) Charlie Parr; Wild Bill Jones; Rooster

4) Buster Hoot'n; Out the Door; Buster Hoot'n

5) The Coal Porters; Luxury Liner; The Gram Parson's Tribute Concert

6) The Coal Porters; Hickory Wind; The Gram Parson's Tribute Concert

7) Sarah Harmer; The Match; Oh Little Fire

8) Greg Brown; Let the Mystery Be; Freak Flag

9) Greg Brown; Where are You Goin' When You're Gone

10) Peter Case; Look Out; Wig

11) Peter Case; Banks of the River; Wig

12) Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum; Since You Went Away; Guest House

13) Old Crow Medicine Show; Down Home Girl; Big Iron World

14) Chris Knight; Hello Old Man; The Jealous Kind

New Harmonies Exhibit and Programs in St. Peter

Thanks Dave for letting me hijack your blog to talk about a great exhibit in St. Peter. The Nicollet County Historical Society and Arts Center of St. Peter have partnered to bring "New Harmonies: American Roots Music" to the Arts Center Gallery. This traveling Smithsonian exhibit explores American music from slave spirituals to polka, country to the Delta blues. It's really a fascinating exhibit and open through June 11th. Check out the link for gallery hours and program information.

We're doing a lot of programming including live music, documentary film series, and more. Some highlights include "Be Here To Love Me," a documentary on Townes Van Zandt coming May 10th, Somali music on May 12th, and St. Peter Blues Fest June 11-12th.

If anyone has any questions the website can't answer, contact me at ben@nchsmn.org or 507-934-2160.

Keep tuning into Listen to Your Folks, and check out the exhibit.

thanks,

Ben Leonard

April 24th, 2011

Hi All,

The Easter playlist went like this...

1) Tom Paxton; I Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound; The Best of Tom Paxton

2) Mary Chapin Carpenter; Whenever You're Ready; Time/Sex/Love

3) Dave Alvin; Nine Volt Heart; Ashgrove

4) Eva Cassidy; People Get Ready; Songbird

5) Iris Dement; I Don't Want to Get Adjusted; Lifeline

6) John Mellencamp; Save Some Time to Dream; No Better Than This

7) Allison Krauss & Robert Plant; Your Long Journey; Raising Sand

8) Michael Perry & the Longbeds; Could be You; Headwinded

9) Guy Clark; The Cape; Dublin Blues

10) Ray Bonneville; So Long Blues; Goin' by Feel

11) Greg Brown; Help Me Make it Through This Funky Day; In the Dark with You

12) Trio (Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt); After the Gold Rush; Trio II

13) Iris Dement; The Old Gospel Ship; Lifeline

14) Trio; Feels Like Home; Trio II

**Talked on the show today about the new biography on Alan Lomax--a very nice read. Here's a radio interview with the author as well as a link to the book itself.

April 17th, 2011

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all your help with the Spring Pledge Drive! Your continued support of KMSU and community radio is greatly appreciated.

The playlist for the 17th went like this...

1) Peter Case; Broke Down Engine; Peter Case Sings Like Hell

2) Jason Ringenberg; Paradise; Best Tracks & Side Tracks

3) The Suicide Kings; Marie; The Suicide Kings

4) Uncle Earle; The Birds Were Singing of You; Waterloo Tennessee

5) Warren Zevon; A Certain Girl; Bad Luck Streek in Dancing School

6) Bruce Springsteen; My Ride is Here; Enjoy Every Sandwich

7) Steve Earle & Reckless Kelly; Reconsider Me; Enjoy Every Sandwich

8) Dave Alvin; Ol' 55; Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits

9) Tom Russell; When Sinatra Played Juarez; Borderland

10) Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings; God's Winged Horse; Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings

11) Loudon Wainwright III; People in Love; History

12) Loudon Wainwright III; Talking New Bob Dylan; History

13) Loudon Wainwright III; The Picture; History

14) Peter Wolf; Tragedy; Midnight Souvenirs

Thanks for listening...and thanks again for your support during the pledge drive...

April 10th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the first week of the Spring Pledge Drive went like this...

1) Todd Snider; Just in Case; Happy to be Here

2) Billy Bragg & Wilco; Christ for President; Mermaid Avenue

3) Bruce Springsteen; Old Dan Tucker; The Seeger Sessions

4) Billy Joe Shaver; White Freightliner Blues; Poet (Tribute to Townes Van Zandt)

5) Warren Zevon; Gorilla You're a Desperado; Bad Luck Street in Dancing School

6) Hayes Carll; Wish I Hadn't Stayed So Long; Little Rock

Two songs from What It Is: Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (a gift available to those donating at the $100 level)

7) Rufus Thomas; The Memphis Train

8) Eddie Harris; Live Right Now

9) Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings; Freight Train; Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings

10) Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings; God's Winged Horse; Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings

11) Iris Dement; Let the Mystery Be; Infamous Angel

12) The Wallin' Jennys; The Devil's Paint Brush Road; Firecracker

13) Charlie Robison; Feelin' Good; Beautiful Day

April 3rd, 2011

Hi All,

Today's show was an "encore presentation" of a show that aired about a month ago. The playlist went like this...

1) Uncle Tupelo; Still Be Around; Still Feel Gone

2) Townes Van Zandt; Many a Fine Lady; First Album

3) The Skylighters; See What Love Can Do; The Skylighters

4) Tony Rice; Never Meant to Be; Night Flyer

5) John Prine; Bottomless Lake; Live and in Concert

6) Merle Travis; That's All; Folk Songs of the Hills

7) The Three Pickers; Down in the Valley to Pray; The Three Pickers

8) Porter Wagoner; My Many Southern Trips; Wagonmaster

Three from "Blessed"--the new release from Lucinda Williams

9) Seeing Black

10) Blessed

11) Buttercup

12) Rachel Harrington; He Started Building My Mansion in Heaven Today; Celilo Falls

13) Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Love Will be Enough; Salt of the Earth

14) Bryan Sutton; Bully of the Town; Never Too Far From the Tree

Thanks for listening...

March 27th, 2011

Hi Everyone,

Can't seem to find the playlist from last week's show...thanks again to Ben Leonard for hosting back on the 13th--always great having him sit in. He'll be back soon.

The playlist for the 27th has not escaped...today's show featured songs from live releases by some Listen to Your Folks regulars.

1) Steve Goodman; Blue Skies; The Easter Tapes

2) John Hiatt; Real Fine Love; Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan

3) John Hiatt; Icy Blue Heart; Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan

4) Richard & Linda Thompson; Together Again; In Concert 1975

5) Richard & Linda Thompson; Hard Luck Stories; In Concert 1975

6) John Prine; Space Monkey; Live on Tour

7) John Prine; You Got Gold; Live on Tour

8) Lyle Lovett; Penguins; Live in Texas

9) Lyle Lovett; I've Been to Memphis; Live in Texas

10) Robert Earl Keen; I Still Miss Someone; Live in Austin

11) Robert Earl Keen; Down That Dusty Trail; Live in Austin

12) Guy Clark; She Ain't Goin' Nowhere; Keepers

13) Guy Clark; A Little of Both; Keepers

March 13, 2011

Thanks so much to Dave Engen for giving up several Sunday mornings for my personal edification. I really enjoy the opportunities to nerd-out about the music I love - or that I'm currently falling in love with.

Before I become more Minnesotan, and end additional sentences with prepositions, here's this week's playlist:

1) Trampled By Turtles; Nobody Else; Duluth

2) Bellwether; All on Red; Bellwether
3) Regina Spektor; The Call; Live in London
4) Studs Terkel; Blessed be the Nation; Where Have All The Children Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger

5) Elizabeth and the Catapults; Race You; Taller Children
6) Meiko; Reasons to Love You; Meiko
7) CAKE; Bound Away; Showroom of Compassion

8) Lower 48; Miles From Minnesota; Everywhere to Go
9) Todd Snider; Pickup Truck Song; Todd Sings Jerry Jeff (unreleased compilation)
10) Dave Simonette and Friends; Two of Us; Minnesota Beatles Project, Vol. 1

11) Vandaveer; A Mighty Leviathan of Old; Divide and Conquer
12) Rachel Reis; Valentine, NE; For You Only
13) Josh Ritter; Here at the Right Time; The Animal Years

14) Jakob Dylan; Valley of the Low Sun; Seeing Things
15) Pete Droge; Beautiful Girl; Beautiful Girls Motion Picture Soundtrack
16) My Morning Jacket; Golden; It Still Moves
17) Bruce Springsteen; Hollywood Kids; Before the Fame

Thanks so much. Enjoy the warming weather and stay dry!

~ Ben Leonard

March 6th, 2011

Hello Everyone,

Before the playlist...those of you who like creative audio storytelling may be interested in an upcoming presentation by Minnesota Public Radio's Sasha Aslanian and participants in her Youth Radio Series. They'll be on the campus of MSU, Mankato March 22nd at 7 PM in Ostrander Auditorium. Click here for more info about the event and here for stories from MPR's Youth Radio Series.

And one more thing before the playlist...Ben Leonard will be back next weekend as a guest host...always nice to have him.

Ok, the playlist for the 6th went like this...

1) Uncle Tupelo; Still Be Around; Still Feel Gone

2) Townes Van Zandt; Many a Fine Lady; First Album

3) The Skylighters; See What Love Can Do; The Skylighters

4) Tony Rice; Never Meant to Be; Night Flyer

5) John Prine; Bottomless Lake; Live and in Concert

6) Merle Travis; That's All; Folk Songs of the Hills

7) The Three Pickers; Down in the Valley to Pray; The Three Pickers

8) Porter Wagoner; My Many Southern Trips; Wagonmaster

Three from "Blessed"--the new release from Lucinda Williams

9) Seeing Black

10) Blessed

11) Buttercup

12) Rachel Harrington; He Started Building My Mansion in Heaven Today; Celilo Falls

13) Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Love Will be Enough; Salt of the Earth

14) Bryan Sutton; Bully of the Town; Never Too Far From the Tree

Thanks for listening...

February 20th, 2011

Hi All,

Back today with a new show...the playlist went like this.

1) Billy Bragg; Dry Bed; The Essential Billy Bragg

2) Justin Townes Earle; What I Meant to You; Midnight at the Movies

3) Rodney Crowell; Moving Work of Art; Sex and Gasoline

4) Warren Zevon; Disorder in the House; The Wind

Then two covers from a very nice new cd by Carrie Rodriguez and Ben Kyle, "We Still Love Our Country"

5) Unwed Fathers (written by John Prine)

6) If I Needed You (written by Townes Van Zandt)

7) Lyle Lovett; In My Own Mind; My Baby Don't Tolerate

8) John Hiatt; God's Golden Eyes; Crossing Muddy Waters

9) Lyle Lovett; San Antonio Girl; My Baby Don't Tolerate

10) John Hiatt; Real Fine Love; Stolen Moments

11) Neil Young; One of These Days; Harvest Moon

12) Patty Griffin; Move Up; Downtown Church

13) Shinyribs; Change is Gonna Come; Well After Awhile

14) William Elliott Whitmore; Midnight; Ashes to Dust

**Been on a bit of a Lyle and John kick after seeing them up in Minneapolis a few weeks back. Here they are on Letterman...

February 13th, 2011

Hi All,

No broadcast today because of the weekend-long trivia contest (broadcast out of St. Cloud to stations across Minnesota). Did have a new show back on the 6th but still searching for the playlist. Be back next week with another new program.

...and a big thanks to Ben Leonard for guest hosting back on January 30th.

All the best,

Dave

January 30, 2011

Thanks to Dave for letting me host this week. Technical glitches, incoherent ramblings, and inappropriate anecdotes aside, I thought the music was fairly decent. Well parts anyway.

Wanted to let everyone know that the Smithsonians "New Harmonies" exhibit will be at the Arts Center of St. Peter from April 30th - June 11th. Look for a couple of live performances, music documentaries, and other great events during that time. Contact the Nicollet County Historical Society at 507-934-2160 for more details.

The theme is the week was "Old 1997," the year I graduated from college. All songs this week were released in 1997. Thanks for listening. ~ Ben Leonard

1) Mary Lou Lord; Shake Sugaree; Got No Shadow

2) Old 97s; Big Brown Eyes; Too Far To Care
3) Jayhawks; Big Star; Sound of Lies
4) Ben Folds Five; Kate; Whatever and Ever Amen

5) Green Day; Good Riddance; Nimrod
6) Pavement; Shady Lane; Brighten the Corners

7) Son Volt; No More Parades; Straightaways
8) Peter Case; On the Way Downtown; Full Service No Waiting
9) Neko Case; Thanks a Lot; Virginian

10) Alison Krauss; So Long, So Wrong; So Long, So Wrong
11) Ani DiFranco; 32 Flavors; Living in Clip
12) Whiskeytown; Houses on the Hill; Strangers Almanac

13) Steve Earle; Christmas in Washington; El Corazon
14) Dan Bern; Too Late to Die Young; Dan Bern

15) Modest Mouse; Jesus Christ Was an Only Child, The Lonesome Crowded West (fade out)

January 23rd, 2011

Hey Everybody,

Today's show was a repeat featuring all songs from Guy Clark. Think it aired for the first time back in late 2009, and I'll be darned if I can find the playlist. Hope you enjoyed.

Ben Leonard is back as a guest host on the 30th...hope you tune in.

January 16th, 2011

Hi All,

The playlist for the 16th went like this...

1) Old Crow Medicine Show; Minglewood Blues; Big Iron World

2) Jimmy LaFave; This Land is Your Land; Pastures of Plenty--An Austin Tribute to Woody Guthrie

3) Bruce Springsteen; My Oklahoma Home; Live in Dublin

4) Jamey Johnson; By the Seat of Your Pants; The Guitar Song

5) Jamey Johnson; The Guitar Song; The Guitar Song

6) Willie Nelson; Can I Sleep in Your Arms; Red Headed Stranger

7) Nanci Griffith; You Asked Me To; Lonesome, On'ry & Mean--A Tribute to Waylon Jennings

8) Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion; Dr. King; Exploration

9) Keb Mo; Someday We'll All Be Free; Peace: Back by Popular Demand

10) Keb Mo; What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding; Peace: Back by Popular Demand

11) Lucinda Williams; I Envy the Wind; Essence

12) Todd Snider; Old Friend; Peace. Love & Anarchy

13) Todd Snider; Combover Blues; Peace, Love & Anarchy

January 9th, 2011

Hi All,

Talked this morning about the upcoming Michael Perry event (see entry right below this one).

The playlist on the 9th went like this...

1) Bill Morrissey; Ice Fishing; The Essential Collection

2) Anna Coogan; Dreaming My Life Away; The Nocturnal Among Us

3) Anna Coogan; Crooked Sea; The Nocturnal Among Us

4) Old Crow Medicine Show; I Hear Them All; Big Iron World

5) Old Crow Medicine Show; Union Maid; Big Iron World

6) Bob Dylan; Who Killed Davey Moore? The Bootleg Series, Vol. I

7) Shinyribs; Country Cool; Well After Awhile

8) Fred Eaglesmith; Shallow; Cha, Cha, Cha

To help get ready for the upcoming John Hiatt/Lyle Lovett shows...

9) John Hiatt; Haulin'; The Open Road

10) Lyle Lovett; Natural Forces; Natural Forces

11) John Hiatt; Go Down Swingin'; The Open Road

12) Lyle Lovett; Loretta; Natural Forces

13) Billy Bragg; Fear is Man's Best Friend; The Essential Billy Bragg

14) Billy Bragg; Dry Bed; The Essential Billy Bragg

5)

Michael Perry in Northfield January 14th...

Hey Everybody,

As you may know, Michael Perry is one of our favorites on the show--his writing and his music. He has a unique event coming up in Northfield on January 14th--it'll be a fun night.

January 2nd, 2011

Hey Everybody,

Mentioned a really cool documentary on today's show--Winnebago Man--my wife and I watched this over the holidays and loved it. Well, I loved it--she liked it.

The first show of the new year went like this...

1) Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard; California Zephyr; One False Move or I'm Gone

2) Keb Mo; Your Love; Suitcase

3) Patty Griffin (w/Emmylou Harris); Little Fire; Downtown Church

4) Greg Brown; Oh You; Milk of the Moon

5) Susan Tedeschi; Angel From Montgomery; Live in Austin

6) John Hiatt; Master of Disaster; Master of Disaster

7) Leo Kottke; The Room at the Top of the Stairs; Live

8) The Flying Burrito Brothers; Hot Burrito #2; Hot Burritos Anthology

9) The Band; When I Paint My Masterpiece; To Kingdom Come

10) The Handsome Family; Drunk by Noon

11) Merle Travis Nine Pound Hammer; Folk Songs of the Hills

12) Bruce Springsteen; Someday We'll be Together; The Promise

13) Hank Williams II; Atlantic City