In another "Songs and Stories" look at local songwriters, Santa Cruz's Mary McCaslin talks about her folk and western influences, her fondness for alternate tunings (many of which are documented on her web site), and why she plays "Pinball Wizard" on a banjo. Contest Note: This month's contest is a chance to win a Grateful Dread Radio cloth shopping bag. Listen to this interview for details.

In another "Songs and Stories" look at local songwriters, Santa Cruz's Mary McCaslin talks about her folk and western influences, her fondness for alternate tunings (many of which are documented on her web site), and why she plays "Pinball Wizard" on a banjo. Contest Note: This month's contest is a chance to win a Grateful Dread Radio cloth shopping bag. Listen to this interview for details.

A question many artists often ask themselves is "When do I leave my day job?" (Not that I have *ever* thought that. No, never. Ever. Well...maybe that's a topic for a future podcast.) Anyway, in Songs and Stories #39, I talk with songwriter Vienna Teng. Vienna and I worked at the same company several years ago, and I still remember the day she left, record deal in hand, to give up the corporate life and go after music full time.

Chuck McCabe discusses "Creatures of Habit In a World of Change", his fifth record. We sat down this afternoon to discuss how the theme of family and roots from his last album, "Sweet Reunion", evolved into the topic of change in "Creatures of Habit. In episode #37 we talk about the new record and some of the stories that led to it.

Chuck McCabe plays the title track and "I'd Rather Be in Redding", from his new release "Creatures of Habit In World of Change". This episode of "Songs and Stores" concludes with the CD version of McCabe's "My Prayer for You", also from the new CD.

Part one of a two-part chat with singer/songwriters Alisa Fineman and Kimball Hurd. Check the web site at www.michaelgaither.com for notes that go with this interview. Want to win a "Grateful Dread Radio" T-shirt? Listen to this podcast for details. I'll randomly pull a name at the end of the month and notify the lucky winner.

Part two of a two-part chat with singer/songwriters Alisa Fineman and Kimball Hurd. They perform "Corridor" and "Stepping Stones". Check the web site at www.michaelgaither.com for notes that go with this interview. Want to win a "Grateful Dread Radio" T-shirt? Listen to this podcast for details. I'll randomly pull a name at the end of the month and notify the lucky winner.

"Dark, Appalachian dance music". That's how I've always described The Crooked Jades, a bay area-based collective of musicians dedicated to keeping old-tyme string-band music alive and quite well. Check the web site at www.michaelgaither.com for notes that go with this interview. Want to win a "Grateful Dread Radio" T-shirt? Listen to this podcast for details. I'll randomly pull a name at the end of the month and notify the lucky winner.

Chris Kee and Houston Jones perform "Calico Heart" and "If Not for the Darkness". Want to win a copy of Houston Jones' latest release, "Calico Heart?" Listen to this interview for details. I'll randomly pull a name at the end of the month and notify the lucky winner.

Another kitchen-table talk, this time a two-part interview with Chris Kee and Travis Jones of the bay area Americana band Houston Jones. Want to win a copy of Houston Jones' latest release, "Calico Heart?" Listen to this interview for details. I'll randomly pull a name at the end of the month and notify the lucky winner.