May 17, 2005 - The Current’s Mary Lucia talks with Native American poet and saxophonist Joy Harjo who shares thought about her work. Segment includes excerpt of “Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window.”
December 2, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Crann meets with the Steele family in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Music Studio to discuss family and Christmas. The Steeles also perform various Christmas songs.
April 7, 2006 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Minneapolis singer-songwriter Ann Reed about her CD “Telling Stories.” Reed also performs songs in the studio.
December 22, 2006 - On this special In the Loop event at the USB Forum, MPR’s Jeff Horwich presents the show "Lighting Up The Holidays: Feeding and fighting our light obsession." Program includes music, interviews, stories, and lots of voices -- including many guests and audience members in the UBS Forum.
March 9, 2007 - The male vocal ensemble Cantus and poet Robert Bly collaborate on a new series of poems set to music.
April 13, 2007 - MPR’s Tim Post reports on The Stearns County Pachanga Society. Pachanga is a style of dance and a type of music from Cuba. Post interviews founder Mike Hasbrouck and two band members about the group.
June 1, 2007 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on "The Mad Ripple Friday Night Hootenanny" at Java Jack's. The event is thrown together by writer and singer/songwriter Jim Walsh, who's stage name is the Mad Ripple. Each week Walsh presents a handful of musicians, usually local, some of them rookies and some established. The artists take turns trading stories and songs, mostly originals.
June 28, 2007 - MPR’s Dan Olson talks with Minneapolis musician Karen Torkelson Solgard, who has a love for the Hardanger fiddle, an ancient Norwegian instrument. Solgard works on preserving the musical form of instrument, while adding an American influence.
August 13, 2007 - As part of the series “Songs from Scratch,” MPR’s Nikki Tundel profiles Stephen Burt, a poet turned lyricist. Burt shares thoughts on writing lyrics and how they interact with the music.
March 7, 2008 - MPR’s Steven John talks with Twin Cities guitarist Billy McLaughlin in the studio. They discuss McLaughlin’s adjustment in playing as he battles a neurological disorder called focal dystonia. McLaughlin performs examples on what he does different as a musician since his diagnosis.