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written by members of WTJU Charlottesville's folk department with stuff maybe of interest to listeners to the station. This blog is not an official WTJU or UVA website. Want to leave a message about any of our programs (or us in general) that we can broadcast over the air? Call 434-218-3655, and leave a voice mail.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Jonny Corndawg LIVE on The Cosmic American Jamboree

 Thursday, October 27, 2011 ● 12-2 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

In town for a gig later in the evening at Al Hamraa, Country singer Jonny Corndawg will pay a visit this Thursday to Lonesome George on The Cosmic American Jamboree.  Knowing George as we do, there will be just a dash of conversation in between some great live music.


Jonny Corndawg is a country singer, not a singer-songwriter. Born in Montana, raised in rural Virginia, Corndawg has been touring on his motorcycle since he dropped out of school in 2001. He's played shows in every U.S. state, Canada and eleven European countries, Australia, Argentina and India. But you won't find him on CMT. His music is more in the vein of that obscure '70s gay country that housewives would discover on a Bear Family reissue in twenty years. In addition to pursuing the lost art of the Real Deal, Corndawg is an airbrushing, leather-working, marathon-running, truck-driving American. Born and Bred.


Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Radio Tropicale Celebrates Diwali

Credit mar00ned
 Wednesday, October 26, 2011 ● 12 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Diwali is a major holiday in India, known as the "festival of lights." Diwali is a contraction of the Sanskrit Deepavali, which means "row of lamps." It is principally a Hindu festival, is celebrated by some other Indian faiths, and is a public holiday coinciding with breaks from school throughout all of India.

Diwali falls on October 26 this year, and so Radio Tropicale will celebrate Diwali during the noon hour this coming Wednesday with Indian music and guests.

Bruce of Radio Tropicale has asked for recollections of Diwali from Indian friends and UVa students to be posted here to better acquaint WTJU listeners with this major Indian holiday. Enjoy reading!



Diwali in the city of Bombay (west India) makes me think of my dog, Canny, quivering violently through the evenings as explosions shook the air. He was a black-and-white short-haired mutt we adopted from the streets, and his sensitive system never did get used to the annual assault on his eardrums. The fireworks started earlier and earlier every year. When I was a child they were just on Diwali night, and by the time I was 23, they began two or 3 weeks before Diwali and continued relentlessly until the actual day. They also continued later into the night each year. So, the ordeal for Canny began weeks before Diwali and ended only when the blessed festival got done and celebrated.

For me, knowledge made the fireworks endurable. I knew what Diwali was, I knew how it was celebrated in Bombay, and I myself partook of fireworks until around my preteens, when we moved to a building whose compound was too small for fireworks, and there were no neighborhood kids my age that I knew of. By the time we moved to a more spacious suburb, I was out of the fireworks habit.

Diwali fireworks seemed too crowded and busy, noisy and dangerous. Every year the newspapers carried stories of mishaps--fires, accidents, deaths. But the news never deterred anyone. Young children with shining eyes burst forth excitedly, year after year with sparklers and firecrackers, fire fountains and fire-spinners, with friends and family, for the night-time play. I must say that I, too, had fun in the building compound and on the terrace of my childhood building, completely unsupervised, with just my friends, playing with fireworks. But they were a phase. I think fireworks are like smoking: you don't mind the smell of smoking, and the sound of fireworks, when you're in the thick of it and doing it yourself, but as soon as you quit, it's just too smelly to smell the clothes and second-hand smoke of others, and too noisy to hear firecrackers set off by other people that go on and on. When I was older and living in the Bombay suburbs, the noise was so intrusive in our second-storey flat, which we normally kept open and breezy, that we had to shut the doors and windows, and busy ourselves with our evening, tuning out the din as much as possible.

On Diwali day itself, though, we observed all the more pleasant aspects of the festival. Every year, I helped my mother trace a six-pointed star with corn flour, in front of our door, to mark the occasion. She made delicious treats, like appam, a kind of cup-shaped solid doughnut with flecks of dried coconut in it, to be had with home-made white butter; and murukku, a spiral-shaped savory which was, like appam, deep-fried. There were laddus, of course, those balls of sweetened lentils or sesame that doubled as both sustenance and dessert, and payasam or as it's more commonly known here, kheer.

Neighbors and friends, dressed to the nines, showed up with gifts of nuts and dried fruit, or, sometimes, more expensive things like clothes and jewelry. We had our own gifts to give them in exchange. My father did special prayers at the kitchen shrine at home, with vibhuti (ash) stripes on his upper arms and forehead as is customary, before we feasted on homemade treats.

Diwali is the day when Rama, of the Indian epic the Ramayana, is supposed to have returned triumphant after 14 years of exile from his own kingdom, with his wife Sita and brother Laxmana in tow, having just defeated Sita's abductor, Ravana, and rescued his wife from the demon's clutches. In honor of his return the town was lit up with lights and the tradition has continued in India ever since.

Since coming to the US, my continuity with Diwali has lapsed. I cannot recall celebrating it in the US, in part because I was not deeply involved in Diwali shopping or preparations at home to begin with, and in part because I was eager to adapt to America and its own festivals of July 4th and Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving. However now that I am settled in the US, with two small children who will not have the luxury of being immersed in India, I want THEM to have some sense of their mother's roots. So, I have come full circle. This year we celebrated both Navratri, a 9-day festival that precedes Diwali, and we'll be celebrating Diwali itself, with a hundred Indian families in my town (Boston). There will be lights, Indian clothes and jewelry, music, and, perhaps, fireworks.

And the next day, I will celebrate Halloween.



I grew up in Mumbai, (western) India. The cosmopolitan nature of the city meant that festivals were celebrated generally in a big way in the large community of your neighborhood.

As a child, Diwali was synonymous with lanterns, sweets and firecrackers. School semesters in India end a few weeks before Diwali and so the mid-year break was popularly called ‘Diwali Vacation’.

All the kids in my neighborhood would be busy making paper lanterns in the run up to Diwali. There used to be unofficial competitions as to who makes the biggest or the most colorful lantern.

During this period, my mother used to be occupied too, making various sweets and other preparations that are specific to Diwali. The traditional custom was that during Diwali, we would have guests coming over to our place, or we used to go to visit friends and relatives and partake of the special foodstuffs prepared at each of our homes.

Around this time, roadside stalls selling firecrackers would be seen all over the place. We as children would go over and admire them and then go home and pester our parents to buy us the best ones

About a day prior to Diwali, there is a custom of drawing a colored mosaic outside your door, to sort of serve as a welcome to guests. This mosaic, called ‘Rangoli’ was another aspect that used to lead to fierce competition during childhood days. Kids would gather at the playground and brag about the Rangolis at their places.

Nighttime in Diwali is a breathtaking experience. All around, the houses would have earthen oil lamps lighting up their porches. Paper lanterns would be hanging out the windows. The sky would be covered with fireworks. Noisy firecrackers would be going off all around. It is a great time to be a kid!

One of the religious significances of Diwali is that it is the night that the Goddess of wealth, Laxmi ,is worshipped. And so the merchants in India who still follow the traditional Indian calendar start the new financial year this day. The adults gather to play cards overnight. It was the most amazing thing to be a part of as a kid.

As I got older, my fascination with firecrackers got lesser. I started to look forward to Diwali more as perhaps the only time during the year that I will really get to have a conversation with old friends and cousins whom I get to see only during the festivals.

The Indian student community at Darden Business School in my class is pretty close-knit, and we have planned some celebrations in our own small way for Diwali (one that does not include the fireworks, the sweets and the decorations, however, just a night of playing cards).The thing that I miss the most about Diwali is probably the people back in India that I enjoy spending Diwali with.



