Silver Linings…    

…”Songs & Stories”

Tuesday, December 1

By Bruce Swan, Folk Radio DJ and Host, “Music Your Mother Would Not Like” and “Songs & Stories”

An article in Sunday morning’s New York Times gave me an idea for this installment. The article, more like a picture story, called “For One Day, the N.H.L. Arena Moved to the Mountains”  by Gerald Narciso. The story is about how a Canadian helicopter pilot found a glacier lake on top of a mountain in British Columbia and invited a group of professional hockey players to come see it and play a game of hockey. The story is in some respects similar to the film Mystery, Alaska.   At the end of the day, one of the players lingered and said that when would he have this opportunity to do this again? Were it not for the pandemic, he would be playing hockey with his team.

There are two ways of looking at ones circumstances. You can be the person making the news or be the person reading about it in the paper. I am not suggesting that I would have the idea to bring a bunch of professional hockey players by helicopter to the back country of British Columbia to play a pick-up game. That is not the point at all, the point is that following through with an idea can produce great results.

It is not that I am innately an optimistic person; in fact the opposite is more the reality. But, I am beginning to adopt the attitude that the glass is neither half full nor half empty; it just needs more.

The weekly music series that I began in late June called was one of those ideas that fall into the making news rather than reading about it. A poll of several musician friends, music loving fans, and some music industry professionals resulted in the mixed responses that any poll would produce. Like any innovator, I listened to the advice I wanted to hear and tried to avoid the potential mistakes that the naysayers warned about. The result was the creation of the weekly series called “Music My Mother Would Not Like”. We built a website to support the idea, found 25 brave artists, and then created an audience. So from no work, no money, and no venue came a thriving virtual venue and a full time job.

More recently, I felt that the weekly showcase shows could be expanded. A showcase is as it suggests; a collection of short performances of work from an artist. The fun is that the showcase allows for discovery of new music and in the event that that artist on the screen is not to your liking, it will only last 20 minutes and then someone else will perform. If the artist was unknown to you, and you like the music, it’s a new discovery.  The idea of expanding the showcases to more of a radio show format was appealing. Instead of four, the new show would have two artists. There would also be some conversation that would allow the audiences to get to know these performers a little better.

Good stories, tales, and music make for good medicine.

And if this be the elixir, then good radio is the medicine spoon.

The new series would need a name that would differentiate itself from the Tuesday series.  When I interview artists on the air on either WPKN Bridgeport, CT or WRFR Rockland, ME. I love asking questions that dig more into the back story of their songs and experiences on the road. Questions such as how they got together as a band or duo, who were their early influences, if their mothers like their music, how they came up with the name of an album etc. The answers often lead to a conversation that makes for good radio.  Good stories, tales, and music make for good medicine. And if this be the elixir, then good radio is the medicine spoon.

The name for the new series will incorporate those tenets. It will be known as “Songs & Stories” at Music My Mother Would Not Like. It will dovetail nicely with the Tuesday showcase series and the immediate plan is to bring back the most popular acts and get to know those artists a little better. Thursday, December 03 will be the premier episode and will feature Joel Rafael and Rebecca Folsom

Each of these two artists are both active in the music world but are activists as well. For me, it is the balance of the two artists and their additional callings that will make for an interesting evening for listeners. Some of other scheduled artists include Lynne Hanson from Canada and Rod Picott from Nasheville, TN will appear on December 10th.  Rounding out the month on December 17th will be Abby Posner and Jenner Fox.

These are ticketed shows and you can obtain more information at the website page dedicated to the series: Music My Mother Would Not Like ~ “Songs & Stories” as well as a link to buy tickets. They will be fun shows and hope to see you there on Thursday night!

Bruce Swan is a Folk DJ.

  • Host Bi Weekly Music My Mother Would Not Like WPKN, 89.5 Bridgeport, CT Fridays 1 – 4 PM
  • Host Weekly “Blue Highways Radio” WRFR, 93.3 Rockland, ME 99.3 Camden, ME, Sundays 9 – 11 AM.
  • Host Weekly “Late Night Groove”  WRFR, 93.3 Rockland, ME 99.3 Camden, ME, Sundays 10 – 12midnight.
  • Booking Agent, Baker Booking
  • Host “Music My Mother Would Not Like” Tuesday night weekly Showcase Concerts
  • Host “Songs & Stories on Music My Mother Would Not Like” Thursday night weekly interview /concert