What’s your heart’s desire?

I’m sitting writing this on a wind torn Wednesday night listening to my guest for this Friday, Israel Nash Gripka. I like Israel’s music a lot and I realise I really didn’t know much about him. But over the last few years I’ve read lots of artists stories that have followed similar themes. In Israel’s case it’s the Catskill mountains but in others there’s a back ground of snow, or mountains or woods. Many favourites we’ve played have  ‘holed up in a cabin’ or a basement or a barn……and come out with an album. I can think of  Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear and ….well, add some more.

Heart’s desire? When I read about Israel retreating to the big old barn in the Catskills I did have the first sproutings of the horns of jealousy. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s remembering the excitement of early recording sessions but there is an attractive romance about being lost in the woods and making music.

We’ll hear more from Israel about that magical month on Friday. He’s going to be live in studio one only an hour or so before he plays his gig at Glasgow Americana Festival. Exciting huh?

We’ll also be listening to John Wesley Harding and working out where Bob Dylan’s head was in 1967…….Looking for some comments on the facebook page too.

We will also be playing the music of this man.

And yes, you’re right…it’s about time we welcomed Jim Lauderdale. He’ll be in Scotland soon too and his new album sounds very good from what I’ve heard so far.

Willy Vlautin mentioned Tom Russell and we thought it was about time we gave Tom’s music a spin. Not least because he and Ry Cooder are asking some big American questions. We’ll also have some comment from the pen of Woody Guthrie and his grand daughter Sarah Lee. It all connects you know. And it all starts on Friday at five past eight on BBC Radio Scotland. Join me if you can.

Sundays continue but without me for a while. The wonderful Cathy MacDonald is your host for the next couple of months and I’ll be joining in come Christmas. I have no idea if anyone is reading this blog any more so perhaps you’d be good enough to let me know here or on Facebook if it’s important to you or not.