We start today off by spinning bright and dreamy melodies from The Marías, Wolf Alice, Kurt Vile and Divorce before easing into a run of Latin music from Rubén Blades, Willie Bobo, Orquesta Akokán, and Gabriel Rios. 

Along the way, award-winning author, poet, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib joins us live in the studio for a conversation. We also weave in a few of his personal selections, including Detroit-rooted favorites from Slum Village and J Dilla, alongside tracks from Fireworks, Detroit techno pioneer K. Hand, and Amp Fiddler. 

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 May 19, 2026 

• “Jealous Boy” – The Bug Club 

• “Julie’s Place” – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever 

• “Zoom 97” – Kurt Vile 

• “If You Were The Woman, And I Was The Man (Live)” – Cowboy Junkies 

• “I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND” – Ruti 

• “Hush” – The Marías 

• “Hit My Head All Day” – Dry Cleaning 

• “Angles Mortz” – Nightbus 

• “Enough” – PVA 

• “My Room” – Divorce 

• “White Horses” – Wolf Alice 

• “All My Freaks” – Divorce 

• “I Will Follow” – U2 

• “Zodiac Shit” – Flying Lotus 

• “Déjà Vu” – Ryan Porter 

• “Bunny” – Ashley Henry & The RE: Ensemble 

• “La Vie En Rose” – Grace Jones 

• “Pedro Navaja” – Ruben Blades 

• “Fried Neck Bones and Some Homefries” – Willie Bobo 

• “Con Altura” – Orquesta Akokán 

• “El diablo” – Gabriel Rios 

• “La torre (feat. Devendra Banhart)” – Gabriel Rios 

• “Coeur” – PPJ 

• “Spellbinder” – Gabor Szabo 

• “Reunion” – Slum Village & J Dilla 

• “I Want to Start a Religion With You” – Fireworks 

• “Work That Body” – K. Hand 

• “Dreamin’ (Radio Version)” – Amp Fiddler 

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. 

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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Mac Saturn return, plus more Detroit tunes from Dames Brown, The Detroit Emeralds and Inner City!

Also this week, a couple advance performances from The Leon Loft (for Acoustic Cafe), classics from The Bar-Kays and ELO, plus forthcoming coolness from Kelela!

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

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for May 16, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Holy Ghost” – The Bar-Kays
• “Cold April” – Allison Russell
• “Takes Time” – Mac Saturn
• “Can’t Be Wrong” – Low Cut Connie
• “Eastside Girls” – MUNA
• “Need Your Love” – Inner City feat. Steffanie Christi’an
• “Fifty Mission Cap” – The Tragically Hip
• “Crawl Space” – Art Farmer
• “Moonflower” – Devon Gilfillian
• “Kiss That Frog” – Peter Gabriel

HOUR TWO:

• “Idea 1” – Kelela
• “When The Love Is New” – Shaky Graves
• “You Want It, You Got It” – The Detroit Emeralds
• “Why You Got Me Crazy” – Dames Brown
• “Poker” – E.L.O.
• “Blessings” – Chance The Rapper
• “Charlie Sheen Reaches Out to the Feds” – Mountain Goats
• “No Invite” – Tank & The Bangas
• “In Your Ocean” – Iron & Wine (at The Leon Loft)
• “Good News” – ROZZI (at The Leon Loft)
• “Sunlight To My Soul” – Angelique Kidjo
• “What Is Left To Say” – Thundercat
• “Lost In My Mind” – The Head & The Heart

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’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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music we introduce you to Detroit artists Ayla Ottenbreit, plus a new cover from Detroit favorite Jill Jack!

Also this week, new work released from The Womack Sisters, The Rolling Stones, Taj Mahal and Ziggy Marley… And there’s the (just announced) Sonic Lunch series coming to Ann Arbor this summer, and a fun Yacht Rock event on the Detroit River June 7!

