Grant Peeples returns to Laurapalooza on Oct. 15

Grant Peeples, singer-songwriter out of Sopchoppy, Florida, will make a return visit to Laurapalooza in the KPFT studios on Thursday, October 15. His lyrics are socially conscious, political, and very witty. He'll play some live music and talk about his current album, Pawnshop. His website is http://www.grantpeeples.com/.

This is Jim Halfpenny and me on July 30 when he did a live in-studio on my show. He played three songs -- Ecohes, Blind Pigs, and The Roadway.

Jim Halfpenny to visit KPFT July 30

Austin, Texas, singer-songwriter Jim Halfpenny will be my guest Thursday, July 30, at 11 PM. He'll play some live music and chat with me before heading to LaGrange to perform at the Bugle Boy on Saturday, August 1. For more on Jim Halfpenny, visit www.jimhalfpennyband.com.

A change is gonna come

KPFT is undergoing a major programming schedule change, so please keep an eye on the http://www.kpft.org/ website home page to know what the changes are. A new program called Deadbeat will debut Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 3:00 PM, hosted by Sandy Weinmann and Dave Dauterive, so stay tuned. Here is a link to the KPFT program director's blog, where you can find out more about the program changes: http://kpft.wordpress.com/

Dana Hubbard at KPFT

Dana Hubbard is based in Berkeley, California, and his website is www.danahubbard.com. He performed three songs during his live in-studio -- Lightnin's Cadillac, Livin' Live, and The Pain of Losing You. His interview and live music performance will be posted soon at www.KPFT.org. From the home page, click on Programming and then click on KPFT Podcast.

Dana Hubbard and Laura Slavin

It was a pleasure having Dana Hubbard as a guest on May 21 while he was in Texas to perform at the Wildflower music festival in Richardson.

Dana Hubbard coming to KPFT May 21

Singer-songwriter Dana Hubbard, out of Berkeley, California, will be my guest Thursday, May 21, at 11 PM for an interview and live music performance. I know you've heard some his songs on my show: The Great Human Race, Petroleum People, and the title track to The Grounds Keepers. His lyrics are socially and environmentally conscious, so please tune in to get to know Dana Hubbard. His website is www.danahubbard.com.

Don't forget to call in and make a financial pledge to KPFT in support of Laurapalooza while the Spring Membership Drive is in progress (713-526-5738). To support Laurapalooza, call in Thursday night, May 21, between the hours of 11 PM and 2 AM.

John Houx's Green Period featured

Last Thursday night, April 16, I featured seven songs from John Houx's Green Period. His music can be likened to Dylan's early stuff. Here's a photo so, if you were listening and are curious as to what he looks like, now you know.

February was Black History Month

During Black History Month (February), Laurapalooza featured three one-hour specials:

Feb. 5 - Gamble & Huff: Love is the Message - The Story of Philadelphia International Records (a salute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. (The above is a photo of Gamble & Huff).

Feb. 12 - Ashford & Simpson: The Real Thing - A look at the long careers of songwriters, producers and performers Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

Feb. 19 - Sly and The Family Stone. The remaining two hours of the program was music by black artists.

It was fun to do something so different from my regular shows as I usually feature mostly new releases of roots rock, contemporary folk, and blues. Thanks for the phone calls and emails of appreciation.

Photo of Laura Slavin and Jim Post

It was such a pleasure to have Jim Post in the studio on January 15. The interview and music will be posted soon at www.KPFT.org as a podcast. For more info about Jim and his upcoming performances, www.jimpost.com.

Laura will host Jim Post on Jan. 15

Songwriter, recording artist and author, Jim Post will be Laura's in-studio guest on Jan. 15. http://www.jimpost.com

Happy New Year!

I had a great time doing a New Year's Day program featuring some of the best of Laurapalooza of 2008. Of course, not everything that deserves "best of" labeling will fit into a three-hour program, but it was a good sampling of the music Laurapalooza features. I have never received so many phone calls during one program. I lost count of how many people called in to say they appreciate the music selections played on Laurapalooza. Please remember to contribute to KPFT during the upcoming membership drive that is planned for January 17 through February 1 and do your part to keep free speech alive, along with program hosts' free choices in music. KPFT has never been controlled by corporations and is commercial-free because it is listener-sponsored.

Laurapalooza to feature the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

On Thursday, December 25, at 11 PM, Laurapalooza will feature the 20th Anniversary Warren Haynes Christmas Jam Radio Special with performances by The Allman Brothers, Michael Franti, Joan Osborne, Steve Earle, Gov’t Mule, and more, along with interviews with Michael Franti, Ben Harper, Warren Haynes and Greg Allman. The annual concert thrives on support by volunteer talent and behind-the-scenes personnel. Post-production proceeds benefit Habitat For Humanity, whose goal is providing housing for families in need.

