WOW Hall

The band Las Cafeteras blends elements of traditional Son Jarocho Afro-Mexican folk music with the roots of East Los Angeles streets, in a socially conscious and highly danceable way. They’ve just released a new album called Tastes Like L.A., Before performing at the WOW Hall in Eugene on Thursday, April 20th, they came by the KLCC studios for songs and celebration, in a set hosted by Eric Alan. 

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has brought their joyful vocal music from South Africa to the world for over half a century, their music rising from isicathamiya, the music of the mines. That tradition is respected and extended on the new Ladysmith Black Mambazo CD, Walking in the Footsteps of Our Fathers. 

  Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist have been making music together as Over the Rhine for over twenty-five years . 

  “Twobadours on the Run” is the name of David Ryan Harris and Gabe Dixon’s current tour, which stops at the WOW Hall in Eugene on Friday, December 2nd, and in Bend at the Astro Lounge on Monday, December 5th.

  A multi-faceted celebration takes place at the WOW Hall in Eugene tonight, April 20th, as David Gans, the Garcia Birthday Band, various Merry Pranksters and others gather to celebrate Oregon’s first legal 4/20, and whatever else feels worth celebrating. David Gans has been a part of related celebrations for decades, as a musician, author, storyteller, and proprietor of the nationally-syndicated Grateful Dead Hour.

  South African vocal ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been making music for over fifty years, and will appear at the WOW Hall in Eugene on Tuesday evening, January 26th.

The band Wild Child from Austin, Texas, is touring behind their brand-new CD Fools, their third release. Their sound has earned them attention in places as diverse as NPR, the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and a Purina Cat Chow commercial. Before performin in full seven-piece electric form at the WOW Hall in Eugene on Thursday, October 15th, they’re came by the KLCC studios in acoustic quintet form for songs and conversation. 

The Icelandic band Arstidir is making their first tour through the United States, after becoming a sensation in their home country shortly after their formation in 2008, right after the stock market crash there. Undeterred by economic troubles, volcanic eruptions and so forth, they’ve found a worldwide audience for their music—including one song having more than four million views on YouTube. Arstidir’s music includes an emphasis on vocal harmony, and influences from classical to folk and rock.

Canadian guitarist Ewan Dobson brings his “Acoustic Metal” tour to the WOW Hall in Eugene Wednesday night, March 25th, with local guitarist Will Brown opening. After his initial inspirations in the worlds of heavy metal and hard rock, Ewan has won major competitions in genres from classical to fingerstyle, and his influences run even farther into the world’s traditional music, techno, trance, and video game music. He’s become a YouTube sensation as well, with tens of millions of views. He joined us live in the KLCC studios for songs and conversation.

Las Cafeteras is a band merging the sounds and traditional instruments of the Son Jarocho folk music of Mexico with the feel of the modern East Los Angeles streets. They’re bringing their socially and politically conscious urban folk music to the WOW Hall in Eugene this Wednesday evening, February 4th, and all seven of them joined us in the KLCC studios for songs and stories.

W. Kamau Bell uniquely merges comedy with perspectives on racial justice and other tough topics. His FX comedy series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell was executive produced by Chris Rock; his album Face Full of Flour made many top ten lists. He was recently named an Ambassador of Racial Justice by the ACLU, and serves on the board of the racial justice think tank Race Forward.Before bringing his “Oh, Everything!” tour to the WOW Hall on January 22nd, he spoke to Eric Alan about the value of awkward conversations, what he’d say to Dr.

Master violinist Darol Anger presents his 2nd Annual “Keepin’ It In the Family” Holiday Show with the Cascadia All-Stars at the WOW Hall in Eugene on Sunday, December 21st. Darol talks with Eric Alan about the West Coast acoustic sound, as applied to winter spiritual holidays and the Grinch. The Cascadia All-Stars include Darol Anger, Emy Phelps, Alex and Tatiana Hargreaves, Wes Corbett, Jake Joliff, Mila Phelps-Friedl and Ethan Jodziewicz.

Arto and Antti Jarvela are cousins from Finland, part of a family with some of the deepest folk music traditions in the land. As well as participating in a wide variety of bands, they’ve released their first CD as a duo this past year, Os Fera Liluli, which presents traditional Finnish fiddle tunes and originals. Before teaching a workshop and performing at the WOW Hall in Eugene on Wednesday, December 10th, they visited the KLCC studios for songs and conversation with Eric Alan.

Kentucky native Ben Sollee has uniquely combined cello and songwriting, in his eclectic career. After his 2012 release Half-Made Man, he’s also produced the limited-edition release The Hollow Sessions, is the featured cellist in a forthcoming movie with John Travolta and Robert DeNiro, wrote a score for the documentary film Maidentrip, performed on two other motion picture soundtracks and two ballet performances, taught workshops and more.

Bruce Cockburn has carved a remarkable career over the past four decades and thirty-one albums, combining his talents as guitarist, poet, songwriter and activist. His latest CD, Small Source of Comfort, ranges widely from beautiful instrumentals to song reflections on his travels to Afghanistan, from an imagining of the reincarnation of Richard Nixon to a fine song about people who don’t call you back. He is also the subject of a DVD last year called Pacing the Cage, and he has a spiritual memoir coming out in book form in the fall.

Singer/Songwriter Martin Sexton first made a name for himself playing on the Boston streets, after moving there from his initial home of Syracuse, New York. More than twenty years and ten albums later,  he's built a loyal following for his expressive and inventive vocals and fine guitar playing. He stopped by the KLCC studios to perform a few songs before his show on March 5th t at the WOW Hall in Eugene.

Songwriter, storyteller and dedicated bicyclist David Wilcox has hit the road from North Carolina, to celebrate the release of his 18th album, Blaze. He begins his West Coast tour on Friday night, February 21st at the WOW Hall in Eugene, with Justin Farren opening. David Wilcox joined us live in the KLCC studios, for songs and conversation.

Austin Jenckes originally hails from the small town of Duvall, Washington, although in recent times he’s been centered in Nashville, and has gained national attention this past year through his appearances as a finalist on NBC’s hit TV show The Voice. Back in the Pacific Northwest for a tour with Seattle band Cody Beebe and the Crooks, he stopped by the KLCC studios with Cody Beebe and Skyler Mehal for an in-studio performance and interview with Eric Alan.