Dreams of Dave Grohl from Tom Brosseau, a stunning session from Basia Bulat, tonight on Folkadelphia

“I keep having the same dream of Dave Grohl, the one where’s playing drums in Hole. I’ve got him wrapped in rusty chains – I think I’m supposed to free him, but I don’t have the brains,” intriguing lyrics from Tom Brosseau‘s “Favorite Color Blue” off of Posthumous Success, released in 2009, and the bait that drew me in to explore his unique songwriting gifts and five other albums.

I’ve been waiting half a decade for a new record and it has finally arrived. Grass Punks is a deceptive album, both in its seemingly minimalist approach to instrumentation and lyrical narrative, but like the iceberg effect, once you start to peer beneath the seen surface, you enter an expansive world of musicality and meaning. Brosseau is a true master of his craft.

We’re thrilled to present his Philadelphia show for this album release this Friday, February 7th at Ortlieb’s. Philadelphia’s Joey Sweeney co-headlines and Mitch Esparza (of the Love Club) supports. More information can be found here. Listen to “Cradle Your Device” from Grass Punks:

And for fun, watch him collaborate with actor/musician John C. Reilly:

On this episode of Folkadelphia, we’ll premiere an excerpt from Canadian musician Basia Bulat’s Folkadelphia Session, recorded back in October before her show at the Boot & Saddle. Last year, she released the rather rockin’ album Tall Tall Shadow, but for this session, she completely strips her songs back for us, shedding new light on her compositions.

Watch her perform “Tall Tall Shadow” on piano for PRI:


Every Wednesday from 10-11 PM on WXPN, Folkadelphia Radio with Fred Knittel explores the world of folk, Americana, country, and more, old and new, ranging from the fringe to the familiar to the freaky and everything in between. They also premiere an excerpt from a new Folkadelphia Session, an in-studio recording featuring musicians in their live element.