Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will be on the Kojo Nnamdi Show today (8/12) on WAMU to remember Mike Seeger and his music. Mike passed away on August 7 at his home.

Cathy and Marcy were good friends of Mike’s and will discuss his deep knowledge and personal familiarity with a wide range of folk music and instruments. Mary Cliff (host of WAMU’s In The Tradition) will also be in the studio, along with guest host Rebecca Roberts.

The show airs from noon to 2:00 p.m. (EDT) and the Seeger segment is scheduled to begin at 1:30.

The broadcast can be heard over the air in the DC metro market at 88.5 FM, or via live streaming online. Audio will also be available in the show archives approximately an hour after the conclusion of the program.

Multiple Grammy winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer have a new CD, an 8 song EP collaboration with beatbox artist Christylez Bacon. The album is titled Banjo To Beatbox, and is Cathy and Marcy’s latest collection of children’s songs, performed on acoustic instruments – with a twist.

Cathy and Marcy have been active in both folk and childrens music for many years, and have twice won the Grammy award for Best Musical Album for Children. Bacon is a hip-hop artist based in the DC area who is considered a master of beatbox, the vocal technique of simulated percussion sounds. But Marcy is quick to point out that he is the sort of hip-hopper that parents will want their kids to hear.

“We met Chris in an arts oriented mentoring program. He wasn’t doing any kid’s music at that point and he’s the first Hip Hop artist I’ve ever heard that has never written a negative word. Since I’ve become friends with him I’ve also never heard him utter an unkind word about anyone or anything, either.

He has a band that he regularly performs with that is all acoustic-another part of his art that’s unusual. His backup band includes tuba, piano, and a hand drummer.

We’re having a great time with him. Since meeting me he has taken up the ukulele and is currently eye-ing the banjo. If he decides to go for it we’ll certainly help him.”

Songs on the new CD range from the familiar Froggy Went A Courtin’ played with two banjos (cello banjo and clawhammer 5 string) to a hip-hop version of the Humpty Dumpty story, with beatbox and cello banjo accompaniment. The songs are fun and full of joy and enthusiasm – your kids will love it!

There are more audio samples from Banjo To Beatbox on Cathy and Marcy’s site, and examples of Chris’ music on his site, plus a music video for the opening track, Jubilation.

Marcy says that Chris will join she and Cathy for a number of shows this summer. Check their schedule online.

The Friday (3/13) edition of Blue Plate Special on WDVX will include a performance by Lost & Found.

Their set is sure to include selections from their new Rebel project, Love Lost and Found, due for release on March 24. This CD is the first from the band since they lost founding member Dempsey Young, who died tragically in 2006.

The project was begun in 2003, with Dempsey’s mandolin on 7 of the 13 tracks. New mandolinist Scott Napier plays on the other tracks, and will be with them this afternoon on the radio, along with Allen Mills on bass and lead vocals, Scottie Sparks on guitar and vocals, and Ronald Smith on banjo.

Blue Plate Special airs at noon (EDT) from The Square Room in Knoxville, TN. WDVX broadcasts at 102.9 FM in Knoxville, and is carried online via a live audio stream.

Folk/old time power duo Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer will also perform, as will Town Mountain from Asheville, NC.

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer have a new video podcast available on their web site – Cathy & Marcy in BANJOLAND.

It’s a fun romp through the world of banjos, designed to introduce the instrument to younger folks without a clear understanding of the history and variety of the banjo family.

Cathy and Marcy have long been involved in performing and recording folk music for children, including two Grammy Award winning CDs in the Best Musical Album For Children category.

They demonstrate a number of fun banjos – banjo ukulele, cello banjo, fretless banjo – and even one made from a lunch box!

They even created a promotional trailer to spread the word about the new video podcast, which reveals a closely-held secret about Banjoland.