Lydia Violet is an amazing musician, songwriter, educator, & community activist, combining fiddle, clawhammer banjo, & voice to change & heal the Earth. Mentored by Joanna Macy, Lydia got her degree in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and weaves her music & Earthcare studies together in her Music Medicine program at her School for the Great Turning.
Song of the Soul
Song of the Soul invites you to a soul-level encounter. Music has the ability to proclaim the soul's language beyond what mere words can speak. That's what we seek as we invite our guests to share their Song of the Soul. You will hear the music that has charted the steps of their spiritual journey, that has provided a touchstone in the soul's dark night, and sung the hearts awe and joy when come to the Light. As you listen to Song of the Soul, you are both witness and companion to our guest's spiritual path and sacred testimony.
Song of the Soul guests provide 20-23 minutes of the music of their soul, and Mark Helpsmeet explores with them the relevance and meaning of this music to their experience. Most guests are musicians, usually sharing their own music, but some guests are simply sharing music they've been impacted by, written and performed by others.
The theme song for this program is by Cris Williamson and is called "Song of the Soul". Please check out the wealth of great music Cris has gifted to the world.
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A Great Wild Mercy Through Carrie Newcomer
Carrie Newcomer joins us for a Song of the Soul drawn from her latest album, A Great Wild Mercy, including some songs co-written with John McCutcheon and with Siri Undlin/Humbird.
Saxophone's Pied Piper: Sue Orfield
Sue Orfield wields her saxophone in the way that the pied piper played his pipe, mesmerizing all people, great & small, and leading them on a joyful, haunting, dancing, enthralling journey to the center. A part of dozens of groups of performers of numerous genres of music, Sue magically brings out the best in the artists and the audiences she showers her abundant gifts upon.
A Wild Ride with James Spartz & Dogtown Hollow
While James Spartz currently makes music with Dogtown Hollow, he has sometimes been onstage as part of Jim James & The Damn Shames and under other names.
Love of Music, Partner, & Bike from Gretta Stone
Gretta Stone became a musician because she loved being part of all the folk music that many Quakers shared together when she became part of Doylestown Friends Meeting, and at one point was part of a band called Faith and Practice. Gretta's path led to various travels, including her evolution into instrumental music and sacred harp singing.
North Country Humbird
Humbird is a musical experience with Siri Undlin at its center. Her music has been described with terms like contemplative folk musings and resigned tenacity, but I would simply call it heart and soul stirring combined with instrumental genius. Siri lives in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, while the rotating band membership of Humbird reaches further afield.
Darryl Purpose is a Sure Bet
Darryl Purpose says he's never had a real job, earning his living either from blackjack or making music, but he's worth every cent and more. Determined to live outside the box, Darryl's music regales the listener with beauty, inspiration, & free-flowing spirituality.
Leaping Music, Heart, & Animals
The music of Ben Bedford talks on on a trip through a wider lens to life, not only that of humans, but of the vibrant world around us, with all our relations. While Ben's words dance lyrically through images and poetry, his tunes dance magically through guitar strings and vibrations.
Song-Farmer of Wood-Songs & Pete Seeger's Neighbor – Michael Johnathon
Michael Johnathon is a farmer - a songfarmer - and he cultivates folk music from his log cabin just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, by his personal writing, playing and touring, through his 20 albums, but also via the radio and video show called WoodSongs that he's been broadcasting on hundreds of stations for the past 18 years.