(Link to play list at bottom).  The Annual FT List is gaining wider audience internationally; Last week's Singer-Songwriter Show received rave reviews. This week's Part 2 honors downtempo, "exotica electronica" discovered during the past 50 weeks by program host, UndergroundMan, a.k.a., DJ Andy Bargerstock, who spent many hours down the "rabbit hole" to harvest these quintessential cuts.  Now, the very best of Fringe Toast electronica music comes to you from Sweden, Germany, Japan, UK, and USA. 

Multiple tracks comes from Emou (Germany's Mario Reinsch), Ror-Shak (UK drum and bass DJ DB), and Luminous, a.k.a., Gary B. and regular contributor to Cafe Del Mar series (album cover photo above). In addition, Chicago-based band, Roommate (photo right), offers "Soft Eyes" heard first by DJ Andy at the Ped-Mall in Iowa City on a cool 2011 summer night.  There will be plenty of marvelous surprises on this night.  Might be a good show to record!  Spread the news to friends in your worldwide network.  Live streaming available at www.kruufm.com.  Click here for play list. It's "the best music you never hear!"

(Link to play list below). DJ UndergroundMan (a.k.a., Andy Bargerstock) lays out his favorite new tracks discovered over the past 50 weeks. Singer-songwriters are the theme of this program. Part 2 on Wedneday, September 28 honors the downtempo ambient electronic artists. Only two singer-songwriters earned honors with more than one track on the 2011 Fringe Toast Best list: California band, Gram Rabbit (photo) and 20-year-old New England Conservatory of Music student, Sarah Jarosz (photo).  Both will be heard in the second hour.  Blodwyn Pig garners honor with "Dear Jill" as the oldest track from the 1973 Best of British Blues, Volume 1, an amazingly contemporary sound.  Longest tracks from Eliza Gilkyson ("Belle of the Ball", 7:02) and Afro Celt Sound System ("Mother", 6:30). Perhaps most interesting fact: 12 tracks from CDs released within the past year. Farthest geographic regions represented:  West Africa, Sweden, Ireland, UK.

Mark your calendar.  Make this a special event with friends. Available via live stream through www.kruufm.com at 8pm Central US Time on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Click here for play list.

This week's program begins with Rodrigo y Gabriela (photo), the exotic, vegan Mexican duo who gained fame by playing the pubs of Dublin, Ireland while showcasing their fast, joyful, rhythmic acoustic guitars.  DJ Underground Man features 3 songs from French-born Nigerian singer, Asa (photo), who just released a new album called Beautiful Imperfection. On this night, you will hear additional tracks from artists featured on recent shows -- Amos Lee, Bodies of Water and Disappointed by Candy.  Listen carefully for two tracks from Peter Frampton's NOW album as further reinforcement of the treasures of his recent music (2003-10).

Hold tight for the exquisite Chill Session in the second hour featuring downtempo ambient electronica selections from Ooze, OceanLab, Numatic Soul, Opera to Relax, and Witchcraft. This is the kind of program to sit out on the backporch and enjoy the night air.  Please share this preview with friends on the social network scene.  Click here for play list.

(See link to playlist below). Tonight's spotlight group is LA-based, Bodies of Water, known for their beautiful vocal harmonies lead by husband-wife duo David and Meredith Metcalf (photo).  DJ UndergroundMan will play two tracks from 2011 CD release, Twist Again.  B of W leads off the second hour Chill Session that will include first-time Fringe Toast Music Show appearances from Alela Diane (folk America from Portland), Yo La Tengo (New Jersey alternative instrumental band), Disappointed by Candy (Nashville-based post-classical instrumental duo), The Real Tuesday Weld (UK-based jazzy cabaret-style electronica), Aaron Jerome with Katherin DeBoer (downtempo jazz stylings).

Mark your calendar to enjoy another show of "the best music you never hear."  Spread the word to your friends in the social network. This program can be streamed live at 8pm CENTRAL US Time from www.kruufm.com.  Click here for play list.

(See play list link below.) As legend Peter Frampton swings across America with his Frampton Comes Alive! 35th anniversary concert tour, many of us heard his concert at the Riverside Casino last Saturday (8/27/11).  On this week's Fringe Toast program, you will hear what Peter has been recording since the heydays of his 1970s band.  You will hear tracks from CDs Now (2003), Fingerprints (2006) and Thank You, Mr. Churchill (2010).  You will be amazed to discover these marvelous six rarely heard tracks from the quintessential master of the guitar, who is known for melodic depech mode (moderate speed) guitar playing. The encore for this program will be his version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a must-hear cover song.

As the night unfolds, Australian band, Gotye, takes the FT soundstage along with other first-timers including Rich Mullins, Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos, B. Fleischmann, and Spellbound Productions.  More good tracks coming from West Coast bands, Gram Rabbit and The Green Pajamas, who have been featured in recent programs.

Join the live stream at http://kruufm.com or in the Fairfield, Iowa area at 100.1 FM. Spread the word to allow your friends to join us for the Wednesday Night "Over-the-Hump" of the week party.  Click here for play list.

This week's spotlight shines on Nina Simone (1933-2003) featuring a new remix of "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" that just came out in the soundtrack to the film, Crazy Stupid Love.  Born in North Carolina, black female jazz singer, Nina, came from a classical piano background and sang in low tenor with intriguing jazz improvisations.  DJ Jaffa lays down marvelous chill-worthy blues instrumental layers behind this track.  John Hiatt launches the program with tracks from his newly released CD.

Listen early for new tracks from Kenny Wayne Shephard, Keb Mo, and the Decemberists.  Later, in the second-hour chill session, expect endorphin-boosting vibes from Dr. Wu, Luminous, The Lushlife Project, and Slightly Stoopid.  Encourage your friends worldwide to join us by streaming the program live at www.kruufm.com .   Click for play list.

Margo Timmons (photo with hand on mic) and her downtempo blues band, Cowboy Junkies, share two tracks from the exquisite 2007 CD Trinity Revisited, a 20th anniversary re-recording of their initial album.  It was recorded again at Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity.  But, this time the Junkies were joined by Natalie Merchant, Vic Chestnut, and Ryan Adams.  In the second hour, stay tuned for psych-rock California band, Gram Rabbit (photo) that features the lead vocals of Jesika von Rabbit.   The band contributed a track to the current new release film, Crazy, Stupid Love. 

New Fringe Toast performers include Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabate (Southern US bluesmaster collaborating with fabled Mali kora player), Devil Makes Three (acoustic folk punk band), Gurf Morlix (Austin,TX multi-instrumental Americana songwriter), Eilen Jewell (Idaho-based Americana singer), Mary Gauthier (Louisiana folk singer), and Cahalen Morrison (old-time, new fangled finger style guitar-picker).  The late-chill session includes tracks from electronic composers Emancipator (USA), Velours Perfect (Sweden) and the "Marble House (Radio Edit)" by Scandanavian band, The Knife (Sweden).

Click here for play list.

Vintage replay of November 10, 2010 Fringe Toast Classic show that showcased choice tracks from DJ Andy Bargerstock's Iowa Source Magazine article about the best music rarely heard during the Golden Era of Rock.  For an audio preview of the show, go to the KRUU-FM archives to hear two 8-minute audio reviews by our favorite DJ. Click HERE for Part 1: Rare tracks from unknown groups.  Click HERE for Part 2: Rare Tracks from well-known groups. Then, sip on the program playlist, like a fine glass of wine. Click HERE for play list.   Perhaps, the highlight of the evening will be "Two Thousand Light Years from Home" by the Rolling Stones (photo) from the album Their Satanic Majesties Request which actually sounds quite heavenly.

If you want to hear the sounds of Underground FM Radio circa 1967-72, you don't want to miss this program.  It represents a special piece of Rock History about which few people are well-versed.

With the unfortunate passing of Amy Winehouse (photo), DJ UndergroundMan (Andy Bargerstock) places the spotlight on AW tracks played on Fringe Toast in the early days before she was well-known.  Listen early for these choice cuts. Later in the first hour, you will hear Sweet Talk Radio (photo) featuring the husband-wife duo of Kathrin Shorr and Tim Burlingame, who we earnestly yearn will return to Fairfield for another fabulous musical evening.  

During the second-hour Chill Session, Chicago band, Roommate, takes the stage to perform "Soft Eyes," destined for the Annual Best of FT List.  Comedian/poet, Ken Nordine, contributes a segment for the FT Rain Dance called, "Looks Like It's Gonna Rain" from his 1957 LP, Word Jazz.  The late Chill groups include Blue Six, Morcheeba, Honeyroot, and Starseed.  Take the hand of a very good friend and enjoy the benefits of a night with Fringe Toast.  You'll be glad you did. Encourage friends worldwide to join us live at www.kruufm.com.  Click here for play list.

DJ Andy Bargerstock reveals the rarely-heard QMS track, "Fire Brothers," during this week's second-hour Chill Session. See band photo with Dino Valenti tending to the sail.  The "best music you never hear" promise continues to deliver with Sophie Barker's (photo below) "Calling" recorded during her collaboration with the electronic band, Bliss.  You may know Sophie as one of the pivotal singer-songwriters with Zero 7 during their electric ride in the early to mid 2000s. Among the many first-time performers on this week's Fringe Toast play list are Steen Thottrup, Cellar 55, American Analog Set, Tarmac, Tosca, and vintage early '70s underground band, Lothar and the Hand People.  For those who listen regularly, your heart will skip with joy with more marvelous sounds from Starseed, Soundbuffet, and Bombay Dub Orchestra. You are destined for another fine ride on this program made available LIVE worldwide via the KRUU-FM website at www.kruufm.com .  Click here for play list.