Spring
Spring
We crossed the Vernal Equinox last week. So this week Ramblers’ Retreat featured songs about Spring and even more songs about rain which is an important component of Springtime here in Idaho. I played songs that fit that theme by musicians from Idaho, Utah, and Colorado as well as from Denmark and Finland. A few highlights are listed below.
I mixed in plenty of regional music including a couple of songs from Wyoming. The international side of the show was represented by music from Norway, Sweden, and beyond. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- Rosalie Sorrels: “Sing Like The Rain” (Idaho)
- Latigo: “Burnin’ Hair” (Utah)
- The Mile Markers: “A Little Rain” (Colorado)
- Jubilant Bridge: “Waiting For Rain” (Colorado)
- The American Café Orchestra: “Rain” (Denmark / Finland / US)
St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day was this past weekend, but today was still a good day to celebrate Ireland and Irish music on Ramblers’ Retreat. Because the Irish experience is important in America, including for those of us in the American West, I was really pleased to have found a number of Irish songs from local musicians, native Idahoans, and others from the Intermountain West. I thought those songs mixed well with the pieces I played from Irish artists. A few highlights are listed below.
I also mixed some new music from Denmark, Finland, Colorado, and New Mexico. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- Rosalie Sorrels: “The Bells of Ireland”
- Will Williams: “Patty On The Turnpike”
- Growling Old Men: “Crooked Jack”
- Reckless Kelly: “Seven Nights In Eire”
- Trip McCool: “Ireland, Oh Ireland”
Here’s a video of Reckless Kelly performing “Seven Night In Eire,” a song written by Willy Braun, Muzzy Braun, and Pinto Bennett.
Route 66
Route 66
66 years ago, on March 15th, 1946, the Nat King Cole trio released the first recording of the now-classic song “Route 66.” On today’s Ramblers’ Retreat I played a number of songs inspired by Route 66, both the road and the song. A few are listed below. I also played the usual mix of music from Scandinavia, the Intermountain West, and Idahoans – both residents and natives. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- The Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers: “Route 66″
- Sarah McQuaid: “The Chicago Reel”
- Dave Bourne: “Meet Me In St. Louie, Louie”
- Paul Kelly: “OKC”
- emith: “San Bernardino”
- Asleep At The Wheel & Leon Rausch: “Route 66″
Here’s a video of AATW performing “Route 66.” This song has been part of their repertoire for decades, and I never get tired of hearing them perform it.
Bob Wills
Bob Wills
The king of Western swing was born on March 6th, 1905. Bob Wills was a great bandleader, fiddler, and songwriter, and on today’s Ramblers’ Retreat we celebrated his life and his music. I played some music from Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, along with quite a few songs he wrote and songs often associated with him. His music still forms an important part of the Western swing repertoire and beyond. The Bob Wills tracks are listed below. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: “Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)”
- Coty Hogue: “Sugar Moon”
- The Lobo Rangers: “A Maiden’s Prayer”
- Asleep At The Wheel: “Dusty Skies”
- Tashina Clarridge: ”Dusty Miller / Memory Waltz / Beaumont Rag”
- Red Molly: “The End Of The Line”
- The Tumbling Tumbleweeds: “San Antonio Rose”
- The Quebe Sisters: “Roly Poly”
- Dave Bourne: “Red Wing”
Here’s a video of the Texas fiddle man himself.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
On March 1st, 1872, President US Grant signed the law creating Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world. On yesterday’s Ramblers’ Retreat we celebrated the 140th anniversary of Yellowstone’s establishment with songs about the park and the surrounding area. Some of these songs came from a compilation put together a few years ago by the Western Folklife Center. Others I got from my friends in the Folk Alliance and the Western Music Association. The Yellowstone songs from the show are listed below. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- Chuck Pyle: “Alpha No 9″
- Barry Ward: “Sweet Wyoming Kiss”
- Growling Old Men: “Madison Brown”
- Beth McIntosh: “Blue Heron”
- Greg Keeler: “Wilderness Ranger”
- Ray Doyle: ” The Jewel”
- Trails & Rails: “Night Train Down The Yellowstone”
- Tai Shan: “Sleepy River”
Here’s a video of trout fishing on the Madison River with music by Growling Old Men.
Scotland
Scotland
Yesterday’s episode of Ramblers’ Retreat featured music from and inspired by Scotland. Seems like a lot of music from Scotland has been crossing my desk recently, both new and old. The show featured traditional bands from Scotland, songs about Scotland performed by Irish and American artists, and two of Boise’s pipe bands. A few highlights are listed below. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- City of Trees Pipes & Drums: “No Awa To Bide Awa / Scotland The Brave”
- Boise Highlanders: “Quick March Tunes”
- Brian McNeill & Iain MacKintosh: “The Boy’s Lament For His Dragon”
- Battlefield Band: “Castle Caladh Glen”
- The Paul McKenna Band: “The Lambs On The Green Hills”
- Molly’s Revenge: “Doctor David Macdonald”
The video below is from a fundraiser put on by five of Boise’s pipe bands a few years ago.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
Today’s Ramblers’ Retreat focused on Mardi Gras which comes up next week. I played a bunch of music from Louisiana along with the usual music from the Intermountain West, the Nordic countries, and beyond. As always, the full playlist is posted.
I played quite a few Cajun, zydeco, and New Orleans classics, but one of my favorites from today’s show is from Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy, and the Cajun Country Revival. Jesse Lége is one of the great Cajun accordion players. Joel Savoy, the fiddler, comes from one of the most influential families playing Cajun music today. And, perhaps surprisingly, the Cajun Country Revival are musicians based in Portland, Oregon.
“Ouvrez La Porte”
High Desert Band
High Desert Band
Yesterday’s episode of Ramblers’ Retreat featured a live performance from High Desert Band. As always, the full playlist is posted. Here’s a video with music by the band from Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago.
High Desert Band: “Taters In My Stew”
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
The 28th annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is taking place this week in Elko, Nevada, so this week’s Ramblers’ Retreat featured quite a bit of Western music from this and past year’s NCPG performers. Below are a few of the songs that were heard on today’s show. As always, the full playlist is posted.
- The Braun Brothers: “Cowboy From Mackay”
- Stephanie Davis: “Crocus In The Snow”
- Skip Gorman: “Bonaparte Crossing The Rockies / Rocks Of Brae”
- Wylie & The Wild West: “Old Blue”
- New West: “Sometimes This Ol’ Cowboy Gets The Blues”
The video below I chose partly because I played a song from Dave Stamey on today’s show along with a version his “Vaquero Song” sung by Ray Doyle, and partly because the photography comes from David Stoecklein, an Idaho photographer whose work I deeply admire.
Dave Stamey: “The Vaquero Song”
Mia Edsall
Mia Edsall
Wednesday’s episode of Ramblers’ Retreat featured a live performance from Mia Edsall, a singer-songwriter and horse trainer from Bellevue, Idaho. She brought her guitar and her banjo and put on a great show.
There was also plenty of music from Idaho, Utah, and around the Intermountain West along with some music from the Nordic countries. As always, the full playlist is posted.
Here’s a video of Mia Edsall performing with Johnny Shoes at last fall’s Folk Alliance Region West conference.
Mia Edsall: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
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