Americana
Nashville Babylon 24 August, 2020
On this week's show Mark has music from Judee Sill, Randy Newman, blues from Jimmy Reed and country courtesy of Lefty Frizzell. There's also a birthday tune for Elvis Costello and a track from the… Audio
Folk history. Reclaiming our 'hidden' musical connections
Multi-instrumentalists, partners, collaborators and music historians Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi join Kathryn Ryan to discuss the (sometimes fraught) musical connections between race… Audio
Nashville Babylon 17 January 2021
On this week's show Mark has music from Johnny Otis, Midlake and Iris DeMent, blues courtesy of Muddy Waters and Elmore James plus a live track courtesy of Kelly Joe Phelps. Audio
Nashville Babylon 10 January 2021
This week's Nashville Babylon is a celebration of ace A&R man and record producer Jerry Wexler featuring music from Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Champion Jack Dupree, Dusty Springfield and Ray… Audio
Ray Davies in America
English musician Ray Davies (from The Kinks originally) has had a lifelong fascination with the USA, and he's released two albums under the title Americana, based on his experiences of touring and… Video, Audio
Jason Isbell: Americana and ditching alcohol
American musician Jason Isbell's music has been described as alternative country or southern rock, but he prefers to not put a label on it. Jason Isbell is playing in the Auckland Town Hall on 27… Audio
Nashville Babylon 10 July, 2017
On this week's show Mark features tracks from Tom Waits, Laurel Aitken, The Handsome Family, CW Stoneking and local faves Claude Rains. He also unearths some classics from the likes of Neil Young, Sam… Audio
Nashville Babylon 8 May 2017
On tonight's edition of Nashville Babylon Mark plays tracks from Laura Cantrell, Joe Henry and Giant Sand, announces details of Beth Orton's forthcoming New Zealand dates, spins a new song from Gemma… Audio
Nashville Babylon 27 March, 2017
Mark Rogers pays tribute to the original Rock 'n' Roll poet Chuck Berry, and music from Chuck, Springsteen, Cohen, Dylan and the Handsome Family, plus a track for birthday girl Aretha Franklin. Audio
Bonnie Raitt - On Song
Ten times Grammy winner, and one of the most recognisable voices and guitarists of any musical artist to come out of the US, Bonnie Raitt joins Wallace to talk about her new album, her influences and… Audio
Lucinda Williams - Americana Queen
Lucinda Williams' career spans 12 albums over nearly 40 years and the three-time Grammy Award winner is an inspiration to a generation of new young bands and artists who have tapped into country, alt… Audio
Marty Duda's artist of the week: Iris DeMent
Americana singer Iris DeMent waited until she was in her 40s before she began her recording careering, with her first album being released in 1992. Dement has one of those timeless voices that seems… Audio
So Laid Back Country China
Glacially paced Wellington alt-country foursome So Laid Back Country China have just released their debut album, With Knees of Honey in Goodbye Canyon. Emma Smith talks to co-vocalists Harriet Ferry… Audio
Matt Joe Gow in session 2015
Dunedin born, Melbourne based songwriter Matt Joe Gow plans to release two albums this year - he previews a few new songs live in session. Audio
Pokey LaFarge in session
Ahead of a near sold-out NZ tour, North American roots musician Pokey LaFarge heads into the Radio NZ Studios to play pared back versions of a couple of his new songs. Video, Audio
The Sampler: Old Crow Medicine Show, Remedy
Nick Bollinger talks with Old Crow Medicine Show's Ketch Secor about writing songs with Bob Dylan and how it feels to see your name on a bomb. Audio