I have lived out of India for 18 years now. The first 8 years were wonderful and I did not feel too homesick because we lived among a large and vibrant Indian community in Wisconsin which celebrated most every festival of India and we very happily participated in these festivities. Every weekend we got an occasion to cook for a potluck, wear our saris and lehengas, feel the motivation and enthusiasm to be a part of all the fun. For the last almost 10 years, we have lived in a small town called Charlottesville, an hour and half away from DC and an hour from Richmond – Does not seem like a very big commute, but on a weekly basis with 3 kids, wearing the several hats that most moms in the US do, it is next to impossible to consider commuting back and forth to a big city – thus we settled to a quiet and sober life with everyday being the same, a sad apology for an Indian association, fragmented by divisions which I always believed every Indian shed when they moved to another country – Not south Indian or North Indian, but just Indian – There is also a big difference in the mindset and attitude of Indians in the mid-west – who are warm, welcoming, and inclusive – Whereas in central Virginia, nobody could give a fig! Given this situation, the best thing that happened to me was blogging – I get my cultural fix thanks to my food blogging – I am enjoying the virtual treats and visual eye candy J But I have learned to safeguard our traditions and culture for the sake of my children and also for my pleasure and that of my husband. If we don’t we may just as well give it all up and forget about our roots. I cannot allow that to happen—We are approaching Deepavali and it is as always a weekday and business as usual for my hubby and kids –but like we’ve learned to do over the many years we await the weekend to celebrate at least with family – On the day of, it’s usually it’s me & my baby and the walls that surround us!!! I am planning countdown for Deepavali, much like I used to starting a month ahead of the date when I was growing up in Pondicherry, east India – we could not sleep for the excitement of the morn – The loud burst of crackers, the garland crackers (oosi sarams) the oil baths, the sambrani, the new clothes, the bakshanams (food, sweets & savories), the Lakshmi pooja, the wonderful smells of food all the way down the street, the visits to the neighbors for sweets and savory exchanges, the matinee shows, the evening gala with flowerpots and rockets – Ah those were some memories – I still can see my parents sitting in their chairs in the Verandah as they watched us go gingerly to light the sparklers over the flower pots! I want to leave behind a legacy of our rich culture and traditions for my children so that they may pass it on either in entirety or at least in a somewhat diluted form. I hope that sooner than later, I will be back in India for good to reclaim those wonderful occasions and relive them with my husband, children and my brothers and sisters families. So I end on a more positive note - Festivals are what we make of them and I want to make this one my kids will remember long enough to share with their kids... Happy Deepavali to all!


Submitted by Bruce Penner, WTJU Folk

Rita Chiarelli & Music From The Big House



Rita Chiarelli, the "Canadian Blues Goddess", will sit down with Rebecca Foster for an upcoming two part interview to discuss Chiarelli's involvement with the documentary, Music From The Big House, recorded at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (aka Angola), for which she recorded the soundtrack.


Part One:
Walk Right In
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 ● Noon-2 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Part Two:
Eclectic Woman Show
Thursday, October 27, 2011 ● 7-9 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

From acclaimed director Bruce McDonald, comes a rare and exclusive musical journey. Rita Chiarelli, an award-winning recording artist, takes a pilgrimage to an early hotbed of the blues, Louisiana State Maximum Security Penitentiary a.k.a Angola Prison. She never imagined that her love of the blues would lead her down legendary Highway 61 to a historic jailhouse performance with inmates serving life sentences.

This musical journey is a glance into what used to be the bloodiest prison in America, but now gives lifers something to live for through the power of music. In contrast to sensational stories of convicts, we witness remarkable voices of hope as their love of music radiates humanity and redemption on their quest for forgiveness. 

Submitted by Rebecca Foster, WTJU Folk

Friday, October 21, 2011

Photos from Andy Irvine's concert

From his concert at C'ville Coffee on thursday 10/20/11, photos courtesy of Gary Alter:



Listen to the first set of the concert (till November 3rd 2011 at 7pm) by going to the WTJU Tape Vault and look for "The Eclectic Woman" show for 10/20 at 19:00
Posted by Pete, WTJU Folk

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Ballyhoo! LIVE on Reggae Vibrations

Friday, October 21, 2011 ● 3 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Reggae/Rock group Ballyhoo! will stop by Reggae Vibrations for a live performance and chat before their concert later that evening at The Southern with Murphy's Kids.


