Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
Colorful local band Oyster World swung by Studio K (http://www.radiok.org/instudios/) to chat with us and perform a set! Recorded 9.7.18 at Radio K. http://radiok.org Be sure to check out their in-studio performance! https://youtu.be/pVXKkAFKoSU
Video shot and edited by Grace Baldwin. Interview conducted by Sam Walsh.
John Latimer shares his observations of the change of nature in our lives. This full hour includes John Latimer’s Phenology Report and Talkbacks. Plus Forest Ecologist Harry Hutchins & John Latimer follow the bird migrations and the arrival of Spring. And our monthly update with Eli Sagor, Extension Educator with the U of M, manages www.myminnesotawoods.org, a website devoted to trees and forests in MN. Full hour show.
Wahwahtay Benais: The Thunderbird Within the Northern Lights
by Doug MacRostie.
The oppression, hardship and discrimination that Native Americans have lived for the last 500 years is something that is very difficult to put into words. The same pain and struggle they continue to face today while fighting to maintain who they are as a people.
Using music, Wahwahtay Benais has captured and expressed that plight in a very powerful way. From the Leech Lake Rez, living in Ball Club, his name references the Thunderbird that comes from within the Northern Lights. Wahwahtay is a hip-hop/rap artist with an intense and emotional message, and it is a true honor to have him join me in-studio this week on Centerstage MN.
I first heard him thanks to a video for his song Indigenous Holocaust (included below). It took my breath away. It brought tears to my eyes. It made me want to change the world. In a time of dumbed-down raps and wearing riches as robes, Wahwahtay is a much needed breath of fresh air working to empower youth and preserve Annishinaabe traditions and language. Do NOT miss this.
By Doug MacRostie. You know that saying, “It’s not WHAT you said, it’s HOW you said it!”? The same thing applies to singing; it’s not what you sing, it’s how you sing it. Tone, fluctuation, breathing; all of it can change the mood of a lyric. Minneapolis Jazz-vocalist Connie Evingson continues to put that extra something into her voice – giving the lyrics life, meaning and definitely setting the mood. “I’ve often wished I could be a painter, because I would really like to be able to create visual art. And singing for me is kind of like painting in the sense that you are using texture, you’re using color, in a way. Color in the vocal tone – it’s an expression.” Connie will be my guest this week on Centerstage MN. Originally from Hibbing, her latest album is music of jazz legend, and St. Paul native, Dave Frishberg called “Little Did I Dream.” Not only did Dave Frishberg write the music, but he also accompanies on piano. From some seriously upbeat swing to slow and moving ballads, this album flows through the full range of emotion and presentation with Connie’s beautiful voice leading the way. There is a reason her 8 albums with Minnehaha have charted in the top 50 in both the U.S. and Canada.
MN Reads talks with Beth Dooley. Her book, “Minnesota’s Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook” is a home chef’s guide to shopping and cooking from Minnesota’s farmers markets.
For more information on Minnesota’s Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook
Available at www.upress.umn.edu
Eric Athey hails from Lancaster, PA, and has been producing music since the early 2000s. He says he comes out with a record “about once every 5 years” and when he does, he often collaborates with Twin Cites based artist Dave Boquist. Recently, the two of them recorded a song called “Grand Marais” ahead of Athey’s trip to the Boundary Waters. They chat with Will Moore on what made this song so unique, and why it’s a long time dream finally coming to fruition.
You can listen to the song on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2INdvlgyho&ab_channel=EricAthey-Topic
By Doug MacRostie. You know that saying, “It’s not WHAT you said, it’s HOW you said it!”? The same thing applies to singing; it’s not what you sing, it’s how you sing it. Tone, fluctuation, breathing; all of it can change the mood of a lyric. Minneapolis Jazz-vocalist Connie Evingson continues to put that extra something into her voice – giving the lyrics life, meaning and definitely setting the mood. “I’ve often wished I could be a painter, because I would really like to be able to create visual art. And singing for me is kind of like painting in the sense that you are using texture, you’re using color, in a way. Color in the vocal tone – it’s an expression.”
Last weekend I got to see The Sunny Era perform in Bemidji and really enjoyed their music – it’s creative, edgy, beautiful and unpredictable all at once. They are a 3 piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble fusing folk music, indie rock, middle eastern and Spanish styles, based in Minneapolis. We’ll hear the intro cut to their 2nd CD “The Darkness of Love,” which came out last year.
I’ve also got new music from The Marc Gartband (Marc Gartman is the founder of Two Many Banjos, the Gartband is his music when he isn’t playing a banjo). Discovering the Irish Bouzouki a few years back has clearly been inspiring for Marc, all the songs for “Fatwa” were written on the bouzouki. It’s excellent stuff as usual.
And we’ll hear some new music from Wise-Magraw – the duo project with Dean Magraw on guitar and Marcus Wise on tabla. And new music from indie-acoustic artist Ellis out of Minneapolis, her new CD is called “Right on Time.” And more!