Blog.Etown.org

The hint of spring is in the air here in eTown (even though we just had snow, and in a few days the cold weather will be back I’m told). But as my neighbor Travis just said, this time of the year you know that warm weather is just around the bend so you can take the storms with a little more optimism! And in the meantime, here’s the scoop on this week’s eTown broadcast/podcast:

Originally recorded at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder in 2008 as part of Chautauqua’s 110th year anniversary celebration, Joan Baez returns to eTown to celebrate an anniversary of her own: her 50th year of performing. She brings a top-notch band (John Doyle, Dirk Powell and Todd Phillips) with her. Also visiting eTown is rising star Brett Dennen. Brett has Nick and I and the rest of the eTones sing and play on a selection of his original songs. And that’s not all: noted columnist and author James Howard Kunstler (The Long Emergency and World Made By Hand) stops by to talk with us about what he sees as the pending global oil crisis and what that possibly means for 21st Century America. To top off the show, we’ll present a rare (and well deserved) Lifetime E-Chievement Award to Joan Baez, who, through her music and social and environmental activism, has for so many years reached untold thousands of fans and educated all of us about issues that challenge our society, inspiring countless folks to get involved and be part of the solution side of things. This is a very special eTown, brought back by popular demand, that you definitely won’t want to miss!

I hope to see you in eTown.

Best,

Helen

Did you happen to watch or follow the Academy Awards show on TV? It was an exciting event for me and Nick to catch.

First, it was really fun for us to see Steve Martin do such a terrific job of hosting the Oscars (as many of you already know, Nick’s band Hot Rize played at Steve’s wedding a few years ago, and Nick and I have had the pleasure of enjoying some social time here and there with both Steve and his lovely and accomplished wife, Anne).

Second, Nick and I were SO thrilled that the film ‘The Cove,’ made by our friend and fellow Boulderite (and new to the business) Louie Psihoyos and his great group of collaborators, won for best documentary. Many of you I’m sure remember that Louie was on eTown awhile back as an interview guest, talking about the film and its exposure of a horrible and illegal dolphin slaughter taking place in a secret cove in Japan.

‘The Cove’ is a terribly important film, one that you should see if you haven’t already. It’s really well done, and, I promise you, it is not full of gruesome footage throughout. Rather, they tell the story of how they finally were able to expose (after so many had tried and failed) this hideous, cruel practice of trapping and brutally killing dolphins, and show us how they put together an amazing team and, in ‘Mission Impossible’ style, were eventually able to sneak into the area and get what they needed on film. They did this at great physical risk to themselves. It’s an entertaining film, with suspense, excitement and even humor along the way. I’d say easily less than 10% of the film is hard to watch because of its sad and disturbing content; however, it is integral to the story and a very necessary part of this documentary. See ‘The Cove,’ then get on their website and learn more and find out what you can do to become part of the solution to stopping this kind of illegal and immoral practice!

Speaking of those who get involved and become part of the solution, we have two such visiting artists on our eTown broadcast/podcast for you this week. One is wildly popular Scotland-born ‘folk-rock goddess’ KT Tunstall; the other is a talented young Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist named Adrienne Young. During this re-broadcast, both women talk about their efforts to help out the particular worthy causes and passions they’ve embraced in their personal lives; they also deliver some great ‘one-of-a-kind’ live musical performances for your listening pleasure . Plus, there’s the E-Chievement Award story of a community-conscious college professor from New York State, all right here in eTown. I hope you’ll join us! And keep an ear out for that eTown program that features Louie Psihoyos’ interview, we’ll be re-airing that show in the future. I’ll keep you posted as to when.

Take care, talk with you next week,

Helen

It’s eTown ‘on the road’ this week, as Nick and I and our crew head west for our first-ever show in Aspen, Colorado, at the beautiful and historic Wheeler Opera House. Have you ever been to Aspen? So beautiful. And the Wheeler is just stunning (I’m including a photo of it here for you to see). All of us were thrilled to be in the Roaring Fork Valley with so many great folks: lots of enthusiastic eTown fans, a wonderful bunch of people who run a terrific radio station, KDNK, and two of our favorite eTown performers. We get to welcome back exquisitely talented singer-songwriter John Hiatt, one of my all time musical heroes, who shares stripped down versions of some of his brilliantly crafted songs, both familiar and new. And another fine performer and stellar singer (truly one of the THE best vocalists I’ve ever heard), a truly gifted, mind-blowingly talented young woman, Brandi Carlile takes the stage for her second visit to eTown, along with her incredibly talented band (Phil and Tim, the twins, are just so amazing; drummer Allie is one of the best I’ve ever witnessed being on the show, really strong and dynamic; and Josh on cello expertly rounds out the sound). Brandi and her band members are some of the nicest people we have ever had with us; it’s always such a joy to see them and hang with them. And of course this week’s listener-nominated E-Chievement Award appropriately goes to a local area citizen who joins us in-person for his interview and award presentation. I’m hoping you’ll join us, too  . . on the road . . for eTown this week!

