Roots

An unbelievable eclectic mix on tonight’s program… But, first up was the incredible new release Re-Record Not Fade Away from Yesking. What a slinky, chilled musical trip with elements of trip-hop and hip-hop, and a solid dubwise foundation. On top of this we dropped the dub bomb that is Alpha Steppa + Alpha & Omega — with the excellent The Unrelenting Force of Dub Dynasty. And up 3rd on the bill, the brand new John Brown’s Body album Kings and Queens (on Easy Star). Wow…and then more great new sounds from Yabass Yaba Radics, The Dubb Style, Addis Pablo & Suns of Dub, DubRaJah, Version Xcursion, Fanfara meets Transglobal Underground, Hotdrop, Caro Emerald, Banco de Gaia, Mutant Frogs, and Toots & the Maytals (from the “Ska Never Grow Old” EP). Also, on the same night I had the pleasure of meeting (and interviewing) Mutabaruka, we played the powerful poem “Columbus Ghost”.

Tonight on MinneCulture, a special pledge drive encore presentation that explores the history of KFAI, Fresh Air Inc. This documentary was produced by Ahndi Fridell and J. Otis Powell in 2003 for KFAI’s 25th anniversary, and this year, a companion piece is in the works to celebrate the station’s 35th birthday. Tonight we’ll take a look back at the evolution of KFAI community radio in the first of a two-part series.