Ballyhoo! is undeniably turning the world of music upside down and sideways as they blur the lines between rock, reggae, punk and pop to craft their own hybrid of music that can’t be held down to one definitive genre. This signature sound of theirs is one they have been perfecting since their high school days in Aberdeen, Maryland - the sweet melodic voice of lead singer and guitarist Howi Spangler; the hard hitting beats set forth by brother and drummer Donald “Big D” Spangler; the skillfully added funk of bassist JR Gregory and Scott Vandrey (aka DJ Blaze) rounds it out on the turntables and keys.

Ballyhoo! has toured the country with some of the biggest and most respected names in the reggae rock genre – 311, Authority Zero, Pepper, The Supervillains. “It’s always intimidating when playing for another band’s crowd, you never know how they’re gonna react,” explains front man Howi, “but then you see that they’re enjoying it and the worry goes away. You’re free to rock at that point!”. Ballyhoo! will start their tour of the southeast with fellow label mates Iration in February 2011. Their rigorous, nonstop nationwide touring schedule has certainly been the catalyst for the exponential growth in their fan base. Ballyhoo! fans are some of the most loyal and enthusiastic fans out there and their love for the band runs deep.

Posted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

John Charlet of Murphy's Kids Grooves on Reggae Vibrations

Friday, October 21, 2011 ● 2-4 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

John Charlet, lead singer and trumpeter for Murphy's Kids, will stop by Reggae Vibrations this Friday, to chat about the band's gig later that evening at The Southern with Ballyhoo!.

 
After years of being a traveling favorite on the east coast, hundreds of club gigs, playing to sold out venues at home, and lighting up bars and dance halls in all points west have made Murphy's Kids the finely-tuned high-intensity rock n' roll machine they are today. With captivating stage presence, melodic hooks and infectiously groovy beats, Murphy's Kids will be bringing their fiery brand of reggae and rock n' roll to your town soon.

Murphy's Kids has been seen at outdoor festivals and punk dives. They have been featured on bills with artists that range as widely as Alien Ant Farm, The Fray and Soldiers of Jah Army. They are a versatile group and you'll see them blazing through 40-minute rock sets and pulling 3+ hour reggae-dance marathons in any given club, college or festival where good music and great fun can be found.

Posted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Andy Irvine concert to be broadcast live on WTJU 10/20/11!!!



Andy Irvine photo © Brian Hartigan  
Miss the show?  Listen at the WTJU Tape Vault.
(Eclectic Woman Show, Thu 10-20 19:00:00)

In cooperation with traditional Irish folk legend Andy Irvine, presenter the Blue Ridge Irish Music School, venue The Stage Cafe at Cville Coffee, and Andy's agent,  Ruby Hoy, WTJU is very excited to announce that we will be broadcasting the first set of Andy's concert in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA live on thursday October 20th starting at 7pm US EST. Listeners outside our local listening area can tune in on the web HERE. (More details about attending the concert in person here)

To get you primed for this very special event listen to some of Andy's songs here, here and here.


The concert was an unqualified success, Irvine delivering a wonderfully diverse set that included traditional and contemporary Irish songs, American songs and Bulgarian dance tunes.
-Toronto Star-
Irvine turned in a dazzling display of one-man-bandsmanship.
-The Scotsman-
Andy Irvine has been one of Ireland's most creative talents for over 20 years.
-Boston Globe-
Andy Irvine is Woody Guthrie's representative on earth.
-Hot Press-


Posted by Pete, WTJU Folk

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Jeff Miller Live on Atlantic Weekly, Part I

Saturday, October 22, 2011 ● 9 am (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Singer/songwriter Jeff Miller will stop by Atlantic Weekly, Part I this Saturday, to chat and play a couple tunes.  Having performed at C'Ville Coffee the night before, this Berklee College of Music graduate will give the WTJU a special encore.

Before his freshman year of high school, Jeff Miller decided to sell all of his video games and buy his first guitar. Soon after, songwriting became a passion. He formed a band with two other friends in the Pittsburgh suburb where he grew up. They recorded an album and played numerous shows together.

After high school, Miller was off to Boston's Berklee College of Music, where he studied Guitar Performance and Songwriting. His plan was to find compatible musicians, and to form another band. That never happened.

A degree from Berklee, a move back home to Pittsburgh, a move to Nashville, 4 solo albums (and an EP) later, Jeff Miller is still playing music. In fact, he plays over 150 shows a year, touring the east coast and the midwest. His music has received airplay at over 175 stations, in the U.S. and abroad.

His third album, Seesaw, was co-produced by Matt Mangano (Darrell Scott, John Mayer, Dave Barnes), who also played bass on the album. It also features Nick Buda (Edwin McCain, Mindy Smith) on drums and percussion. The Pittsburgh Tribune raves, Miller's music is timeless. The songs on Seesaw are infectious delights.

Miller still hasn't found a regular band. But that's fine with him and his listeners. At his live shows, he uses a device to record and loop guitar and vocal parts, creating more sound than many bands do. Using his voice, guitar, hands and feet, he is able to act as each member of a regular band: a singer, guitarist, bassist, even a drummer.

To mark 10 years of looping, Miller decided that his next album should be a live one. So his 197th show of 2008 was recorded in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. The result is Miller's brand new full-length album, "Can You Hear the Music?". Currently based out of Nashville, Jeff is in the final week of a 37-day fall Tour that includes 43 shows in the eastern U.S.

Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Richmond Folk Festival 2011 photos

This year's free festival (the eighth annual) was amazing, as usual, with over 100,000 attendees (my guestimate). Here are some snapshots of some of my personal favorites:

Bassekou Kouyate:



and Ngoni Ba:


Kevin Wimmer (Mamou Playboys):


Steve Riley:


The Mighty Diamonds:


Posted by Pete, WTJU Folk

Friday, October 14, 2011

Matty Metcalfe Squeezes In Walk Right In

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 ● Noon-2 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Accordion player Matty Metcalfe will squeeze in a visit with Rebecca Foster this Tuesday on Walk Right In.  A longtime friend to WTJU, he will bring along his squeezebox. and perhaps a few other instruments, for a live performance and conversation.

Matty Metcalfe is a world-class accordionist, composer, arranger, and multi-faceted musician. His previous albums have focused on New Orleans piano music, modern reinventions of gypsy jazz pieces, and a host of eclectic original songs. He has composed soundtracks for two feature length movies and many theater productions.

Currently Matty is finishing his most recent album. Titled 'Fleet of Fingers' and set for release at the end of 2011, it features all original compositions. Playing almost every instrument on the album, from banjo to whistles, accordion to Celtic harp, Matty hops between genres, artfully creating his own sound that lies somewhere between modern and traditional folk music from around the globe. Artfully arranged, surprisingly crafted, and ever-entrancing, Metcalfe's melodious musings will inspire and delight discerning and casual listeners alike.

Matty performs live exotic Gypsy and Slavic music with special guests at the Balkan Bistro (1003 West Main Street in Charlottesville) from 7:30 - 9:30 each Thursday except this particular week and Thanksgiving, 24 November.

 Submitted by Rebecca Foster, WTJU Folk

Anna Vogelzang Stops By Juminpin' on the Bed

Saturday, October 15, 2011 ● 4-6 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Singer/songwriter Anna Vogelzang will stop by Jumpin' on the Bed this Saturday for a conversation and live performance, before heading off to a gig at the Pigeonhole on Elliewood with Charlottesville's own Carl Anderson.

Anna Vogelzang is a prolific and exuberant singer/songwriter with a huge voice and a way with words.  After releasing her college thesis as a CD in 2007 and following up with home recordings that sold out of their handmade sleeves, Anna released her 5th album, Paper Boats, in April 2010. The widely recognized album was met with invitations to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and National Women's Music Festival Emerging Artist Stages, as well as receiving play on over 200 radio stations nation-wide.

