Homegrown Music is WVIA-FM's exclusive series which each week showcases the talents of regional contemporary music artists in recordings produced in the WVIA-FM studios by series host George Graham and is broadcast Tuesdays at 9:00 PM. Special features during April include an encore of a memorable 2005 concert by the late blues great Ann Rabson on the 17th. Further information on Homegrown Music may be obtained via the World Wide Web at http://homegrownmusic.info and http://www.wvia.org/radio/local/homegrown-music/

June 3 Tim Chaisson. This encore from last year is one of the series' occasional guest appearances from an artist from outside the usual WVIA territory. Tim Chaisson is a outstanding and critically-praised young singer-songwriter from Prince Edward Island, Canada, who was paying a visit to NE Pennsylvania as part of his tour last year. His CD The Other Side was highlighted Mixed Bag. Chaisson performed some of the songs that have been establishing his reputation on both sides of the border. He appears with his cousin Koady Chaisson.

Tim (l) and Koady Chaisson at WVIA

Fife and Drom in the WVIA studio

June 10 Fife and Drom. Wilkes-Barre native Abby Ahmad has been attracting attention nationally as a singer-songwriter, currently based in New Brooklyn, NY. She made her Homegrown Music debut in early 2013. That session showed some of her blues influence. Now her group, including her husband and another NEPA native Mark Marshall, have turned the quartet into an energetic but eclectic blues band called Fife and Drom. The group makes its Homegrown Music debut with new material.

June 17 A Homegrown Music Concert Encore featuring ANN RABSON. While WVIA's live Homegrown Music concert series is on summer hiatus, series producer and host George Graham goes into the archive to feature some memorable concerts. Pianist, guitarist and vocalist Ann Rabson was a founder of Saffire, the Uppity Blueswomen, a group that achieved international success with their great playing and astute, often clever lyrics that frequently turned the macho blues stereotype on its head. Ms. Rabson passed away in January 2013 after a long battle with cancer. This 2005 Homegrown Music Concert captures her at her peak.

Ann Rabson Performing at WVIA May 23, 2005

Judy Kass

June 24 Judy Kass. Singer-songwriter Judy Kass is a classically-trained singer-songwriter who grew up in a musical family and has also sung jazz. She says that in a career as a social worker she has gathered a good deal of material for her songs. Her CD Better Things has been featured on Mixed Bag, and George Graham invited her to appear on Homegrown Music. She put together a band for the purpose, including frequent HGM guest Jeff Eyrich on bass, and performs her original music on both piano and guitar in her series debut.

Contact Series Producer: