On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, we look back on our favorite in-studio moments, plus a few artists captured live at The Leon Loft in Ann Arbor! Featured this week: Souther Avenue (pictured), Mike Reid & Joe Henry, Lady Blackbird, Chris Thile, The War & Treaty and many 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 January 4, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Show You Love” – The Altons (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Wait” – Paul Thorn (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Empire Of Love” – Amythyst Kiah (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Half As High” – The Devil Makes Three (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “The Bridge” – Mike Reid+Joe Henry (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Like A Woman” – Lady Blackbird (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Novelty” – Jensen McRae (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Muddy Shores” – Moonrisers (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Forever Never Lasts” – Rachael & Vilray (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Sweet Abbey Girl” – Katie Gavin (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Home” – The War & Treaty (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Wild And Clear And Blue” – I’m With Her (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “One Man Holds The World Hostage” – John Moreland (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Talkin’ Doc Blues” – Ketch Secor (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Old me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Rain Or Shine” – Drew & Ellie Holcomb (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Fatal Optimist” – Madi Diaz (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Upside” – Southern Avenue (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Gavotte en rondeau” – Chris Thile (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Rust” – Mon Rovia (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “People Of Substance” – Craig Finn (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Lesson” – Joy Clark (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Jeopardy” – Penny & Sparrow (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Crushed Ice & Gasoline” – Jeffrey Foucault (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Boom” – Sierra Hull (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Sleeves Up” – Crys Matthews (Acoustic Cafe performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 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, Josh Ritter rounds our 2025 as our last guest of the year. Recorded at The Leon Loft in November, Josh plays songs from his new album “I Believe In You My Honeydew“.

Also, in-studio archives from Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Mike Doughty 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 December 21, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “This Christmas I’m Coming Home” – Leon Bridges & Norah Jones
• “Buffalo, 1981” – Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover
• “Clay Pigeons” – Muireann Bradley
• “All For You” – Rhett Miller
• “How To Love” – Buffalo Nichols (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “River” – The Accidentals
• “You Won’t Dig My Grave” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Truth Is A Dimension…” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Hard Times” – Mavis Staples
• “The Way It Will Be” – Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
• “Small Talk” – Whitney
• “Looks” – Mike Doughty (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Appalachian Adam’s Apple Smile” – Palmyra
• “Store Bought Christmas” – Old Crow Medicine Show
• “Rebel Soul” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “I’m Gone” – Shawn Colvin(Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” – Freedy Johnson
• “Who Knows” – Daniel Caesar
• “Hanukkah Gelt” – The Klezmatics
• “Bottom Of The Barrel” – Amos Lee (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Thunderbird” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Only A River” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Wild Ways” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 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, the duo Rachael & Vilray make music that sounds like the 1940s, but it’s brand new! Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive and singer-songwriter-guitarist Vilray have created a new set of songs called “West Of Broadway.”

Also, in-studio archives from Australian soul songwriter Allysha Joy, folk stalwart John Gorka, Memphis bluesman Alvin Youngblood Hart 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 December 13, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Teardrop” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Pajarito” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Not Yet Free” – Flock Of Dimes
• “Count The Days” – Swamp Dogg ft. Jenny Lewis
• “Big Mama’s Door” – Alvin Youngblood Hart (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “I’ll Find A Way” – Ted Lucas
• “Forever Never Lasts” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)
• “Love Comes Around” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)
• “No Kings” – Jesse Welles
• “This Morning I Am Born Again” – Haley Heynderickx/Max Garcia Conover
• “No Time To Cry” – John Gorka
• “Blue Chalk” – John Gorka (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “White Winter Hymnal” – The Accidentals
• “Islands” – Whitney
• “My Own Advice” – Belle Canyon
• “Take Two” – Madison Cunningham
• “Raise Up” – Allysha Joy (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Norwegian Wood” – Jacob Collier
• “In My Life” – The Beatles
• “Buckle” – Florence + The Machine
• “Side Pony” – Lake Street Dive (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Just For Fun” – Beyonce
• “Off Broadway” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)
• “The Stuff” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 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, Chris Thile (Nickle Creek, Punch Brothers, Goat Rodeo) talks about his new collection of Bach Sonatas & Partitas, and how this set is different from the Bach he recorded in 2013. Chris also explains his “daily practice of Bach” and what it means in his life!

