Scottish singer, songwriter, and occasional novelist James Yorkston is a natural storyteller and a member of the Yorkston/Thorne/Khan group, a power trio of sarangi, double bass, and Yorkston on guitar. He’s also had a long-term friendship with Swedish music producer and bandleader, Karl-Jonas Winqvist, who recently suggested that he fly to Sweden and make a record. That album, The Wide Wide River, came together spontaneously over the course of a few days with members of The Second Hand Orchestra, musicians handpicked by Winqvist. Yorkston supplied the songs, and the orchestra members skillfully, and unfussily made their parts fit right in to serve the songs.  

Yorkston joins us with members of Sweden’s Second Hand Orchestra to play songs from his new album, "The Wide Wide River." He also holds forth on songbooks and song collectors, the specific imagery of a seasoned storyteller (remember, he’s a novelist), and how Brexit will affect future touring possibilities. - Caryn Havlik

Set list: "Struggle," "Ella Mary Leather," "A Very Old-Fashioned Blues"

Struggle:

Ella Mary Leather:

A Very Old-Fashioned Blues: