Past Programs 2013

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Taped at the Marsh Berkeley the evening of December 19th, when SEDGE welcomed:

Author

PHIL COUSINEAU

brings us Burning the Midnight Oil, a collection of writings about the night from such notable night owls as Emily Dickinson, Lewis Carroll, Rumi and William Blake.

The Dude

JEFF DOWD

the movie producer and activist that the Coen brothers based Jeff Bridges' character on in The Big Lebowski.

Artist

J OTTO SEIBOLD

the Oakland artist celebrates 20 years of writing and illustrating not-just-for-children's books. His latest: Lost Sloth, published by McSweeney's.

Comedians

KARL & CARL

our favorite road-smart comedians bring us their hilarious Tips On Travel for the winter.

Musicians

THE EASY LEAVES

Sonoma County's fresh acoustic folk band stops in before their Winter Western Formal at the Great American Music Hall January 4th.

The Saint Nick-like

MIKE GREENSILL

the jazz maestro who we're proud to call our House Pianist. And More!

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

KEVIN KELLY

former editor of the Whole Earth Catalog brings us his new book in that tradition: Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities.

Poet

AUGUST KLEINZAHLER

with The Hotel Oneira, his first collection of poetry since 2008's Sleeping it Off in Rapid City.

Author

DON NORMAN

the engineer and psychologist brings us a new edition of his classic text The Design of Everyday Things.

Singers

O AKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHOIR

inspire joy and unity among all people through black gospel and spiritual music traditions.

Singers

PACIFIC BOYCHOIR

Oakland's world renowned, Grammy award winning choir will add some holiday cheer to the program.

The Merry

MIKE GREENSILL

our house pianist will lead the audience in a holiday singalong.

A winter special featuring some of our favorite holiday segments from years past, when Sedge welcomed:

WALTER BERNSTEIN, author of Inside Out and screenwriter of The Front.

GARY SNYDER, mountain-man, poet, author of Mountains and Rivers Without End.

THE CHRISTMAS JUG BAND featuring Dan Hicks, with traditional jolly Holiday fare.

PETER ROWAN and the Rowan Brothers' Reggaebilly Christmas Band.

JOHN WESLEY HARDING brings us a humorous musical take on the season.

ILEEN WEISS, featuring songs from her recording A Weiss Christmas.

NEW CENTURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA adds their timeless festive flair. And More!

This week we present a special show from the archives, honoring some thinkers who have passed away this year and featuring some never-before-aired audio. SEDGE welcomes:

JO MENELL, director of Mandela, the official film biography of the late great Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), the first democratically elected president of the ethnically united South Africa. From May 1997

CLIFFORD NASS (1958-2013) author of The Man Who Lied to His Laptop, what machines tell us about human relationships. From Oct 2010

RAY BRADBURY (1920-2012) & ROBERT WATSON (1923-2004) author and illustrator of "The Martian Chronicles". From June 1995

DENNIS McFARLAND, author of Nostalgia, a Civil-War era Novel that explores the consequences of a young man's decision to enlist in the Union army. Taped Nov 21, 2013

VETIVER San Francisco's own Andy Cabic leads this popular indie folk group, on tour with their latest album The Errant Charm. From January 2012

And More!

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, guest-host CASE CONOVER welcomes:

Poet

BILLY COLLINS

one of the world's most celebrated poets, Poet Laureate of the U.S. from 2001 to 2003, here with his fist volume of new and selected poetry in twelve years, Aimless Love.

Astronaut

CHRIS HADFIELD

one of the most accomplished astronauts in history who has captivated the world with his videos from the International Space Station, here with his book An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.

Musician

MARCUS SHELBY

the brilliant bassist, teacher, composer and arranger whose new album Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is now available.

Musicians

HOWELLDEVINE

brings us the kind of blues you just don't hear anymore; the textured rhythms that would be shaking the floors of a Southern juke joint some 70 years ago.

Farmer

STEVE SANDO

proprietor of Rancho Gordo bean farm in Napa Valley along with their new shop at the Ferry Building, and author of the book Heirloom Beans.

House Pianist

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's premier jazz and cabaret piano player.

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Humorists

SIMON RICH & FARLEY KATZ

a former SNL writer and a staff cartoonist for The New Yorker bring us their hilarious new picture book for adults The Married Kama Sutra: The World's Least Erotic Sex Manual.

Author

DANIEL ALARCON

the acclaimed young novelist and founder of Radio Ambulante, a Spanish language cognate to This American Life, here with his new novel At Night We Walk in Circles.

