TradCafe

Apr 11 2025 74 ep. 54 mins 101

TradCafe Podcast artwork

A weekly podcast of music and conversations with unique artists in the world of traditional music. Host Neil Pearlman sits down with world class musicians to chat and make music together.

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Episode 71: Giovanni Kiyingi

Apr 11 2025 51 mins

The Ugandan folk singer-songwriter and mult-instrumentalist sat down with Neil to share stories ranging from from his first experiences learning music to travelling to India to showcase Ugandan music and dance for millions of people. More info at tradcafe.org

Episode 70: Alicia Svigals

Jun 04 2024 55 mins

As she prepares to release her long awaited second solo album Fidl Afire, Alicia Svigals sat down with Neil to share stories from her life as a major figure in the revival of Klezmer music. Listen in to hear about the early days of the Klezmatics, the creation of Svigals seminal first solo album Fidl, Itzhak Perlman's In the Fiddler's House and more!

Episode 69: Esko Järvelä

Apr 03 2024 52 mins

Finnish fiddle powerhouse and founding member of the band Frigg, Esko Järvelä shares his journey from growing up in one of the most musical families in Finland to touring the world with Frigg, Baltic Crossing and Tsuumi Sound System. More info and links at www.tradcafe.org/blog-1/2024/4/3/episode-69-esko-jrvel

Episode 68: Cameron DeWhitt (Crossover with Get Up In The Cool)

Mar 05 2024 73 mins

In this special crossover episode, Cameron DeWhitt, the host of Old-Time music podcast Get Up In The Cool trades off the host and guest roles with Neil in between taking breaks to play tunes together. Listen to Cameron share some of their journey with the Old-Time clawhammer banjo while interviewing Neil about his background growing up in a family band playing Scottish and Cape Bre

Episode 67: Caitlin Warbelow

Sep 23 2022 68 mins

Fiddler, organizer, teacher and co-founder of Tune Supply-- you never know what Caitlin Warbelow will be up to next! In this episode Caitlin shares her unique musical journey growing up in Alaska before moving to New York. She talks about her relationship to music as a means of survival and shares some of the stories behind joining the broadway production of Come From Away and star

Episode 66: Sam Sadigursky and Nathan Koci

Aug 12 2022 62 mins

In a special edition of TradCafe Neil sits down with Sam Sadigursky and Nathan Koci to talk about their recent triple album release The Solomon Diaries and how their musical lives have let up to this collaboration. Featuring some clips from the new project as well as the usual live music collaborations. Check out the Solomon Diaries at bandcamp: https://samsadigursky.bandcamp.com/a

Episode 65: Maddie Witler

Jul 15 2022 68 mins

One of the top mandolinists working today, Maddie Witler joins Neil for a conversation about music making, creativity and her experiences working in the bands Della Mae and The Lonely Heart String Band. maddiewitler.com della

Episode 64: Becky Tracy

Jun 17 2022 63 mins

Iconic New England fiddler Becky Tracy shares her journey through fiddling and folk dancing including her years as a core member of two of the most important bands in New England traditional music, Nightingale and Wild Asparagus. More info and links at tradcafe.org blackislemusic.com rachelbellmusic.com wildasparagus.com

Episode 63: Joe K. Walsh

May 13 2022 55 mins

Mandolinist Joe K. Walsh joins Neil to share thoughts and stories on community, identity and artistry in the bluegrass and new acoustic music worlds. Opening music: Seneca Square Dance Closing music: Verona (by Bill Frisell)

Episode 62: Alasdair White

Apr 08 2022 81 mins

Alasdair White kicks off the new season with a wide ranging conversation about growing up on the Isle of Lewis, touring the world with the Battlefield Band, developing his unique fiddle style and more! Opening Tunes: Keep the Country Bonnie Lassie, The White Houses of Shieldaig, Oran an Teine (Song of the Fire), Doctor MacPhail's Reel Closing Tunes: Trip to Jordan Jig and Trip to J