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

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for May 9, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Chauffeur” – The Womack Sisters
• “You’re The Man” – Brother Wallace
• “Lie” – ROZZI
• “In The Stars” – The Rolling Stones
• “Slow Learning” – Aylah Ottenbreit
• “It’s A Shame” – Aaron Frazer
• “It’s A Shame” – The (Detroit) Spinners
• “It’s A Shame” – First Aid Kit
• “Show You The Way” – Thundercat
• “Nightshift” – The Commodores
• “Freaking Out” – Michigander (Sonic Lunch 2026)
• “Ready Set Go” – Grace Potter (Sonic Lunch 2026)
• “Chicago” – Mavis Staples (Sonic Lunch 2026)

HOUR TWO:

• “Soulshine” – Jill Jack
• “Senses” – Arlo Parks ft. Sampha
• “Spirit 2.0” – Sampha
• “Doom Mood” – Pearl & The Oysters
• “Yell Fire” – Michael Franti
• “Are You One Of Us” – Rodney Crowell ft. Guy Clark
• “Talkin’ Blues” – Taj Mahal ft. Ziggy Marley
• “Big Stick” – MUNA
• “The Payoff” – Father John Misty
• “Only You Do” – GoldFord
• “Darwin Derby” – Vulfpeck

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,  Amelia Day joins us for the first time! The newcomer from Washington State is about 5 years into their career, having just dropped a new EP called “Ego Trip” this week, with a full-length debut coming later this year.

Also, two great covers from past in-studio guests Norah Jones, Grant Lee Phillips  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 3, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Frown Lines” – Blessing Jolie
  
• “Kentucky Too Long” – Charlie Crockett
  
• “Strawberry Moonrise/Year After Year” – I’m With Her
  
• “Young Love” – Milk Carton Kids
  
• “Song Of Storms” – Jon Batiste & Josh Harmon
• “Lilac Wine” – Arooj Aftab, Beck
  
• “Clementine” – Amelia Day (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Skippin’ Down The Sidewalk” – Amelia Day (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “We Were Made For These Times” – The Klezmatics
  
• “I Guess I Wasn’t Made For These Times” – The Beach Boys
  
• “All For A Man” – ROZZI
• “Next To Me” – Emeli Sande (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Alleycat” – Mumford & Sons
  
• “Dirtbag Saloon” – Emily Scott Robinson
  
• “Got A New Car” – Tyler Ballgame
• “The Store” – Anjimile
  
• “Cold Cold Heart” – Norah Jones (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “This Town (acoustic)” – Brooke Combe
  
• “The Only Time I Prayed” – Dermot Kennedy
  
• “Particular” – James Hunter Six
  
• “Under The Milky Way” – Grant Lee Phillips (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Margie” – Amelia Day (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Eastward Of Eden” – Amelia Day (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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music we’ll note some classic album anniversaries from May of 1966 – 2006… also lots of new tunes from Canadian Cat Clyde, a third album from Arlo Parks, the final “balloon” from Tank & The Bangas, a quiet folk record from Michigan’s Ryan Racine and much more!

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

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for May 2, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Invisible Ink” – King Tuff
• “Beams” – Arlo Parks
• “Acid Tongue” – Swamp Dogg
• “Puppy And A Truck” – Jenny Lewis
• “I Wish” – Stevie Wonder (1 of 30 NYT Best Living Songwriters)
  
• “Steady As She Goes” – The Raconteurs (May 2006)
  
• “Ahead By A Century” – The Tragically Hip (May 1996)
• “Cherry Bomb” – The Runaways (May 1976)
• “Love Song 43” – Ryan Racine
• “Hold My Hand” – Cat Clyde
• “Panic In Detroit” – Steven Brown
• “All The Disaster” – Sarah McLachlan
• “Big Time” – Peter Gabriel (May 1986)
• “Little Darling (I Need You)” – Marvin Gaye (May 1966)

