Hey folks.  Today on Gravel Road Radio, I have the honor and privilege to interview singer-songwriter and traveling troubador, Johnsmith, winner of the New Folk Competition at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival.  John will be performing at a house concert in Fairfield on Saturday, June 26.  We'll talk about his sixth release, Gravity of Grace, life on the road, and the art and craft of songwriting.  Join me, your host Lauryn Shapter for Gravel Road Radio Tuesday, from 2-4 for some great roots & Americana, country, bluegrass, and beyond ... and a conversation with Johnsmith.

Howdy folks!  Today on Gravel Road Radio I have the honor of interviewing Ingrid Elizabeth and Joe Stevens, who together make up the powerful acoustic Americana duo, Coyote Grace.  With just two incredible voices, a bass, and a guitar, Coyote Grace packs a powerful musical punch to support some stellar and poetic song writing.  The two alternate lead vocals and song writing duties and the result is a dynamic landscape from two different perspectives uniting into one warm and inviting sound.  Coyote Grace makes its Fairfield debut this Sunday, April 18 at Cafe Paradiso and today's show will you give you a hint of all they have to offer.  Tune in today at 2 p.m. for Gravel Road Radio, with the interview at 3.

Mainframe is calling my name
I can't get out, I'm the one to blame
There's no way out once you're in the flame
We must get out before it's too late
~ Mainframe, Nefertiti & the nefTUNES

When Nefertiti wrote an email of introduction, she described her music as "Acoustic Gangsterism" and went on to explain that the style "is a mix of reggae, hip-hop, folk, rock, soul, and blues. The music comes out sounding like Kanye West and Jill Scott's love child had a love child with Lauryn Hill and Lil' Wayne's love child, all grown-up."  Needless to say, I was intrigued and had to find out more.

I can guarantee there hasn't been an artist like this on Lyrical Venus yet!  Tune in at 9:30am Central on Tuesday 4/13 to meet this soulful, creative and independent spirit.  We'll start the hour off with your weekly Lyrical Venus dose of female singer-songwriters at 9am.

Rebroadcast of Interview with Congressman Tom Udall of New Mexico.
Congressman Udall serves on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittees on the Interior and Environment; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and, the Legislative Branch. He is also the Co-Vice Chair of the House Native American Caucus and a member of the Bipartisan Rural Caucus, the Democratic Hispanic Working Group, the Education Task Force, and the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, among others.

Dr. Stanley Cheren is a medical doctor who is a former faculty member of Boston University Medical School. Dr. Cheren has published numerous articles including a series on violence in sports, which appeared in the New York Times. He recently returned from Guatemala where he has been working with a Maya village to improve the community’s quality of health care. Dr. Cheren is a graduate of Harvard University and Tufts University Medical School.

I'm coming home to you
Like a lighthouse in the dark
I reach for you whenever we're apart
~ Coming Home to You, Ellis

Minnesota-based singer-songwriter Ellis has been busy since her last visit to Fairfield, including working on a new album and showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival!  With her sweet voice, gigantic grin and heart-opening songs, I'm sure she made a whole bunch more new fans. 

New fans and longtime fans in the area can see her live at Cafe Paradiso on Saturday 2/13 at 8pm!

Tune in to Lyrical Venus on Tuesday morning to catch up with Ellis. The show starts at 9:00 am central, Ellis will call in around 9:30.

Live in the studio today, Gravel Road Radio is honored to have the Seattle-based duo, MoZo.  Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and recording Moe Provencher and percussionist (and Iowa native) Aimee Zoe Tubbs make up this Roots-Americana pair that has been performing and busking all over the United States, as well as Europe.  With topics that cross a wide range of subjects and an equally wide ranging performance style, MoZo is truly a duo that is more than the sum of its parts.  We'll talk to them about their travels, song writing, and life as traveling troubadors, as well as what lies ahead for this fabulous pair.  Join me, your host Lauryn Shapter, on Gravel Road Radio, Tuesday from 2-4 p.m.

Join cohosts Stuart Tanner and James Moore on Tanner & Moore for an indepth discussion on the Congo with David Bamlango. Bamlango, who grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is working as a lawyer for an international business firm in Chicago.

Two weeks ago, Tanner & Moore were joined by Congolese native Kabuika Kamunga for a historical discussion and background on the tragic country that has seen so much suffering.

Since 1998, an estimated 6 million Congolese have lost their lives due to war, hunger and illness. 6 million--never mind the brutal legacy of King Leopold's Imperial reign of terror, Belgian colonialization, and the Western-backed rule of Mobutu.

Hey y'all.

I've been away these past few weeks and am happily back in the saddle again, welcoming to Crooked Sisters Radio Hour the lovely and talented Carter Sampson out of Oklahoma City. "Good for the Meantime,"

Carter's fourth album, has been getting regular airplay on both Crooked Sisters and Gravel Road Radio and she will be passing through Fairfield, this Friday, August 14 for a show at Cafe Paradiso.

With a powerful voice that is at once passionate and vulnerable, lyrical and edgy -- and song writing to match -- it promises to be one heck of a show.

So tune into Crooked Sisters, this Thursday, August 13 from 10-noon for a conversation with Carter Sampson, and, of course, great roots and Americana music!

Howdy Folks.  This week on Crooked Sisters Radio Hour I will have the pleasure of speaking to Amy Finders of Finders and Youngberg, as well as The Mike and Amy Finders Band.  Mike and Amy, former Iowa City residents who now make their home in Fort Collins, Colorado, are back on native soil for a few Iowa shows and will be performing at Cafe Paradiso this Friday, May 15.  Amy will be calling into the show this morning from the road, the good lord and reception willing.  We'll hear about how life in the mountains is treating the Finders, what's on their musical plate these days, the new quartet they're in and missing Iowa.  So tune into Crooked Sisters Radio Hour, Thursday from 10 'til noon for a conversation with the ever-charming Amy Finders.

Join me for a little preview of the show ...
on Gravel Road Radio, this Tuesday, from 2 -4 p.m.