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An Oklahoma country station made news this week when it briefly refused to play a Beyoncé song. It's a resonant tale for the Black and women musicians who have tried to crack the format for decades.

This weekend in the San Diego arts scene: Lynn Nottage's hit play, "Clyde's," Ving Simpson at OMA, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," "Kaleidoscope," Daygo Eatz, Baby Bushka and more arts, culture and live music.

The cassette is not only a tool of communication but also one of creation. This week on 8 Tracks, NPR Music's Lars Gotrich celebrates new music released on his favorite format.

Gadan is a new project created by four experienced and well-known musicians in the Irish trad and European folk/rock scene. Their high-energy repertoire has a powerful live appeal and a sound comparable to new-trad acts such as Talisk, East Pointers, and WeBanjo3, but with a unique identity thanks to years of experience in several folk scenes, from Appalachian and old time to Scottish and Italian folk and traditional music. Their lineup consists of two banjos (tenor and clawhammer), fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, and guitar, creating an “strings-only” sound with a hint of electronics, driven by a powerful rhythmic pulse. The members of the band include Joan Gatti on fiddle, Lorenzo Testa on tenor banjo and vocals, Jacopo Ventura on guitar and vocals, and Andrea Verga on 5-string banjo, mandolin, and vocals. The band ended its first United States tour in October 2022, playing in festivals and folk venues all along the East Coast. They are now back to cover the West. Gadan’s power leaves no one unmoved. You don’t need drums to groove. Stay Connected on Facebook

Multi-style violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black delights audiences around the world with her energetic playing, sparkling stage presence, and dazzlingly virtuosic fiddling. Mari’s dynamic performances are infused with her sense playfulness and deep love of the history behind the music, as she weaves together driving dance tunes with beloved stories that bring the music to life. Walk into any of her shows, and you are pretty much guaranteed to see people out of their seats and dancing in the aisles! Mari’s passion for dance-driven music extends far beyond the concert stage, as reflected in her work as a teacher, composer, dancer, competition judge, and musical ambassador committed to connecting people through music. Having earned her Doctorate in Education from Columbia University, Mari is a master teacher who is dedicated to helping students of all ages and levels explore the joy of making music. Currently touring nationally with her trio, Mari's favorite thing to do is sweep audiences away on a spirited musical adventure featuring dance music from around the globe: Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling, jazz, tango, klezmer, folk, original works, and more! Related links: San Diego Folk Heritage: website | Instagram | Facebook

Highly acclaimed classical violinist and fiddler Tessa Lark collaborates with songwriter, producer and bassist Michael Thurber (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) , classical and jazz master clarinetist and improviser Mark Dover and Louis Cato, a GRAMMY-nominated and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter who has played in the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since the show’s inception in2015, and was recently named bandleader for the newly renamed Late Show Band. The Synergy Initiative is co-produced by Inon Barnatan and Clara Wu Tsai.

A collection of pieces channeling the extraordinary spirit, virtuosity, and soul of Bohemia with its fiddlers, its sweet folk melodies, and its inspiration for one of the most exciting movements in chamber music, the fiery last movement of Brahms’ masterpiece, his first piano quartet. Please visit here for more information about the event! ADMISSION - Tickets can be purchased through here. Connect with La Jolla Music Society on Social Media! Facebook | Instagram | X - Twitter

For 50 years, Two-time Grammy winner BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have been hailed as “the best Cajun band in the world.” Doucet and the band can be credited with taking Cajun music from its regional roots in Louisiana to popularity worldwide. Born from their rich Acadian ancestry, BeauSoleil’s distinctive sound derives from the distilled spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country, and bluegrass. Driven by bandleader Michael Doucet’s spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals, BeauSoleil brings even the most staid audience to its feet. For more information visit: museumofmakingmusic.org Stay Connected on Facebook

When artists die, it can feel impossible to imagine a world without their musical guidance. Yet it's also a moment to celebrate — not just their impact on culture but also inside ourselves.

Jesse Ray Smith, Justin Froese & Anna Ballew all at Belly Up Tavern Jesse Ray Smith I was raised in the artistic, small-town suburbs of Marin County, a few miles and a full generation removed from the hippy movement that swept through San Francisco in the late 60’s. From Fleetwood Mac's Rumours to Stevie's Songs in the Key of Life, many great records came out of Marin County, fueled by the musical prowess of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham. This was my home, and these legends were a part of the infrastructure that sustained us. Although my parents weren’t big Deadheads, their catalog ran deep, exposing me to a vast collection of great records and artists. Whether it was Graceland, Ziggy Stardust or Dark Side of the Moon — a record was always playing and music was a very present part of my life. Justin Froese In a world where genres strive to define and confine, Justin Froese emerges as a captivating force, effortlessly traversing musical landscapes with his groove-driven alt-pop stylings. With a decade of classical training under his belt, Justin's ability to transcend and defy genres is a testament to his innate talent and unparalleled artistry. Anna Ballew A Missoula Montana native, Anna Ballew entered the San Diego music scene in 2021, incorporating jazz-guitar stylings and soulful vocals to pop R&B hits, modern classics and original songs. Her formal entrance to music started with classical violin at age four, then transitioned to bluegrass fiddle at the age of eleven. This ignited her love of free-form and collaborative musical spaces. After hearing her father jam to folk-americana artists like Jackson Browne and James Taylor as a kid, she decided to pick up guitar and try out singing for family and friends at dinner parties in high school. From hometown performances and acapella groups in college to moving to California and becoming a full-time musician, Anna has swiftly moved through stages of a musical journey. Now modeling her sound around artists like Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald and Lake Street Dive, Anna is working on her first EP to be released in the next year, and can be found performing around at local restaurants and live music venues in Southern California. For more information visit: ticketweb.com