Laurapalooza celebrates Jimi Hendrix's birthday Nov. 27

On this week's program, Thursday, November 27 at 11:00 PM, I will feature Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant (The Massacree Revisited) from 1997 and, in honor of Jimi Hendrix's birthday, Electric Ladyland: The 40th Anniversary Radio Special, hosted by Gary Moore.

Laura hosts Grant Peeples live in-studio Nov. 13

I had the pleasure of hosting Grant Peeples for an in-studio interview and performance at KPFT on Thursday, November 13. Mike Manning accompanied him on bass guitar and they played two songs -- Grant's Talking Blues and Sunshine State -- off the new album, It's Later Than You Think. He was in Houston to perform at Last Concert Cafe on Friday, November 14. For more info on Grant Peeples, go to http://www.grantpeeples.com/. A podcast of the interview and live music will be posted at www.kpft.org.

See below for photos from Truth Network Ball

I had misplaced the disc that had the photos on it (how unlike me to misplace something), so I couldn't post them until now. If I took your picture and it's not posted here, it's because a few of them didn't turn out good (it was so dark inside Dan Electro's Guitar Bar). The live music acts were all good, but The Blue Threads, I must say, were certainly the high point. I had a lot of fun working the front door and doing my part to raise funds to support KPFT.

Dean Becker

Don

Bill

Mary and Cheryl

Audience

Melinda, Sandra and Genie

Dean and Keith

The Blue Threads

Little Brother Project

Tom Loud

Patti Sullivan

The Dragliners

Truth Network Ball was a success

On Sunday, October 5, I volunteered at the Truth Network Ball at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar on W. 24th St. in The Heights, hosted by Dean Becker. There was live music from 3 to 9 p.m. and my personal favorites were The Blue Threads, who rocked the house and made the audience yell for more. I worked the door, taking admissions. The $10 per person benefitted KPFT, so it was definitely a worthy cause. Besides, I needed to get out and listen to some great live music. I took pictures, but they're not ready yet. I'll post them when they are. I had to use one of those disposable cameras because I lost the charger for my digital camera and will have to buy another.

Thanks for supporting

The Summer Sizzle membership drive has concluded and we are back to regular programming. Thank you so very much for supporting Pacifica Radio KPFT Houston!

Membership drive program tonight

I hope you tune in for tonight's edition of Laurapalooza as I have planned some very special membership drive programming for you, including a Jim Morrison special and a Woody Guthrie special, both from the Pacifica Radio Archives. When you call in your membership pledge (713-526-5738) during the show tonight beginning at 11 p.m., you can ask for 100 hours of "From The Vault," our Pacifica Radio Archives thank-you gift. The 100-hour collection includes those two programs and much, much more. I will also feature some songs from Sounds of Freedom, a book and CD set that is also available to you when you pledge your financial support for KPFT. After that, with what time there is left, I will play some new releases from the KPFT Music Library. If you are unable to call in during the program, you can make a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org or email me at laura@kpft.org. It only takes a $90 pledge to get a black Laurapalooza T-shirt with the KPFT logo printed on the back.

Summer Membership Drive

The Summer Sizzle Membership Drive has commenced and will run through August 17. Please show your support for your community radio station by calling in a generous financial pledge. A basic membership is only $35 per year, but, of course, we accept pledges in any amount. We have plenty of black Laurapalooza T-shirts in varying sizes with printing on the front and back that we will be happy to mail to you when you pledge at the $90 level. The Sounds of Freedom book and CD set is also available as a thank-you gift. Please call 713-526-5738 during Laurapalooza on Thursday night or email me at laura@kpft.org and I'll be happy to accept your pledge.

Laura will host Glenna Bell in the KPFT studios on July 10

On Thursday, July 10, at 11 PM, I will host an interview and live music performance with singer-songwriter and recording artist Glenna Bell, who is nominated for "Best Traditional Folk" act in the 2008 Houston Press Music Awards.www.glennabell.com

New black Laurapalooza T-shirts available

It's all the craze. People are actually asking for these T-shirts. They are available in sizes from Youth 2-4 to Adult 3XL. The top photo is a close-up of the front of the shirt. The middle photo is the T-shirt front and the lower photo is the T-shirt back. At the $90 pledge level, you can have one too. And you don't have to wait for the next membership drive. Just contact me at laura@kpft.org.

