About this project

Radio Free Song Club is a free-form, improvisational live radio show posted monthly to the web. Each songwriter member (see list below) contributes a new song for every show, either mailing it in or coming in to play live with the incredible house band (see below). Co-founder Kate Jacobs says, "It’s a collective that raises everyone’s game. Artistic, competitive, and conversational rather than self-promoting." Host Nicholas Hill adds, "This show is an album of sorts, or a radio program with no FM modulation.” 

The RFSC has posted 13 shows, presenting well over one hundred new songs. All programs are posted for free download at http://radiofreesongclub.com. In addition, many individual songs are available in an ever-expanding, remarkable sampler: http://radiofreesongclub.com/songs.

A true labor of love for all involved, RFSC reluctantly acknowledges that their 100% volunteer, cash-free ethos has to bend a little in order to cover basic expenses like piano tuners, hard drives, web hosting, publicity etc.We are raising money to fund a second year of programming. No one gets paid — the writers, the host, the musicians, and the engineers do it for art's sake and because it is so much fun.

“If you step into these waters you’ll feel the warm, natural flow of creativity in American music. . . “ No Depression (read more here)

Marvelous and unforeseen events occur on these programs:

Lucky 13: Glen Hansard writes a song during someone elses’ song, shows it to the band and records it, all in real time. No. 007: Freedy Johnston brings what he thinks is half a song but the live All Star version proves him wrong. Big Ten: In the studio, Susan Cowsill harmonizes to a song sent by Peter Holsapple, an emotional tribute to their late great band The Continental Drifters. Fifth Number:  the All Stars play via Skype with Victoria Williams and a couple of friends in her kitchen in Joshua Tree. Fourth Time Around: During the show news comes that Alex Chilton has died. Beth Orton and Sam Amidon respond with a tender performance of Big Star’s Thirteen.

There has been an unplanned elegiac aspect to the show, starting with the death of Vic Chesnutt. Victoria Williams, Peter Holsapple and Syd Straw all responded with songs, and Nicholas recorded one of Vic’s own. (These were collected into an EP, available free at http://radiofreesongclub.com/songs.) During the first year other artists and friends were honored including Kate McGarrigle, Tuli Kupferberg, Charlie Louvin, Jeffrey Frederick and Captain Beefheart. 

“There’s something wonderfully ambitious about the Radio Free Song Club . . . For the listener, there’s a treasure trove of new gems from talented artists they might not have heard from in a while.” Paste 

"The broadcasts offer a unique glimpse into the creative process involved in songwriting. There is a delightful intimacy, as if you’re sitting around a comfy living room chatting with talented and intelligent musicians.” Country Music Pride

Members: 
Dave Schramm
David Mansfield
Don Piper
Freedy Johnston
Jody Harris
Kate Jacobs
Laura Cantrell
Peter Blegvad
Peter Holsapple
Robin Holcomb
Victoria Williams
Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby

Guests:
Syd Straw
Beth Orton
Sam Amidon
Ronee Blakley
Bob Neuwirth
Mary Lee Kortes
Lianne Smith
Susan Cowsill
Alessi's Ark
Eric Andersen
Todd Snider
Glen Hansard
Dale Lawrence
Alana Amram
Steve Wynn
Stephen McCarthy
Katell Keineg
Michael Hurley 

Radio Free All Stars:
Dave Schramm
David Mansfield
JD Foster
Dave Hofstra
Doug Wieselman
Andy Burton
Ted Reichman
Paul Moschella
Jeremy Chatzky
Rob Burger
Konrad Meissner
Al Greller
Anton Fier
James MacMillan
and others