Cooking teacher

MARY RISLEY

founder of Tante Marie's Cooking School and recipient of a James Beard Foundation's "Humanitarian of the Year" award for her efforts to help alleviate hunger through Food Runners.

Musician

MASON JENNINGS

the brilliant singer-songwriter praised for his catchy melodies, intimate lyrics and distinctive voice brings us a taste of his new album Always Been.

Musicians

PATCHY SANDERS

the seven-piece band from Ashland, Oregon conjures up a fabulously folky tapestry of sound, drawing upon Celtic, Appalachian, Medieval and Bluegrass musical traditions.

Poet

THE POET PISTACHIO

the traveling bard who joins Patch Sanders as part of Uncle Sedgwick's Curious Spectacle, here to weave wisdom and hilarity through improvised lyrical poems.

A special evening show taped at The Marsh in downtown Berkeley on November 21st, when SEDGE welcomed:

Doctor

DEEPAK CHOPRA

alternative medicine pioneer brings us some wisdom from his new book What Are You Hungry For: The Chopra Solution to Permanent Weightloss, Well-Being and Lightness of Soul.

Doctor

MARCEY SHAPIRO

the integrative medicine physician will share wisdom from her forthcoming book Freedom from Anxiety: A Holistic Approach to Emotional Well-Being.

Comedian

JOHNNY STEELE

the acclaimed comedian, writer, political satirist... a regular on the Marsh stage.

Musicians

CAVE CLOVE

the soulful and sultry 5-piece band from Oakland -- a modern reincarnation of 50’s doo-wop at its best, mixed with hints of bluegrass, R&B and Americana.

Musician

SOJI

Adesoji "Soji" Odukogbe, the accomplished Nigerian guitarist who played lead guitar for the pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick Fela Kuti.

The Swingin'

MIKE GREENSILL

the jazz maestro who we're proud to call our House Pianist.

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

MARTIN CRUZ SMITH

hailed as “the master of the international thriller” by the New York Times, brings us Tatiana, his most ambitious and politically daring novel since Gorky Park.

Author

HARRIET SCOTT CHESSMAN

author of the acclaimed new novel The Beauty of Ordinary Things, the story of the unexpected love between a young Vietnam veteran and a Benedictine nun.

Philanthropist

ERIN MICHELSON

brings us wisdom from her recent two-year journey volunteering around the world in her new book Adventure Philanthropist.

Naturalist

CLAIRE PEASLEE

the comedian-naturalist from Point Reyes brings us some news from the living world.

Chef

AMARYLL SCHWERTNER

chef at the famous SF Ferry Building restaurant Boulettes Larder and their new expansion, Bouli Bar.

Musicians

FOXTAILS BRIGADE

the quirky "Chamber Pop" group from Oakland bring us their story-based songs and Victorian-era style.

This show was taped Monday evening at the new Society Cabaret at Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter St, Union Square, San Francisco. SEDGE welcomed:

Poet

GARY SOTO

the author of eleven books of poetry brings us his latest, a memoir of the writing life called What Poets Are Like.

Authors

CAROLINE PAUL & WENDY MACNAUGHTON

author and illustrator of Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Depression and GPS Technology.

Author

LUCY CORIN

with One Hundred Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses, a collection of surreal stories offering comedy and disaster in equal measure.

Musicians

MISNER & SMITH

give us a taste of their brand new release, Seven Hour Storm, an album of vivid, poetic songwriting, and some of the finest harmony singing around.

Musician

JEREMY COHEN

whose electrifying jazz violin performances with Quartet San Francisco have earned him nationwide accolades. Here to duet with Mike G!

The Marvelous

MIKE GREENSILL

veteran of the fine Society Cabaret piano.

Live from the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse at 2020 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

JONATHAN LETHEM

the genre-bending author of The Fortress of Solitude and many other award-winning works of fiction stops by with his new novel, Dissident Gardens.

Author

NORMAN RUSH

author of the best-selling classic and National Book Award-winner Mating brings us his long-awaited new novel Subtle Bodies.

Theatre Troupe

PEOPLE SHOW

founded in 1966, they're is the longest running experimental theatre company in the UK. In town performing The Detective Show at Fort Mason.

Musicians

HOT BUTTERED RUM

the five piece progressive bluegrass band carry us to the mountains and back with their stunning instrumental and vocal virtuosity.

Musicians

THE BILLS

the high impact acoustic folk music quintet from the West Coast of Canada, renowned for their instrumental virtuosity, lush vocal arrangements and exuberant live performances.