Thanks for supporting your community radio station

The Spring membership drive has concluded and regular programming is back. Thank you to everyone who pledged during this drive, everyone who donated their time to answer phones, all the restaurants that donated food, all the program hosts and crews, and especially to Duane and Ernesto for their tireless efforts on-air requesting listener donations.

New T-shirts for membership drive

Laurapalooza T-shirts with a new design are being produced now and will be ready by the end of the current membership drive. They are black with white lettering and include a large KPFT logo on the back and a motto below the program name on the front -- Music for Pacificans. This is the best way I can briefly describe what type of music I feature on my show. I'm sure it will get people asking, "What are Pacificans?"

Usually, when people ask me what type of music I play on my show, I tell them it's not any one type of music. It ranges from roots rock, contemporary folk and blues to spoken word and sometimes some jazzy kind of stuff. Rarely, I'll even include a country-sounding song. But, it isn't really the type of music that makes me choose a song. It is the lyrics that matter. Does the songwriter have something to say? I choose songs with lyrics of social or political importance or that tell an interesting story about people and the hardships people have to overcome to get along in this world. Since I can't put all that on a T-shirt, they will just say, Music for Pacificans.

The current KPFT membership drive will continue through the end of May. I exceeded my dollar goal and new member goal during last Thursday night's show and I hope to do the same again this Thursday.

We have many wonderful thank-you gifts being offered as pledge incentives, including, but not limited to:

Reusable KPFT Grocery Tote Bags made from recycled plastic. With these, when the grocery checker asks, "Paper or plastic?" you can proudly reply, "No, thanks. I brought my own."

CDs (my top picks of the new releases) -
Mudcrutch (Tom Petty's new band): self-titled
James McMurtry: Just Us Kids
Frank Carillo and The Bandoleros: Someday
Chip Taylor: New Songs of Freedom

And last, but should have been listed first because it's the most important, "From The Vault" - 100 hours of Historical recordings from the Pacifica Radio Archives on CDs (in MP3 format).

We always also offer the KPFT logo items -- T-shirts, caps, and mugs.

I recommend the From The Vault recordings and, of course, the new Laurapalooza T-shirt. The T-shirts, by the way, are available in all different sizes, even youth sizes. I look forward to your phone call during the show this Thursday night at 11 p.m. with your pledge of support for the station. The phone number is 713-526-5738. Alternatively, you are welcome to email me with your pledge or do a secure online pledge through http://www.kpft.org/.

Be a Pacifican. Support Pacifica Radio KPFT Houston with your donation.

Willie Nelson special airs on Laurapalooza

I don't usually include country music on my program (or I feature very little country, only on rare occasions), but, since it was Willie Nelson's 75 birthday last week, I decided to air the Willie Nelson special, True Outlaw Stories: On the Road With Willie Nelson, hosted by Rodney Crowell. It featured stories about lots of funny things that happened as Willie Nelson and The Family Band toured together over the past 40 years. Quite a few listeners called in to say thanks for featuring it. Those of us who heard it, no doubt, feel like we know Willie and his band members a lot better now. There were interviews with, not only Willie Nelson, but also Paul English, Mickey Raphael, Jody Payne, Bobbie Nelson and Poodie Locke. I gave away two 23-song samplers from One Hell of a Ride, the new Willie Nelson boxed set, to a couple of very lucky listeners who called in.

New time slot

Laurapalooza has moved to Thursdays at 11 p.m. I'm sure there are a lot more listeners at that time, so I certainly appreciate being able to do the show beginning at 11 p.m. every Thursday night. It's still a three-hour show, so it's over at 2 a.m. now instead of 3 a.m.

Schedule change

Laurapalooza currently airs on Fridays from midnight to 3 a.m. (now weekly; it was previously bi-weekly).

Thanks for supporting KPFT

Thank you to everyone who made contributions to KPFT during the recent membership drive. The station relies on you to remain commercial-free, as it has for 38 years. Thanks for listening and for supporting your community radio station!

Sideshow Tramps to appear as Laurapalooza guests on Feb. 29

Sideshow Tramps will perform live on-air Friday morning, Feb. 29, soon after midnight in the KPFT studios on Lovett Blvd. in Houston.

KPFT Winter Membership Drive runs Feb. 17 through March 6

New issue of KPFT Voice published

The KPFT Voice is published quarterly by the people, for the people and there are thousands of copies in the KPFT conference room waiting to be distributed. If you can help with distributing copies, please contact the station at 713-526-4000 and pick up some bundles to deliver to businesses that agree to display them.

