The ladies of Emma June Band came to Valley Free Radio’s studio to sing some songs and let their fans and radio listeners know about their upcoming shows and plans. Emma Ayres is the lead vocalist, guitarist and song-writer but shares vocal duties with Zoe Young who also plays guitar. Abby Kahler plays fiddle and Abbie Duquette plays bass (she plays a wild uke-bass in this session). They all sing.

We open the segment with their song, “For Icarus” followed by Joni Mitchell’s “Amelia” which also uses the Icarus metaphor. Live in the studio, the ladies continue the “mythology imagery” with a song called “Odysseus”. They perform “Little Bird” which is an unrecorded song for the band. I played an amazing song from the only recorded release, Graduate, that is called “Progress”. Emma introduces the song as a tribute and reminder of the history of the towns submerged by the Quabbin Reservoir. The band finishes our set with a gorgeous affecting acapella version of “Bread Winner”.

The Emma June Band will be performing tonight April 14th at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Ma. They are also scheduled to perform at the Sustainability Festival on the Amherst Common on April 27 as well as the Taste of Amherst in June.