The Brilliant

MIKE GREENSILL

the UK born, SF based jazz and cabaret piano man who we're pleased to call our House Pianist.

Taped October 17th at The Marsh Berkeley, when SEDGE welcomed:

Cartoonist

SCOTT ADAMS

creator of Dilbert, one of the most popular and widely distributed comic strips of the past quarter century, with his new book How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life.

Performer

BETH LISICK

the writer and performer stops by to talk about some of her most embarrassing and regretful moments, documented in her new collection Yokohama Threeway and Other Small Shames.

Mathematician

EDWARD FRENKEL

Professor of Mathematics at UC Berkeley brings us his fascinating new book Love & Math: The Heart of Hidden Reality.

Musicians

MELODY WALKER & JACOB GROOPMAN

bring us some of the fresh Ameri-cali goodness from their brand new album produced by Laurie Lewis, We Made It Home.

Musician

DEBBIE NEIGHER

and her band give us a taste of the rich, piano-driven set of original songs on her critically-acclaimed sophomore album Unravel.

This special show was taped Monday evening at The Marsh in Berkeley. Sedge welcomed:

Author

ANNE LAMOTT

helps us make sense of life's chaos in her new book Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair.

Comedian

WILL DURST

the Bay Area's favorite political comedian may have a thing or two to say about the current state of the union.

Actors

WE PLAYERS

whose production of MACBETH at the National Park Service's Civil War fortress Fort Point was forced to close due to the Government Shutdown.

Musicians

CYPRESS STRING QUARTET

the chamber group who have recently been exploring Slavic Soundscapes, inspired by Eastern European composers.

The Magnetic

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's premier jazz and cabaret piano player...and More!

A Litquake Special. SEDGE welcomes:

Author

T.C. BOYLE

the beloved California writer joins us to release the second volume of his collected short stories Collected Stories Vol II.

Author

ERIC PUCHNER

the critically acclaimed author of Music Through the Floor brings us his achingly tender and funny portrait of an unraveling family in Model Home.

Singers

CONSPIRACY OF BEARDS

the 30 member male a capella choir performing the songs of the legendary poet, novelist and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.

Singers

THE BOBS

vocalists who fall outside a cappella traditions, landing in a hot tub of humor and vocal prowess.

Musician

SARAH LOU RICHARDS

Nashville singer-songwriter on tour with her album Ruby Red Shoes -- inspired by Sedge?!

Piano Man

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's favorite jazz and cabaret piano maestro.

Stay tuned for details.

David Rakoff (1964-2012) Francesco Rosi (1922-present)

From MAY 26th, 2007, when SEDGE welcomed:

MAL SHARPE, man-on-the-street meets man-about-town, from the surreal to the jazz-honed, Mal knows from zeitgeist.

JULIA WHITTY, contributer to Mother Jones magazine and author of Deep Blue Home: An Intimate Ecology of Our Wild Ocean, about the fate of coral reefs.

HELEN SIMPSON, author of the set-in-England In the Driver's Seat and Four Bare Legs in A Bed and other books, from London, with brilliant and droll insights and writing about love and relationships and children and, well, life.

MIKE LIPSKIN, a man who just doesn't take the piano out for a walk, he takes it out for large-gaited strides.

Along with as these very special interviews:

DAVID RAKOFF, the late great Canadian-born writer based in New York City, well known for his humorous, often autobiographical non-fiction essays. From October 18, 2001.

FRANCESCO ROSI, the Italian film director of such great works as Christ Stopped at Eboli, winner of the Golden Prize at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival. From May 3, 1997.

From February 9th of this year, when Sedge welcomed:

Author

DAVE BARRY

the humorous and insightful Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist brings us his first solo adult novel in more than a decade, the dark comic masterpiece Insane City.

Author

MO WILLEMS

the six-time Emmy Award winning writer and animator of Sesame Street who has gone on to publish many children's books of critical acclaim, including his Knuffle Bunny, The Pigeon, and Elephant and Piggie series.

Farmer

JOSH THOMAS

of Thomas Farm steps away from the busy Saturday morning Farmer's Market to tell us about the sustainable flowers he grows in Corralitos, CA.

Musicians

DAVID THOM BAND with DON RIGSBY

the acclaimed California bluegrass band joined by Kentucky's world class singer and mandolin player.

Musicians

FRANK VIGNOLA & VINNY RANIOLO

the world renowned guitar virtuosi stop by on their international tour. Let's see what happens when they sit in with Mike G.

The Grand

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's premier jazz and cabaret piano player.