The pictures below are of the people who work in the KPFT Music Library. They must kind of like it because they keep coming back. They each work at least a 2-1/2 hour shift per week. John and Bennie work two shifts per week. It really is interesting to learn about recording artists and bands while doing online research to categorize the CDs into music genres. I get a big part of the music I play on my show from the station's library. We have a few open slots for people who can regularly donate at least 2-1/2 hours per week of their time and energy. If you're interested, let me know (laura@kpft.org) and I'll hook you up with Eddie Garcia, KPFT Events and Outreach Coordinator. You will need to submit a completed volunteer application to him.

Dave Dauterive, Music Department Assistant

Leila Navon, Music Department Assistant

Bennie Slavik, Music Department Assistant

KPFT has a new website

If you haven't already, please take a look around at the new www.KPFT.org. It has a lot of changes for the better. One new function is that the song that is currently playing is listed on the home page. It also shows the program that is currently being broadcast and the program that is up next.

Schedule change working out great

Thanks for your phone calls and emails about the program being moved to Friday morning. I'm receiving lots of positive feedback.

Program schedule change

Laurapalooza has moved from Sunday to Friday morning, beginning December 7, and will now be a three-hour program instead of two. The program will air on the first, third, and fifth Friday mornings from midnight to 3 a.m. I'm very excited and happy about the change!

Minium number of ballots received to hold elections!

Finally, the KPFT membership came through with enough ballots to make a quorum, so we will indeed have Local Station Board elections. We have a membership of about 9,000 and we were barely able to get the 861 ballots needed to have a quorum for elections. I'm thankful that enough of us exercised our right to vote, but I am still disappointed in the low number of members who cared enough to vote and that the deadline had to be extended to get enough ballots in to have a quorum.

Voting for Local Station Board

We are so privileged to have a democratic system for electing board members at our community radio station. It is disappointing that, even after extending the deadline for ballots to be received, not enough eligible KPFT members are exercising their right to vote. As of this morning, we still didn't have enough ballots received. If you have put your ballot aside and didn't think it an important thing to vote for board members, please reconsider and bring your completed ballot to the station on Saturday, December 1. That will be the last possible chance for your vote to be included.

Fall Membership Drive

KPFT is in membersihp drive mode from October 22 through November 11. The station does not advertise or accept corporate underwriting and instead relies on its listener-members for its operating funds. Please support KPFT, your community radio station, with a donation. You can do a secure online pledge at http://www.kpft.org/ or call in during the show on October 28 or on November 11, between 4 and 6 a.m. Alternatively, you could email your pledge to me at laura@kpft.org and I will be happy to submit it for you. Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting free speech and the concept of radio program hosts making their own choices as to what music to play, what to talk about, and who to have as on-air guests. The phone number to call in and make a pledge is 713-526-5738.

Gunshot hits KPFT control room window

On August 13, 2007, at about 1 a.m., a gunshot came through one of the windows of the KPFT control room, narrowly missing Mary Thomas of Zydeco Pas Sale. A bullet was extracted from the wall a few days later. Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. Houston's Crime Tips Hotline is 713-222-TIPS.

Summer Sizzle - August 4 - 12

Summer Sizzle

The KPFT Summer Sizzle pledge drive is right around the corner. It's planned for August 4 through August 12. That's only eight days, so I'm sure it will go by quickly. Actually, pledge drives are a fun time around the station. We get to spend some time getting to know our fellow listener-sponsors who come in to answer the pledge phones.

Laurapalooza's day to raise money to support KPFT will be the last day of the drive -- August 12. So, even if you support other programs too, remember to save a pledge for Laurapalooza and call in between 4 and 6 a.m. on Sunday, August 12, to make a financial pledge to KPFT in support of Laurapalooza. Alternatively, feel free to contact me at laura@kpft.org before August 12 and I will be happy to accept your pledge via email and submit it for you.

In addition to the regular KPFT logo items we offer as premiums during pledge drives -- t-shirts, ball caps, coffee mugs, etc., we have a 3-CD set of Jerry Lee Lewis music and a DVD of some of his performances. It's a collectors' item that any rock and roll music fan would like to own.

Nathan Moore visits KPFT

Nathan Moore, Pacifica Foundation National Program Coordinator, was visiting KPFT this week. I attended his Interviewing Skills workshop. He works with all the Pacifica program directors on national programming issues. He's a great guy and it was a pleasure having him around. As of today, May 18, he's off to visit another Pacifica Radio station.

And the winners are ...

I had a fun time participating as one of three judges at the Worldfolk Battle of the Bands on March 25 at Papa's Ice House in Spring, Texas. All the bands were good, but there could only be three winners! See below for photos.

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - First Place winners: Breanna Fye Band

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - Second Place winners: Skepticynic