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The Great American Folk Show

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.

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.

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.

Stay Connected
Radio Show

Listen to The Great American Folk Show's latest weekly radio episodes below.

Radio Show
  • In this segment from The Great American Folk Show, host Tom Brosseau visits Maddock, North Dakota, to talk with Jim Gilbertson and Carol Backstrom, who helped form the Maddock Opera House Association — helping to save this historic theatre by turning it into a cafe, library, and live venue. Listen to the conversation above.
  • Episode 109 features Minneapolis singer-songwriter Eli Gardiner, singer Ellorie McKnight, English musician Tom Williams, and a live session with trio Manitou Strings at Cliff House. Plus, a visit to the historic opera house in Maddock, North Dakota.
  • Episode 108 features North Dakota-born singer Ana Egge, psych rock trio Pacific Sunsets, folk trio Jems, and Cajun artist Ann Savoy. Plus an interview with UND Associate Director of Choral Activities, Melanie Popejoy, on the North Dakota song, “Winter Skies.”
  • Alt-rock band The Dandy Warhols are back with a new album, "ROCKMAKER." Frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor visited The Great American Folk Show to talk with Tom Brosseau about the album, his career, and his couple visits to North Dakota.
  • Episode 107 features alt-rock group The Dandy Warhols, singer-songwriter Sam Morrow, LA musician Vera Sola, Duluth folk music from Ross Thorn, and a tribute to The Byrds from Christian Parker.
Podcast

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.

Podcast
Dakota Diners

Join Tom Brosseau in Dakota Diners as he visits some fantastic places to eat in North Dakota.

Latest Episodes
  • Rockin’ Relics in downtown Rugby, North Dakota, is decked out with old signage, checkered tablecloths, golden oldies on the jukebox, and even an authentic 1940s soda fountain. In this Dakota Diners feature, Tom Brosseau visits Rockin' Relics and sits down with the restaurant owner, Bonnie Berginski.
  • In this Dakota Diners feature, Tom Brosseau visits the Medina Café in Medina, North Dakota, and talks with a fellow diner about the necessity of cafés in small communities.
  • In this Dakota Diners segment, Tom Brosseau visits with Darcy's Café owner Michelle “Mick” Hajicek and Grand Forks Herald columnist Marilyn Hagerty.
  • In this Dakota Diners segment, Tom visits Due North GF Bakery in Hatton, North Dakota — A bakery with a gluten-free menu of pies, cakes, pastries, and more.
  • In this Dakota Diners segment, Tom Brosseau speaks with Hunter Café & Bakery owner Deb Tarvestad about how she started the café with her husband, Jim. Tom also enjoys a homemade donut and a cup of hot coffee from the café.
Curling Clubs of North Dakota

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.

Latest Episodes
  • 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.