WUMB's Top 10 Albums Of 2015

After tallying listener votes, we made a list of the Top 10 Albums of 2015... here they are!

1) Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free2) Josh Ritter - Sermon on the Rocks3) Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell - The Traveling Kind4) Patty Griffin - Servant of Love5) Brandi Carlile - The Firewatcher's Daughter6) Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color7) Dave Rawlings Machine - Nashville Obsolete8) Dawes - All Your Favorite Bands9) Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn10) Mark Knopfler - Tracker

WUMB Hosts Choose Their Favorite Albums Of 2015

We'll start our TOP 10 COUNTDOWN tomorrow! Tune in throughout the week as we reveal WUMB's Top 10 Albums of 2015...meanwhile the staff here has shared their personal favorites:

Brendan Hogan
Mornings

1) Jeffrey Foucault - Salt As Wolves
2) Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
3) Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn
4) Dawes - All Your Favorite Bands
5) The New Basement Tapes - Lost On The River
6) Pops Staples - Don't Lose This
7) The Suitcase Junket - Make Time
8) Mark Knopfler - Tracker
9) Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Ruffian's Misfortune
10) Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966

Dave Palmater
Middays

1) The Dustbowl Revival - With a Lampshade On
2) Barnstar - Sit Down! Get Up! Get Out!
3) Josh Ritter - Sermon on the Rocks 
4) Old Man Luedecke - Domestic Eccentric
5) Darlingside - Birds Say
6) Tom Russell - Rose of Roscrae
7) Tim O’Brien - Pompador
8) Gretchen Peters - Blackbirds
9) James McMutry - Complicated Game
10) Della Mae - Della Mae

Albert O
Afternoons

1) Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
2) Christopher Paul Stelling - Labor Against Waste
3) New Basement Tapes - Lost On The River
4) Josh Rouse - The Embers Of Time
5) Joan Shelley - Over + Even
6) Joe Pug - Windfall
7) Israel Nash - Silver Season
8) Mandolin Orange - Such Jubilee
9) HoneyHoney - 3
10) The Wood Brothers - Paradise

Jess Phaneuf
Evenings

1) Alabama Shakes - Sound And Color
2) My Morning Jacket - The Waterfall
3) Decemberists - What A Terrible World What A Beautiful World
4) Josh Ritter - Sermon On The Rocks
5) Brandi Carlile - The Firewatcher's Daughter
6) Dawes - All Your Favorite Bands
7) Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit
8) Punch Brothers - The Phosphorescent Blues
9) Laura Marling - Short Movie
10) JD McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll

Perry Persoff
Host

1) Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
2) Josh Ritter - Sermon On The Rocks
3) Calexico - Edge Of The Sun
4) Mike & Ruthy Band - Bright As You Can
5) Ana Egge w/The Stray Birds - Bright Shadow
6) Mandolin Orange - Such Jubilee
7) Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn
8) The Dustbowl Revival - With a Lampshade On
9) Eilen Jewell - Sundown Over Ghost Town
10) Danielle Miraglia - Glory Junkies

Patrick Coman
Local Folk

1) Suitcase Junket - Make Time
2) Jeffrey Foucault - Salt As Wolves
3) Brown Bird - Axis Mundi
4) The Grownup Noise - Stewing
5) Caitlin Canty - Reckless Skyline
6) Session Americana - Pack Up The Circus
7) Darlingside - Birds Say
8) Barnstar - Sit Down! Get Up! Get Out!
9) Tall Heights - Holding On, Holding Out
10) Krista Baroni - The Alabaster Girl

Jay Moberg
Program Director/Music Director

1) Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
2) Dave Rawlings Machine - Nashville Obsolete
3) Israel Nash - Silver Season
4) The Wood Brothers - Paradise
5) Mandolin Orange - Such Jubilee
6) Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell - The Traveling Kind
7) Jeffrey Foucault - Salt as Wolves
8) Joan Shelley - Over + Even
9) The Ballroom Thieves - A Wolf in the Doorway
10) The New Basement Tapes - Lost on the River

In Memory Of Michael Troy

We lost one of the good ones last Sunday. Michael Troy lost his long, courageous battle against cancer. He was a brilliant songwriter, a kind and gentle man, and I am proud to have called him friend for some three decades. He was a true working class folksinger. More Guthrie than Dylan. He worked hard all his life. He had been a commercial fisherman and a mill hand.

The thing about Michael’s songs it that you believe every word of them, every line of every song. That's because Michael has seen it, done it, and been it. His songs are about real people who have real lives. People who work and love and triumph over the everyday obstacles that we all face, and sometimes fail. He writes of the people that populate the seacoast of his native Massachusetts but are they that different from the people that you know? And as soon as you've heard the songs don't you feel like you've known them all your life?

Michael was a rare observer who could condense a story into a few simple verses. He was a rare writer who creates poetry that sounds like speech. It seems to be just the way people talk, only better. Michael was also a rare composer who writes melodies that sound like the people whose stories they carry.

In ancient days Michael might have been called a bard, but rather than telling tales of epic battles he chooses to tell the stories of people whose battles are smaller but, in their own way, just as epic. As you listen to Michael's songs you come to know these folks and you come to like them. As you listen to his songs you'll also come to know Michael, you'll like him too, and believe him, every line of every song.

For more information on Michael visit http://www.folkmichaeltroy.com.



-Dave Palmater

WUMB 2015 Fall Fundrive

It's that time again! Here at WUMB we are asking for your monetary support to help us continue to bring you the programming that you love. Where else will you hear artists ranging from Ryan Adams to Townes Van Zandt, to local artists like Darlingside? If you didn't learn about them on WUMB you may not know about these talented artists. Your financial support for WUMB gives you a radio station that plays the music you want to hear even if it's your first time pledging. Listener support makes up a significant percentage of WUMB's overall funding and that is why your contribution is vital.

WUMB is always here for you, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You will always find great music and knowledgeable hosts like Albert, Brendan and Dave. You can count on them being there every day. And we count on you for a pledge.

We're asking you to be as generous as you can when you call 800-573-2100. If you could make a $50 a month commitment to WUMB we'd be glad to thank you with our WUMB jacket. You can also pledge on our website WUMB.org. Pledging only takes a couple of minutes. Soon you'll have done your part to keep WUMB on the air. And if $50 a month is out of your price range contribute any amount that is comfortable for you. Every dollar makes a difference.

Call 800-573-2100 or pledge online here.

In-Studio Performance: Josh Ritter

Josh Ritter, who has been dubbed one of the :100 Greatest Living Songwriters" popped into the WUMB air studio on October 14th to chat with Dave Palmater about his new album Sermon On The Rocks. He strictly played tracks from the record, including "Where The Night Goes", "Young Moses" and "Cumberland", in anticipation of it's October 16th release.

Sermon On The Rocks is much more lighthearted, fun and carefree than his previous releases. Describing the departure from his previous style Ritter says that he "realized that [he] didn't have to take things so seriously all the time".He feels that he is at a point in his career where he could start to keep all of his music sounding the same, but that was something he was afraid of. So he chose to experiment with his sounds instead and have the opinion of, "this song [may not] really be me but I'm going to finish it and maybe it will become something".

Ritter recorded the album in New Orleans and co-produced it with Trina Shoemaker who has worked with artists from Emmylou Harris to Queens of The Stone Age. He chose to record the Sermon On The Rocks in New Orleans because it was a place he had passed through on tour and wanted to stay. He rented a big house and brought his family and friends along with him, wanting to reflect New Orleans Culture, "Wanting to live in the bloodstream for a little while.

Dave asked Ritter which song from the  he would choose to play if only asked to play one. The album has strong themes of Autumn and heading back to where you came from, and for that reason he chose to close out the interview with "Homecoming". Josh Ritter is playing a sold-out show at The Sinclair tonight but he will be back in Boston this winter.

-Kendall Stewart

Change is in the Air(waves) at WUMB Radio!

WUMB 91.9 FM, UMass Boston’s full-format folk, roots and world music radio station

is very pleased to announce some changes in its Fall programming line-up.  There will be a new voice on air, and a familiar voice at a new time.

The familiar voice belongs to Brendan Hogan, who is the new host of The Morning Show, Monday through Friday from 6:00 – 10:00 AM.  Hogan has been a fixture on the Boston radio scene since 1999 and at WUMB since 2012, where he created the popular Dark Was the Night blues/roots music program and held the 7:00 – 10:00 PM time slot. Brendan has eagerly embraced his new role: “WUMB has always been my favorite station for music, and having worked the evening show for the past few years has been a dream. Moving to mornings for drive time is even more exciting! I don’t know if there’s a station playing more local music every day than us. Same with blues and old gospel, R&B, country, and folk, in addition to the new music and core roots artists we play. It's something I'm really proud to be a part of.”

The new voice, beginning November 9 from 7-10 PM  Monday through Friday is Jess Phaneuf, who comes to WUMB after seven years at MVYRadio on Martha’s Vineyard. In her own words, “I'm thrilled to be returning to Boston to join the team at WUMB, where I'll have the chance to immerse myself in the city's music scene and bring my enthusiasm to the airwaves. Not only do I love the diverse and independent mix of music on UMB, I appreciate their support of local artists in the greater Boston area. It's so evident that WUMB's listeners are appreciative of the deep cuts, the unknown artists, and the intelligent and eclectic programming -- I can't wait to connect with them!

WUMB Director of Programming Jay Moberg is very much looking forward to this new line-up: “I’m really excited about both Brendan and Jess.  Brendan’s Morning Show is truly unique and I think a breath of fresh air in Morning Drive.  You’ll hear musicians from Woody Guthrie to Ray Charles and everything in between.  Brendan does an amazing job of not only selecting great music but also giving you important information about each song or artist.”

“Jess is someone who’s been on my radar for a while now coming to us from MVY, a station I truly respect and admire.  Jess is not only an extremely hard worker who’s built up a very good reputation around the industry but she’s also wired into the Local Music scene in Boston which is incredibly important to WUMB.”

Tune in to WUMB Radio at 91.9 FM or listen online at wumb.org for Brendan Hogan and beginning November 9, Jess Phaneuf bringing you the very best of modern and traditional folk, roots and world music!

Dawes at The Royale, 9/22/2015

On Tuesday, September 22nd, Dawes played The Royale in Boston for the second time in their career. It sold well the first time, but the second time it sold out. We had the opportunity to meet with Taylor Goldsmith, guitarist and lead vocalist for the band, on his tour bus prior to the show.

Dawes are touring to support their 4th album, All Your Favorite Bands, which was released on June 2nd of this year.  Goldsmith said that on previous tours he would often be approached after shows and given the comment of, "I didn't know you could play guitar like that, or I didn't know Griffin [Goldsmith] could play drums like that" which he took as a compliment but still had to think "obviously we aren't doing this right". A unique, passionate live show is a necessity for the band, "no one wants to talk about a band and say 'oh the show was great, but you've really gotta go home and listen to the CD you bought for ten bucks'". So he and drummer (and brother) Griffin got an acoustic guitar and headed down to Nashville to meet with David Rawlings with the hopes of making an album that captured the feel of their live shows.

After the writing of All Your Favorite Bands was complete Dawes took the tracks on a mini-tour of California as a means of pre-production. They played to tiny rooms with Rawlings standing in the back serving as their coach, reading the way the audience reacted and relaying the information to the guys at the end of the night. In the studio Rawlings encouraged the guys not to listen back to tracks for the first three or for takes. He would then edit the songs and it would be the edits that the band heard.Goldsmith said, "We were a tool for him the way he was for us. We were there for performances and we were fresh ears for him when he played us his edits."

A typical Dawes audience tends to have a wide age range from late teenagers to the compatriots of their parents. The crowd at The Royale was no different, and meshed seamlessly, all affected by the music in the same way. Tay Strathairn, keyboardist, was unfortunately absent from the stage as his appendix burst a little over a week ago. (We'll give him a free pass for that one.) And Duane Betts, who recently joined up as an official member of the touring band proved yet again that he is an invaluable addition to the lineup complementing Goldmsith on guitar rather than competing. The set included two thirds of All Your Favorite Bands--only "Waiting For Your Call", "Don't Send Me Away" and "To Be Completely Honest" were left out--among older favorites such as "When My Time Comes", "If I Wanted Someone", "A Little Bit of Everything", "Time Spent In Los Angeles" and more. The show was billed as "An Evening With Dawes", forgoing an opener in favor of an eighteen-song career-spanning set. A quarter of the way through, Goldsmith even commented that had they had an opener they would only be getting started at that point. Similarly, when it was time to call it a night, they chose to stay on stage rather than exiting and returning for an encore. And, of course, they closed out the set with "All Your Favorite Bands".

-Kendall Stewart

WUMB Q+A: Shemekia Copeland

Spinnin' The Blues host, Holly Harris, recently chatted with Shemekia Copeland about her new record, Outskirts of Love: 

HH: Hello Shemekia, It’s great to be sitting down with you again. How are you doing? I last caught up with you here, playing Cambrdige, MA last year. It was winter and we were all wrapped up. First of all I just want to say how much I love the album. It’s really wonderful. The songs have such variety and freshness. I’m excited to talk about it in a second, but I know you’re on the road. Where you now and how’s the tour going?  When do you plan to be back in Chicago?

SC: Doin' great. Workin' hard. Good to be with you. I'm touring my new CD, Outskirts of Love, almost non-stop for the next two months. I'm in Kansas now. Won't be back in Chicago until October 2. But I'm having a ball!

HH: I’m excited to talk with you about your latest Alligator release. What can you tell me about the title, “Outskirts of Love’? I’m sure a lot of thought went into that?

SC: It's a CD that I think is relevant to the times we live in. Most of the people are living on the outskirts. They're marginalized. Some are homeless. Another is a victim of date rape. There's even a country song about a woman on the run in a desperate situation.

HH:  First of all, what is different for you about this particular album; musically, collaboratively, and where you are vocally these days?

SC: What's different is I think it's my most complete album from a conceptional point of view. Everything just seems to fit in together theme-wise from one song to the next. It just flows. I'm back working with Oliver Wood who just seems to know how to get the most out of me. And he and John Hahn have written some of my best songs yet. 

HH:  Let’s talk about the cd, ‘Outskirts of Love, dropping right now. There are 12 wonderfully,

carefully selected tunes on here. Your work is so present and relevant. I just want to say, I think you

sound amazing and I’m not alone; better than ever. You are able to transcend styles, and make each

tune your own as, ‘pure Shemeika’.You also have an amazing array of talent on here with you.

Who’s in your core band? I love your choice of guest artists too- Billy F. Gibbons, Alvin Youngblood

Hart, and Robert Randolph, whom I recently saw and spoke with. He’s great. Plus you have some

special other musicians adding to the mix.  Recording engineer Mike Poole and his crew really did a

great job. There are a lot of good products coming out of Nashville.

SC: Oliver put together a great core band then added fantastic local guys in Nashville like Will Kimborough, Pete Finney, and Guthrie Trapp. Plus I had friends like Billy Gibbons who I just love, Robert Randolph who I've worked with before on a Slide Brothers CD, and Alvin Youngblood Hart who really nailed it on Cardboard Box. Nashville's just incredible to record in. The level of musicianship is so high. And all the people are great. Plus when the session is over you can go out to a club and catch somebody like Vince Gill. I had an awesome time.

HH: How did the collaboration with your guitarist Oliver Wood and manager/producer, John Hahn come about?  

SC: John saw Oliver in New York and they just hit it off. John's been writing great songs for me on every CD but I think he's done his best ones with Oliver. He and I talk every day about everything and somehow he's able to translate that into songs I can really relate to on a very personal level. .  

HH: Boy, ‘Crossbone Beach’ in an intense tune if you listen to the lyrics. The songs you sing are so

sincere as you talk about love and life and the human experience, including your own. I know that is

a message your dad passed down to you that, ‘We’re all connected”. It’s really very timely right now

especially in light of what’s going on in the world. Another example is ,‘The Battle is Over, But the

War Goes On’.

SC: I'm trying to make music, Blues in particular, that is relevant to the times. So "Crossbone" is right out of today's headlines about date rape. And "The Battle Is Over" anti-war message is as well. The world doesn't really need more blues songs that only say, "My main left me, ain't that sad". 

HH: I love that you selected, ‘Devil’s Hand’; a tune of your father’s on here, the great, Johnny Clyde Copeland. I hope you do one every cd! You know he would be proud of all that you have accomplished. Im sure both your parents are.

SC: I'm very luck that I had great parents. I love them both so much. Both were always so supportive of whatever I wanted to do. 

HH: The songs are all very sepcial; ‘Albert King’s, ‘Wrapped up in Love Again’, John

Fogerty’s...‘Long as I Can See the Light’ , and the final cut is so poignant, ‘Lord Help the Needy’.

Commentary on social justice is important to you.

SC: I'm very blessed that I have this opportunity to use my voice and people actually listen to it. So I like to take advantage of that to do more than just sing simple songs. Social justice is important to all of us.So I try to sing about thing but in an entertaining way.I'd never want to come across as lecturing anyone. 

HH: Are there a few tunes you that could like talk about specifically or that you would like to touch on so folks can be aware their messages?

SC: I think "Cardboard Box", about homeless people, is an important one. Everyday we all just walk past these poor people living out in the street.  We ignore them. It's like we treat them and act they're not even people anymore. We just walk on by. It's incredibly sad and it's not right. 

HH: Can you just mention on some of your greatest influences that have help put you on the path?

SC: Koko Taylor and Ruth Brown were huge influences. Otis Redding and O.V. Wright. The Stones and Led Zep.  My daddy, Johnny Clyde. Dr. John. Steve Cropper. Too many other people to name. I've been very fortunate. 

HH:  Thank you, Shemekia for sitting down with me today. I’m always so excited to see what you are

up to. All the best on, ‘Outskirts of Love’. It’s going places. Our buddy Ed Burke was also happy to

hear the new cd on ‘Spinning the Blues’. He’s like a proud uncle out there. I look forward to hearing

the band again soon. Let’s check in again in the future. Safe travels...

In-Studio Performance: Catie Curtis

Boston mainstay and resident "folk-rock goddess", as the New Yorker calls her, Catie Curtis paid a visit to the WUMB air studio on September 10th for a performance and interview with Dave Palmater in preparation for her shows at Club Passim on Saturday, September 19th.

Curtis, who is coming off of a divorce--the end of a seventeen-year marriage to be exact--and has a yet unnamed record dealing with the topic, chose to start the session with "Troubled Mind" from her 1996 album Truth and Lies. As an artist who has based most of her material off of her own life Curtis says that she is in a tricky spot with a lot of the material on her forthcoming album. Many of her earlier records were about her married life and parenting her young children. Not all of the songs are based fact for fact on her  own experiences. One song that fits this description is "My Betraying Heart",cowritten with Maia Sharp, which tells the story of overlapping relationships. She never wants to put a disclaimer out on song saying that they did or did not happen in her life. With twenty plus years of touring under her belt fans are always coming up to her and telling her how her songs relate to their own lives. What matters is that relatability, "what is important is that it could have happened" to her. She also played a song that was formerly named after her Unitarian minister who's name appeared in the song. The lyrics include asking "is it real life yet" and questioning whether the person leaving a long-term relationship is in fact doing the right thing. The song is currently untitled because she chose to remove the minister's name from the lyrics.

The next few months are going to be busy for Curtis. In addition to writing and performing she runs a series of songwriting retreats. Applications are still being accepted for a session running Columbus Day weekend. She also produces the Voices United Concerts to raise awareness for Americans United For Separation of Church and State. The next next installation features Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem on October 30th at the First Unitarian Society in Newton. Curtis is also looking for a venue to host her annual holiday show.

You can catch Catie Curtis at Club Passim on Saturday, September 19th, at 5 PM and 8 PM. More information can be found on her website CatieCurtis.com.

WUMB Member Concert with Eliza Gilkyson

If you are a WUMB Member you know that you can go to free WUMB Member Concerts. We have a Member Concert with Eliza Gilkyson, Rebecca Loebe, Betty Soo, and Bianca De Leon at 7 PM on Thursday, September 24th at David Friend Recital Hall at Berklee College of Music. The event is hosted by Berklee's Professional Education Division, Austin to Boston: Cutting Through The Noise.

Each of the featured artists are based out of Austin, Texas and are visiting Berklee to teach master classes, chat with students, and to perform. Eliza Gilkyson comes from a musical family. Her father is Terry Gilkyson the folk musician, and her brother Tony is a guitarist. Gilkyson has been releasing music since 1969. Rebecca Loebe competed on Adam Levine's team during the first season of NBC's The Voice and has toured with the likes of Ellis Paul and Raina Rose. Betty Soo has won awards from the Sisters Folk Festival, the Wildflower! Festival, Mountain Stage and more. Bianca De Leon is an internationally renowned folk singer who has had her music featured on film soundtracks and in video games.

You must be a WUMB member to attend Member Concerts. Become one here.

-Kendall Stewart

WUMB Member Concert with Joan Shelley

One of the perks of being a WUMB Member is that you are able to attend free WUMB Member Concerts. Our next Member Concert is with Joan Shelley at 12 PM on Saturday, September 12th at Club Passim. 

Joan Shelley is a singer/songwriter based in Louisville, Kentucky. Her influences range from 1960's folk music to classic country tunes. Shelley frequently collaborates with other musicians serving as a member of the trio Maiden Radio and even releasing entire records with them including Joe Manning for Outside Stay Outside  and Daniel Martin Moore for Farthest Field. Over and Even his her third solo record, out September 4th. 

You must be a WUMB Member to attend Member Concerts. Become one here. 

-Kendall Stewart

In-Studio Performance: Warren Haynes

On Tuesday, August 11th, WUMB had the pleasure of hosting the legendary Warren Haynes. Perhaps you know Haynes best as the guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, maybe you know him as a founding member of Gov't Mule, or you may know him for his solo work. To call his career expansive would be an understatement. Most recently he has teamed of with Railroad Earth to release Ashes & Dust, a record compiled of brand new songs and songs that he wrote twenty years ago but had yet to record.

Regardless of when they were written, each of the songs is deeply personal about real people and real relationships. Hey performed "Spots of Time", Is It Me Or You", "Wanderlust" and "Company Man", all from the new album and their emotional intensity permeated the studio.  "Is It Me Or You" had been kicking around for thirty years and "Wanderlust" is actually about Gram Parsons. They are cathartic for Haynes who believes that "Songwriting is a way to get you out of your own dumps".

Haynes teamed up with Railroad Earth after collaborating with them on stage for years, but they are not the only collaborators on the album. Mickey Raphael, the harmonica player from Willie Nelson's band, plays on the album, along with additions from Shawn Colvin and Grace Potter. Haynes refers to the guest performers as "the icing on the cake" because of the inspiration their fresh energy and perspective brought to the process.

He will can next be seen on Thursday at the Peach Music Festival (founded by the Allman Brothers) in Scranton, PA along with Greg Allman, Santana, Bob Weir with Billy and The Kids, Willie Nelson and Family and more. Then on Saturday, August 15th,  he will be in Lowell as part of the Lowell Summer Music Series. More information on Warren Haynes can be found here.

-Kendall Stewart

New WUMB Music: Bobby Long and Langhorne Slim

Every Friday morning at 7:30 Brendan Hogan highlights brand new music on WUMB. This week he featured new tracks from Bobby Long and Langhorne Slim & The Law.

Bobby Long, "Hideaway", Ode To Thinking
Twenty-nine year old British-born, New York-based singer songwriter Bobby Long released his third record Ode To Thinking, today. The album is named for its finger-picked opening track and is comprised of songs to which Long devoted the last year of his life, even playing them as part of his live sets. He says, "With some songs you have to play them out before you record them because they're not quite there yet". Ode To Thinking was produced by Mark Hallman--who also plays organ, bass, piano and drums on the album--and recorded in Hallman's Congress House Studios in Austin, TX and made possible by a PledgeMusic campaign comprised of over 750 pledgers.

Langhorne Slim & The Law, "Put It Together", The Spirit Moves 
Sean Scolnick is better known by his stage name Langhorne Slim taken from his hometown of Langhorne Pennsylvania. The Spirit Moves is his sixth album over all but second along with his band The Law. It is an important record for him, being his first written and recorded while sober, as well as his first written and recorded while single. Of the album he says, "I'm a strong believer that sensitivity and vulnerability are not weaknesses. They're some of the greatest strengths of man and woman kind, and that's what a lot of this record is about." The album was recorded with engineer Andrija Tokic at Tokic's The Bomb Shelter recording studio in East Nashville, TN.

-Kendall Stewart

WUMB and Berklee College of Music have teamed up again to present the Summer Concert Series on Carson Beach. For the next three Saturdays you can listen to great music right on the beach--and it's free! This Saturday, August 8th, at 2 PM you can catch the indie folk band Covey.

Covey is the brain child of vocalist and guitarist Tom Freeman who launched the project in February of 2013. Freeman's high school music teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in music because he was the most passionate player. That teacher's name was Haggarty and that is also the title of Covey's forthcoming EP. Covey has performed with Hozier and The Last Bison, among others and they were named the New England Band of The Month by Deli Magazine. The new single, "Stranger" drops on August 19th. More information can be found here. 

-Kendall Stewart

In-Studio Performance: Rayland Baxter

Rayland Baxter is the son of Bucky Baxter, the multi-instrumentalist from New Jersey who has played with the likes of Steve Earle and Bob Dylan and even on Rayland's own records, but the younger Baxter, himself didn't pick up a guitar until the age of twenty. A Lacrosse player in college, he tore both of his ACLs in two years, and it was that which led to his current music career, from Tennessee to Colorado and Israel, and his stop at the WUMB studio on July 28th. He has a laissez-fair attitude and abides by, "natural progression, knowing when to let go and just go with the flow".

Joining Baxter were two out of the four other musicians in his band, Matt Musty on drums and Nick Bennett on guitar. The trio began with "Yellow Eyes", the lead single from the forthcoming record Imaginary Man. From there they played a song inspired by a trip to Detroit,"Mr. Rodriguez", also from Imaginary Man, dropping August 14th. They closed out the set with a cover of Neil Young's "Vampire Blues".

More information on Rayland Baxter can be found on his website RaylandBaxter.com  or in the adjacent video, "Who Is Rayland Baxter", which he refers to as being "kind of like MTV cribs".

-Kendall Stewart

Newport Folk Festival 2015: Madisen Ward & And The Mama Bear

Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear, the mother and son duo from Kansas City, have been winning hearts wherever they go and Saturday afternoon at The Newport Folk Festival was no different. A small table with LED candles was placed between two chairs in the center of The Harbor Stage, giving it the homely feel of your own living room. The full crowd--audience members were packed together both seated and standing--began applauding as Ruth and Madisen Ward walked onto the stage and took their seats on either side of the table. Then Ruth sang to check her mic and they cheered. The countdown was one minute until their set was slated to begin when Ruth said:

"While we're waiting on our one minute I want you to know it's beautiful here. This place puts the 'B' in beautiful. I am enjoying it so much it's like it's giving back to me. This place is breathtaking." 

Keeping with the theme Madisen and Ruth started their set with "Live By the Water" with Ruth winking at the allusions to surroundings like theirs in that moment. Madisen spotted fellow Kansas City natives in the crowd sporting KC gear just so he would notice them, referring to them as "friends from home".  

It was their first time playing the Newport Folk Festival and their first time ever in Newport. Ruth described what an honor it was to be asked to play before their record Skeleton Crew was even released, and that they "couldn't be more honored to be here with the heavyweights of the past like Bob Dylan and Neil Young." 

Songs like "Daisy Jane" and their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" garnered applause before they were even over, artists like Jose Gonzalez watched from the side of the stage and everyone began cheering from the first note of their lead single "Silent Movies".

At then end of the performance Ruth looked out at the crowd, "I want you all to know that Madisen wrote every single one of those songs except for 'Dreams'". Madisen just about cut her off to interject, "And she played every single one of them with me." 

-Kendall Stewart

Newport Folk Festival 2015: Joe Pug

Joe Pug was the second artist to grace the Newport Folk Festival Harbor Stage at noon on Friday, July 24th. But his set was no typical early-in-the-day performance.

Pug was joined on stage by upright bassist, Matt Schuessler, and Greg Tuohey on electric guitar. Both Tuohey and Schuessler are members of Pug's Hundred Mile Band and play on his latest release, Windfall. The trio appropriately began with "Nation of Heat" and "I Do My Father's Drugs" off of Pug's 2009 debut EP also titled, Nation of Heat. 

And then he brought a third musician to the stage: Rose Guerin of Vandaveer. Guerin is a resident of Martha's Vineyard, which was what inspired Pug to ask her to play with him. It was also her birthday. Tragically, her house burned down a few weeks back. Pug called her to say that obviously she would not have to play at Newport with him if she didn't feel up to it. He r response?  "Joe, looking forward to playing Newport on my birthday is the only thing keeping me going." The first song they performed together was "Burn and Shine" and Guerin stayed on that stage until Pug's final tune. 

Pug's sarcastic sense of humor permeated throughout the set, jokingly referring to Windfall as their "blockbuster new album". "This next song is about as incongruous to a place as you can get," he began. "We tried to play all our upbeat material 'cause it's such a beautiful day. But it turns out 90% of our [stuff] is really dark." The crowd laughed with him as he broke into "The Great Despiser". 

Rose Guerin was not the only guest musician to appear during the performance. MorganEve Swain, one half of Brown Bird, jumped up on fiddle just for "Call It What You Will". In what was arguably the peak point of the set she and Tuohey engaged in a solo battle with Pug egging them on with "it's so nice I gotta hear it twice!" And "you call that a solo battle? Now that's a solo battle!" When they were done Pug turns to the audience and said, "That just made me think of that part in Zoolander when Will Ferrell is like 'They're break dance fighting!' In case you wanted to know what was going through my head..." 

"Speak Plainly, Diana" brought Pug and co. to the home stretch. "We play a lot of festivals, and we usually play around this time which means we're usually playing to a food truck vendor. It really is a testament to the greatness of the Newport Folk Festival that so many of you are out listening to music this early." 

Hopefully he realizes that it's a testament to the greatness of his musicianship as well. 

-Kendall Stewart

In-Studio Performance: The Dustbowl Revival

The eight-piece "American roots orchestra", "string band with horns", "horn band with strings" The Dustbowl Revival clustered together in the WUMB air studio on July 17th for an in-studio performance and interview with Dave. Breaking immediately into "Ballad of The Bellhop" from their fourth and latest record, With A Lampshade On, the close proximity made it even easier for the eight of them to feed off of each other's energy.

The band began when guitar and vocalist Zach Lupetin first moved to Los Angeles from Chicago. He put out a Craigslist ad for other musicians and "accidental evolution" occurred. Many musicians came out, some stuck around including trombone player Ulf Bjorlin who joked, "I'm one of the original members," dropping his voice down for effect, "just want to get that out there." He and trumpet player, Matt Rubin, play without charts. "I used to chart everything," Bjorlin said, "but then I left them at home on the way to a gig and realized I didn't need them. Now we play everything by heart." A theme running through the band members is that for the most part they were classically trained in their instruments and then learned and picked up other styles along the way. Fiddler Connor Vance, for example, has recently been learning how to play in a mariachi style and Daniel Mark started as a classically trained violinist before picking up the mandolin.

Liz Beebe who plays the ukulele and the washboard, took the lead on vocals for "Never Had To Go" also from With A Lampshade On. Most of the album was recorded live, which is also how they like to put the final touches when writing songs. Lupetin writes most of the song and then the band tests them out at "shows where no one is listening, so they're ready for the shows where lots of people are listening," he said as a perfect lead-up to "Bright Lights".

The Dustbowl Revival are playing at Regattabar at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge tonight. More information can be found on their website DustbowlRevival.com.

Ticket Giveaway: Tedeschi Trucks Band

Tune in every morning from July 13th to July 17th when Brendan Hogan will be giving away tickets to see The Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion on July 22nd!

Husband and wife duo Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks serve as the leaders of the Tedeschi Trucks band. The group formed in 2010 as the Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band in Jacksonville, Florida--the couple putting their solo bands on hiatus to do so. They wrote songs in their home studio and made their debut at The Savannah Music Festival on April 1, 2010. Tedeschi and Trucks changed their band name to The Tedeschi Trucks band in March of 2011 and released their first record, Revelator, on June 7th of that year. Revelator went on to win the Best Blues Album Grammy at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. In 2012 The Tedeschi Trucks band released their live album, Everybody's Talkin' and their second studio album, Made Up Mind, in 2013. 

Listen for your chance to win tickets between 6 AM and 10 AM Monday, July 13th through Friday, July 17th! 

-Kendall Stewart

WUMB Album Of The Month: Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

Here at WUMB we have started a new tradition of a monthly Album of The Month on-air giveaway. This month we are giving away copies of Jason Isbell's forthcoming album, Something More Than Free. 

Something More Than Free is Isbell's fifth solo album(Isbell is a former member of Drive-By Truckers) and second released on his own label Southeastern Records. The record was produced by Dave Cobb who also produced Isbell's previous release, Southeastern. Something More Than Free with a full band at The South Emporium in Nashville Tennessee and features the themes of anticipation and celebration for the upcoming birth of his and his wife Amanda Shires' first child, due in September.

He is currently on tour through February of 2016 and recently played the Boston Calling Music Festival right here at our very own City Hall Plaza.

Something More Than Free drops on Friday, July 17th. We will be giving away copies all next week, the week of July 13th. Tune in to 91.9 in and around Boston or stream us online at WUMB.org for your chance to win!

More information on Jason Isbell can be found at http://www.jasonisbell.com/.

-Kendall Stewart

New Bedford Folk Festival 4th of July Weekend

This weekend WUMB will be at the 20th Annual New Bedford Folk Festival on both Saturday and Sunday! And Dave Palmater will be hosting on The Whaling Museum stage! We will have a booth so come say hi to us!

