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StoryCorps: National Day of Listening
Join in on Friday, November 28

The National Day of Listening is an initiative created by the independent nonprofit project StoryCorps to encourage, instruct, and inspire everyday people to start a new holiday tradition: sit down with a loved one on the day after Thanksgiving, November 28, 2008, and record a meaningful conversation to preserve for years to come.

StoryCorps created the National Day of Listening to give new meaning to the day after Thanksgiving, a day when many people are at home with family, but also traditionally a day of rushing around town. Setting aside an hour on November 28, to look loved ones in the eyes and ask about their lives is one of the most meaningful moments you can share. The simple act of listening tells them how much they matter, and preserving that conversation on tape, CD, or with a pen and paper tells them they won't be forgotten. It's the greatest holiday gift you could ever give.

To help people celebrate the National Day of Listening, StoryCorps distributes a free Do-It-Yourself Instruction guide, a simple step-by-step guide to facilitating and archiving interviews at home. Download your DIY Guide today at www.nationaldayoflistening.org.

NPR programming:
(subject to change)

WESat: Saturday, 11/22 –- Scott Simon interviews his mother.

WESun: Sunday, 11/23 -– Liane Hansen is interviewed by her son Conner Conan.

Morning Edition: Monday-Friday, 11/24–11/28, 4 pieces through the week

11/24: Steve Inskeep talks with his mother about being the first in her family to attend college -- and ultimately embracing the English profession that had eluded her mother.
11/25: Susan Stamberg talks with longtime friend and colleague Noah Adams about the art of listening, and what a comfort it is to listen to each other's voice.
11/26: Renee Montagne interviews someone she first interviewed in 1981 when she was a rookie freelancer with NPR. Wally Naghtin, Jr. was 13 at the time and working in his family's circus bear act. Renee talks with Wally about his decision to retire, and how the circus is still in his blood.

All Things Considered: Friday 11/28 -- Michele Norris interviews her mother.

NCPR's UpNorth Music Visits Tannery Pond Community Center

* All seats are now reserved.

Canton, NY, Monday, November 10, 2008—North Country Public Radio’s 2008 UpNorth Music Concert Series makes its final stop at the Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek, Sunday, November 23, 2008, from 2 to 4 p.m. A reception will follow celebrating the upcoming release of Stories, Food, Life, NCPR’s new book commemorating food traditions, customs and recipes of the region. The concert will include performances by Adrenaline Hayride and The Fraser Clan. Both groups were featured on North Country Public Radio’s 3-CD music set Music Heard Up North.

Adrenaline Hayride is a relatively new bluegrass band that brings together the talent of seasoned veterans from well-known North Country bands including The McKrells. They play fast and fun, but they also express the entire range of emotion in their compositions, from elation to down-in-the-dumps.

If you want to spend time with The Fraser Clan, plan to sing or play an instrument. This large Lewis County family is devoted to promoting Celtic music. The Frasers spend a lot of time together and music is always on the schedule. They’ve been known to draw crowds around them when they are just singing on family outings.

Tickets are free, but reservations are necessary. Please call 1-877-388-6277 or email Kelly@ncpr.org to reserve your seats.

The concert series is the culmination of a two-year grant from The New York State Music Fund that included a year-long tour of our region recording the work of more than 500 talented musicians, the development of a website showcasing their work, and a 3-CD set of 40 of the most memorable performances from the tour.

UpNorth Music is supported by The New York State Music Fund established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

North Country Public Radio to Host The Vinyl Café Christmas Show

Canton, NY, 9/26/08--Tickets are now on sale for The Vinyl Café Christmas Show with Stuart McLean, which will take place at the George Hall Auditorium in Ogdensburg, on Friday, December 19, at 7:30 pm. The special event is the finale of a yearlong celebration of North Country Public Radio's 40th anniversary. The live holiday show will feature McLean's stories for the season and special musical guests.

The Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean is heard across Canada on CBC and in the U.S. on select public radio stations. The show is written and hosted by Stuart McLean and features stories, essays and music. The Vinyl Cafe stories are about Dave, owner of the second hand record store, Dave's wife Morley, their two children, Sam and Stephanie, and assorted friends and neighbors. The programs air on North Country Public Radio Sundays at 3 pm.

The live holiday show will feature McLean's stories for the season, as well as music by Russell deCarle, lead vocalist and bass player of the award-winning Canadian roots and country band Prairie Oyster. He has earned five Juno awards and numerous CCMA and Big Country Music Awards. DeCarle's unique vocal style and songwriting techniques have kept him at the forefront of Canadian country music. He has also been twice honored with the SOCAN's Song of the Year award.

