Category: In The Spotlight

On Thursday We Open With ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul,’ Then It’s Live Allman Brothers Band, and a Laura Nyro ‘Spotlight’, April 24, 2025

We’re headed toward the weekend today. It’s all downhill from here. We open with five hours of soul and R & B music, then we’ve got the Allman Brothers Band live at the Beacon and Laura Nyro ‘In the Spotlight!’

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We start off with five uninterrupted hours of soul and R & B with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, The Shirelles, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, LaVern Baker, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Edwin Starr, Sam Cooke, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops and more!

4:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at The Beacon Theater, New York, NY, March 10 & 11, 1992

The Brothers give yet another masterful live performance at The Beacon in NYC.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Laura Nyro

We close out the programming with a ‘Spotlight’ featuring the amazing Laura Nyro. She was a catalyst for many artists who covered her songs.

We are closer to the weekend, folks, and that means stability in a nation with a very unstable lout in office. Here in The Mermaid Lounge we play the best music on the planet and the journey is everything. The button is below.

A Little Bit O’Soul!

We’re at Midweek With ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’, Live Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez ‘In the Spotlight’, Wednesday, April 23, 2025

We’ve got a great day of folk programming coming up today as we increase our push on protest music and artists that include social justice issues as a large part of their musical focus.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We kick off the day with our multi-artist folk music EP featuring John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family and more!

4:00 p.m. Pete Seeger Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, June 8, 1963 NEW!

We debut live Pete Seeger this afternoon at his ‘We Shall Overcome’ concert at New York’s iconic Carnegie Hall.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Joan Baez

We close out the day with another folk icon who has always focused on issues of social justice in her music.

We’ve got it going today, folks, in a time of extraordinary upheaval here in the U.S. We cannot stay stationary on a sinking ship. Join us. The button is below.

We Shall Overcome

We Start Tuesday Bluesday in The Windy City, Then It’s Buddy Guy & SRV, and a Tedeschi Trucks ‘Spotlight’, April 22, 2025

Happy Tuesday Bluesday! We start the day with ‘The Best of Chicago Blues’, then it’s on to Buddy Guy & Stevie Ray Vaughan live in NY, and Tedeschi Trucks ‘In The Spotlight.’

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (center) are the musical power couple at the core of Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

We hit the Windy City once again and listen to the tunes of Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 p.m. Buddy Guy & Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at The Lone Star Cafe, New York, NY, April 14, 1986

We’ve got Chicago Blues meeting Texas Blues today at NYC’s Lone Star Cafe!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Tedeschi Trucks Band

We close out Tuesday Bluesday with the biggest, baddest-ass blues band on the planet, powered by the dynamic duo of premier blues vocalist/guitarist Susan Tedeschi and the best damned blues-rock guitarist on the planet in Derek Trucks. Always a stand-out and always a pleasure.

It’s a great day here in The Mermaid Lounge once again from beginning to end. Before, in between and after it’s our big, wide Open Stream. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

We Begin the Week With ‘Ode To Morning’, Then Onto a John Hartford ‘Spotlight’, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at The Vic in Chicago On April 21, 2025

We kick off yet another work week with our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP, a brand new ‘Spotlight’ featuring the late, great John Hartford, and The Heartbreakers live at The Vic.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

Yesterday, we had songs about the night. Today it’s songs about the morning with Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jonathan Edwards, Bob Dylan, Badfinger, Townes Van Zandt, Pure Prairie League, Chris Hillman and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of John Hartford NEW!

John Hartford’s biggest hit was Gentle On My Mind, for which he scored three Grammies. The song was also listed in “BMI’s Top 100 Songs of the Century.” Hartford was a folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician who mastered both the fiddle and banjo and frequently switched between those and the guitar during his live performances. Like John Prine, he was also known for his witty lyrics and unique vocal style, and he had an extensive knowledge of Mississippi River folklore. He also invented his very own tap dance and frequently clogged on a piece of plywood as he sang and played. He was truly a minstrel and entertainer.

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Victoria, Chicago, IL, April 19, 2003

In 2003, The Heartbreakers played five nights at The Vic. Tonight we bring you their final performance of that residency.

We’ve got some great music for you today, including a ‘Spotlight’ we’ve been meaning to add for quite some time. We finally give the late, great John Hartford his due. We hope you’ll tune us in. We’re on 247 and we’re totally free all the time. The button is below.

Monday, Monday

It’s a Sixties Saturday With Volume One of Our EP, The Mamas & Papas, and Dylan at The Finjan Club, April 19, 2025

It’s the Sixties all over again here in The Mermaid Lounge starting with Volume One of our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’, then on to The Mamas & Papas and Bob Dylan!

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

We kick off the day with volume on including The Beatles, The Monkees, The Mamas & Papas, Sonny & Cher, Little Eva, Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers, The Searchers, Dusty Springfield, The Drifters, The Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, The Animals, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Del Shannon, The Temptations, James Brown, Fontella Bass, Blues Image, Booker T & The MGs, The Four Tops, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Them, The Left Banke, Fats Domino and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Mamas & Papas

Though they only recorded and produced music together for three short years, they quickly became one of the most influential bands on the sixties scene and helped define the sounds of a generation.

8:00 p.m. Bob Dylan Live at The Finjan Club, Montreal, Canada, February 7, 1962

We’re jumping in the Wayback Machine for some vintage early Dylan live at The Finjan Club in Montreal.

Well, Weekenders, we’ve made it this far. Join us for another weekend of great music. We’re on 24/7 and at no charge to the public. The button is below.

The Sixties!

