Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio

Subject: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Alex.S
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 11:57 PM

Hearing the sad news from Detroit reminded me of something I've been wonderign for a long time, and I'm amazed I never thought to ask it here.
I've been doing a lot of driving lately (as does almost evgeryone else here in Los Angeles) and I've listened to most of my tapes and CDs several times. Yes, there are two excellent classical stations, but it I sure wish I could find some more variety. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good radio programs in broadcast in Los Angeles?
I'm usually in the car around 7 in the morning and somewhere betweeen 3 and 5 in the afternoon. I know that KPFK used to have a great folk program but I think it was cancelled in the last few years. Anyway, if any fellow Los Angelinos could help me out, I would be very appreciative.

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: GUEST,rmbnxs
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 03:48 AM

KPFK on Saturday mornings:

6:00 - 7:30 Wildwood Flower (with Ben Elder)
7:30 - 10:00 Folk Scene (with the Larmans)

KPFK Schedule

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Alex.S
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 11:55 PM

Thanks a lot rambnxs, I will be sure and catch those next week, but do you know of anything on weekdays?

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Mudlark
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 11:57 PM

Alex...been a while since I've been in LA but there used to be at least one very good trad jazz station...as I remember it was somewhere between the middle and high numbers on FM.

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Steve-o
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:30 PM

Alex, I'm in LA, and it's impossible for folk/Bluegrass radio (except the aformentioned KPFK, which is broadcast at all the wrong times). There used to be some stuff down at 88.5 (or thereabouts), but the signal was so weak that you only got it for a few miles here and there. You might have to go to XM Radio, which is spectacular for folk/Bluegrass programming, daily, and around the clock. I'm thinking of doing just that myself.

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Teresa
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:51 PM

Just a side note; If you happen to get a chance to hear the Larmans' show, it's incredible. They've been doing that show for close to 30 years, I believe, and I used to listen to it as a teenager twenty years ago. I lived on the Central Coast, two hundred miles away, but strung the speaker wire with alligator clips all around my room just the same. :) I have them to thank for introducing me to folk music as a "genre".

T

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: GUEST,-John Hindsill
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:30 PM

KCSN-fm 88.5-has several shows that might qualify. Two unfortunates in this regard; one show airs at the the same time as the KPFK shows, and the signal is difficult to get south and east of the San Fernando Valley owing to a conflict on that frequency from Orange County. But they are on the web at www.kcsn.org. All times Pacific.

Saturday 6a-10a - Bluegrass Express
         10a-1p - Twang    Classic western and country
         (the show programs best with 'guest' hosts IMHO)
Sunday   6a-10a - Bluegrass, Etc.   Love the 'etc'! Good mix of
         ol-timey, mountain, and some cowboy western, but the
         emphasis on BG.
         4p-7p   - Tangled roots   Haven't heard it much yet

Also on Sunday night at 10pm, on am870, is Sunday Night Folk. Plays mostly old 'folk scare' era tunes, but with no context.

It's pretty pathetic pickings for an area as large as Los Angeles, sez I. I remember the days of Les Claypool, Skip Weshner, Ed Cray and John Davis. Oh well.----John

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: pdq
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 10:25 PM

Alex...I looked at the KPFK Schedule. If that is all you have in the greater LA area, I have a suggestion: move.

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:02 AM

Folkscene used to be archived online, and I agree it was a wonderful show, with lots of live concerts. They were having financial problems and I don't know if it's still available.

We ain't got no folk music on the radio here in Honolulu, either. Well, that's not true, we have lots of Hawaiian music, including some traditional stuff that would qualify as folk music in my book. Otherwise, except for the Putumayo World Music Hour and Thistle & Shamrock on public radio, nada. It's too bad...I, like Teresa, was introduced to folk music via radio. In my case it was WXPN in Philadelphia, around 1977 or so. (Well, reintroduced, actually. I grew up with traditional Yiddish music on the radio and record player, old folk songs as sung by Burl Ives and Mitch Miller's gang, and "Hootenanny" was one of my favorite TV shows as a kid.)   

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Los Angeles Folk/Bluegrass Radio
From: Teresa
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:07 AM

Folkscene is still on the schedule ... will have to tune in and see what it's like now. ...

T