On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café,  a selection of cool covers from the last 12 months, including Mavis Staples covering Porter Wagoner, I’m With Her (Paul Simon), Matt Nathanson (Billy Joel), Al Green (The Bee Gees), Low Cut Connie (Prince) and many more.

Also, there’s one brand new song courtesy of Sharon Van Etten, writing a new song in response to a story from film legend Isabella Rossellini through the SongWriter Podcast.

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for May 17, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Fade Into You” – Gregory Alan Isakov ft. Sylvan Esso
• “Sunday Morning” – Beth Gibbons
• “Little Red Corvette” – Low Cut Connie
• “Time In A Bottle” – Lucy Dacus
• “Get This Groove” – Old Town Love
• “I Go To Extremes” – Matt Nathanson
• “The Obvious Child” – I’m With Her
• “Panic In Detroit” – Steven Brown
• “Satisfied Mind” – Mavis Staples
• “L.A. Freeway” – Jade Bird
• “You’re Cheatin’ Heart” – Beck
• “To Love Somebody” – Al Green
• “For Isabella” – Sharon Van Etten (SongWriter Podcast)
• “Sail Away” – Tyler Ramsey/Carl Broemel
• “Norwegian Wood” – Jacob Collier
• “Kissing Other People” – kissing other ppl
• “Kill Bill” – Vitamin String Quartet
• “Luther” – Iron & Wine, Ben Bridwell
• “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” – The Dandy Warhols
• “Chevrolet” – Robert Plant
• “Manhattan Serenade” – Rachel & Vilray
• “Wichita Lineman” – Flea ft. Nick Cave
• “Tomorrow, Tomorrow” – Brad Hehldau ft. Daniel Rossen
• “Melissa” – Warren Haynes ft. Derek Trucks

Listen to Acoustic Café with host Rob Reinhart every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café,  we’re celebrating Michael Franti’s 60th birthday by revisiting a visit from 2016. He brought his band Spearhead to The Leon Loft for a set of fun songs, politics, family and more!

Also, recordings from past in-studio guests Patty Griffin, Aimee Mann, John Moreland and more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for May 10, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Can’t Hardly Wait (cello version)” – The Replacements
• “Minnie” – waterbaby
• “Gabriel” – Hiss Golden Messenger
• “No Springtime” – Allison Russell
• “Long Ride Home” – Patty Griffin (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Texas 1947” – Brennen Leigh
• “Crazy For You” – Michael Franti & Spearhead (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Once A Day” – Michael Franti & Spearhead (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “No More Doggin'” – John Lee Hooker
• “A Satisfied Mind” – Bon Iver
• “Deep Into The Dawn” – Joe Pernice ft. Aimee Mann
• “Patient Zero” – Aimee Mann (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Ride Lonesome” – Beck
• “Guess I’m Doing Fine” – Beck
• “Visitor” – John Moreland (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Pressure” – Matt Nathanson
• “Suspended” – Matt Nathanson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “The Lone Star State” – Blessing Jolie
• “Sing For You” – Tracy Chapman
• “Particular” – James Hunter Six
• “My Lord” – Michael Franti & Spearhead (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Good To Be Alive Today” – Michael Franti & Spearhead (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Say Hey” – Michael Franti & Spearhead (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)

Listen to Acoustic Café with host Rob Reinhart every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

A new single from Beck ahead of his tour date this October 12 at the Fox Theatre, plus new music from Soulwax and Yeek. Detroit stand-up comic Brad Wenzel joins the show to talk about his Bob Seger obsession and new stand-up special “Desperate Times.” A look at the connections between jazz and hip-hop over the years, and lots more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 22, 2026

• “Run Free (Nite Version)” – Soulwax
• “new body rhumba” – LCD Soundsystem
• “A Vineyard For The North” – Yard Act
• “Underwater Love” – Smoke City
• “Toda Cor” – anaiis, Grupo Cosmo & Luedji Luna
• “Balm” – Bill Laurance
• “Ride Lonesome” – Beck
• “Seasons Come, Seasons Go” – Bobbie Gentry
• “One of These Things First” – Nick Drake
• “I Dig Love” – George Harrison
• “Pretty Boys” – Paul McCartney & Khruangbin
• “The Message Continues (DJ Harrison Remix)” – Nubya Garcia
• “Sol” – musclecars
• “Para Chick” – Tania Marie
• “Daahoud” – Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet
• “To RBI” – Damu The Fudgemunk
• “All Caps” – Abstract Orchestra
• “Grown Up (Radio Edit)” – Danny Brown
• “House in LA” – Jungle
• “Rose Rouge” – Jorja Smith
• “What Kinda Music (Jordan Rakei Remix)” – Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes
• “Till It Shines” – Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
• “Mainstreet” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
• “Colonized Mind” – Prince
• “The Cross” – Prince
• “Ain’t That Easy” – D’Angelo and The Vanguard
• “Transcendental Blues” – Steve Earle
• “Nancy From Now On” – Father John Misty
• “Heaven” – Yeek
• “SPIDERS” – Lola Young

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

We lost one of the funkiest drummers of all time last week—the legendary James Gadson passed away on April 2 at the age of 86.

You may not have known his name, but you certainly know the tracks he played on, including cuts from Bill Withers, Diana Ross and so many others, like Beck who helped introduce him to a new generation of musicians. In the first hour of the show, we dedicate the whole hour to Gadson and his contributions to music. Rest in rhythm to the legend.

Today’s playlist moves between soul, funk, and indie, with tracks from Marvin Gaye, D’Angelo and The Vanguard, alongside tracks from Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, and New Order. 

Newer and more experimental sounds come from artists like SBTRKT, Ela Minus, and Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill, with additional moments from Jeff Parker and Nation of Language, plus more throughout the set. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 7, 2026 

• “Use Me (Live)” – Bill Withers 

• “Think I’m in Love” – Beck 

• “Sugah Daddy” – D’Angelo and The Vanguard 

• “Got to Be Real” – Cheryl Lynn 

• “Dancing Machine” – Jackson 5 

• “Paper Tiger” – Beck 

• “Back To Manhattan” – Norah Jones 

• “Love Hangover” – Diana Ross 

• “Remind Me” – Patrice Rushen 

• “I Want You” – Marvin Gaye 

• “Where to Start” – Bully 

• “Chance to Bleed” – Kurt Vile 

• “Site Unseen (feat. Waxahatchee)” – Courtney Barnett 

• “Six O’clock News” – Brennan Wedl & Waxahatchee 

• “Dance For You” – Dirty Projectors 

• “Jewel” – T. Rex 

• “Greatest Dancer” – Nadine Shah 

• “Hell Is Near (Live)” – St. Vincent & Jules Buckley 

• “Punishers” – Die Spitz 

• “Across That Fine Line (Working Men’s Club Remix)” – Nation of Language 

• “Ceremony” – New Order 

• “Vanishing Point” – Tanlines 

• “Sungazing” – Fluoretro 

• “Thinkin Bout You” – Flea 

• “Like Swimwear (part one) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” – Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet 

• “Build a Nest (feat. Ruby Parker)” – Jeff Parker 

• “Diane Charlemagne (Iman Houssein Remix)” – LEFTO EARLY BIRD 

• “Animals” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill 

• “Back On” – SBTRKT 

• “Berlin (Godblesscomputers Remix)” – Alexander Flood 

• “dominique” – Ela Minus 

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.