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

MARY KAY ZURAVLEFF

brings us Man Alive!, a witty and engaging novel bout a psychologist struck by lightning and the effect this event has on the fragile ecosystem that is family.

Author

TOM BARBASH

author of The Last Good Chance with his already widely acclaimed and often darkly funny new collection of short stories, Stay Up With Me.

Comedians

KARL & CARL

comedians Geoff Bolt & Michael O'Brien bring us their hilarious Tips On Travel.

Musicians

SIOUX CITY KID

with whiskey-dripping vocals and the energy of a runaway steam train, they combine the dark words of a drifter with the sounds of thick Americana..

Farmer

DAVID WINSBERG

owner of Happy Quail Farms, an artisanal, specialty, urban micro-farm in East Palo Alto, growing over 30 varieties of sweet and hot peppers.

The Soothing

MIKE GREENSILL

our house pianist - best in the bay!

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, we welcome:

Author

JAMES McBRIDE

jazz musician and author of The Color of Water brings us a fascinating new mix of history and mystery in The Good Lord Bird, about a young slave living in Kansas Territory in 1857.

Botanist

AMY STEWART

award-winning author of six books on the perils and pleasures of the natural world with her latest, The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks.

Musicians

ARANN HARRIS & THE FARM BAND

a high-energy and highly entertaining mix of old time blues, jazz, folk, mountain music, funk and campfire songs unlike any you’ve ever heard.

Musicians

T SISTERS

a genuine sister singing group whose unique yet classic sound draws upon blues, folk, bluegrass, Americana, gospel, country, jazz and more.

The Busy

MIKE GREENSILL

our house pianist, currently in residence with Wesla Whitfield at Society Cabaret in Hotel Rex, San Francisco, thru September 15th.

A Favorite from July 17th, 2004 when SEDGE welcomed:

Jack Germond (1928-2013) Kongar-ol Ondar (1962-2013)

JACK GERMOND, the late great political commentator, author of Fat Man Fed Up.

CARL HIAASEN, satirical novelist and columnist from Miami who knows the dirt about the way Florida really operates. His latest novel, Skinny Dip, once again romps through the politics and hearts of the citizens of that most dubious of swing states.

MIKE DAISEY, monologist, whose piece, 21 Dog Years let's us see what the Amazon-ing life style is behind the scenes.

OAK, ASH & THORN British Isles a capella, druids to Rolling Stones

LARRY GALLAGHER, very funny singer-songwriter

MIKE GREENSILL on piano

Plus, a special segment with the late Tuvan throat singer KONGAR-Ol ONDAR and bluesman PAUL PENA from July 22, 1995.

Live from the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse at 2020 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley. Guest-hosts CASE CONOVER & MIKE GREENSILL welcome:

Author

J. MAARTEN TROOST

with Headhunters on my Doorstep, recounting his hilarious misadventures island hopping in the South Pacific in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson after a stint in rehab.

Author

ALEX SOOJUNG-KIM PANG

the renowned Stanford technology guru with The Distraction Addiction: Getting the Information You Need and the Communication You Want, Without Enraging Your Family, Annoying Your Colleagues, and Destroying Your Soul.

Doctor

DAPHNE MILLER

explores the frontier between modern medicine and the natural world in Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us about Health and Healing.

Musician

GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV

the South African-born, Colorado-based troubadour brings us the sweet sounds of his new album The Weatherman, telling stories of miles and landscapes, and the search for a sense of place.

Singer

WESLA WHITFIELD

the Bay Area's premier cabaret singer, performing with the Mike Greensill Trio at the new Society Cabaret September 4-15.

The Multi-Talented

MIKE GREENSILL

our house pianist. And more, including your audience true stories... we hope you'll join us!

Live from the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse at 2020 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley. Sedge welcomes:

Author

CALEB CRAIN

with Necessary Errors, the story of friends navigating the economics of ambition, love and idealism against the backdrop of 1990 Prague.

Pianist

MIKE LIPSKIN

the stride jazz pianist of the pre-bop jazz style joins us as House Pianist.

Two hours of song and story from the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse at 2020 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley. SEDGE welcomes:

Author

PETER ORNER

with his new collection of stories, Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, about nightmares, one-night stands and other existential adventures.

Comedian

WILL DURST

The New York Times calls him “quite possibly the best political comedian working in the country today.” Here with bits from his new show, Boomeraging: From LSD to OMG.

Author

ALEXANDER MAKSIK

author of A Marker to Measure Drift, the story of a Liberian refugee who washes up, penniless, on a small Greek island.

