Labor Day Weekend

Folk Music & Beyond Playlist for August 30, 2025
Labor Day Weekend with Michele Flannery

Saluting the lives & labors of the WORKERS this Labor Day Weekend w/ guest host Michele Flannery.

Joan Shelley, “Here in the High and Low,” Real Warmth (No Quarter)

The Mountain Goats, “Power in a Union,” Stay Strong Wisconsin! (digital release in support of a bill limiting WI workers collective bargaining rights in 2011)

Freakwater, “One Big Union,” Springtime (Thrill Jockey)

Waco Brothers, “Plenty Tough–Union Made,” To the Last Dead Cowboy (Bloodshot)

The Mekons, “Work All Week,” Punk Rock (Quarterstick)

New Set

Gilian Welch, “In Tall Buildings,” A Tribute to John Hartford Live from Mountain Stage (Blue Plate)

Sam Amidon, “Walkin’ Boss,” Lily-O (Nonesuch)

Thee Headcoatees, “Big Boss Man,” Have Love, Will Travel (Vinyl Japan)

Charming Hostess, “Won’t You Keep Us Working,” Eyesore: A Stab at the Residents (Vaccination)

The Roches, “Mr. Sellack,” The Roches (W. Bros)

Bobbie McGee, “Fifty-Nine Cents,” Bread and Raises: Songs for Working Women (Smithsonian Folkways)

Ibibio Sound Machine, “She Work Very Hard,” Doko Mien (Merge)

Linton Kwesi Johnson, “Wat about Di Workin’ Claas?” Independant Intavenshan: The Island Anthology (Island)

New Set

Joshua Burnside, “The Good Life,” Teeth of Time (Nettwerk)

Bill Callahan, “Another Song,” Gold Record (Drag City)

Jeb Loy Nichols, “Satisfied Mind / Poor and Clean,” Acoustic Hustle (self-released)

Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston, “First Day at Work,” It’s Spooky (Jagjaguar)

Brown Bird, “Fingers to the Bone,” Salt for Salt (self-released)

Chumbawamba, “I Wish That They’d Sack Me,” The Boy Bands Have Won (No Masters)

Alex Chilton, “Lost My Job,” Feudalist Tarts (Bar None)

New Set

Valerie June, “Workin’ Woman Blues,” Pushin’ Against a Stone (Sunday Best)

Ayodele Nzinga, “Beyond Capacity,” Ghetto Grimoire (Rocks in Your Head)

Lisa O’Neill & Radie Peat, “Factory Girl,” For This Ain’t No Disco (via YouTube)

The Deep Dark Woods, “My Baby’s Got to Pay the Rent,” single (self-released)

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard, “Working Girl Blues,” Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard (Rounder)

Barbara Dane, “Working-Class Woman,” Hot Jazz, Cool Blues & Hard-Hitting Songs (S. Folkways)

Fieldress, “All the Things,” It’s a Lot (self-released)

New Set

Kronos Quartet & the Hard Rain Collective, “Hard Rain,” Kronos Quartet + The Hard Rain Collective EP (Red Hot Org)

Music under announcements:

The Bairds Sisters, “After the Work Is Done,” Until You Find Your Green (Grapefruit)