Local singer/songwriter Joe Paulik stopped by Studio A to chat with Dave and CJ, and to play a few songs, both covers and original compositions. Listen for some wonderful whistling, too. Joe's new double album, "Zaspalo Je Siroce," can be found at Birch Bark Books and at Joe's performances around the region.

The award-winning Minnesota SkyVault Theater, from Rochester,  was in town for Shakespeare week to perform at Voyageur Brewing. Troupe members Aidan Driscoll and Rebekah Novinger, along with director Daved Driscoll and coordinator Charis O'Neill, stopped by The Roadhouse to preview their delightful original music and chat about their work.

Sparta, Minn.-based Rich Mattson and the Northstars joined us in Studio A during membership drive for great original music.

Local duo Frozen Britches (Erik Hahn, flute and whistle; Tom van Cleve, fiddle) stopped by the Roadhouse to observe St. Patrick's Day and make delightful Celtic music for the Grassroots Radio membership drive. 

March is Women's History Month, and we were lucky to speak with a Minnesota woman who made history by becoming the first woman to cross the ice to both the North and South poles. Ann Bancroft joined CJ to talk about those epic adventures, what she's found as her greatest challenges, and her current projects including the Ann Bancroft Foundation, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Follow Ann's expeditions here.

Local favorites the Plucked Up String Band made a return appearance on The Roadhouse recently, this time playing all covers. The band is: Amanda Hand, guitar & vocals; Elliot Noyce, mandolin & vocals; Will Moore, upright bass & vocals, Matt Nesheim, banjo & vocals; and Bill Hansen, dobro. (Drummer Kieran Scannell was away).  

Scientists from the U of MN think they've found the reson why diverse forests are often more productive than monocultures. Laura Williams, a graduate student at the U and lead author of the study, chatted with CJ about the study and its findings and implications. 

Phil Huston is an adventurer, climber, speaker, and cancer survivor who now resides in Silver Bay. He joined Dave in Studio A to tell his personal story of how and why he came to found Clear Lungs Adventure. 

River Falls, Wisc.-based singer/songwriters Thea Ennen and Dave JaVue visited The Roadhouse after a long absence. We were delighted to have them back and hear their moving, original folk music. 

A team at the U of MN has invented a new technology to produce renewable  car tires from trees and grasses. Lead researcher Prof. Paul Dauenhauer joined CJ to explain how it works and why it's an important breakthrough.