On Friday It’s Our ‘Wheels’ Playlist, a Bonnie Raitt ‘Spotlight’ Feature and a Tribute to Woody Guthrie, April 18, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a great lineup today, and it includes a tribute to Woody Guthrie on his 100th birthday. Yes, we’re amping up our protest music content, one of our favorite genres. If ever there was a time in our history to do this, it is now.

Here’s your Friday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Wheels: Various Artists

We start the day with tunes about driving places with Lucinda Williams, Chuck Berry, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bo Diddley, The Who, War, John Prine, The Eagles, The Byrds, Paul McCartney & Wings, Mudcrutch, Tracy Chapman, Steppenwolf, The Kinks, the Grateful Dead, Wilson Pickett, The Doors, Emmylou Harris, Golden Earring and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bonnie Raitt

This afternoon we spend some time with Bonnie Raitt, truly one of the greatest singers and guitarists in music who seems to be ageless.

8:00 p.m. Woody Guthrie at 100, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., June 11, 2013 NEW!

Did any of us think we’d be here back when these great artists celebrated Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday? We need his music now more than ever. You’ll hear Lucinda Williams, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Ani DeFranco, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Rosanne Cash, Judy Collins, Jackson Browne,Tom Morello and more sing Woody’s songs.

We’ve got plenty of our big, wide Open Stream today with great programmed content sprinkled in. This is just the beginning of our increased protest song focus. More than any other genre, folk music has led the way on this front. The button is below.

A Tribute to Woody Guthrie!

We’re at Midweek With ‘The Founders’, a James Taylor ‘Spotlight’, and The Pretenders Live in Germany, Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to midweek. We start out with the founders of rock and roll, then it’s a JT ‘Spotlight’ feature and some live Pretenders!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We start our musical journey in the Wayback Machine as we pay respect to those who started it all, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of James Taylor

Sweet Baby James visits us this afternoon, a singer-songwriting legend whose volume of work speaks for itself.

8:00 p.m. The Pretenders Live at Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany, June 23, 2009

We close it out with a live performance from The Pretenders, a band that has literally been in flux for decades with the only constant being the amazing Chrissie Hynde.

We’re at midweek and that means that tomorrow we’ll be on the downslide to the weekend, the only time we can sort of catch our breath under this misbegotten fascist regime. Music can help us get through this, and we remain free of charge and broadcasting 24/7. The button, my friends, is below.

The Button.

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s ‘Ladies Sing the Blues’, Live Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and a Rory Block ‘Spotlight’, April 15, 2025

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We’ve got a full plate of great blues programming and we start with The Mermaid Lounge in the care of the blues women.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

Five hours of the legendary blues women and those who keep it alive with Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. The Paul Butterfieid Blues Band Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, October 14, 1966

We’re headed for the Wayback Machine with this performance from The Fillmore, a legendary blues band in a legendary venue!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Rory Block

We close out the programming in style with a Rory Block ‘Spotlight’ featuring music over her long six-decade career.

Remember, before, in betwee and after our programming, we give you our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs. It’s hard to find a repeat in a week, let alone a day. The button is below!

Da Blues. Da Button.

It’s Sunday Funday With Songs About Water, Dr. John Live at The Lone Star, and Ann Peebles ‘In The Spotlight’, April 13, 2025

Good morning, Weekenders! It’s Sunday and we’ve got some great stuff on tap today starting with ‘Water, Water Everywhere’, then moving on to a brand new Dr. John performance and Ann Peebles, a favorite of Dr. Tom Petty.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

I’m not going to remind everyone that water makes up 71% of the earth’s surface. No sir. I’m going to tell you that you’ll hear the music of Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, The Doobie Brothers, Valerie Carter, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Al Green, Loggins & Messina, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, Bonnie Raitt, The Grass Roots, Carole King, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers and more!

4:00 p.m. Dr. John Live at The Lone Star Cafe, New York, NY, December 22 & 23, 1986 NEW!

We’ve got a new-to-the-station performance from the incredible Dr. John this afternoon live from The Lone Star Cafe!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Ann Peebles

It should be no surprise that I’m a lover of Tom Petty’s Sirius XM Buried Treasure show. I would not have learned about the amazing Ann Peebles had I not been a devoted listener. If you don’t know her, you should. Tune in tonight and see for yourselves.

Here we are again on the weekend. The Orange Menace is golfing at Mar-a-Lardo, so it’s relatively quiet for another 24 hours. In the meantime, we’ve got music non-stop around the clock at no expense to you and without commercial interruption. The button is below.

New Dr. John!

Saturday Brings a Trip to Motor City, a Cass Elliot ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Gov’t Mule Live at the Roseland, April 12, 2025

Welcome, Weekenders! I return to work today but The Music Mermaid is large and in charge for a great day of programming. Very eclectic, I might add.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We take a trip to Motor City this morning with songs from Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye, Jr Walker & The All Stars, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Isley Brothers, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Tammi Terrell and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Cass Elliot NEW!

We leave out the “Mama” because we’ve read many times that she hated that moniker. Cass Elliot was an enigma and the subject of many rumors, and I very much look forward to reading her daughter’s biography. One thing is for certain, she had a great voice and was a member of one of the most influential bands of the sixties, The Mamas & The Papas. She went on to have a successful solo career, recording five albums as a solo artist. She died far too young, at the age of 35. Today, we’ve finally given her the ‘Spotlight’ she deserves.

8:00 p.m. Gov’t Mule Live at The Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY, October 22, 1996

One of the best road jam bands finishes up our Saturday programming this evening. The band started at a ‘side project’ by guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody on a break from The Allman Brothers Band back in 1994. They’ve been together ever since.

We’re here 24/7 and we’re completely free of charge and free of any commercial advertising. We’re all about the music. See for yourselves. The button is below!

The Button!