Crackin' the Vault

By Centrum | Peter McCracken

What's Crackin' the Vault about?

Crackin the Vault features musical nuggets from the last five decades of Centrum programming, including Country Blues, Fiddle Tunes, Voice Works, Slide and Steel, and one-time shows from the 90s. More than 55 National Heritage Fellows have participated in Centrum programming, and we’ll be broadcasting some of their finest performances. Hosted by Peter McCracken

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Crackin' the Vault episodes:

05.14.2021
Remembering John Dee Holeman, and John Hartford
Remembering John Dee Holeman who passed last week at the age of 92 Never before heard cuts from John Dee at a house party in 1991 … and a John Hartford retrospective from 1999 This is a special day, the...
05.07.2021
Best and Weirdest Gigs
Strange and Wondrous Gigs Gregg Miller and The Lips go head-to-head with the Mafia, and…? George Rezendes’ Dream Gig comes true, but how? Del Rey – the good, the bad, and the ugly, from Amsterdam to Texas The Original Foghorn String...
04.24.2021
Run the Entire River, the Mighty Mississippi
Floating Down the Mississippi From the headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, some music from every state we pass If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the...
04.16.2021
Mariachi with Don Esteban Hernandez
Don Esteban Hernandez and Mariachi Los Galleros de Pedro Rey A look and a listen to some of the six generations of the Hernandez dynasty, from the middle of the 19th century until today and some Balkan, blues, and banjo If...
04.09.2021
Musicians from Port Townsend
A look at the eclectic and creative musicians in our town, featuring: George Rezendes * George Radebaugh * The Delta Rays Simon Lynge * Janna Marit Murphy and Marckx * Those Darn Accordions Bobbie Nikles * The Jack Dwyer Band Abakis *...
04.02.2021
Accordions Rule!
Featuring: Joseba Tapia Dwight Lamb Joshua Horowitz Raynald Ouellet Smokey McKeen Chrissie Marshall If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel: https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/ Thanks for listening, have fun! Peter
03.26.2021
The First Fiddle Tunes 1977 - March 26
1977 Fiddle Tunes Festival, the first one Featuring: Benny Thomasson * Mark Graham Kenny Hall * Hank Bradley * Larry Hanks Jerry Gallaher * Nancy Katz * Tony Marcus Marty Somberg * Ann Hansen * Scott Nygaard...
03.12.2021
Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day
Éirinn go Brách - Irish musical delights Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with selections from: Liz Carroll and John Doyle Martin Mulhaire, Seamus Connolly, Seamus Egan Liz and Yvonne Kane, with Django Amerson Martin Hayes And a short moment of...
03.05.2021
Denmark Makes Me Happy
Danish Music with Morten Alfred Høirup and Mia Guldhammer, A conversation with Morten and Mia And selections from Ruthie Dornfeld, Kristian Bugge, Sonnich Lydom, and Jamie Fox If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available...
02.26.2021
The Gu-Achi Fiddlers, and Manmay Lakay
The Gu-Achi Fiddlers, and Manmay Lakay Music from hot places: the Tohono O’odham from Arizona, led by Elliot Johnson and Manmay Lakay from St. Lucia, led by Augustin “Charley” Julian And thoughts from Jeanie McLerie and Ken...
02.19.2021
Singers of Note
Singers of Note Singers from many Centrum programs, lots of duets, including: The Brain Marshall Family Band, Laurel Bliss and Cliff Perry Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin, Pharis and Jason Romero, Mary Sherhart, Alice Gerrard, Julie Fowlis, Shaye...
02.12.2021
Every Month is Black History Month
Every Month is Black History Month Let’s retire Black History Month and incorporate Black history into every year-round history curriculum nationwide. In the meantime, we’ll listen to some Black musicians who have participated in Centrum programs. Including: The Carolina Chocolate Drops,...
02.05.2021
New Mexican fiddlers and players
Cleofes Ortiz Fiddlers from Northern New Mexico are all but gone. We’ll spend some time talking with Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie about Cleofes and Tonie Apodaca, and the disappearance of culture. If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin...
01.29.2021
Honoring Pedro Dimas
Don Pedro Dimas El Maestro, the dean of Purepecha fiddlers, passed last week, and we’ll spend some time listening to his music and telling some stories, and remembering him. … and a conversation with Zaidee Stavely about his life and legacy. For...
01.22.2021
Voice Works 2015 and a chat with The Bobs
The Bobs! How they started, how they got their name, and a chat with Matthew Stull, founding member and selections from a Voice Works concert in 2015. Including: The Thundering Cannonballs; Moira Smiley; Elizabeth Laprelle; Eli West; Cedric Watson; The Peña-Govea Family – Miguel, Susan, Rene, and...
01.15.2021
Voice Works 2015 and a Chat with Cathy Jordan
A chat with Cathy Jordan, lead singer with Dervish, and how Reeb Willms came to know her. And selections from a Voice Works concert in 2015. Including: A look back at Christine Balfa’s triangle record; Cedric Watson; The Peña-Govea Family – Miguel,...
01.08.2021
Remembering John Morton
Alas, John passed way too soon, on January 2. We'll take an (inadequate) listen to some of the music John loved, vintage jazz, choro, and Italian dance music. With: a few cuts of John on clarinet and bass clarinet; some of the source material...
01.01.2021
Songs About Drinking
Songs About Drinking (and other mood-altering substances), wishes for 2021, and a conversation with Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms about what it was like to be a touring band in 2020 and what it might look like going forward. With: Neville...
12.20.2020
Unusual Christmas Music
New Christmas Music from Louisiana, and a chat with Chas Justus about his recent Yuletide Project With: Dirk Powell, fret-free The Roches Red Simpson The Stony Point Quartet (Dudley Connell, David McLaughlin, Linda Lay, and Bill Lux) Bill Kirchen The Silent Knights, featuring Brody Douglas Hunt Chas...
12.11.2020
Klezmer Music
Klezmer Music, Thoughts from Alicia Svigals about celebrating Hanukkah, Seven-Day Weddings, and Inviting Itzhak Perlman to Fiddle Tunes With: Alicia Svigals, Patrick Farrell, Lauren Brody Cookie Segelstein, Margot Leverett, Don Weeda, and Mark Rubin If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin...
12.04.2020
Dance Music from Quebec
With: De Temps Antan - Andre Brunet, Pierre Luc-Dupuis, and Eric Beaudry; Genticorum - Pascal Gemme, Yann Falquet, and Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand. Kevin Desrosiers with the mighty Lisa Ornstein ….. and a big band update from the McBeebee Twins leading off the show. If you can’t...
11.30.2020
Gospel Music at Centrum
You’ll hear: Ross Brown with George Reynolds Mark Graham and Sandy Silva Marley’s Ghost Pete Sutherland The Neolithic Broadcasters Sheila Kay Adams Scott Nygaard, Jerry Gallaher, and Jack Link Lightnin Wells Ethel Caffie Austin And another episode of itmightabeen, featuring Abner Jay. Most Crackin the Vault shows will be available...
11.20.2020
1988 Fiddle Tunes Choice Cuts
With a spotlight on the Heartbeats and a short chat with Tara Nevins You’ll hear: Jimmy and Nancy Borsdorf Molly Tenenbaum and Mark Graham Tony Marcus Evo and Jemmy Bluestein The Hillbillies from Mars Eileen Ivers and Mick Moloney Ralph Blizard and the New Southern Ramblers And...
11.13.2020
The 1994 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival Part 2
Selections from the Country Blues festival featuring all 12 faculty members, including six National Heritage Fellows. John Cephas and Phil Wiggins Rich and Maureen DelGrosso Orville Johnson Jack Owens Mary Flower John Jackson Suzy Thompson John Dee Holeman Steve James Howard Armstrong Del Rey John Miller Lagniappe of the week: look here for...
11.06.2020
The 1994 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival
If you like country blues, this is your meat. Selections from all 12 faculty members, including six National Heritage Fellows. Featuring: John Cephas and Phil Wiggins Rich and Maureen DelGrosso Orville Johnson Jack Owens Mary Flower John Jackson Suzy Thompson John Dee Holeman Steve James Howard Armstrong Del Rey John Miller Lagniappe of the...
10.30.2020
The Horse Flies, and other gems from 1987
A listen to some of the folks who were at the 11th Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, and a conversation with Judy Hyman and Jeff Claus. The festival was curated and managed by David Romtvedt that year. Featuring: The Horse Flies –...
10.26.2020
Fiddle Tunes Tour Radio Show
This was a radio show that Centrum produced in 1992 featuring the players on a run-out tour – Clyde Davenport, Joe and Od4ell Thompson, John Dee Holeman, and Los Campesinos de Michoacán. Narrated by Barry Shultz. Most Crackin the Vault shows...
10.16.2020
Bluegrass at Fort Worden
Centrum’s musical archive tenders some bluegrass music this week, featuring Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands from 2003, as well as three disciples of Bill Monroe – Byron Berline, Blaine Sprouse, and Peter Rowan. Also appearing – Tom Rozum, Craig Smith,...
10.10.2020
Guitar Music at Fort Worden
This week we’ll explore some of the many kinds of guitar music that artists have brought to Centrum to share with participants. Featuring: Eddie Pennington RL Burnside John Doyle (supporting Liz Carroll) Emily Remler Bruce Forman Wayne Henderson Del Rey Lightnin’ Wells Guitar Gabriel Bill Kirchen, master of the Telecaster Etta...
10.02.2020
Dance Music From the North – Magdalen Islands and Newfoundland and How One Person Can Make 3-Part Harmony
Fast dance music from up where it’s cold, featuring Rufus Guinchard, Jim Payne, and Baxter Wareham; Bertrand Deraspe and Alain Turbide; Tim O’Brien; and Bruce Molsky. Recordings from 1989, 1990, and 2011. Here’s a cool little documentary on Rufus: https://www.heritage.nf.ca/videos/rufus-guinchard.php Most Crackin the...
09.25.2020
Creole Music
French speaking Black people from Southwest Louisiana Featuring: Amede Ardoin, his cousin Bois Sec Ardoin, Canray Fontenot, Edward Poullard, Cedric Watson (his birthday today!), Desiree Champagne; Calvin Carriere, Delton Broussard and the Lawtell Playboys; and Delton’s son Jeffrey Broussard and the...
09.22.2020
Metis Fiddlers, and a conversation with Jamie Fox
Featuring: Patti Kusturok, Lawrence Teddy Boy Houle, James Cheechoo, John Arcand, Trimble Gilbert, Calvin Vollrath, Clinton Pelletier, and more… We’ll talk with Jamie about Metis fiddling, it’s connection to First Nation people, racism, dancing, and we’ll listen to some Metis players...
09.11.2020
The Small but Mighty Ukulele: Is There Anything it Can’t Do?
Exploring the ukulele this week. Featuring Daniel Ho, Del Rey, James Hill, Casey MacGill, The Canote Brothers, Nova Devonie, Matt Weiner, Daniel Ward, Heidi Swedberg, Lyle Ritz, Nancy Thorwardson, Paul Hemmings, and a lot more…. We’ll listen to some of the styles that...
09.11.2020
Cajun Women and the Daiquiri Queens’ search for Dale Dugas
This week's episode is abou Cajun women and the Daiquiri Queens’ search for Dale Dugas. Featuring: Sheryl Cormier Anya Burgess Kristi Guillory Sarah Savoy Christine Balfa Ann Savoy Dale Dugas and the Daiquiri Queens And their helpers: Suzy Thompson (lovely emcee), Russell Cormier, Blake Miller, Joel Savoy, Eric Thompson,...
08.21.2020
Brazilian music, including Choro and much more
Peter takes you on another journey from Centrum's vault, this time featuring Brazilian musical artists.
08.21.2020
Mexican fiddlers from Michoacán
Mexican fiddlers in today's episode, in particular from Michoacán, with a focus on Don Juan Reynoso.
08.21.2020
The first Port Townsend Country Blues workshop
Music from the very first Country Blues week at Centrum in 1993, with a focus on Henry Townsend.
08.21.2020
Highlights from the Slide and Steel workshop in 2006
A look and a listen back to 2006, the first Slide and Steel gathering. It's a worlwide, cross-traditional style. Slide guitar played with a glass or metal tube againt the strings. Also the lap steel, pedal steel, or dobro,
08.21.2020
Axes of Evil – accordions, bagpipes, and banjos at Centrum
This episode features "axes of evil", meaning accordians, bagpipes, and banjos. All from Centrum. For your listening "pleasure".
08.19.2020
Duets and other singers of note
In honor of Voice Works, Peter cracks open the vault to play a collection of beautiful duets, and other vocal treasures. Enjoy the soothing harmonies.
08.18.2020
Twin fiddling from across the musical spectrum
In honor of Fiddle Tunes, the festival which is missing from Fort Worden for the first time in 44 years, Peter's going to jam as much fiddle music into today's episode as will fit.
08.12.2020
Joe and Odell Thompson, Black string band duo
Host Peter McCracken takes you on a journey of music and history, exploring the music and lives of Black string band duo Joe and Odell Thompson, who spent their childhood on a farm and were introduced to music at a...
08.12.2020
In support of the Black Lives Matter movement
In a special Juneteenth edition, host Peter MacCracken takes a look at some of the Black musicians who have taught at Centrum, with music and commentary.

What's Crackin' the Vault about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Crackin' the Vault episodes:

Remembering John Dee Holeman, and John Hartford

Best and Weirdest Gigs

Run the Entire River, the Mighty Mississippi

Mariachi with Don Esteban Hernandez

Musicians from Port Townsend

Accordions Rule!

The First Fiddle Tunes 1977 - March 26

Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Denmark Makes Me Happy

The Gu-Achi Fiddlers, and Manmay Lakay

Singers of Note

Every Month is Black History Month

New Mexican fiddlers and players

Honoring Pedro Dimas

Voice Works 2015 and a chat with The Bobs

Voice Works 2015 and a Chat with Cathy Jordan

Remembering John Morton

Songs About Drinking

Unusual Christmas Music

Klezmer Music

Dance Music from Quebec

Gospel Music at Centrum

1988 Fiddle Tunes Choice Cuts

The 1994 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival Part 2

The 1994 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival

The Horse Flies, and other gems from 1987

Fiddle Tunes Tour Radio Show

Bluegrass at Fort Worden

Guitar Music at Fort Worden

Dance Music From the North – Magdalen Islands and Newfoundland and How One Person Can Make 3-Part Harmony

Creole Music

Metis Fiddlers, and a conversation with Jamie Fox

The Small but Mighty Ukulele: Is There Anything it Can’t Do?

Cajun Women and the Daiquiri Queens’ search for Dale Dugas

Brazilian music, including Choro and much more

Mexican fiddlers from Michoacán

The first Port Townsend Country Blues workshop

Highlights from the Slide and Steel workshop in 2006

Axes of Evil – accordions, bagpipes, and banjos at Centrum

Duets and other singers of note

Twin fiddling from across the musical spectrum

Joe and Odell Thompson, Black string band duo

In support of the Black Lives Matter movement