Musicians

THE KLEZ-X

mining the rich depths of klezmer, Yiddish folk, and modern jazz to create a brilliantly original sound that the San Francisco Chronicle calls "the hottest source for klezmer."

Musician

KIM RICHEY

the veteran Americana singer-songwriter-storyteller brings us a taste of her new album, Thorn in My Heart.

Piano Man

MIKE LIPSKIN

the stride jazz pianist of the pre-bop jazz style joins us as House Pianist.

A special from February of 1996, when SEDGE welcomed:

JAMAICA KINCAID, author of Autobiography of My Mother.

MERL SAUNDERS & THE RAINFOREST BAND with R&B to the beat of the ancient forests.

GREG BROWN & BO RAMSEY with their poetic folk songs and stories.

MARGA GOMEZ, actress, comedian, and monologist of A Line Around the Block.

MANDY AFTEL, author of The Story of Your Life.

THE BYZANTINE CHORALE OF THE KYKKOS MONASTERY OF CYPRESS singing sacred music from the 9th century.

BONNIE LOYD, Urban Geographer reviews drinks in coffee houses.

DIANE HIDY as the house pianist.

This Saturday's Special from the archives includes audio from September of 1997 and November of 1999. Featuring:

MICKEY HART, legendary Grateful Dead percussionist and author of Spirit Into Sound: The Magic of Music. He was part of both the '97 and '99 show.

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE, king of the electric blues harmonica.

WILLIAM LEAST HEAT-MOON with River Horse, his account of a four-month coast-to-coast boat trip across the U.S.

JUDITH THURMAN, author of Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette and winner of the National Book Award for her biography of Isak Dinesen The Life of a Storyteller.

MIKE GREENSILL on piano, and more!

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

ANDREW SEAN GREER

with The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, awakening each morning to the same room, same city, same family and lover. The only change: the year in which they all are living: 1918, 1941 and 1985.

Author

MARIANNE ELLIOTT

with Zen Under Fire, her vivid account of living and working in the world’s most notorious battlefield, Afghanistan, and her struggle to find inner peace.

Musicians

GEOGRAPHER

the San Francisco indie rock band whose "soulful music from outer space" combines analog, electronic and acoustic elements to craft dense layers and unique sound textures.

Actors

WE PLAYERS

give us a preview of their new production of MACBETH in the brick Civil War fortress under the Golden Gate Bridge in September.

Art Studio

CREATIVITY EXPLORED

Ann Kappes comes in from the San Francisco studio that provides artists with developmental disabilities the means to create, exhibit, and sell their art.

House Pianist

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's piano man.

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Rock Journalist

BEN FONG-TORRES

journalist, author, broadcaster and musician, best known for his association with Rolling Stone magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle. Here with Sam Barry and friends to bring us impressions of Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley.

Musicians

JIM KWESKIN & MARIA MULDAUR

the Americana legends stop by amidst the Jim Kweskin Jug Band 50th Reunion Tour, to lay down some of their soulful sounds, from classic blues to hillbilly country, ragtime, jazz, and rock 'n' roll.

Author

NINA SCHUYLER

author of The Translator, the story of a woman whose fall down down a flight of stairs causes her to lose her native language, and the search for answers in a foreign land.

Film Programmer

ANITA MONGA

Artistic Director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, running from July 18th to 21st at the Castro Theatre, a venue that has gained international prominence during Anita's twenty year tenure as Film Programmer.

Farmer

JOLIE DEVOTO WADE

of Devoto Gardens, one of the North Bay's original micro-green growers, now a 20 acre diversified family farm with over 50 varieties of heirloom apples, specialty cut flowers and pinot noir grapes.

The Rockin'

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's premier Jazz and Cabaret piano player.

Tune in for a special show from January 2002, featuring the late RAY MANZAREK, founding keyboardist of The Doors and author of The Poet in Exile, based on the life of Jim Morrison. Also featuring the late muckraking journalist CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS with Letters to a Young Contrarian, legendary troubadour and cowboy poet RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOT, the naturalist perspective from CLAIRE PEASLEE, travel tips from KARL AND CARL and of course the great MIKE GREENSILL on piano. As an added bonus, we'll also include segments from an earlier show Ray was on with beat poet MICHAEL McCLURE.

Ray Manzarek (1939-2013) Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011)

Join us for a special show from our archive (Oct. 2002), including a tribute to the late great singer-songwriter RICHIE HAVENS, with additional highlights from his December 1995 visit with Sedge. Also on the show, newsman and playwright JIM LEHRER, novelist ALICE SEBOLD, author of The Lovely Bones, her husband, GL EN DAVID GOLD, author of Carter Beats the Devil, the JOE BONAMASSA BAND.

