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John Prine's self-titled album came out 50 years ago. Bonnie Raitt, Jim Rooney, Fiona Prine and Jody Whelan guest in an online listening party with host Ann Powers.

Host David Wright talks with blues singer Koko Taylor. Her first recording in seven years is titled, Royal Blue (Alligator Records, ALCD 4873). It features B.B.King (guitar and vocals) and Keb Mo' (on National Steel Guitar, harmonica, and vocals). Taylor sings both the Chicago and Delta Blues.

Host Jacki Lyden talks with Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto about her first album Tanto Tempo. Bebel, 33, is daughter of Joao Gilberto, the legendary guitarist, who founded the Bossa Nova music style in Brazil more than 30 years ago. Bebel has spiced her collection of songs with the cool tones of Bossa Nova and a touch of electronic sounds from a diverse group of producers. (Tanto Tempo Ziriguiboom/Six Degrees 657036 1026-2)

Jean Sibelius was Finland's most famous composer at the beginning of the 20th Century. Now Finland is the leader in classical music exports, from players to composers and conductors. NPR's Julie McCarthy talks to classically minded Fins, from orchestra performers to composers: Magnus Lindberg, Arttu Takolo, and Einojuhani Rautavaara (11:00).

{LOST AND FOUND SOUND: "VOICES OF THE DUSTBOWL"} -- Today we hear the latest installment the "Lost and Found Sound," series: "Voices of the Dustbowl." In the 1930s, hundreds of thousands of people from Oklahoma and Arkansas traveled to California, in search of better living. Depression-related poverty and a massive drought and subsequent dust storms had made life impossible for them back home. There were no jobs, and the fields were fallow. California held the promise of work and wages, harvesting fruit and vegetables year-round. Sixty years ago, in the summer of 1940, Charles Todd was hired by the Library of Congress to visit the federal camps where many of these migrants lived, to create an audio oral history of their stories, and to document the success of the camp program to the Roosevelt administration back in Washington. Todd carried a 50-pound Presto recorder from camp to camp that summer, interviewing the migrant workers. He made hundreds of hours of recordings on acetate and cardboard discs. Todd was there at the same time that writer John Steinbeck was interviewing many of the same people in these camps, for research on a new novel called "The Grapes of Wrath." Producer Barrett Golding went though this massive collection of Todd's recordings. Together, they bring us this story, narrated by Charles Todd.

For a taste of the pianist's technique, here's a lighter mood from Shostakovich that sparkles with interlocking inner voices that ripple as clear as a mountain stream.

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features The Bothy Band, Pete Seeger and Jean Redpath.

The New Zealand singer worked with a team of language experts to re-record five of her new songs in the indigenous Māori language, released just in time for Māori Language Week.

Best-known as the leader of the Grammy-nominated folk ensemble Che Apalache, singer and banjo player Joe Troop has sharpened both quill and activist voice on his new single.

Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of Low talk with NPR's Lee Hale about their newest album HEY WHAT and how they're still finding their sound.