January 20, 2021
In this encore broadcast/podcast, we welcome folk-pop singer-songwriter Laura Veirs. A prolific songwriter for nearly 20 years, Veirs has garnered praise throughout the years with her exquisite folk-pop sound. Also joining us is a truly gifted, one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter, Aaron Lee Tasjan. And we’ll have a conversation with this week’s eChievement Award winner, Peter Mui of California, founder of the Fixit Clinic network, an empowering and sustainability-based grassroots effort that shows regular folks like you and me how to repair and reuse equipment and appliances that we normally would think need to be thrown away.
January 13, 2021
Shemekia Copeland returns to eTown for her second visit, in this (first time aired!) new eTown episode. As an award-winning vocalist (daughter of famous jazzer Johnny Copeland), Shemekia started recording in 1998 at the age of 18 and is recognized as one of the most talented artists in today’s blues and roots scene. Also joining us is Kelsey Waldon, a gifted and seasoned American country singer and songwriter. And Catherine Coleman Flowers, a recent MacArthur Fellow, is the author of a new book called "Waste: One Woman's Fight Against America's Dirty Secret." She’ll speak with Nick about her efforts to bring attention to failing water and waste sanitation infrastructure in rural areas, perpetuating health problems and economic injustice
January 6, 2021
Memphis singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie June joins us in this “back by popular demand” rebroadcast. Her unique sound is a mixture of folk, blues, gospel, soul, country, Appalachian, and bluegrass. Singer and songwriter Mick Flannery, who hails from County Cork in Ireland, is our other terrific musical guest. And we’ll hear from this week’s eChievement Award winner, the founder of an environmental health and justice organization based in New Orleans which works with communities to help them hold state oil refineries and chemical plants in their neighborhoods accountable for following clean air standards.
December 30, 2020
This week, we welcome Rising Appalachia, led by sisters Leah and Chloe Smith. It’s worth tuning in just for those incredible sibling harmonies alone; but you’ll also be moved by our other musician guest, Egyptian rock musician Ramy Essam, known as “The Singer of the Egyptian Revolution.” The finale collaboration between Nick, Helen, and our musical guests this week is one of the most inspiring ever done on eTown. We round things out with an eChievement Award story about a man who’s helping folks in ‘food desert’ designated neighborhoods to obtain healthy food by establishing their own gardens.
December 23, 2020
Talented singer/songwriter Ron Pope joins us, bringing some of his more recent original songs; plus the elegant performer and singer Pieta Brown returns to eTown after several years to share some of her well-crafted tunes. And a golden eagle named Scout appears on the eTown stage in person with his “personal human” (and dear friend) who has been single-handedly saving injured wildlife in Utah for decades.
December 16, 2020
It’s eTown’s brand new Holiday Special: to get you in the mood for the holidays! A look back on performances by the likes of The Indigo Girls, Robert Earl Keen, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Subdudes and many more. Join Nick and Helen Forster for some holiday cheer and memories!
December 9, 2020
eTown welcomes Grammy-nominated artist Rufus Wainwright, who’ll talk with Nick and also share songs from his latest album release (nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album) called “Unfollow The Rules.” Other musical guests include the remarkable singer/songwriter Joan Osborne. Plus, we’ll feature a special one song collaboration between Rufus and Brandi Carlile. And our accomplished filmmaker friend Jeff Orlowski (of Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral fame) returns to etown to talk with Nick about his newest film The Social Dilemma.
December 2, 2020
Longtime eTown friend and talented artist Nathaniel Rateliff joins us for a stunning private performance at eTown Hall, featuring several beautifully written songs from his most recent musical project. Plus, he and Nick have an up close and personal conversation. We’ll also feature musical samples from various iconic New Orleans artists from a Soul Jazz Records compilation that Nathaniel highly recommends. And Nick chats with Colin Butfield, WWF’s Executive Producer of the Our Planet documentary project. Colin is also a member of the WWF UK executive team. He shares information about The Earthshot Prize, a new global project designed to incentivize innovative environmental change to help repair the planet over the next ten years.
November 25, 2020
One of our all time favorites, Strand of Oaks, returns to the eTown stage this week. This dynamic, gifted writer and singer (and one of the genuinely nicest people you’ll ever meet) brings his full band this time around. Coming solo to play with the eTones and Nick for the rest of the musical portion of the show is talented young Anna Burch of Detroit, Michigan. And, for this encore broadcast, we’ll have an eChievement Award story of a young man who’s come up with a truly unique and natural way to involve kids of all ages in cleaning up the polluted waters of New York Harbor.
November 18, 2020
When this eTown episode first aired last year, our musical guests had one thing in common: They were all returning to the eTown stage after many years. They include the dynamic Australian band The Waifs, which normally consists of sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson and their longtime collaborator Josh Cunningham; and gifted singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale, whose songs have been recorded by a Who’s Who of country and pop music stars over the years. Plus, we’ll hear from the young founder of a nonprofit that, he feels, will help with global warming while acting as a bridge to heal the political division re: climate change in this country.
