Blog.Etown.org

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!

Hi all! I hope you are well and enjoying this beautiful winter. Here in Boulder, the weather is returning to normal after an uncommonly cold stretch. And everywhere, as you know, the days are now officially getting longer, and that always gives one the hope of springtime to look forward to, if winter is not your thing.

Whatever the case, I think it WILL be your thing to enjoy our broadcast/podcast this week. We offer you a special encore airing of a show that had us all traveling to Portland, Oregon for the first time to record a show at the charming Newmark Theater. This ‘back by-popular-demand’ airing (one of our listeners’ favorites!) features the lovely and talented Sarah McLachlan, back with us, this time solo, selecting songs from her amazing catalog of newer songs and classic works. She delivers these sparsely and in solid style, with Nick and I and the ETones backing her up on a few as well. Phenomenal multi-instrumentalist and Grammy-nominated hit songwriter, Darrell Scott joins us, too, with a powerful set of songs supported by all of us ETones plus old pals Darol Anger and Gary Ogan. In addition, talented newcomer, singer-songwriter Griffin House, is in eTown for his first visit as well. Plus, I’m sure you’ll be moved by a special ‘in-person’ Portland-centric
E-Chievement Award story that we have for you, too.

So join us in eTown, won’t you?

Happy New Year! We are back after the holidays, hopefully with our collective batteries recharged and ready to energetically and optimistically face 2010. May it be a year of new beginnings and personal grounding and focus, plus economic recovery for the nation at large. May it also be a time of enjoying health, friends, family, art, and, hopefully, great music and laughter. With those last two in mind, let me tell you about this week’s broadcast/podcast.

This encore airing features two young songwriters and singers. Matt Nathanson, a talented musician and conversational ‘free-spirit’ with a wonderfully gregarious stage presence, pays a visit to eTown. Matt is terrifically funny, one of those people who is quick of wit and just naturally hilarious, really fun that way. But then he writes these amazingly sensitive, feeling songs. He plays some stripped down versions of his original songs, accompanied in exceptional style by Nick and the ETones (if you listen closely you’ll also hear some harmonies from yours truly too). We also welcome Ian Ball of the popular British rock trio, Gomez, who offers his own blend of Brit-pop tunes. Plus, as always, we’ll share a moving
E-Chievement Award story with you, too, all this week in eTown.

As you may know, we had to postpone the eTown taping at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins originally scheduled for 12/23/09, because one of the Dashboard Confessional members was ill. We had hoped to reschedule that show but have been unable to find a date in the near future that worked for both Rickie Lee Jones and Dashboard Confessional. As a result, we are forced to officially cancel the show. We hope to reschedule with each artist separately in the coming months. Full refunds are available through the Lincoln Center Box Office at 970-221-6730. We apologize for any inconvenience, and hope to see you at an eTown taping soon!

Hello Friends! Have you survived the celebration of Hanukkah and Christmas? Are you caroled out, gifted out, and sugared out yet? Well be sure to join us for some sugar of our own this week, on the air or as a podcast, as we bring you one of my all time favorite musicians and writers (as well as a favorite person of mine, too): Yes, Ray LaMontagne returns for his third visit in this exceptional encore broadcast. This brilliant songwriter and amazing singer brings along his band and some wonderfully written original songs to share; plus, he has an up close and personal chat with Nick about a host of things you’ll be interested in hearing about. Also joining us, rising star Ingrid Michaelson (love, love, love her!), a NYC based, extremely talented indie singer/songwriter and pianist (she plays a mean ukulele too). Nick and I and the ETones enjoy the opportunity to back her up a bit with instrumental and vocal support on a song that you may recall either from hearing it on the radio or in a widely run commercial awhile back, see if you recognize it. And the E-Chievement Award is presented to a North Carolina woman who brings the joy of music into the lives of at-risk kids. The power of music and compelling conversation all for you, all this week in eTown! Let’s turn toward and welcome the New Year together, shall we? Cheers!

Hi all, here we are so close to Christmas you can almost taste the eggnog and smell the evergreen in the air. What would the holidays be without a special yuletide themed show here in eTown? So Nick and I and the whole eTown crew headed ‘on the road’ to New York City and the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center to do just that. With virtuoso pianist and singer Tori Amos making her first ever eTown appearance, this show is guaranteed to get you in the spirit, featuring lovely, stripped down songs from Tori’s new seasonal CD, Midwinter Graces. Its just Tori and her piano, in a rare solo performance that is just stunning. And she shares her thoughts on taking back the original theme of the Christmas season, that of the power of peace, of the feminine influence and of the message of deep love for all. Also joining us is veteran singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, back again in eTown (Loudon, as you may already know, was kind enough to join us short notice, as our original second guest, Jesse Winchester, suddenly became terribly ill with a respiratory virus and could not travel; we missed you, Jesse, and send good wishes for your swift and full recovery, so you can enjoy your holiday as well; come be with us in eTown soon!). Loudon is a good friend and stellar musician, writer, actor and show man, whose long career includes a vast number of albums and CDs filled with original songs, appearances in many major movies and regular stints on television as well. His latest musical work is called High, Wide and Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project and he brings a few tunes from that collection plus an original tongue-in-check Christmas song that only Loudon could’ve written!  Nick and I happily join Loudon instrumentally and vocally on a tune or two. Plus there’s an inspiring E-Chievement Award interview in store for you, dear listeners/podcasters, highlighting a NYC man who is helping low income folks to better afford their utility bills and keep cozy, by making their homes energy efficient. (He is now also branching out to include commercial and public buildings as well and his long term goal is to ‘green’ the entire Big Apple!) So tune in to hear his story, plus a rousing, traditional holiday finale song (it’s one of Jesse’s actually!) featuring, as usual, all the performers to wrap up the show. That’s this week, be sure to join us for this one-of-a-kind holiday program, with great music, intriguing conversation and a big blast of the holiday spirit. Speaking of which, Happiest of Holidays to you all!

The eTown Radio Show Taping scheduled for Tuesday December 22 is being postponed due to guest artist illness. The re-scheduled date for the taping, featuring Rickie Lee Jones and Dashboard Confessional, will be announced shortly.

What’s happening on the air in eTown this week? Only one of THE most fun shows we’ve done in a while. A stellar pair of Texas-based acts visit with us: one is Austin-based singer-songwriter Bob Schneider, who makes his first visit to eTown. What an amazingly talented and multi-faceted artist, one that Nick, the eTones and I are honored to provide backup for; and he’s also a very nice guy (and hilarious too; his conversation with Nick had me laughing out loud). He’s built an impressive career as a working class musician with followers all across the country, with original music rooted in everything from funk to pop, bluegrass to blues, and just good old-fashioned bar rock. His friend Ollie Steck accompanies him on accordion, horn and vocals. Speaking of friends, we also welcome back our old friends, Texas legends The Flatlanders (Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely & Butch Hancock). Though all three men have pursued successful and prolific solo careers, they really shine in this trio configuration. Plus, there’s an especially moving holiday-themed E-Chievement Award story of perseverance, dedication, and generosity. I think you’ll enjoy this week’s classic eTown show.