The Great American Folk Show is a little place where we commune with you to share stories, sing songs, and talk to some good people with great voices.
The show is written, recorded, and hosted by folksinger and songwriter Tom Brosseau, produced by Prairie Public Broadcasting. Original instrumentation by Burkum Boys. Additional music by Sean Watkins. Special flyer design by DLT.
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On the radio
Hear a new episode The Great American Folk Show every Saturday at 5pm on Prairie Public, or stream anytime.
Podcast
The Great American Folk Show podcast, released biweekly, features interviews, music, poetry, and more, curated from the show's beloved radio broadcast.
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How to Listen Live
• Tune your radio to Prairie Public. Find your local frequency >
• Stream online >
What's Tom Listening To?
Check out Tom Brosseau's frequently updated playlist of some of his favorite music.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
Email Mary Jones at maryjonesmjm@gmail.com.
Listen to The Great American Folk Show's latest weekly radio episodes below.
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Episode 118 features French singer-songwriter Annika Jayne, singer and storyteller Doug Wintch, musician Jonny Polonsky, and “Queen of the West” Emily Walter performs two North Dakota songs. Plus, a live set from The Western Flyers at the Harold Schafer Heritage Center in Medora, North Dakota. -
Episode 117 features harpist Hattie Webb, country band Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, blues musician Eden Brent, and poet Wander. Plus, Tom visits the Taylor Opera House in Taylor, North Dakota.
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Episode 116 features celebrated session musician Randall Bramblett, singer-songwriter Annie Bacon, Chicago musician Marian Runk, and author Sheryl Kaskowitz on her book, “A Chance to Harmonize: How FDR’s Hidden Music Unit Sought To Save America From The Great Depression — One Song At A Time.” Plus, Tom tells the tale of Alluvium the Stallion in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and shares an original song.
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Episode 115 features The Wagoneers frontman Monte Warden, musician Pi Jacobs, singer-songwriter Jack McKeon, and Minot musician Heather Rae. Plus, we learn about the Ray Opera House in Ray, North Dakota, as Tom interviews one of the opera house’s caretakers, Charlotte Hodenfield.
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Now a museum that preserves the history of Ray, North Dakota, the town's former opera house stands strong thanks to local volunteers. Tom Brosseau visits with former caretaker of the Ray Opera House, Charlotte Hoddenfield.
The Great American Folk Show podcast features interviews, music, poetry, and more, curated from the show's beloved radio broadcast. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
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Episode 58 features Alaska singer-songwriter Kim Moberg, singer and therapist Diane Coll, experimental jazz/ambient musician Barry Walker Jr., and soulful acoustic collective The Amber Grove. Plus, Tom talks with retired Grand Forks news anchor Terry Dullum about his 40-year career. -
Episode 57 features Celtic rockers Chamomile and Whiskey, Argentinian singer Mimi Pallette, Chicago singer-songwriter Lillian King, and songwriter Daniel Stepp. Plus, a Christmas tune from Seth Lakeman featuring Ian Anderson.
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Episode 56 features Swedish singer-songwriter Sofia Talvik, a Christmas tune from guitarist Robert Randall, North Dakota songwriter Richard Lofgren, songwriter Korby Lenker, and musician Sara Watkins. Plus, in a new Dakota Diners segment, Tom visits Ely’s Ivy in Grand Forks.
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Episode 55 features alt-pop group Memory Phase, London duo Melanie Crew and Ross Palmer, garage band The Paranoid Style, Irish singer-songwriter Bird, and folk-rock musician Herman Dune.
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Episode 54 features Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, L.A. country musician Rosy Nolan, and commentary from Tom Brosseau about directing a high school play. Plus, Erik Deatherage pays a living tribute to Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks, who is battling stage 4 cancer.
Join Tom Brosseau in Dakota Diners as he visits some fantastic places to eat in North Dakota.
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On this episode of Dakota Diners, Tom Brosseau visits Tacos Garcia, a new Mexican restaurant in Killdeer, North Dakota. -
In this segment from Dakota Diners, Tom Brosseau visits the small town of Marmarth, North Dakota, to eat at the Pastime Club & Steakhouse. -
Located in the small town of Rhame, North Dakota, Krugers Kitchen is "home cooking at its best." Opened in 2017 by local caterer Julie Kruger, the cafe serves a faithful menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner classics — but Tom Brosseau visited the restaurant to try their special coulotte sirloin. -
Mike Ferris and Deborah Lamb run The Old School Center — a hotel, RV park, and store — in Fortuna, North Dakota. The attached restaurant and bar called The Teacher’s Lounge is a popular gathering spot in the small community of 30 people. -
Rani Kaur and her father (dubbed “Papa Chai”) are the winning duo behind the popular Namaste Chai food truck in Fargo. Listen as Tom Brosseau visits the chai truck to learn about their traditional chai.
Throwing Rocks: The Curling Clubs of North Dakota is an ongoing segment on The Great American Folk Show.
Host Tom Brosseau is on a mission to interview every curling club in North Dakota — he wants to learn how the sport came to the United States, the rules of the game, and the history of curling clubs in our state.
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On this Throwing Rocks segment, Tom Brosseau talks with Dick Nordgren, who once ran the Hazen Curling Club. -
The Minot Curling Club is one of the oldest in the state, and today it’s at its fourth location. Over the years, flooding, a fire, and shifting ground forced a change in venues. But the club has continued to thrive, and welcomes new curlers each year. -
On this Throwing Rocks segment, Roger Smith, curling historian and certified curling instructor at the Capital Curling Club, talks with host Tom Brosseau about the club's history. -
Every February for the past 30 years, Tom’s Lounge — the local bar in Forest River, North Dakota — has hosted an outdoor bonspiel. Some 40 teams took part this year. For a town of 100-some inhabitants, Forest River more than doubles its size during the three-day event. -
The Crosby Curling Club has been “throwing rocks” for 61 years and counting — making it possibly the oldest curling club in North Dakota. Tom Brosseau traveled to Crosby to meet with club member and board member Josh Bummer.
