eTown

This week, it’s another installment of ‘eTown on the Road,’ as we’re joined by the powerhouse group Lake Street Dive (@lakestreetdive), as they headline Red Rocks Amphitheater for the first time. If you’re not yet familiar with them, LSD is renowned for their dynamic mix of alt-pop, rock, jazz and R&B, plus stellar vocals. And they come with their newest addition to the band, vocalist/keyboardist Akie Bermiss, the most recent band member to be added.

Also stopping by is popular singer/songwriter Josh Ritter (@joshritter) (who joined us not too long ago for our Boone, North Carolina roadshow). And we’ll have a most informative conversation with gifted paleontologist and dear friend Ken Lacovara (@kenlacovara ), about how Red Rocks was formed.

Learn more about Ken Lacovara at kennethlacovara.com

As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, we couldn't do what we do without your support. Please consider a charitable donation to eTown this holiday season - www.eTown.org/giving

It’s a special encore broadcast this week as we’re joined on the airwaves by singer/songwriter and musical powerhouse Aoife O’Donovan (@odonovanaoife). At a young age, Aoife had already recorded, collaborated, toured and performed with a list of musical A-listers too long to name, and she continues to stun audiences with her incredible singing and writing. She’s an old friend of eTown’s too and we’re always happy to have her on the show to share some of her latest musical creations.

Talented Santa Cruz-based artist Marty O’Reilly and his Old Soul Orchestra (@MartyOReilly1 ) are also with us on this show, plus a great eChievement Award story about a California woman with a creative idea to keep waste out of the landfill.

This week we'd like to send some birthday love out to the one and only Chris Wood from The Wood Brothers (@TheWoodBrothers). If you've ever seen Chris perform then you understand why he is the one and only. There aren't many people out there that can play the upright bass quite like him or dance quite like him.

Chris and his brother Oliver came together as The Wood Brothers back in 2004 and shortly after we had the pleasure of welcoming them to eTown in 2006. Along with their third member, multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix, Chris and Oliver put on quite the show. Enjoy this one from the archives and if you get the chance, go see The Wood Brothers live!

This week we revisit a fan-favorite episode featuring singer/songwriter and violin virtuoso Andrew Bird (@andrewbird). Andrew got his start in the popular bands Squirrel Nut Zippers and Bowl of Fire before embarking on what has become a very successful solo career.

Also joining us on this encore episode is Canadian indie-folk artist Leif Vollebekk (@leifvollebekk), who shares music from his latest collection of songs (his conversation with Nick is hilarious, worth tuning in for!).

Plus we’ll check in with Tom Chappell, co-founder of the Tom’s of Maine (@TomsofMaine), to hear about his latest endeavor, Rambler's Way: providing jobs and raising awareness about the importance (and profitability) of sustainable wool.

Learn more about Rambler's Way at www.ramblersway.com

Watch videos from this show at www.eTown.org

Geography has a way of seeping into music, and this week on the airwaves, we experience that in full effect with the return of Calexico (@casadecalexico). Throughout the group’s 22-year existence, co-founders and multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns and John Convertino have drawn on the arid clime and vibrant culture of the American Southwest — and its sister territory across the border — to inform their sprawling, cross-cultural indie rock. Also with us this week is prolific singer/songwriter Eric Andersen whose career has spanned 45 years (he just released his 25th album of original songs). Plus we’ll have a conversation with Monte Belmonte, a radio host (with WRSI in Massachusetts) and the founder of Monte’s March, an annual march against hunger, which aims to raise awareness about food insecurity and to collect funds to support the food bank in his area.

Learn more about / Donate to Monte's March at www.foodbankwma.org/donate

Watch videos from this show at www.eTown.org

This week we're digging deep as we throw it back to our first season in 1991 for an excerpt featuring our friend and prolific singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett (@LyleLovett). Lyle was one of the first artists to hop on board with eTown and over the years he has graced the eTown stage 4 times. It's always a good day when his music is in rotation. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we have been!

This week, it’s a special ‘eTown on the Road’ show! We’re joined by gifted singer/songwriter Josh Ritter (@joshritter) and Americana/bluegrass duo Mandolin Orange (@Mandolin_Orange). The show takes place at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts in Boone, North Carolina.

We partnered with Appalachian State University’s Energy Summit, An Appalachian Summer Festival (@AppalachianArts), and 88.7 WNCW (@WNCW) for this eclectic event of music and conversation.

Along with our musical guests, we were also joined by Ali Casparian of Bounty and Soul Food Rescue, an organization that is creating healthier communities by providing fresh healthy food, nutrition literacy, and health & wellness resources. Plus Lee Ball, Chief Sustainability Officer at Appalachian State, talks with Nick about the Energy Summit purpose and goals.

Learn more about / Donate to Bounty and Soul Food Rescue at www.bountyandsoul.org

Watch full videos from this show at www.eTown.org

eTown welcomes legendary Grammy Award-winning country singer/songwriter Marty Stuart (@martystuarthq), along with his virtuosic band – The Fabulous Superlatives – in this encore broadcast. Marty shares music from his group’s recent release, Way Out West, as well as insightful conversation about his storied career as a recording artist, television personality and one time son-in-law to Johnny Cash. Also with us this week is refreshingly vibrant singer/songwriter and eTown newcomer Cassandra Jenkins (@CassFreshUSA).

And we’ll check in with author/photographer Michael Kodas(@MichaelKodas), whose book "Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame" addresses climate change and wildfires. All this, this week in eTown!

This week we're looking back on a special show from all the way back in 1994 featuring our longtime friend, prolific singer and songwriter Ben Harper (@BenHarper). It's really hard to put Ben's music down into one genre as he has covered so much ground throughout his career. We recently saw Ben perform on his tour with fellow blues legend Charlie Musselwhite (@musselwhiteharp ), and it was yet another example of Ben's curious and excellent musical creation.

This excerpt happens to be from our 100th taping! It's always fun to look back on shows like these from the archives. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Hear more from the eTown archives HERE.

We welcome two exciting musical newcomers to eTown. Canadian folk singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Basia Bulat (@BasiaBulat) shares her vibrant, compelling music; and the Iowa-based trio The Pines (@thepinesmusic) does the same. And we’ll hear from eChievement Award winner Marc Gold, whose 100 Friends organization is providing first hand, grassroots, personalized humanitarian assistance, one individual at a time, in Third World countries around the world. Don’t miss this ‘back by popular demand’ rebroadcast!

Watch videos from this show at www.eTown.org

Learn more about / Donate to 100 Friends at 100friends.org