Greenland Music

The traditional instrument here is a drum (called a qilaat, which is a wooden frame covered with a polar bear bladder), which is curious because contemporary Greenlanders are known to be excellent guitar players. A guitar store is not something you would expect to find in a city of 15,000 but there is one in Nuuk (Atlantic ...

New Music: Feathership

The music that comes out of Montreal rarely disappoints, including: Arcade Fire, the Dears, Sam Roberts, the Stills or Wolf Parade.  With the debut of the EP, new band Feathership joins this impressive group.  Whilst this quintet is decisively closer to alternative-folk than the aforementioned indie-rock bands, Feathership’s music blends in enough colour to its fundamentally folksy sound to soon move from off the radar to the charts. The band which started as a casual project between members of already well established Montreal-based groups has since taken a sharp turn as the release ...

Tunes from Dave Steward

The first time I heard Dave Steward sing I was overlooking the miles of endless canyon country in the heart of Canyonlands National Park.  As the Green River pushed on to its deeper destiny and convergence with the Colorado River below, Dave crooned the sweetest, saddest, loveliest Western tune I had ever heard.   Finally, Dave has released a CD: Wild West Heart.  Gary Cox, who has been the ranger in the incredibly remote Maze district of Canyonlands for the past 21 years, partnered with Dave on the lyrics to create a ...

New Music: Shaun Bartlett

Shaun Bartlett BASE jumper Andre Bach first heard Shaun Bartlett from outside a rundown bar in Oslo when he decided to go inside and check it out; in that evening, musician and madman were aligned and the soundtrack for Andre's BASE jumping spectaculars, 1st BASE and 2nd BASE, were born.  Andre first introduced us to the evocative vocals and elegant melodies of this passionate musician, and now we're hooked. Ten years after that night in the bar and twenty years after his first keyboard gifted from his parents, Shaun is producing solo ...

Alfonso Velez

Listen and download for free this awesome song by my friend, Alfonso Velez. Check out his MySpace page for music and upcoming shows. Some of the Off the Radar crew will be at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 25th for his show - hope to see you there! – Natasha A featured artist on National Public Radio, he recorded his latest album, The Weather, live in three days with drummer Jerry Busher (Fugazi, John Frusciante), keyboard wunderkind Will Rast (Ramp, Maya) and bassist Jeff Ratner, for DJ Boy Records. The Weather was mixed by Tom Schick (Norah ...

Fito Paez

Fito Paez is a Argentine rock and roll pianist, lyricist and film director.

Valkyrien Allstars

While we were in Norway we came across a fabulous band: Valkyrien Allstars www.valkyrienallstars.com or on MySpace. Our favorite song right now is Å gjev du batt meg; you can find it on iTunes.

Delhi to Dublin

Check out Delhi to Dublin - a Canadian group who truly bring East and West together in their unique fusion style, using traditional sounds of dhal, fiddles, and sitars.

KADANGYAN and QUETZAL

Every now and then we like to share information about our favorite music, and this month we highlight two international bands that are using their art as a tool to advocate for social and environmental issues. KADANGYAN specializes in ethno-tribal rock music. And, QUETZAL mixes Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, Jazz, R&B, and Rock. The band frequently organizes and participates in transnational, multi-band collaborations - creating fresh sounds while advocating for understanding between cultures.

Greyhound Diaries

This year we heard about all kinds of unconventional travel, and how people use travel not only to explore beautiful landscapes, but also draw attention to issues such as environmental conservation and poverty. Singer/songwriter and friend since undergraduate days in upstate N.Y., Doug Levitt, brings us another wonderful example of the Unconventional Issue-Oriented Adventure. Trading in his successful gig as a journalist working in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Iran several years ago, Doug recently completed his second tour through the wilds of America, mixing with the locals while traveling ...