Ron Olesko's Folk Music Notebook

Lara Herscovitch joins Ron Olesko to share songs from her latest CD "Misfit". Lara’s award-winning music is “pure musical poetry” (The Courier): highly original, modern folk with shades of blues, jazz, and pop. As the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal wrote, "Singer-songwriter Lara Herscovitch doesn't write songs just for the ears, but also for the heart and soul." With a voice “clear and smooth...

Robin Greenstein joins Ron Olesko in the studios of WFDU-FM to perform live and share selections from her new CD "Tears and Laughter". Robin is a singer-songwriter from NYC whose music is a mix of folk, pop, rock, blues, country and jazz. She calls her music "Acousticness." Stong soulful singing and memorable original songs make a lasting impact on her audiences. Her songs have been recorded on Fa...

Singer-songwriter Paul Sachs joins Ron Olesko in the studios of WFDU-FM to share songs from his new CD "Love is Love." Born and raised in New York City. Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Springsteen are the songwriters that influenced Sachs, and pushed him into the folk music circles of the city. Chosen as one of Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's Emerging Artists in 2011. Sachs still lives in NYC, performing in...

Singer-songwriter Judy Kass joins host Ron Olesko to share her story of working in the World Trade Center and her role in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as well as the personal toll she endured. Judy shares songs from her latest CD "Beyond the Ash and Steel" and discusses how music helped, and continuous to help, the healing process.

Host Ron Olesko welcomes Spook Handy (www.spookhandy.com) to the studio. Spook performs live in the studio and also shares songs from his new CD "Keep the Flame Alive - Volume 1: Pete, Woody and Me."

Ron Olesko's guest is Toby Walker, who performs live in the studio and shares selections from his latest CD "Mileage." Toby discusses his roots with the blues and sharing the songs and guitar styles that he learned from the original sources.

Ron Olesko welcomes South African multicultural artist Sharon Katz to the studio. The Grammy nominated artist is embarking on "The Peace Train Tour Across American: Putting United Back in the U.S.A." The 2016 US tour is modeled after her highly successful 1992 South African tour which made history when she presented the first multi-cultural performance in the post apartheid nation. That tour and i...

Ron Olesko's guest is Shawna Caspi. The Canadian singer-songwriter performed several new songs live in the studio and shared some cuts from her most recent CD "Apartments for Lovers."

Ron Olesko's guest is Elisa Peimer who performs live in the studio and shares cuts from her new CD "Inside the Glass." Originally broadcast on June 5, 2016.

Host Ron Olesko welcomes Abbie Gardner to the studio. Abbie, one of the founding members of Red Molly, talks about some of the projects she has been working on while the trio has taken an indefinite hiatus. Abbie is currently touring with singer-songwriter Jesse Terry and she shares some new recordings they have made.

Singer-songwriter Irish Mythen joins Ron Olesko in the studio to perform songs including "Gypsy Dancer." Irish has been gaining great acclaim in recent years for her powerful voice, mesmerizing stage presence, and stirring songs. A globe-trotting troubadour who was born in Ireland and now lives in Canada, Irish was in town as part of her first U.S. solo tour. Originally broadcast on Ma 15, 2016.

Singer-songwriter Marci Geller joins Ron Olesko in the studio to share selections from her new CD "Square Peg." Marci's passionate songs and beautiful vocals combine for a stirring performance. Her latest CD features guest appearances from Lori Lieberman, David Buskin and many friends from the folk community. Originally broadcast on Ma 15, 2016.

Singer-songwriter Joe Giacoio joins Ron Olesko in the studios of WFDU-FM to perform live and share songs from his new CD "I Love Hamburgers."

Ron Olesko previews the 2016 Brooklyn Folk Festival with founder and folk singer Eli Smith. Eli is one of the guiding forces behind the recent folk revival that is based in Brooklyn. Eli performs songs live in the studio and shares live recordings from previous Brooklyn Folk Fests (www.brooklynfolkfest.com)

Comical singer-songwriter and guitarist Carla Ulbrich joins Ron Olesko on WFDU-FM's TRADITIONS to share selections from her latest CD "Totally Average Woman." Originally broadcast on March 20, 2016

Ron Olesko welcomes Fred Gillen Jr. to the studios of WFDU-FM. Fred appears in conjunction with his 2/27/16 appearance at the new Schoolhouse Songwriters Series at Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen, New Jersey. Fred performs several songs live in the studio and chats with Ron about his music, his work with Tribes Hill and his recording studio "Woody's House" - out of which a number of acclaimed...

Ron's guest is EFRAT, who visited WFDU-FM's studio with members of her band to share some selections from her new CD "The Silver Lining." The songs are a blend of many styles – including folk, jazz, pop, klezmer, swing, and blues. Their lyrics and structure are a testament to finding strength during the trials of life and leaning on community. Frat is a professional violinist, violist, singer, arr...

Ron Olesko's guest is Don Friedman from the group Triboro. Selections from the trio's new CD "Harmony x 3" are featured. The members of Triboro hail from 3 of the 5 hails boroughs of New York,but their music goes far beyond the region. They are an acoustic vocal trio that applies fine three-part harmony to an eclectic mix of musical genres including old-time, new-time, Carter Family, country, West...

Ron Olesko's guest is Dan Schatz, who shares selections from his new CD The Promise of the Sowing (Folk-Legacy). Dan is a Grammy nominated producer, singer, songwriter and interpreter of traditional and contemporary folk music. (www.danschatz.com)

Originally broadcast 7-12-15: A discussion of the Summersongs 2015 music camps and the Tom Ryan Tribute CD: Barn's Burnt Down (Now I Can See the Moon). Summersongs is being held in Ashokan, NY from August 1-7. This longtime songwriting camp for music-lovers of all levels was founded by Penny Nichols in 1999. This year's teaching staff includes Freebo, Kate Campbell, Sloan Wainwright, David Roth, G...

Host Ron Olesko welcomes Arlon Bennett and the Healing Project to the studios of WFDU-FM. Arlon’s recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease just makes him want to sing louder through it all! He will be performing on the show with his band, The Healing Project, featuring John Sonntag on guitar, Gordon Roehrer on bass and RT Miller on percussion. Arlon’s goal is to keep making positive music that help...