Travelin' to the Midwest

Why the Midwest? Why not? The program came about because of a lot of subtle influences. Here are just a few: Seeing and hearing the mandolin and fiddle wizardry of Peter Ostroushko at Old Songs in June ... a friend just returned from an annual trip to see his mom in Illinois and brought back a slew of newspapers for me; another friend from Iowa wrote recently; another friend who is constantly talking about his Midwestern background; still yet another old friend who once lived in Kansas and says that everyone should live in the Midwest at least for a few years, if for nothing else than to purge one's soul ... plus it's a presidential election year and one of the most hotly contested regions is America's Heartland. So, here's a program to offer a brief glimpse into the Heartland.

Artist, "Title", Album, Label

• Cathy Barton & Dave Para, "Jack Gillie", Crazy Quilt, independent

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• Dave Moore, "Mr. Music", "Magic Dust", "Down To The River", Breaking Down To 3, Red House

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• Peter Ostroushko, "Prairie Sunrise", Heart Of The Heartland, Red House

• The Matney Sisters, "Silent Singer", "Amazing Grace/God Loves You"

• Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchman, "Little Goose Polka", "Das Kufstein Lied"

• Louis & The Blues Review, "Sacred Of Your Love"

  Above three selections from Iowa State Fare,/Music From The Heartland, Smithsonian/Folkways

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• Greg Brown, "Flat Stuff"

• John Hartford, "Miss Ferris"

• The Bob Lewis Family, "Born To Be With You"

• Eugene Redmond & Sylvester "Sunshine" Lee, "Milestone"

• The Bottle Rockets, "Get Down, River"

• The Ste. Genevieve Guignolee Sings, "La Guignolee"

  Above selections from River Of Song/A Musical Journey Down The Mississippi, Smithsonian/Folkways

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• Everett Kapayou, "Round Dance Song"

• Dwight Lamb, "Virginia Darling", "Red Wing"

• Solis & Solis, "Las Tres Mujeres"

• Deer Creek Quartet, "Be Thou My Vision"

• Foot-Notes, "Henry Storhoff's Schottische"

  Above selections from Iowa State Fare/Music From The Heartland, Smithsonian/Folkways

• Peter Ostroushko, "Heart Of The Heartland", Heart Of The Heartland, Red House

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• Cathy Barton & Dave Para, "Levee Breakdown/Jefferson City Hornpipe", "Bayou Sara", "Call Down A Blessing", "Handful Of Songs", Crazy Quilt, independent

• Peter Ostroushko, "Dakota Themes", Heart Of The Heartland, Red House