Live 10am-noon from the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

DAN SMITH

author of the bestselling Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety, a beautifully and bravely written story full of humor and wisdom.

Author

NORA GALLAGHER

with her memoir Moonlight Sonata at the Mayo Clinic, recounting her experience with a baffling affliction poised to take her sight.

Naturalist

CLAIRE PEASLEE

the comedian-naturalist from Point Reyes gives us some Earthly insight as the June solstice approaches.

Fisherman

HANS HAVEMAN

the diver, surfer & fisherman who runs H & H Fresh Fish Co, specializing in the finest of local & sustainable gourmet seafood.

Musicians

TRIO DINICU

featuring Jimmy Grant -- four world class musicians bridging the gaps of classical, jazz, folklore, in town for Mill Valley's Djangofest.

House Pianist

MIKE GREENSILL

tickles your soul with the touch of the keys....

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room. SEDGE welcomes:

Author

MAC BARNETT

bestselling author of books for children, including Extra Yarn and the Brixton Brothers mystery series, he has also put together the great Picture Book Manifesto.

Author

LISA BROWN

the bestselling author and/or illustrator of a growing number of books for children, teens and new parents, including How to Be, The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming, and Baby Mix Me a Drink.

Foodie

PATTY UNTERMAN

noted food writer, owner of the Hayes Street Grill and founding member of the Ferry Building Farmer's Market stops by in celebration of the Market's 20th year.

Musicians

BELLS ATLAS

blending heavy percussion, soulful vocal harmonies, and thoughtful arrangements, this dynamic group from Oakland calls their music Afro-Indie Soul.

Choir

CONSPIRACY OF BEARDS

the 30 member male a capella choir performing the songs of the legendary poet, novelist and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.

The Amusing

MIKE GREENSILL

our stellar house pianist.

Recorded at The Chapel in the SF Mission on April 20th, when SEDGE welcomed:

Author

HEDRICK SMITH

the Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning journalist with Who Stole the American Dream, on trail of political and corporate decisions that have, over the past four decades, dismantled the American Dream.

Author

BLUE BALLIETT

whose latest novel Hold Fast tells the story of an 11-year-old girl who falls into Chicago’s shelter system and from there must solve the mystery of her father’s strange disappearance.

Author

PHIL LAPSLEY

the engineer, hacker, author and entrepreneur brings us his fascinating new account Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws who Hacked Ma Bell.

Musician

APRIL VERCH

the Canadian fiddler, singer/songwriter and step dancer brings us a few of the high-energy songs from her new album Bright Like Gold.

The Yale

WHIFFENPOOFS

this year's lineup of 14 senior Yale University men who comprise the world's oldest and most famous collegiate a cappella group..

The Zealous

MIKE GREENSILL

house pianist extraordinaire.

From The Chapel at 777 Valencia in the SF Mission. SEDGE welcomes:

Author

ADAM JOHNSON

2013 Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Orphan Master's Son, an epic novel set in North Korea, dealing with themes of propaganda, identity and state power.

Author

JULIET BELL

(who may be "closely related" to Sylvia Brownrigg) with her debut young adult novel Kepler's Dream, about eleven-year-old Ella's summer with her eccentric Grandmother.

Musicians

SOJI & THE AFROBEAT BAND

the accomplished guitarist from Nigeria who played lead guitar for Fela Kuti and his fine band are sure to get you dancing!

House Pianist

MIKE GREENSILL

holding down the keys.

...

And More!

stay tuned for the latest additions...

From The Chapel at 777 Valencia (at 19th) in the Mission, San Francisco, SEDGE welcomes:

The Humorous

SAM BARRY

the author, columnist and musician, in as our House Pianist today.

From The Chapel at 777 Valencia (at 19th) in the Mission, San Francisco, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

MARY ROACH

the ever-curious bestselling author brings us Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, a journey into the invisible realm we carry around inside.

Author

BRIAN KIMBERLING

a hilarious new voice in fiction brings us Snapper, the poignant recollections of an affable bird researcher in backwater Indiana.

Performer

REVEREND BILLY

with some comedy and wisdom from his new book The End of The World, along with Gospel singers from the Church of Stop Shopping.

Musicians

BLAME SALLY

San Francisco's beloved group of female singer-songwriters, on tour with their new CD, Live at KVIE Studios.

