On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Craig Finn returns as our guest to talk about the new solo album “Always Been,” his continuing work with his band The Hold Steady, and his continuing evolution as a writer.

Also featured, a new summertime song from Norah Jones & John Legend, new music from HAIM and Alison Krauss & Union Station and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for July 21, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Pink Moon” – Glim’ring, Pigs On Corn
• “Limerence” – Lucy Dacus
• “The Field” – Blood Orange
• “Forever” – Alison Krauss & Union Station
• “Looking In The Eyes Of Love” – Alison Krauss & Union Station (1997 in-studio performance)
• “Plasticine” – The Lumineers
• “Like A Woman” – Lady Blackbird (2025 in-studio performance)
• “Bethany” – Craig Finn (in-studio guest)
• “People Of Substance” – Craig Finn (in-studio guest)
• “Lover’s Holiday” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “What To Make Of Me” – Olive Klug
• “Seven Tears” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Open All Night” – Aoife O’Donovan (2020 in-studio performance)
• “Love You Right” – HAIM
• “Someday We Won’t Live Here Anymore” – The Accidentals
• “Summertime Blue” – Norah Jones & John Legend
• “Jesus, Etc.” – Puss N Boots
• “Be Cool (demo)” – Joni Mitchell
• “Marcie” – Olivia Chaney (2010 in-studio performance)
• “The Other Side Of The Coin” – Solomon Burke
• “The Hammer & The Rose” – Matt Andersen (2025 in-studio performance)
•  “Back Where I Belong” – Britti
• “Crumbs” – Craig Finn (in-studio guest)
• “Shamrock” – Craig Finn (in-studio guest)

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, we welcome back Matt Andersen, playing songs from his new album, “Life Is Just A Vapor.” From New Brunswick, Andersen made the new album with Bahamas, creating a very different sound for this blues rock singer-songwriter.

Also featured, a fun ’80s metal cover, in-studio archives from I’m With Her, Keb’ Mo’, Jack Johnson and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for July 13, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Time After Time” – Cassandra Wilson
• “Make Out In My Car” – Moses Sumney w/Sufjan Stevens
• “Carrie & Lowell” – Sufjan Stevens
• “Blood On The Street” – Haim
• “Wild And Clear And Blue” – I’m With Her (2025 in-studio performance)
• “Round And Round” – The Meat Purveyors
• “The Hammer & The Rose” – Matt Andersen (in-studio guest)
• “Tonight Belongs To You” – Matt Andersen (in-studio guest)
• “Holy Smoke” – Maren Morris
• “Ohio’s Ugly” – CAAMP
• “What Nashville Was” – Ketch Secor
• “Wagon Wheel” – Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers (2005 in-studio performance)
• “Lost Changes” – Beth Gibbons
• “Blind” – SZA
• “Love Interruption” – Jack White (happy 50th birthday)
• “Rough Time Blues” – Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
• “Don’t You Know” – Keb’ Mo’ (2000 in-studio performance)
• “Songbird” – Waylon Jennings
• “Tuesday” – Jensen McRae
• “Rodeo Clown” – Ken Pomeroy
•  “Rodeo Clowns” – Jack Johnson (2004 in-studio performance)
• “Can’t Help Me” – H.E.R.
• “table for two” – aron!
• “Countin’ Quarters” – Matt Andersen (in-studio guest)
• “Always Be Your Son” – Matt Andersen (in-studio guest)

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, we reconnect with Paul Thorn! We first met Paul in 1997 when he made his debut (after a brief career as a nationally ranked middle-weight fighter). Paul just turned 60, and is still making music, including his 12th album called “Life Is Just A Vapor.”

Also featured, acoustic Prince and a Prince cover, archive stuff from Amy Ray, Joan Armatrading, Ani DiFranco and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for July 6, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Everybody Laughs” – David Byrne
• “Tomboy” – Maia Sharp
• “I’ll Go Anywhere” – Mustafa
• “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing” – Ken Pomeroy
• “Shapes & Sizes” – Joan Armatrading (1995 in-studio performance)
• “Free (acoustic)” – Prince
• “Little Red Corvette” – Steve Poltz (1999 in-studio performance)
• “Chicken Wing” – Paul Thorn (in-studio guest)
• “Life Is Just A Vapor” – Paul Thorn (in-studio guest)
• “Nose On The Grindstone” – Tyler Childers
• “bare” — vraell
• “Against All Odds” – Mark Erelli
• “Why Should The Fire Die?” – Nickel Creek (2005 in-studio performance)
• “Hold On” – Leon Bridges
• “Smooth Sailing” – Leon Bridges
• “Suture Up You Future” – QOTSA
• “Old Devil Moon” – dodie
• “A Mighty Thing” – Amy Ray (2023 in-studio performance)
• “Paris (Ooh La La) (acoustic)” – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• “Lucky Love” – Jon Muq
• “Needle In The Hay” – Elliott Smith
•  “Worthy” – Ani Difranco (1995 in-studio performance)
• “Promises (9 AM) — Cautious Clay
• “Wait” – Paul Thorn (in-studio guest)
• “Old Melodies” – Paul Thorn (in-studio guest)

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Jensen McRae joins us in the studio for songs from her second release, “I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!” Starting her career just before the pandemic, Jensen is now reflecting on life and love in her late 20s.

Also featured, some songs from the COVID Summer of 2020, and in-studio archives from The Head & The Heart in 2013, Nilufer Yanya in 2018 and Kathleen Edwards in 2002!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for June 29, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Back At The Start” – Patty Griffin
• “Fly” – Patty Griffin
• “Sioux Falls” – Wild Horses
• “The Darkness Gets The Best Of You” – The Devil Makes Three
• “Human Touch” – Kathleen Edwards
• “Mercury” – Kathleen Edwards (2003 in-studio performance)
• “Savannah” – Jensen McRae (in-studio guest)
• “Novelty” – Jensen McRae (in-studio guest)
• “My Darling My Dear” – Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
• “Eggs In The Morning” – aron!
• “Punisher” – Phoebe Bridgers (June, 2020)
• “That’s The Way The World Goes Round” – Norah Jones (June 2020)
• “A Bus Ain’t A Home” – Luke Tyler Shelton
• “Living And Dying And In Between” – CAAMP
• “Rushmere” – Mumford & Sons
• “Butchered Tongue” – Hozier
• “Chase Me” – Nilufer Yanya (2022 in-studio performance)
• “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” – I’m With Her
• “Robin’s Egg” – Iron & Wine + I’m With Her
• “After The Setting Sun” – The Head And The Heart
• “Let’s Be Still” – “After The Setting Sun” – The Head And The Heart (2013 in-studio performance)
•  “Dopamine” – Jon Vinyl
• “Let Me Be Wrong” – Jensen McRae (in-studio guest)
• “Praying For Your Downfall” – Jensen McRae (in-studio guest)

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, it’s back to The Leon Loft for another session with The Devil Makes Three! The band recently released their first album in about seven years, titled “Spirits,” and played some of the new tunes at The Loft back in May.

Also featured, a new collection of Elliott Smith covers is on the way, The White Stripes‘ acoustic classic, performances from Jill Sobule, Cowboy Junkies, Mon Rovia and more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for June 22, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “And She Was” – David Byrne & Caetano Veloso
• “Little Ghost” – The White Stripes
• “Lost In Translation” – Uwade
• “Wild And Clear And Blue”  – I’m With Her
• “Rake” – Cowboy Junkies (2023 in-studio performance)
• “I Kissed A Girl” – Jill Sobule
• “Que Sera Sera” – Jill Sobule (1997 in-studio performance)
• “Half As High” – The Devil Makes Three (in-studio guests)
• “Ghosts Are Real” – The Devil Makes Three (in-studio guests)
• “4+20” – The Wandering Hearts
• “S P E Y S I D E” – Bon Iver
• “Cold War” – Olive Klug
• “Rust” – Mon Rovia (2025 in-studio performance)
• “Room On The Porch” – Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo w/Ruby Amanfu
• “Green Green Rocky Road” – Muireann Bradley
• “But Not For Me” – Grant Perez
• “Do What Feeds Your Soul” – Kyshona (2022 in-studio performance)
• “Tomorrow Tomorrow” – Brad Mehldau & Daniel Rossen
• “Shadow In The Frame” – Daniel Rossen (2023 in-studio performance)
• “Independence Day” – Elliott Smith
• “No Champagne (6 AM)” – Cautious Clay
•  “Holding On” – The Devil Makes Three (in-studio guests)
• “Spirits” –The Devil Makes Three (in-studio guests)
• “The Devil Wins” – The Devil Makes Three (in-studio guests)