Bill Staines wrote choruses that people wanted to sing. Many of us remember his annual visits to a certain old barn in South Davis, where we sat and sang along to his songs like "Roseville Fair," "River," "Crossing The Water" and "A Place In The Choir." After 22 albums and a half-century of touring across this country from his native New Hampshire home, Bill Staines passed away on Dec. 5 at the age of 74.

Also on today's show: tracks from Jackie Oates, Dave Curley, Seth Lakeman, Foghorn Stringband, I See Hawks In LA. And lots of Bill Staines!

This week: modern and ancient ballads from Gretchen Peters, Lau with Karine Polwart, Salt House, and Kacy and Clayton. Also some instrumental tracks featuring gorgeous fiddling from the likes of Sam Sweeny, Benedict Morris and Christian Sedelmyer (with Andrew Marlin). And new music from Eli West, Jeffrey Foucault , Amanda Anne Platt and The Honeycutters, and The Travellin' McCourys.