April 2010 release. artwork by johanna wright
 Submitted by Rebecca Foster, WTJU Folk

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Festy Experience 2011


For the second consecutive year, the Infamous Stringdusters, Artist Farm and Cerberus Productions put on a wonderful Festy Experience on the Devils Backbone Brewery grounds.  WTJU Folk was proud to be a part of the festival.


Below are just a few photos from the weekend.  We will also be posting additional pictures and videos at our Facebook page, which we encourage you to like.  Even if you don't use Facebook, the videos should be available to you.

Larry Keel & Natural Bridge (7 Oct 2011)
David Grisman Sextet (9 Oct 2011)
David Grisman Sextet Encore w/ Infamous Stringdusters (9 Oct 2011)
Three of our Folk Staff Working Hard (9 Oct 2011)
Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Monday, October 10, 2011

David Grisman at the Festy 10/9/11

During the final Infamous Stringdusters' set at the Festy in Nelson County, VA, David Grisman joined the band in paying tribute to Bill Monroe, who was born 100 years ago this year. Here's the Dawg with the Stringdusters' Andy Falco (guitar) and Travis Book (upright bass):
Photo credit: Pete Marshall, WTJU Folk

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Lake Street Dive Live On Sunshine Daydream

Saturday, October 8, 2011 ● 12 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Sunshine Daydream will deviate from its usual grateful tendencies for the first half hour of the show this Saturday to welcome the sounds of Lake Street Dive, who will be in the area for a main stage appearance later that day at the Festy Experience out near Wintergreen, Virginia.

How is it that something so unlikely can also be so infectious, so naturally exhilarating? Pulling in familiar elements and irreverently scrambling and recombining them, Lake Street Dive are at once jazz-schooled, DIY-motivated, and classically pop obsessed. Beginning with catchy songs that are by turns openhearted and wryly inquisitive, this northeastern quartet proceeds to inject them with an irresistible blend of abandon and precision. Composed of drummer Mike Calabrese, bassist Bridget Kearney, vocalist Rachael Price, and trumpet-wielding guitarist Mike “McDuck” Olson, Lake Street Dive encompasses a myriad of possibilities within its members’ collective experiences, and the resultant music is a vivid, largely acoustic, groove-driven strain of indie-pop. “It seems the only limitation we have,” Kearney explains, “ is that we try to make music that we would like listening to.”

Hailing from such disparate locales as Tennessee (Price), Iowa (Kearney), Minneapolis (Olson), and Philadelphia (Calabrese), Lake Street Dive first gathered in a room together when they were students at Boston’s New England Conservatory. “Mr. McDuck assembled the four of us, said we were now Lake Street Dive, and we were a ‘free country’ band,” Bridget Kearney remembers. “He wrote this on a chalkboard in the ensemble room that we had our first rehearsal in. We intended to play country music in an improvised, avant-garde style – like Loretta Lynn meets Ornette Coleman. It sounded terrible!  But the combination of people and personalities actually made a lot of sense and we had a great time being around each other and making music together.”

Lake Street Dive makes the most of pop music virtues: solid, evocative song craft; propulsive grooves; and Price’s disarming, forthright vocals. However, it’s a personal strain of pop that is refracted through the band members’ rich backgrounds: a sinewy Motown bass line is reborn with woody heft on Kearney’s upright, Calabrese’s drumming mixes timekeeping with more adventurous jazz-inflected outbursts, McDuck’s nimble trumpet is an unexpectedly warm counterpoint to Price’s singing. It all makes for a sound with familiar roots, but with a slant that is entirely their own. Lake Street Dive’s eventual artistic breakthrough came not without struggle, and still surprises original instigator Mike “McDuck” Olson. “Now we’re a pop band, leaning very heavily on soul and rock, with hook-y writing, which I never expected,” he concludes. “If I could travel through time, I’d go back six years and play the new record for my younger self, just to assure him that the awkward, new-band phase doesn’t last forever.”