Also appearing at the show will be the Ontario-based acoustic-folk group Dala. Sheila Carabine's and Amanda Walther's rich vocal harmonies, their sense of humor and their signature style have brought them many fans across Canada and beyond. Their single "Hockey Sweater" and their latest album, "Who Do You Think You Are" have earned them critical acclaim.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Stuart McLean's many fans to see him in person. The Vinyl Café live Christmas Shows are tremendously popular across our region and sell out every year, " said station program director Jackie Sauter. "We are thrilled to be bringing this show to the border community of Ogdensburg, so that Stuart's Canadian and American listeners can be a part of this very special event." Ogdensburg is located on the St. Lawrence River, on the U.S. side of the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge.

Tickets are $40 for adults, and $25 for students 18 and under. All seats are reserved. To purchase tickets, contact North Country Public Radio, 1-877-388-6277, or email kelly@ncpr.org. "Tickets are selling very briskly for this show, so we urge everyone to reserve their seats soon," said Sauter. "We expect this event to sell out, and many people are purchasing tickets as holiday gifts."

Stuart McLean is a best-selling author, award-winning journalist and humorist. He began his broadcasting career making radio documentaries for CBC Radio's Sunday Morning, and spent seven years as a regular columnist and guest host on CBC's Morningside. His books Stories from the Vinyl Cafe, Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged, Vinyl Cafe Diaries, Dave Cooks the Turkey and Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe have all been Canadian bestsellers. Vinyl Cafe Diaries was awarded the Canadian Authors Association Jubilee Award in 2004. Stuart is also a three-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged and, most recently, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe. McLean is a professor emeritus at Ryerson University in Toronto and former director of the broadcast division of the School of Journalism.

North Country Public Radio's UpNorth Music Concert Series in Glens Falls, September 20

Only two concerts in North Country Public Radio's UpNorth Music Series remain. Don't miss your chance to see one.

Join us Saturday, September 20 from 7-9pm at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls, NY.

Performers will include:

Dave Ruch (Americana/Adirondack): In addition to being a skilled guitarist, Dave is a scholar of traditional music in the Adirondacks. Part of his job as an educator is to offer special programs in schools all over New York State, logging over 100 stops in a school year.
Monsterbuck (alternative rock): Esquire magazine rated this act one of the Top 5 unsigned bands on MySpace. Band member Scott Renderer describes their sound as "a really spare kind of sound that comes from a garage and a barn and has a lot of space in it..." Among other places, you can sometimes catch Monsterbuck at Recovery Lounge in Upper Jay.
Sam Hopkins Band (jazz/blues): The rich tones of Sam Hopkins voice, and the unusual inclusion of a mandolin in the band, give this act a distinct jazz sound. Sam Hopkins has been the lead vocalist in a number of rhythm & blues, jazz, and blues bands in Canada, and more recently, in the North Country. As a singer, Sam believes it's his responsibility to attract musicians who can play to what his voice creates.
The Atkinson Family Bluegrass Band: Dick and Shelene Atkinson, and their children Liza and Adam, along with family friend Mick on bass, form the Atkinson Family Band. They've had many wonderful opportunities as a family bluegrass band, including playing 4th of July celebrations at the U.S. Consulate General in Quebec City, where they were guests of the embassy.

Davidson Brothers Brew Pub in downtown Glens Falls will host our pre-concert gathering from 5:30-6:30 pm (cash bar).

Concert tickets are $5. They're available at the door or by calling Kelly at 1-877-388-6277 or emailing Kelly@ncpr.org.

UpNorth Music is supported by The New York State Music Fund established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthrophy Advisors.

North Country Public Radio's UpNorth Music Concert Series at Asgaard Farm August 16

Performers | Artisans | Food

Join host Todd Moe and North Country Public Radio staff at the UpNorth Music Concert at Asgaard Farm in Au Sable Forks, NY, Saturday, August 16 from 2-6 pm.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, sit under the big music tent and enjoy performances by Althea Jean, Mark Tolstrup, Dan Hammond and Shu.

Browse the artisan showcase and sale, sample regional foods and tour the grounds of Asgaard, a producing farm and sustainable forest property, once the historic home of artist, writer, adventurer and political activist Rockwell Kent.

Admission is free, but advance reservations are recommended. Additional reservations for this event have now been made available. Write kelly@ncpr.org or call 1-877-388-6277.

Special thanks to: Asgaard Farm, Jay Entertainment and Music Society and the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

UpNorth Music is supported by The New York State Music Fund established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Asgaard farm as depicted by artist Rockwell Kent in the painting "Clover Fields."

About Asgaard:

Asgaard Farm is the historic home of artist, writer, adventurer and political activist Rockwell Kent. Today Asgaard is a producing farm and sustainable forest property.

Concert Line-up (in order of appearance) 3-6PM

Althea Jean (old time/world): It would be hard to say where the home base of this band is, since members live in Canton, the Adirondacks, and even Montreal. They often perform in the 1000 Islands. Althea Jean is a terrific live band.
Mark Tolstrup (blues): The powerful voice Mark brings to his blues act is a legacy of his years performing on the street, where you have to sing out to be heard. He still vividly remembers playing through the night on Bourbon St. in New Orleans. Mark's 1930s national steel body resonator guitar is perfect for the slide playing he favors.
Dan Hammond (Caribbean steel drums): A steel drum is a surprise in the North Country, but Dan Hammond believes this Caribbean instrument is a great match for the sun, water and resorts of the 1000 Islands. In addition to playing Caribbean style music, he adapts local music, such as old-time fiddle tunes, to the instrument.
Shu (funk/ska/jazz): Ska, a rhythmically up-tempo precursor to reggae, is a strong musical influence on this band's sound. Like most of the bands NCPR recorded in the UpNorth series though, their songs reflect other musical interests. Shu toured the Northeast extensively in the 1990s, mostly performing for university crowds.

Artisan Showcase and Sale 2-6 pm

James Bullard - Photography of nature & Adirondack landscapes (West Stockholm, NY)
Design Galaxy - McGuire - Celestial dreams & imaginary events in acrylic on canvas (Cape Vincent, NY)
Cecilia Thompson - Watercolor miniatures that reflect the light & beauty of nature (Alex Bay, NY)
Vera LaRoe - Oil paintings & watercolors of the Adirondacks, Vermont, and sometimes a bit of Florida (from Massena, NY)
Four Directions Weaving - Donna Foley - Handwoven tapestries, rugs, shawls, scarves & throws including some hand-dyed & handspun yarns (Vermontville, NY)
Point of View -Diane Leifheit - Pastel paintings of Adirondack landscapes, garden florals, and travels to the Yucatan ( Paul Smiths, NY)
Gail McKay - Acrylic paintings of land & waterscapes that capture a mood or a moment in broad colors & shapes (Lake Placid, NY)
Spruce Mountain Designs - Suellen McMillen - Gold & silver jewelry inspired by the nature & history of the Adirondacks (Lake Placid, NY)
Silver Bench Jewelry - Lisa Nortz - Traditional silversmith forging & creation of chains, pendants, bracelets, earrings, pins & more (Croghan, NY)
Natural Expressions - Jeri Wright - Photographic images of the natural environment (Wilmington, NY)
Buttons Buttons - Barbara B. Smith - One of a kind decorative pillows with unique findings & antique fabrics (Jay, NY)
Completely Claudia - Claudia Loomis-Chandler - Handwoven baskets, weaving, artwork & cards in pen & ink, watercolor, and oil ( Croghan, NY)
Genuine Gems - Michelle & Keith Benham - Pendants, rings, & earrings with faceted gems & cabochons set in sterling silver jewelry (Massena, NY)
Susan Camp Studio - Susan Camp - Silver & gold jewelry with gemstone & leather accents in unique designs that are reminiscent of places & special moments (Saranac Lake, NY)
Dragonfly Pottery - Ann & John Donovan - Raku, stoneware & porcelain pottery & one of a kind creations, often using local clay (Redwood, NY)
Adirondack Landscapes & Mandalas - Sandra Hildreth - Adirondack wilderness landscapes & wildflowers in oil and watercolor portrayed in the geometric structure of Tibetan Buddhist mandalas.(Saranac Lake, NY)
Jackie Altman - Specializing in Adirondack Landscapes and Florals (Lake Placid, NY)
Young’s Studio & Gallery – Sue Burdick Young & Terrance Young – Hand-thrown functional stoneware pottery, hand painted silk scarves, and handmade books featuring handmade paper. – Jay, NY
TAUNY - Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, featuring art from around the region
St. Lawrence County Arts Council - a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting the arts in northern New York.
Jay Craft Center - Procelain and stoneware pottery from the scenic
Adriondack Mountain village of Jay, NY
Near North Art – Watercolors, oil and prints from Susan Cassevaugh – Jay, NY
Loon Images and More – Wildlife photography, prints and note cards from Joe Woody
Graphics North – Photographic prints, notecards and books of original poetry from Nadine McLaughlin – Jay, NY
Mark Kurtz – One of the founding members of the Adirondack Artist‘s Guild, and widely recognized as one of the Adirondack region's preeminent artists. Saranac Lake, NY

Food: 2-6 pm

Asgaard Farm, Au Sable Forks, NY: Goat Cheese and Pork BBQ Sandwiches (Pork from Yellow House Farm, Jay, NY)
Dogwood Bread Company, Wadhams, NY: Artisan breads, scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies, granola, and roast coffee
Green Goddess Foods, Lake Placid, NY: Wraps, smoothies and more
Black Kettle Farm, Essex, NY: Pies and salads
Stewart’s Ice Cream, Saratoga Springs, NY
St. Lawrence Chocolate Bars, Potsdam, NY
Cooper’s Cave Sodas, Glens Falls, NY
Frontenac Springs Water, Clayton, NY

Visit Rockwell Kent’s Art Studio at Asgaard and view a photo exhibit on loan from the Rockwell Kent Gallery and Collection at SUNY Plattsburgh. Learn more about Rockwell Kent and the Kent Gallery.