Also, in-studio archives from Grammy nominees Molly Tuttle and Southern Avenue, plus newcomer Treanne, a peek at the upcoming Jose Gonzalez album 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 November 30, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Afraid” – Flock Of Dimes
• “Off Broadway” – Rachael & Vilray ft. Stephen Colbert
• “I’m Listening” – Josh Ritter
• “I Fell In Love” – Treanne
• “Old Me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “We Got To Have Peace” – Mavis Staples
• “Gavotte” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)
• “Allemanda” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)
• “Robin’s Egg” – Iron & Wine (w/I’m With Her)
• “Emily’s Song” – Daniel Caesar
• “Pajarito” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Music By Men” – Florence & The Machine
• “Beck N Call” – Waterbaby
• “Hold On To The Light” – Jack Johnson, Hermanos Guiterrez
• “Long Is The Road” – Southern Avenue (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” – Buddy & Julie Miller (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Pretty Ideas” – Amber Mark
• “Baby Man” – Fruit Bats
• “If God Is A Woman” – Larkin Poe
• “Gentle On My Mind” – Alison Krauss
• “I Made This For You” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)
• “Allegro assai” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 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 dip into the archives for Words + Music from past in-studio guests, including greats Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Gregory Porter, Joan Baez and many many 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 November 23, 2025 (all in-studio stuff!)

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “God Is God” – Joan Baez
• “On My Side” – AHI
• “All Day I Dream About” – Joe P
• “Brown Eyed Lover” – Allen Stone
• “The Joke” – Brandi Carlile
• “Bring My Flowers” – Tanya Tucker
• “Everything Old Is New Again” – Barenaked Ladies
• “Stolen Moments” – Cautious Clay
• “Ain’t Got Time For Hate” – Shemekia Copeland
• “Telepathic” – Ani Difranco
• “Whooping Crane” – Lyle Lovett
• “The Moment Has Passed” – Jeff Tweedy
• “Oh, Miss Claudia” – Rodney Crowell
• “Hill Country Love” – Cedric Burnside
• “Back To Me” – Grace Potter
• “Rake” – Cowboy Junkies
• “Sweet Talk” – Iron & Wine
• “When You Give It Away” – Bruce Cockburn
• “Don’t Lose Your Steam” – Gregory Porter
• “Gentle On My Mind” – Alison Krauss
• “El Invento ” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Steppin’ Out” – Joe Jackson w/Graham Maby

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 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, Madi Diaz returns as our guest, telling the second half of the story started on last year’s album “Weird Faith”. Her new one, “Fatal Optimist,” chronicles the relationship coming apart!

Also, some archived performances from Wilder Woods, Ben Taylor, I’m With Her, Bobby McFerrin and much 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 November 16, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Joni” – Brandi Carlile
• “Free Man In Paris” – Joni Mitchell
• “Flip A Coin” – Cautious Clay
• “Offering” – Wilder Woods (in-studio performance)
• “The Joker” – Fruit Bats
• “Take The Joker And Run” – The Steve Miller Band
• “Haevy Matal” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)
• “Lone Wolf” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)
• “Night And Day” – Ringo Starr
• “Song For Arthur” – Natalie Bergman
• “Run It Back” – Madison McFerrin
• “Every Time” – Bobby McFerrin (in-studio performance)
• “First Timer” – Elliott Smith
• “Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands” – Brad Mehldau
• “You Can Close Your Eyes” – Jacob Collier
• “Nothing I Can Do” – Ben Taylor (in-studio performance)
• “Tonight, Tonight” – Leslie Odum, Jr.
• “Thirty Three – Smashing Pumpkins
• “Tie You Down” – HAIM ft. Bon Iver
• “Mother Eagle (Sing Me Alive)” – I’m With Her (in-studio performance)
• “Partita No. 3 in E Major – Preludio ” – Chris Thile
• “If Time Does” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)
• “Fatal Optimist” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org