March 22, 2008 rebroadcast with Kate MacKenzie, Maria Jette, Geoff Muldaur, Inga Swearingen, and Randy Newman
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we'll bring you a special compilation show just for kids. Spring Break has befallen many homes, and left parents with disgruntled, bored and increasingly rowdy children. Our solution? Make them sit down and listen to the radio, tie their shoelaces together if necessary. There will be all sorts of sound-effects: car chases, toilets flushing, big birds of prey, and despite the numerous complaints we received from listeners after the Joke Show, a foray or two into flatulence. We've got a classic princess segment with Kate MacKenzie and Maria Jette in pink taffeta, and a chicken segment with Geoff Muldaur's "Chicken Song." Plus, Inga Swearingen's "Hush Little Baby," and Randy Newman sings a song from "Toy Story". It's a show, not for easily offended adults who relish their outrage, but for the free-thinking kids, who can still find joy in unexpected places, and know how to take a joke.
March 15, 2008 broadcast with Alyson Gilbert, The Honey Dewdrops, Ashley Monroe, Pinky Lee, Andrew Ryan, and Mattie Speece and Patrick Villines
This week on A Prairie Home Companion we're bringing you a live performance spectacle, a talent show for twenty-something troubadours, where six entrants will compete for the coveted silver water tower trophy, also known as the Wobegon Idol.
March 8, 2008 broadcast with Roy Blount, Jr.
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, our staff has been scraping the bottom of the joke barrel once again and coming up with a lot of painful splinters for Saturdayâs Joke Show, so weâre asking our listeners to dig deep and send us some worthy new candidates. We don't do cute on the Joke Show. We don't do stand-up, as such. We don't do long-winded story jokes. We do classic jokes. Clean, but just barely. So send in your best stuff right now, today, and there may be some free stuff for you if we use your jokes on the air. Just remember, if we come up short, we may have to go with the nuclear option, where Garrison sings two hours of long-forgotten vaudeville classics, accompanied only by a harmonica and an old basset hound. Itâs up to you.
March 1, 2008 broadcast with the Wailin' Jennys and The Boys of the Lough
This week on A Prairie Home Companion we return to the Fitzgerald Theater with special guests, the pride of Winnipeg, the wonderful Wailin' Jennys, and traditional Celtic heroes, The Boys of the Lough. Also with us, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band with Rich Dworsky, and The News from Lake Wobegon. It's an all-new broadcast, this week on A Prairie Home Companion.
February 23, 2008 broadcast with Marcia Ball and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we'll be broadcasting live from the McCown Gymnasium at Winona State University, located in the beautiful bluff country along the Mississippi River. With special guests, legendary blues pianist and singer Marcia Ball, plus the eclectic and electric Cajuns, BeauSoleil. Also with us, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band with Rich Dworsky, and the News from Lake Wobegon.
February 16, 2008 broadcast with the Indiana University Violin Virtuosi, Aleksey Bogdanov, Esther Kim, and Ignasi Cambra
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we'll visit the Indiana University Auditorium in beautiful Bloomington (a.k.a. Tree City) for a rapid radio immersion into the many young talents in and around the distinguished Jacobs School of Music. With special guests, the Indiana University Violin Virtuosi, a unique collection of fifteen gifted violinists between the ages of 11 and 18, performing as soloists and a violin ensemble, and directed by Professor Mimi Zweig. We'll also have baritone Aleksey Bogdanov, violinist Esther Kim, Pianist Ignasi Cambra, and a colorful student pit orchestra ready to bravely play, while gummi bears and soda pop are spilled steadily onto their heads, from the seats high above. Also with us, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band with old soft shoe Andy Stein, and The News From Lake Wobegon. Join us this week for an all-new broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion!
February 9, 2008 broadcast with Sam Bush and Suzy Bogguss
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we're broadcasting live from the Fitzgerald Theater with special guests, the self-described "mother" of Bluegrass, Mr. Sam Bush, and back by popular demand, the valedictorian of an Angel Choir, singer-songwriter Suzy Bogguss. Also with us, The Royal Academy of Radio Actors: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band with Rich Dworksy, John Niemann and Joe Savage. All this, plus the News From Lake Wobegon, this Saturday.
February 2, 2008 broadcast with Nanci Griffith and Robin & Linda Williams
This week on A Prairie Home Companion it's another big home game here in Saint Paul, where a brief thaw and re-freezing has made ambulation more hazardous and hilarious than ever. With this week's special guests, a singer-songwriter of legendary depth and subtlety, Nanci Griffith, plus the Virginia virtuosos Robin and Linda Williams. Also with us, The Royal Academy of Radio Actors: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Mister Tom Keith, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band with Rich Dworsky and guest shoe John Niemann, and The News From Lake Wobegon. Join us this weekend for an all-new installment of A Prairie Home Companion.
January 26, 2008 broadcast with Chuck Mead, Becky Schlegel, Nellie McKay and Roy Blount, Jr.
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we'll layer up our geese fleece and huddle close for another live broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater. With special guests, BR5-49 front man Chuck Mead, Bluegrass singer Becky Schlegel, singer-songwriter Nellie McKay, humorist Roy Blount Jr., The Royal Academy of Radio Actors; Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith, and the always soleful Guy's All-Star Shoe Band. Plus, in Lake Wobegon, Clint Bunsen has been working double overtime jumping cars. So, keep your block heater plugged in, wash your long johns, and turn your radio on for some January cheer this Saturday.
January 19, 2008 broadcast with Alison Balsom and Suzy Bogguss
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, we're back from vacation and broadcasting live from The Fitzgerald Theater. With this week's special guests, award winning English trumpet soloist Alison Balsom, dangerously sweet country singer Suzy Bogguss, and sitting in with The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, steel guitar wiz Joe Savage, guitarist Dan Neale, and the multi-talented John Niemann. Also with us, The Royal Academy of Radio Acting: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith, The News From Lake Wobegon, and much more this week on A Prairie Home Companion.