The Infamous Stringdusters present The Festy Experience, a 3-day camping festival over Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7 - 9) at The Concert Grounds at Devils Backbone in Nelson County, Virginia (45 mi. from Charlottesville). Hosted and curated by The Infamous Stringdusters, The Festy Experience will celebrate and combine the best in live music, outdoor sports and lifestyle, craft beer culture and raging good times.

Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Monday, October 3, 2011

Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth on The Cosmic American Jamboree

Thursday, October 6, 2011 ● 12 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Don't miss the first hour of The Cosmic American Jamboree this Thursday, when we air an interview with Todd Sheaffer, lead singer, guitarist and co-founder of Railroad Earth.  The entire band will be making its second consecutive main stage appearance at this year's Festy Experience in Roseland, Virginia.


Railroad Earth’s music is driven by the remarkable songs of front-man, Todd Sheaffer, and is delivered with seamless arrangements and superb musicianship courtesy of all six band members. They can jam with the best of them, but they’re not a jam band. They’re bluegrass influenced, but they use drums and amplifiers (somewhat taboo in the bluegrass world). RRE bristles about being lumped into any one “scene.” Not out of animosity for any other artists: it’s just that they don’t find the labels very useful. According to fiddle player Tim Carbone, “We use unique acoustic instrumentation, but we’re definitely not a bluegrass band – so that doesn’t fit. And I think the term ‘jam band’ probably refers more to the fans than to the band. I think these fans just like live music.” When the band does elect to “comment” on a song via an extended improvisation, they really cook – and have received the approval of no less than Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh, who knows a thing or two about jamming.


The Infamous Stringdusters present The Festy Experience, a 3-day camping festival over Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7 - 9) at The Concert Grounds at Devils Backbone in Nelson County, Virginia (45 mi. from Charlottesville). Hosted and curated by The Infamous Stringdusters, The Festy Experience will celebrate and combine the best in live music, outdoor sports and lifestyle, craft beer culture and raging good times.

Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Carl Anderson on The Cosmic American Jamboree

Thursday, October 6, 2011 ● 1 pm (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net

Tune in this Thursday when Charlottesville singer-songwriter Carl Anderson stops by The Cosmic American Jamboree for a chat and live performance with host Will Courtney.  They will talk about Carl's main stage appearance at the second annual Festy out in Roseland, VA.

Carl Anderson is an Americana singer-songwriter from Charlottesville, Virginia. Gone solo from his duo with local singer/songwriter, Carleigh Nesbit, he's hoping to release his first EP within the next two months. It's obvious that Carl's innate talent for songwriting has been noticed around Central Virginia, as he was featured in last year's edition of the Hook's local music issue (Under the Radar and Dreaming) and has supported nationally-known acts like the Infamous Stringdusters and Yarn. Carl will be performing on the Festy Main Stage Sunday afternoon, October 9.


The Infamous Stringdusters present The Festy Experience, a 3-day camping festival over Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7 - 9) at The Concert Grounds at Devils Backbone in Nelson County, Virginia (45 mi. from Charlottesville). Hosted and curated by The Infamous Stringdusters, The Festy Experience will celebrate and combine the best in live music, outdoor sports and lifestyle, craft beer culture and raging good times.

Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Battle Royale: String Vs Jug Band


Saturday, October 1, 2011 ● 6-9 am (edt)
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at WTJU.net
Miss the show?  Listen at the WTJU Tape Vault.
ca. 1860 String Band (credit concertina.com)
















Vs.
Memphis Jug Band












Leftover Biscuits serves up the ultimate challenge pitting the older and more established string band music against the young (well, younger) sounds of jug band. Who will come out on top in this musical free for all? Will the Dallas String Band come out swinging, or will the Memphis Jug Band blow the strings down for the count? Refereeing this match will be early blues historian Joe Ayers.  There can only be one victor in this battle, and that's you the listener, when these two early blues styles get into the ring for the ultimate musical match.

Cannon's Jug Stompers


Dallas String Band












Vs. 






Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk