For Free Form Friday (that’s 4 F’s), we are inviting YOU to do your own set – pick your own theme and three or four songs – and send them our way at morning@wfuv.org or right here on the blog. Check back soon for the set!

.::UPDATE::.

We’ve got a winner! Terry from Livonia (yep, Michigan) sent in this set for the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Social Security Act of 1965:

1. The Beatles – When I’m 64

2. Jimmy Durante – Young at Heart

3. Neil Young – Old Man

4. The Grateful Dead – Touch of Grey

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Well this is just sad. According to a brand new report released by the NRDC, New York is ranked 7th in the nation (NJ is ranked 14th) for the dirtiest beaches – and among this is our very own Orchard Beach in the Bronx. So today – we’re doing a virtual beach day on the radio!

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Falcon Ridge 2010 won’t go down as the most exciting festival in its 22 year history…no big name headliner like Arlo or Ani, but no tornados, either. Still, a smallish crowd genuinely enjoyed performances by some of folk music’s old reliables (as well as some exciting newcomers), and in these perilous financial times maybe that’s enough.

Mainstays like John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, Tracy Grammer, Jimmy LaFave, and Cheryl Wheeler delivered solid (and in Cheryl’s case, hilarious) sets. Martyn Joseph, a veteran singer-songwriter from Wales not well known in the U.S., made a lot of new fans with his powerful set. The adorable young Toronto duo Dala charmed the crowd. Former Falcon Ridge emerging artists Ellis, We’re About 9, and Red Molly proved they’ve got the goods. The Red Molly set Saturday night was very emotional. The trio was born at Falcon Ridge in 2004, and this was their last gig with Carolann Solebello, who’ll be spending more time with her family and pursuing a solo career.

Last call for Carolann with Red Molly

Speaking of emerging artists, a steady rain put a damper on the Friday afternoon showcase. It had to be discouraging for the 24 performers to travel all the way to Falcon Ridge to play for a few dozen hardy souls huddled under tarps on the hillside, but they never let that show. Some of the emerging artists who made an impression were Caleb Hawley, Rachel Sage, John Wort Hannam, Spuytin Duyvil, Rebecca Loebe, Chris O’Brien, Tripping Lily, Stepanie Nilles, and Barnaby Bright.

The Sunday morning Gospel Wake Up Call with Red Molly, Vance Gilbert, and Gandalf Murphy (who also tore up the dance tent on Friday night) was as soul-stirring as ever.  The Kennedys turned out to be a great choice as the closing act. They performed a lot of their faves, including a truly inspired psychedelic medley that took off from “Eight Miles High” into musical outer  space and the crowd-pleasing finale, “Stand.” That was the perfect segue into the traditional closing song, “Never Turning Back,” with a bunch of artists crowded onstage.

Members of The Kennedys, Gandalf Murphy, We're About 9, and Red Molly lead the singalong

Hopefully, “Never Turning Back” doesn’t mean “never coming back.” Even on smaller scale, Falcon Ridge represents a special community for musicians and fans alike.

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There’s a Led Zeppelin cover band playing tonight at Westhampton PAC and we were all…like…what? They’re few and far between, but they’re out there – we’re gonna play your favorite Led Zeppelin covers for today’s Q of the D!

Oh, btw, check out this amazing rendition (/parody) of “Stairway to Gilligan’s Island” by Little Roger and the Goosebumps:

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We played David Bowie’s cover of “Friday On My Mind” last Friday. What’ll you hear this week?

Well, FUV’s Free Form Fridays mean you can’t really be sure, but… you can give us some tips. More cover songs maybe? Let us know!

Here’s one I just heard about:

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It’s been a few weeks since Sting released his Symphonicities album with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra backing him (NY Times review) and now he has a show tonight with them at Jones Beach. Blowhard or brilliant, many artists have tried the whole orchestral thing out, and we’re gonna play a set of those this morning.

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A mere 235 years ago, the office that would become the United States Post Office Department was established by the Second Continental Congress so we’re gonna show the love to the men and women who deliver our mail. Send us your songs about mail, mail-carriers, mail-sending…c’mon.

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Day 2 gave us a rainbow, a full moon, and lots of great music.  Vance Gilbert in the afternoon. Beatles singaoong on the workshop stage. Eliza Gilkyson and Jimmy LaFave at night. Red Molly did a bittersweet set. They were born at Falcon Ridge 6 years ago, were one of the most wanted emerging artists, and now were playing the mainstage. But it was last call for Carolann Solabello, who’s leaving the group to spend more time with her family and pursue a solo career. ( A new Molly, Molly Ventner, from Austin, takes her place next month.) So it was pretty emotional as they closed with their breathtaking a capella cover of Susan Werner’s “May I Suggest.”

Red Molly is back again this morning for the Gospel Wake Up Call, along with Vance and Gandalf Murphy (who closed the mainstage with a rockin’ set last night). The lineup later includes We’re About 9, John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, and the Kennedys. It’s a perfect day, so come on up. And stop by the @WFUV booth. I’ll be hanging between 2-3.

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Day 1: Falcon Ridge already Mudville. Rain puts a damper on the Emerging Artists Showcase. talented performers travel hundreds (thousands?) of miles to perform 2 songs to a few dozen hardy souls huddled under tarps on the hillside.

“Moist and fertile” evening (as Jimmy LaFave put it). After Tracy Grammer and between Martyn Joseph .and Dala, dancing fools of all ages got down in the dance tent to Gandalf Murphy (who else could do a medley of “Riders on the Storm” and “Billie Jean”?) Then the song swap with Jimmy LaFave, Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, and Cheryl Wheeler, all in fine form.

Sunny and hot today – that’s more like it! I’ll be at the FUV booth at 2. Stop by and say hi. We’ve got some cool new goodies.

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It’s Freaky Friday again so we let the listeners come up with a theme for today’s Question of the Day. Rich (from Huntington) was the man with the plan and asked for your songs with places Claudia might be. We’re going global today…so just where in the world is Claudia Marshall?

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