• “Riptides” – Death Cab For Cutie
• “Oyaya” – Angelique Kidjo
• “6th Ward” – Trombone Shorty
• “I Did This To Myself” – Thundercat
• “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ In My Heart” – Smokey Robinson (1 of 30 NYT Best Living Songwriters)
• “6th Avenue Heartache” – The Wallflowers (May 1996)
• “All Night” – Chance The Rapper (May 2016)
• “Carmelita” – Warren Zevon (May 1976)
• “Move” – Tank & The Bangas
  
• “Heart Stop” – The Revivalists
  
• “IRL” – Devon Gilfillian
• “New York State Of Mind” – Billy Joel (May 1976)
• “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” – Stevie Wonder (May 1966)

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 ’90s rock icon Melissa Etheridge is our guest this week, playing songs from her new album “Rise.” This is Melissa’s first new set of tunes since 2019, and her life has been tumultuous… but she’s come to embrace her reality at age 64.

Also, archives from the late Barenaked Ladies in 1996, the late Jon Dee Graham 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 April 19, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “My Own Advice” – Belle Canyon
• “Mic On” – Alex Isley
• “Money” – Foy Vance
• “Destroying You” – Anjimile
• “Hello City” – Barenaked Ladies
• “No Ordinary Love” – You+Me
• “Bein’ Alive” – Melissa Etheridge (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Call You” – Melissa Etheridge (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Do It Right” – Donovan Woods
• “Mostly Patient” – Courtney Barnett
• “Godspeed” – Mavis Staples
• “Big Sweet Life” – Jon Dee Graham (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Amythyst Kiah
• “Slow Decline” – Sam Weber
• “Unfinished House” – Cautious Clay
• “Joy (Can’t Help But Sing)” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Better Off High” – Marcus Mumford (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Wichita Lineman” – Flea ft. Nick Cave
• “Let’s Get Involved” – Son Little
• “One Stop” – Aldous Harding
• “Heart Of Soul” – Beth Orton (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Matches” – Melissa Etheridge (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Rise” – Melissa Etheridge (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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music we’re celebrating Record Store Day by doing the show live in a record store! It’s an all-vinyl show, featuring vintage and brand new discs, live from Third Man Records in the Cass Corridor!

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

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for April 18, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground” – The White Stripes (live at WDET 1999)
• “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” – James Brown
• “1999” – Charli XCX
• “Little Plastic Castles” – Ani Difranco
• “In The Stone” – Earth Wind & Fire
  
• “Some Other Guy” – The Hentchmen (Third Man Records customer purchase)
  
• “Get On The Right Track Baby” – Ray Charles
• “George Clinton Got In My Car” – The Howling Diablos
• “Can You Get To That” – Funkadelic
• “Looking At You” – MC5
• “Make You Better” – The Decemberists
• “If You Want Me” – The Womack Sisters
• “Let’s Rock” – Barrett Strong
  

• “Atlantic City” – The City Lines
• “On The Northline” – Frontier Ruckus
• “Hurtin’ On The Bottle” – Margo Price
• “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” – Sheryl Crow
• “Talk To Me Nice” – Tinashe
• “Tribute To Mississippi Fred McDowell” – Bonnie Raitt
• “Paint This Town” – Old Crow Medicine Show (Third Man Records customer purchase)
• “Lizzie” – Starcrawler (Third Man Records customer purchase)
• “Rock You Up” – The Romantics
• “Paradise” – Sade
• “Lookin’ Back” – Bob Seger
  
• “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It” – Stevie Wonder
  

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 October 24, 2025, Ann Delisi was invited by her friend and collaborator, Chef James Rigato, to interview 4-time Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter and producer Tony Rich in the intimate setting of Chef Rigato’s award-winning restaurant, Mabel Gray.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of his album “Words”, Rich came to Mabel Gray to perform songs from the album and talk with Ann about the importance of his relationship with his father, living in Detroit and fascinating stories about his life in the music business.

They talked in front of an enthusiastic audience of friends, family and fans.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café,  a former social worker turned songwriter, Emily Scott Robinson, joins us for songs from her fifth album called “Appalachia.”

Also, another SongWriter Podcast preview and archives from the late Chris Whitley, plus Joy Clark, The Staves 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 April 12, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Out Of Sand” – Eddie Vedder
• “Old Black Southern Woman” – Rissi Palmer
• “Queen Of The B-Sides” – The Black Crowes
• “The Book Of Love” – Olivia Rodrigo
• “The Obvious Child” – I’m With Her
• “Appalachia” – Emily Scott Robinson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “The Time For Flowers” – Emily Scott Robinson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Broken Wing Bird” – Kashus Culpepper
• “You’re Free To Go” – Anjimile
• “Kick The Stones” – Chris Whitley
• “Poison Girl” – Chris Whitley (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “One More Photo” – The Golden Hours (SongWriter Podcast)
• “Singing Saw” – Iron & Wine
• “Rabbit” – Son Little
• “Sleeping In A Car” – The Staves (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “My Hometown” – Nathaniel Rateliff
• “Roller Coaster” – Hrishikesh Hirway
• “Call You” – Melissa Etheridge
• “Shine” – Joy Clark (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Bathed In Light” – Foy Vance
• “Time Traveler” – Emily Scott Robinson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “The Fairest View” – Emily Scott Robinson (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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music exploring the curious trend of “Title Twins”… brand new songs, featuring previously used, sometimes iconic song titles of the past. Why? Who knows! But let’s have some fun hearing the new and old back-to-back.

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

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for April 11, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “For The Love Of Money” – The Black Keys
• “For The Love Of Money” – The O’Jays
• “Hotel California” – Joji
• “Hotel California” – The Gypsy Kings (cuz I can’t take the Eagles again)
• “For What It’s Worth” – Liam Gallagher
  
• “For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield
  
• “Night Moves” – Lissie
• “Night Moves” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
• “The Look Of Love” – ABC
• “The Look Of Love” – Isaac Hayes (cuz this version is awesome)
• “Somebody That I Used To Know” – Gotye
• “Somebody That I Used To Know” – Elliott Smith
• “Rock The Boat” – Trombone Shorty
  
• “Rock The Boat” – The Hues Corporation
  

• “Who Do You Love?” – Brother Wallace
• “Who Do You Love?” – Bo Diddley
• “Nice Work If You Can Get It” – Sloan
• “Nice Work If You Can Get It” – Ella Fitzgerald
• “Real Love” – Mary J. Blige
• “Real Love” – Joan Osborne
  
• “California” – Rufus Wainwright
  
• “California” – Joni Mitchell
  
• “It Should Have Been Me” – Ray Charles
  
• “It Should Have Been Me” – Gladys Knight & The Pips
  
• “Cherry Baby” – Jenny Lewis
  
• “Cherry Baby” – Starz
• “Tired Of Being Alone” – Teenage Fanclub
  
• “Tired Of Being Alone” – Al Green
  

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,  it’s a deep dive into our archives for random thoughts and songs from recent guests NEEDTOBREATHE, Sting, Mon Rovia and Ye Vagabonds. Plus some from decades ago: the late Todd Snider, Rufus and Loudon Wainwright, Rosanne Cash 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 April 5, 2026

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Say That You Love Me” – Loudon Wainwright (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Grey Gardens” – Rufus Wainwright (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Better Broken” – Devon Gilfillian (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Undiscovered Country” – Rosanne Cash (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Shape Of My Heart” – Sting (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Where The Road Goes” – Rhett Miller (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Ozilline” – Indigo Girls (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Soundtrack” – Matt Nathanson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “You’re The One” – Rhiannon Giddens (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Spittin’ On Fire” – Buddy & Julie Miller (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “I Get No Joy” – Jade Bird (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Life’s Too Short” – Todd Snider (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “The Long Surrender” – NEEDTOBREATHE (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “49 Tons” – Fred Eaglesmith (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Crooked The Road” – Mon Rovia (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Angel In The House” – Jonatha Brooke (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Riding With The King” – John Hiatt (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Purple Rain Drops” – Jalen Ngonda (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Ancient Light” – I’m With Her (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “The Flood” – Ye Vanagbonds (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “This Girl” – Punch Brothers (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Goodnight New York” – Vienna Teng (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “What You Won’t Do For Love” – Tre. Charles (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)

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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music classic April album releases from Seger, Sam & Dave, Gnarls Barkley, and Gillian Welch.

Also new Detroit tunes from Jack White and Ryan Racine, new Jill Scott, Samm Henshaw, a Prince cover from Low Cut Connie and much more!

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

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for April 4, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs” – Jack White
• “Who Do You Love” – Bother Wallace
• “Project 10” – Satya
• “Sexistential” – Robyn
• “Don’t Bury Me” – Ryan Racine
• “Great Advice” – Courtney Barnett
• “Looking Back” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (April 1976)
• “Too Much” – Dave Matthews Band (April 1996)
• “Hold On I’m Coming” – Sam & Dave (April 1966)
• “Money” – Foy Vance
• “Dixie Chicken” – Little Feat
• “Jump” – Inara George
  
• “Float” – Samm Henshaw
  
• “Tear My Stillhouse Down” – Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings (April 1996)

• “ThunderWave” – Thundercat ft. WILLOW
• “Wild At Heart” – Neil Diamond
• “Little Red Corvette” – Low Cut Connie
• “Amiss” – waterbaby
• “Stuck In My Mind” – JR JR
• “Sumthin’ Sumthin'” – Maxwell (April 1996)
• “Mother’s Little Helper” – The Rolling Stones (April 1966)
• “Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley (April 2006)
• “It’s Only Love” – ROZZI
• “Sad & Beautiful World” – Mavis Staples
• “Doctrine Of Love” – Jalen Ngonda
• “Beat On The Brat” – Ramones (April 1976)
• “Freedom” – Beyonce (April 2016)

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

This month marks a milestone at WDET as the Don Was Motor City Playlist celebrates five years on air.  

Don Was and co-host Ann Delisi have delivered crate after crate of deep cuts and hits since 2021, helping listeners discover new favorite tracks and providing  stories about Detroit’s cultural history every Friday night.  

The show is a love letter to Detroit artists and a hub for all genres and musicians.  

Personal history of our hosts

Was and Delisi got to know each other while working on the Concert of Colors and cultivated a relationship that made them well-prepared for this powerhouse program. Delisi’s 35+ years of insights and experience as a broadcaster, combined with Was’ storytelling and internal archive of tunes, make this segment one of the most unique Detroit has to offer. 

Was, the six-time Grammy Award-winning Detroit native has done it all; quite frankly, there may be no music-related task too Herculean a feat for him to dip his hand in.  

He began his creative endeavors at Oak Park High School where formed his first band, The Saturns. But it wasn’t until he partnered with David Weiss to form Was (Not Was) that his talents were fully realized by the public with hits like “Walk the Dinosaur.”  

Following the band’s hiatus, Was became a successful producer, working with The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Willie Nelson and more. In 1995, he even received the Grammy for Producer of the Year.  

Delisi’s also a force to be reckoned with. She’s hosted Ann Delisi’s Essential Music program since 2009, focusing on creating a platform for local artists and spotlighting musical gems, both old and new.  

Delisi has interviewed a plethora of the greats, from David Bowie to Iggy Pop—she always keeps us on our toes with our ears pressed to the speakers.  

She’s also hosted Backstage Pass, a Detroit Public Television show about arts and culture in the city. In 2023, Delisi was presented with the Spirit of Detroit for her work in uplifting artists.  

Now, Was and Delisi combine their knowledge and lived experiences into one of Detroit’s funkiest radio shows. We couldn’t be prouder to host it here on WDET.

Here’s to five wonderful years of the Don Was Motor City Playlist!