eTown

Railroad Earth / Matt Andersen / Interview: Bill Bennett (Sweet Relief)

The iconic group Railroad Earth returns to eTown after five years to share their unique sound, featuring elements of progressive bluegrass, folk, rock, country, jazz, and more.

We’ll also be joined by blues powerhouse Matt Andersen, for his second visit to eTown.

And we’ll hear from Bill Bennet, the current executive director of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a support organization that provides medical and financial relief to artists and musicians in need. Be sure to tune in!

Colin Hay / Doyle Bramhall II / Interview: Kate Greenberg (National Young Farmers Coalition)

eTown welcomes back one of the most recognizable musical voices of our generation, Colin Hay (known in part as his work as a member of Men at Work).

And Austin guitar virtuoso Doyle Bramhall II makes a trip to eTown this week to share some original songs.

Plus Nick talks with Kate Greenberg of the National Young Farmers Coalition about the financial challenges of starting out in sustainable agriculture today. That’s this week, in eTown!

Blind Pilot / Mirah / Award: George Basch (Himalayan Stove Project)

Our musical guests this week include the nationally acclaimed indie-folk group Blind Pilot from Portland, Oregon,

as well as Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Mirah.

In addition, we’ll share an interesting eChievement Award conversation with the George Basch, founder of the organization, The Himalayan Stove Project combating the drastically negative health and environmental effects of traditional but highly pollutive cooking methods in the Himalayas. It’s a classic eTown not to be missed.

 

Check out videos at: www.etown.org

The Milk Carton Kids / Rose Cousins / Award: Roz Babener (Community Warehouse)

This week on eTown, The Milk Carton Kids, an American Indie folk duo, return for their second visit to eTown along with Canadian folk-pop singer/songwriter Rose Cousins for her eTown debut.

We’ll also hear from an eChievement Award winner, Roz Babener who founded a Community Warehouse, a  furniture and goods bank to help those in need in the Portland community.

Väsen / Sam Amidon / Award: Robert Adamson (One Bistro)

This week’s eTown program features a deep dive into folk music styles from around the world. First up, the prolific Swedish folk band Väsen makes its first appearance on the show. Their musical collaboration has spanned decades; theirs is a rich, unique, beautiful sound, and their performance on eTown features rare, one-of-a-kind instruments.

Joining us for his second visit to eTown is American folk artist and multi-instrumentalist Sam Amidon, who shares his recent stripped down musical explorations.

Plus we’ll bring you a great eChievement Award story about an Ohio man, Robert Adamson, who created the “pay what you can afford” One Bistro Restaurant in his community to serve those in need, while bringing a wide variety of citizens, rich and poor, together to share a meal and connect each day.

Tribute To Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo Founder

Joseph Shabalala (28 August 1941 – 11 February 2020) was the founder of South African musical group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The group found fame in the late 80's when they were invited to collaborate with Paul Simon on the landmark album Graceland. Joseph and Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed on Etown in 2006 along with Etown favorite Darrell Scott. This podcast episode features a chat with Nick Forster and Joseph as well as an amazing finale collaboration featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Darrell Scott along with the Nick and Helen Forster and the Etones - enjoy!  

John Butler / Eliza Gilkyson / Award: Frank Anello (Project Worthmore)

For this week’s encore broadcast, we welcome back genre-bending singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John Butler to the show this week. John is usually joined by his band as the John Butler Trio, but for this special episode, he joined us solo for an intimate, stripped down set.

Also with us is long-time eTown friend and talented, thought-provoking folk singer/songwriter Eliza Gilkyson.

Lastly, sandwiched between all that wonderful music is an inspiring story about a couple who founded the  organization Project Worthmore that provides much needed practical support for refugees from numerous countries, creating community, enabling self-sufficiency, and instilling hope for the future in the process.

Capitol Sun Rays / John Long / Award: Laura Stachel (We Care Solar)

For their first visit to eTown, we’re honored to welcome the recently formed rootsy super group Capitol Sun Rays. The group is made up by the talented Luther Dickinson, Amy Helm, Grahame Lesh along with the three core members of a real eTown favorite, Birds of Chicago: Allison Russell, JT Nero, and Drew Lindsay.

We also welcome eTown friend and bluesman John Long, who became immersed in the blues scene at an early age, traveling and living with blues legend Homesick James starting in 1970.

Also, we’ll hear from this week’s eChievement Award winner, Lara Stachel, who co-founded the nonprofit We Care Solar that is saving the lives of countless women around the world.

Gregory Alan Isakov / Rayland Baxter / Award: Dara Schoenwald

This week, we’re joined on the airwaves by one of our good friends (not to mention one of our favorite songwriters out there), Gregory Alan Isakov. This is Gregory’s sixth time on the show (his first all the way back in 2008) and he shares tunes from his critically acclaimed new record ‘Evening Machines.’

Also with us: Alt-country/American singer/songwriter Rayland Baxter, a truly one-of-a-kind performer and individual (don’t miss his interview w/Nick).

Plus we’ll hear from Dara Schoenwald, a Florida woman who, with her husband, founded a website - Volunteer Cleanup - that connects potential volunteers with organized shoreline cleanups all over their state.

The Band of Heathens / Stephen Kellogg / Award: Jamie Van Leeuwen (Global Livingston Institute)

Austin, TX-based artists, The Band of Heathens, join us this week to share some tunes, including a few from their album ‘A Message From the People Revisited’, in which they reimagine Ray Charles’ 1972 classic of the same name.

In addition, we’re joined by popular Americana/folk singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg.

And we’ll talk with Jamie Van Leeuwen, this week’s eChievement Award winner, who is the founder of an organization using music to connect a diverse group of people in Africa, in order to provide health education and care.