Thursday, July 1
We celebrate Canada Day with selections from Red Rider, the late ‘80s debut from Pursuit of Happiness, Love Junk, produced by Todd Rundgren, plus music from Robbie Robertson’s collision of trip-hop and First Nation’s sounds on Contact From The Underworld of RedBoy.
Friday, July 2
It’s our New Month, New Music episode with selections from Gary Numan, Emma-Jean Thackray, Lindsey Buckingham, and Oliver Wood.
Saturday, July 3
In August, 1977, the Steve Miller Band was riding high on the success of three albums that would become essential listening for fans of ‘70s rock, including The Joker (1973), Fly Like An Eagle (1976) and Book of Dreams (1977). A recently-released live set from that era, Live! Breaking Ground finds the group in fine form, melding elements of blues and rock in a blend that is Miller’s own. We’ll hear selections from that recording as well as music from Emma Swift’s Dylan-focused release, Blonde On The Tracks.
Monday, July 5
First Take is the 1970 debut album from Roberta Flack and features songs penned by Gene Daniels, Donny Hathaway, and Leonard Cohen. The LP is also notable for the inclusion of Flack’s hit song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (written by Ewan MacColl. We’ll hear music from that recording as well as selections from Queen Esther’s Gild The Black Lily.
Tuesday, July 6
Composed after receiving a FreshGrass Foundation Composition Commission, Sarah Jarosz’s Blue Heron Suite was inspired by a particularly painful period in the musician’s life: Her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and Hurricane Harvey had ravaged a Texas town that Jarosz and her family had frequently visited on vacation. We’ll hear selections from the 11-part composition as well as music from Allison Russell’s acclaimed solo debut, Outside Child.
Wednesday, July 7
We’ll hear selections from Katy Kirby’s Cool Dry Place as well as music from An Overview on Phenomenal Nature from Cassandra Jenkins.
Thursday, July 8
Released in 2019, Mercy Bell’s self-titled album continues to garner accolades while the Nashville-based singer-songwriter begins work on a new effort. We’ll hear music from the 2019 effort as well as songs from Forever Worse Better, the latest by Great Peacock.
Friday, July 9
Listen for selections from Gild The Black Lilly, the latest from Queen Esther, plus music from Robert Finley’s Sharecropper’s Son.
Saturday, July 10
We mark the birthday of July featured artist Mavis Staples with selections from her considerable solo releases, her work as a member of the Staple Singers, and with artists such as John Scofield, Los Lobos, Arcade Fire and Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers.