About the festival: Every first weekend of July seventy or more musicians--both local and national--and ninety plus artists and vendors all convene in downtown New Bedford. Music is from 11 AM to 9 PM across seven stages in the region of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. There is also an Artisans Marketplace and International Bazaar! Food options include restaurants, street carts, and a food court. The New Bedford Folk Festival is hosted by The New Bedford Economic Development Council, The City of New Bedford, the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, and The New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Performers include: 

• Benoit Bourque
• Catie Curtis
• Vance Gilbert
• Seth Glier
• Kim and Reggie Harris
• Yves Lambert Trio
• Patty Larkin
• Danielle Miraglia
• Peter Mulvey
• The Nields
• Claudia Russell
• David Jacobs-Strain
• New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus
• AND MORE!

-Kendall Stewart

Bonnaroo 2015: Trampled By Turtles

Trampled By Turtles are one of those bands who have built their entire careers based on word of mouth press and festical presence. After all, they had five albums under their belts already by the time their "breakthrough record", Stars and Sattellites was released in 2012. Due to this foundation it was no surprise how laid back the five Turtles were, standing shoulder to shoulder on the Bonnaroo main stage casually dressed in shorts and tshirts.

In fact, the band barely even said a word to the audience. Aside from dedicating the song "Victory" to someone named Rufus (presumably Rufus Wainwright), stating that the song "Duluth" was about their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, and announcing that bassist Tim Saxhaug would be seeing a cover of Loudon Wainwright III's "Swimming "Wewe get Song", already a staple of their set, they didn't say much at all. 

But they didn't need to. As a band whose roots are deeply set in a groundwork performances and social interactions with loyal fans, their lack of small talk was comparable to a romantic couple who are at ease with each other so much so that they can comfortably share a silence. 

The set was a blend of the entire Trampled By Turtles catalogue, "Are Yiu Behind a The Shining Star", "Codeine", "Walt Whitman" and, of course, "Alone" we're all included. 

The moment that the partnership between artist shone the most clearly was when lead singer, Dave Simonett excitedly said, "We get to actually hang out for once. Finally we're going to get to come out with all you. Crazy kids after." And the audience cheered and agreed, despite the band's earlier lack of talking about feelings, showing just how strong the artist/audience bond can truly be.

-Kendall Stewart

Bonnaroo 2015: Dawes

Since their formation in 2009 Dawes has risen to become one of the most well-known folk-rock groups in America. This year marked their third performance at Bonnaroo, however, Friday's performance--a mere week after the release of their 4th full-length album, All Your Favorite Bands--was their first on the main stage.

The best word to describe Taylor Goldsmith, Tay Strathairn, Griffin Goldsmith and Wylie Gelber's main stage debut? Grateful. Lead singer, Taylor Goldsmith thanked the crowd between every single song. 

The quartet played songs from their catalogue including "When My Time Comes", "Time Spent In Los Angeles" and "If I Wanted Someone", taking a moment during "Most People" to thank the fans for being there for them since the beginning. The set was also sprinkled with new tunes "Somewhere Along The Way", "Right On Time", and "I Can't Think About It Now". 

"Bonnaroo is one of the most special festivals in the whole world. This song goes from the bottom of our hearts to every single one of you," Goldsmith said as the quartet broke into All Your Favorite Bands' title track. 

"I hope that life without a chaperone is what you thought it'd be/ I hope your brothers El Camino runs forever/ I hope the world sees the same person that you've always been to me/ And may all your favorite bands stay together"

-Kendall Stewart

Bonnaroo 2015: Bear's Den

The British alt-folk band Bear's Den are still riding high on the wave of their debut record, Islands, released this past October. The band formed in 2012 and that same year, along with The Staves and Ben Howard were a part of the tour highlighted in the Austin To Boston documentary. Islands was released on Communion records, the label founded by Bear's Den member Kevin Jones, along with producer Ian Grimble and Ben Lovett of Mumford and Sons, with whom Bear's Den have also toured. So the band are no strangers to the spotlight. Yet they still seem humbly in awe of their own success.

Communion sponsored the Bonnaroo Who Stage on Thursday night presenting Little May, Raury and Rubblebucket in addition to Bear's Den. The Who stage is a fraction of the size of the other Bonnaroo stages, but you would never know from the crowd's devotion to Bear's Den. 

Lead vocalist, Andrew Davie thanked the crowd for being there stating the lights were so bright, though, that he couldn't see them. The lights immediately turned towards the crowd and upon seeing the hundreds of people before him exclaimed, "Turn them back! There's so many of you, I'm nervous now! I thought there were only five people there and it was just my family!" 

The way that the audience was clumping respectfully together to sway in unison while singing along to "Above The Clouds of Pompeii"--a song laden with themes of familial connection and loss--was a site any member of the Davies family would be proud to see. 

-Kendall Stewart