You know, I’m a hippie gal from way back; I came of age in the 60’s and loved that whole magical musical world that emerged during that era (Joni Mitchell was my inspiration to become a singer; Crosby, Stills, Nash and eventually Young got me hooked on learning how to be a harmony vocalist; you get the picture). That’s why I am particularly thrilled that we are re-airing this most special eTown program: folk music icon, Richie Havens, along with his long-time guitar partner Walter Parks, joins us for this one-of-a-kind encore broadcast. Forty-plus years into his career, Richie continues to touch the heart with his fiery, poignant, and soulful singing. Also sharing the eTown stage with us is a bright new performer: singer-songwriter, Angel Taylor, a 20-year-old who’s fresh on the heels of her first album release. Angel shares her original songs with us, backed up by her guitar partner Greg Suran. Nick & I and the ETones join them on a tune here and there, too. And as always, we’ll provide you with a story of a dedicated E-Chievement Award winner from Pennsylvania whose drive and motivation is helping improve the lives of disadvantaged kids. This is a classic eTown, my dear friends, and I hope you’ll tune in!

Contacts: Roger Menell
roger@etown.org
303-443-8696, ext. 105

Jennifer Johnson
jjohnson@publicradiocapital.org
651-246-4040

For Immediate Release

Feb. 18, 2010

Public Radio Fund Loans eTown $2 million to Begin Construction on

eTown Hall in Boulder

(Boulder, Colo.) Public Radio Capital (PRC) and eTown today announced a $2 million loan to eTown from PRC’s Public Radio Fund.

eTown is a unique radio program that brings environmental information, conversation and live music to audiences nationwide. Founded by Nick and Helen Forster in 1991 as an independent voice on the radio, eTown is also a civic-minded nonprofit organization that purchased an old church in the middle of downtown Boulder in hopes of better serving its audience. By converting the rundown church into eTown Hall, eTown’s founders plan to prepare the organization for changes in the media landscape while providing their hometown with its only acoustically ideal listening room. Public Radio Capital has stepped in to help get them started with a $2 million loan while eTown continues with its capital campaign.

The $2 million loan from the Public Radio Fund will allow eTown to begin the first phase of construction on the 17,000 square-foot eTown Hall. That phase will include the majority of the mechanical systems, roofing and utilities, along with renovation of just 25 percent of the interior—the section that will house administrative offices and editing studios. “We could not be more appreciative of Public Radio Capital’s efforts. Their goals are aligned with ours, and their support will help keep this ambitious project moving forward” said eTown founder, Nick Forster.

With this positive step, eTown hopes to begin Phase II later in 2010 as they continue with capital campaign fundraising. Once completed, eTown Hall will be a LEED certified green building, generating the majority of its power on site through an extensive array of solar panels and other energy efficient measures. eTown Hall will include a small theater for live performances and broadcasts, a “Community Room,” a recording facility for radio and TV (in a former gymnasium), dressing rooms for visiting artists and administrative offices. “Given that PRC and eTown are both nonprofits headquartered in Boulder, we are delighted to make this loan to eTown,” said Erin Moran, manager of the Public Radio Fund.  “These challenging economic times require nonprofits to work together,” she added.

PRC was represented by Kutak Rock’s Denver office in the transaction.

About eTown

ETown was conceived by Nick Forster, a founding member of the renowned bluegrass group, Hot Rize. Harnessing the power of live music for the greater good was the simple concept behind eTown’s inception, but bringing it to the radio required help from Nick’s wife, Helen Forster, former co-producer of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Now, the show is heard weekly on nearly 300 radio stations around the country. Like old-time radio variety shows, every eTown show is taped in front of a live audience and features performances from many of today’s top musical artists as well as conversation and information about our communities and our environment.

More information about eTown is available at etown.org

About Public Radio Capital

Public Radio Capital’s mission is to strengthen and expand noncommercial media to provide local communities nationwide with more in-depth information, unbiased news, diverse music and cultural programming. Since its founding in 2001, PRC has worked with more than 200 public radio organizations, and completed transactions totaling more than $220 million, securing access to public radio services for approximately 43 million people. In Oct. 2007, PRC launched the Public Radio Fund to benefit public radio organizations in need of short-term capital for asset-based projects. Public broadcast organizations are invited to apply for capital loans from the Public Radio Fund to increase and diversify public radio program services for more people in communities across the country. The Public Radio Fund has investment commitments of nearly $10 million from Calvert Social Investment Foundation, Ford Foundation, Nonprofit Finance Fund, NPR, Inc., and individual investors. Loans from the Public Radio Fund range from $100,000 to $3 million. Investors in the Fund receive 0 to 4 percent.

More information about PRC and the Public Radio Fund is available at publicradiocapital.org.

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We’ve got a great broadcast/podcast for you this week. Nick and I and the crew pack up the whole production and hit the highway, as eTown travels to Denver and the Paramount Theatre for one of our unique and fun shows on the road. This program features a diverse group of international musicians who are part of the musical collaboration called ‘Playing For Change.’

Playing For Change, as a concept, became best known around the world though the internet: there have been over 50 million on-line views of filmed performances featuring street musicians from around the world, collaborating on well-known songs such as ‘Stand By Me’ and others. eTown and Playing for Change celebrate their shared mission to use music as a connecting point for people of different cultures, viewpoints and beliefs. This broadcast showcases performances by The Playing For Change band, which includes folks from such diverse areas of the world as the Congo and Ghana to New Orleans and LA! (Nick joins in on a tune, as well.) There’s a special ‘in-person’

E-Chievement Award presentation and interview, too, with the founders of the Playing For Change Foundation. Tune in to learn about their philanthropic work and to listen to some unique musical performances, all for you this week in eTown!

Old friend and slide guitar master Sonny Landreth joins us in eTown for this week’s encore airing. Sonny is a musical gem, and we are happy to have him back. In fact, Eric Clapton apparently has discovered with what we in eTown have known all along: Sonny is “probably the most underestimated musician on the planet and also probably one of the most advanced.” He’s also, in my opinion, one of the nicest people on the planet . . and definitely a killer singer to boot!  Juliana Hatfield also joins us, and Nick and I and the eTones provide instrumental and vocal backup for her. As if that wasn’t enough, another good friend, author and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams returns to the eTown stage for a fascinating discussion of (and reading from) her recent book. Her conversation with Nick is worth tuning in for. And this week’s E-Chievement Award goes to an Illinois man who is working to alleviate hunger in his community. This is a phenomenal hour of music and conversation, with a finale performance you won’t want to miss.

This week, talented British singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Imogen Heap makes her inaugural eTown visit. This two-time Grammy nominee shares her most-innovative songs with arrangements mixing both electronic and traditional instrumentation. Also joining us is Gregory Alan Isakov who makes his return to the eTown stage for a second appearance with us. This Boulder based singer-songwriter has built a large national following. He’s winning accolades from all around—like this one: “Hands down one of the best new songwriters on the scene.” (Amy Ray, Indigo Girls). Nick & I and the ETones join in on a tune or two, as well. Also, Neil Mulholland, President of the National Park Foundation, stops by for a conversation with Nick to shed some light on the importance of our national park system, a real American treasure. eTown brings you all this PLUS an incredible in-person
E-Chievement Award interview and presentation honoring a young couple doing their part to alleviate hunger with dignity. Tune in!

Hey everyone,

Nick and I just returned from a few days in Aspen, seeing old friends and getting out in the great outdoors. We also had a super live show taping with two incredible artists, John Hiatt and Brandi Carlile, at the historic Wheeler Opera House. This show will air in February; will let you know the details as we get closer to the airing date!

As for this week’s broadcast/podcast: eTown welcomes back one of my favorite people on the planet (what a great guy), as well as one of the most talented: composer, singer and Mandolinist extraordinaire, Chris Thile. This time he joins us as a member of the band, The Punch Brothers. This master musician combo also includes Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar) and Greg Garrison (bass). As the Boston Globe reports: this “top shelf acoustic quintet is a virtuosic revelation.”  And, come to think of it, I love all those guys, they are the sweetest folks you’d ever want to meet. And damn brilliant players. Plus, Gabe is a terrific singer too.

Singer-songwriter Tift Merritt also will be with us (with some help from Nick and the ETones). She’s a great singer and a really interesting, emotive, insightful songwriter; I really think you will enjoy her (her chat with Nick is fun too!). And the E-Chievement Award goes to a retired New Hampshire couple for improving the lives of orphans overseas. Be sure to tune in to or podcast eTown this week for one phenomenal show!