This fall and winter, listen for special guests hosts on All The Traditions while Robert Resnik takes some time off from producing VPR’s weekly folk and world music program.
Nov. 22 - Dec. 20: Moira Smiley
Singer, composer and song-collector Moira Smiley is a native Vermonter who is home in Bristol while the pandemic has put a dent in her touring schedule. She has performed in arenas, cathedrals, kitchens, back porches, sound stages, and on glaciers. She’s performed with the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Tune-Yards, Tim O’Brien, Eric Whitacre, Los Angeles Master Chorale, New World Symphony, Solas, and The Lyris String Quartet. Moira’s original compositions, choral arrangements, and folk music are being sung by millions of voices around the world today.
Dec. 27 - Jan. 31: Mary McGuinniss
Mary McGinniss is a singer and songwriter who has been described as one of the Green Mountains’ musical treasures. A Vermont native, she is inspired by history, rock & roll, folktales, jazz and poetry. Mary’s original songs cut deep into the pathos of daily living. Her band, The Selkies, play covers that range from Scottish/Irish traditional music to Lucinda Williams.
Feb. 7 - Mar. 7: Ida Mae Specker
A fifth generation Vermonter, Ida Mae Specker was raised in a cabin at the foot of Terrible Mountain where she learned to play the fiddle from her father John Specker. She returned to Vermont after college and launched an eclectic musical career performing and recording fiddle and guitar with area folk, country, rock and reggae ensembles. As a solo performer, Ida Mae fuses original, contemporary, and traditional material, bringing heartfelt life and relevance to the chain of American folk music. In 2018, she founded the Chester Music Center with mission to increase the accessibility of music in the local community and to empower people to connect across genres and generations through our common musical roots.
As part of this temporary change, All The Traditions will air for two hours each week, from 7-9 p.m. on Sunday evenings. From 9-11 p.m. VPR will carry Mountain Stage. Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music, the program is recorded in front of a live audience and features performances from seasoned legends and emerging stars in genres ranging from folk, blues, and country; to indie rock, synth pop, world music, alternative, and beyond.
We hope you’ll listen and let us know what you think!
