Ron Olesko's Folk Music Notebook

Singer-songwriter Paul Kaplan joins host Ron Olesko to discuss the re-issue of his album "King of Hearts"

Host Ron Olesko sits down with singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson (www.emilyscottrobinson.com) to discuss her new album _"Appalachia"_, her third album with Oh Boy Records and her fifth since beginning her career a decade ago.

Host Ron Olesko chats with Gina Coleman about her latest project, a tribute album to the"Uncrowned Queen of the Blues", Ida Cox. One of the few female blues artists of the 1920s who wrote their own songs, Ida Cox was overshadowed by her contemporaries such as Ma Rainey and Memphis Minnie. Gina is about to release the first tribute album to this important artist.

Gina is the founder of the Misty Blues band, a group that recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. As well as leading the band as a vocalist and songwriter herself, Gina is a blues historian and also a podcast host. www.ginacolemanmusic.com

Ron Olesko visits with award-winning Boston singer/songwriter Terry Kitchen.

Terry pares songwriting to its most essential - a voice, a guitar, a story, a glimmer of hope. Whether in concert or on record, Kitchen brings his songs to life with gentle wisdom, a sharp eye for detail, and unexpected humor. His latest album We All Dream is an intimate portrait of who we are at this critical moment, and why we all need each other. As the title song says, we may be tired and beaten up, but we keep trying, and we change the world when we all dream.

Host Ron Olesko welcomes the Canadian trio The Pairs to the show to share songs from their new album. “Together on a Rock” is the fourth album from London, Ontario-based folk trio, The Pairs. Known for their three-part harmonies and heartfelt songwriting, the group has been steadily building a name for themselves across North America’s folk scene. Over the past seven years, they've released a full-length album and two EPs, exploring different production styles and collaborations. With this latest release, they return to their folk roots with a mostly acoustic, intimate sound that puts their vocals front and center.

Host Ron Olesko sits down with Judy Kass to discuss and share songs from her latest album "New Skin".

New York based singer-songwriter, Judy Kass draws in her audience with soulful vocals, no-nonsense lyrical storytelling and genre-bending exploration of guitar and piano. Her original music blends generous amounts of folk, jazz and blues with songs covering the full gamut of mood and experience.

Her latest solo album release, "New Skin," is an eclectic mix of songs that speak to various aspects of navigating life during unprecedented times -- from reframing involuntary detours and moving through painful changes to poignant observations on the state of our fragmented world.

"New Skin" features co-writes with renowned artists Sloan Wainwright, Glen Roethel, Dan Berggren, Jon Shain and Kellie Lin Knott.

With 14 albums in Steve’s catalog, film credits from Disney and MGM Studios, and live

performances in every state, most of Europe and even Japan; Steve is equally at home in

the campfire circles of the Kerrville Folk Festival or the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center. His newly released CD is a “bucket-list compilation” contains a dozen of Steve’s best songs, some written with his talented co-writers. A dream team of seasoned session players have brought the songs to life with a new level of musicality, perfectly showcasing Steve’s expressive voice.

Kemp Harris defies categorization. He is a singer and songwriter, a master weaver of American musical styles, an actor, activist, author, and story teller. He is also an award-winning educator who taught young public school students for more than 40 years.

Kemp visits with host Ron Olesko to discuss and share tracks from his new album "The America Chronicles".

New Jersey singer-songwriter Carol Crittenden (www.carolcrittenden.com) joins host Ron Olesko to share songs from her long-awaited second full album,"Glimmer". After her debut album, En Route, was released in 2011, Carol announced that she was pregnant with her first (and only) child. She has since been balancing career goals and family life.

Carol recorded and toured as lead singer of Four Celtic Voices with a No. 1 CD on the BillboardWorld Music Chart. She honed her songwriting at Dar Williams songwriting retreats.

This last decade has brought about changes, growth, deep sorrow, and pure joy. Glimmer is a tribute to the idea that there are glimmers of light all around us, even in the darkest times.

The Twangtown Paramours (www.twangtownparamours.com) visit with Ron Olesko to discuss and share tracks from their new album "The Wind Will Change Again".

The Twangtown Paramours are an award-winning husband and wife Soulful Folk duo from Nashville. They are three time Kerrville finalists and and winners of Texas’s Wildflower Contest. Recently, other artists have started to record their songs. Lead singer, MaryBeth Zamer used to sing background vocals for Eva Cassidy. Writer, producer, and guitar player, Mike Lewis is the author of a #1 platinum selling hit in Korea and sometimes plays upright bass for Jimmie Dale Gilmore.