Singers

CONSPIRACY OF VENUS

the Women's a'cappella choir that sings original arrangements of contemporary music, from Joni Mitchell to Tom Waits to Bjork.

The Awesome

MIKE GREENSILL

House Piano Maestro, author and entertainer.

Due to a technical difficulty on our AT&T broadcast circuit, we had to air an "evergreen" show in place of this wonderful program, which we produced live at The Chapel. You can hear it now anyway for a week on the KALW.org website under the Music Player tab. This show will air on the WCL radio network in June.

We're sure it is only a coincidence that the phone circuit failed the day we featured a marvelous history of the phone phreakers by Phil Lapsley and and interview with Hedrick Smith who produced a documentary for PBS on how the phone company shares all your data with the government.

From The Chapel at 777 Valencia (b/t 18th & 19th) in the SF Mission, SEDGE welcomes:

Author

HEDRICK SMITH

Author

BLUE BALLIETT

whose latest novel Hold Fast tells the story of an 11-year-old girl who falls into Chicago’s shelter system and from there must solve the mystery of her father’s strange disappearance.

Author

PHIL LAPSLEY

the engineer, hacker, author and entrepreneur brings us his fascinating new account Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws who Hacked Ma Bell.

Musician

APRIL VERCH

the Canadian fiddler, singer/songwriter and step dancer brings us a few of the high-energy songs from her new album Bright Like Gold.

The Yale

WHIFFENPOOFS

this year's lineup of 14 senior Yale University men who comprise the world's oldest and most famous collegiate a cappella group..

The Zealous

MIKE GREENSILL

house pianist extraordinaire.

A special tribute to the late great Roger Ebert. From April 20, 2002, when Sedge welcomed:

Film Critic

ROGER EBERT

America's most trusted movie critic visits us to talk about his book The Great Movies, a film-by-film analysis of the best 100 titles ever. You'll also hear an interview with Roger from December of 1996.

Author

DAVE EGGERS

founder of the consistently adventurous and offbeat McSweeney's Press, author of the fantastic novel A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and proprietor of the Pirate supply shop 826 Valencia.

Clown

WAVY GRAVY

the clown-activist hippie-icon who was once Master of Ceremonies at Woodstock and has gone on to form the Seva Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow.

Musicians

JINX JONES & THE KINGSTONES

lay down some of their groovin rockabilly and swing.

The Brilliant

MIKE GREENSILL

on house piano. Back live next week!

Enjoy a classic from NOVEMBER 22nd, 2008 from the Head-Royce School Theater on the occasion of their annual book fair. Sedge welcomed:

Author

TONI MORRISON

author of Beloved, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, here with her latest, A Mercy.

Author

SYLVIA BROWNRIGG

acclaimed author of such novels as Morality Tale, Pages for You, and now The Delivery Room.

Musician

BÉLA FLECK & VICTOR WOOTEN

banjo virtuoso whose film Throw Down Your Heart tracks the banjo's roots back to Africa, and bassist extraordinaire.

Musicians

LINDA TILLERY & The Cultural Heritage Choir

with their stunning acapella songs and soulful rhythms.

Composer

MIKE GREENSILL

nimble house pianist.

CASE CONOVER and MIKE GREENSILL guest-host this week's show, featuring:

Authors

ANNE & SAM LAMOTT

with the paperback release of Some Assembly Required: The Journal of My Son's First Son, the follow-up to Anne's best-selling memoir Operating Instructions.

Author

JACQUELINE WINSPEAR

the latest installment in her Maisie Dobbs series, Leaving Everything Most Loved, continues to follow our heroine in the aftermath of World War I.

Author

NATALIE GOLDBERG

the writer, painter and Zen practitioner brings us her latest, The True Secret of Writing: Connecting Life with Language.

Musician

BILLY BRAGG

the acclaimed English musician and activist who blends elements of folk, punk and protest songs, on tour with his first studio album in five years, Tooth & Nail.

Musician

PAUL DRESHER

the internationally active composer noted for his ability to integrate diverse musical influences into his own personal style, which includes musical instrument invention.

SEDGE welcomes:

Author

RUTH OZEKI

whose extraordinary new novel A Tale For The Time Being follows a courageous young woman torn apart by loneliness and a tsunami, but inspired to tell her grandmother's tale.

3Girls Theatre's

AMY GLAZER & LYNNE KAUFMAN

Director and writer of the critically acclaimed play The Couch, about the struggle of dominance between two fathers of psychoanalysis, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.

House Pianist

MIKE GREENSILL

The Jazz and Cabaret accompanest and author of the forthcoming book Playing for Singers.

Help SEDGE celebrate West Coast Live's 1000th show!!! Featuring some of our oldest friends, including:

Author

ANNE LAMOTT

the beloved author of such bestsellers as Bird by Bird, Operating Instructions and the new Help, Thanks Wow.

Musician

BELA FLECK

king of the strings! Widely regarded as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players.

Comedians

KARL & CARL

comedians Geoff Bolt & Michael O'Brien bring us their hilarious Tips On Travel.

Farmer

NICOLE EASTERDAY

founder of FARMcurious, an organization designed to educate, inspire and equip urban homesteaders, stops by with a feathered friend!

The Epic

MIKE GREENSILL ORCHESTRA w/ WESLA WHITFIELD

Mike leads his own version of the Symphony of A Thousand!

...

& THERE'S MORE AFOOT!

stay tuned for the latest.

Join SEDGE THOMSON and MIKE GREENSILL on the second floor of the Ferry Building in the Port Commission Hearing Room as we welcome:

Author

MANIL SURI

the mathematician and author of the bestseller The Death of Vishnu with his latest, The City of Devi, combining the comedy of Bollywood with the pull of a thriller.

Author/Illustrator

ELISA KLEVEN

the children's writer and illustrator of such popular titles as The Lion and the Little Red Bird, The Paper Princess and The City By The Bay.

Author/Illustrator

ANGELA DOMINGUEZ

a teacher at the Academy of Art University whose debut children's book Let's Go Hugo! hits the shelves this week.

Musicians

DANA FALCONBERRY

the acclaimed Austin-based singer and her band bring us their new album Leelanau, a song cycle dedicated to the Michigan peninsula where she grew up.

Musicians

LINDSAY LOU & THE FLATBELLYS

the Michigan bluegrass band share their true-life tales of bank-robbing aunties, moonshinin' grandpas, and celebrations of love, life, and nature.

Ferry Building's

PRESSED JUICERY

co-founder Hayden Slater will tell us how he took a hiatus from the HBO show he was working on find his true passion: Juice!

Join us for two hours of conversation, music & play! SEDGE welcomes:

Author

PO BRONSON

with TOP DOG: The Science of Winning and Losing, revealing the hidden factors that fuel our determination, passion and drive to compete.

Author

DAVID EWING DUNCAN

author of the fascinating When I'm 164: The New Science of Radical Life Extension, and What Happens if it Succeeds.

Oakland's

ERIK HEYWOOD

founder of BOOK/SHOP, the creative place devoted to all things related to the reading experience.

Musician

ROY ZIMMERMAN

musical satirist bringing you songs about ignorance, war, and greed.

Musicians

ACCORDION BABES REVIEW

this group of groovy gals are here to prove that the accordion can be one sexy instrument!

Ferry Building's

MARIPOSA

manager Jewlee Washburn offers a taste of their artisan-crafted baked goods.

Join SEDGE welcomes:

Humorist

SIMON RICH

the Saturday Night Live writer with his collection of hilarious love stories, The Last Girlfriend on Earth -- for Valentines day!

Author

DANIEL LEVIN BECKER

brings us La Boutique Obscure, the never-before-translated dream diary of the eccentric French novelist Georges Perec.

Members of

CIRCUS OZ

the wonderfully wacky world-traveling Australian circus, celebrating the spirit of equality, collaboration and social justice.

Musicians

THE EASY LEAVES

Sonoma County songwriters Kevin Carducci and Sage Fifield bring us their modern acoustic Folk Country sounds.

Farmer

OLSEN ORGANIC FARM

Ken Olsen brings us some Mandarins and Oranges from his Lindsay, California farm, in honor of CUESA's Citrus Celebration.

The Popable

MIKE GREENSILL

California's premier Jazz and Cabaret maestro.

This live show is SOLD OUT, so if you don't have tickets you'll just have to tune in...

Sedge welcomes:

Author

DAVE BARRY

the humorous and insightful Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist brings us his first solo adult novel in more than a decade, the dark comic masterpiece Insane City.

Author

MO WILLEMS

Farmer

JOSH THOMAS

of Thomas Farm steps away from the busy Saturday morning Farmer's Market to tell us about the sustainable flowers he grows in Corralitos, CA.

Musicians

DAVID THOM BAND with DON RIGSBY

the acclaimed California bluegrass band joined by Kentucky's world class singer and mandolin player.

Musicians

FRANK VIGNOLA & VINNY RANIOLO

the world renowned guitar virtuosi stop by on their international tour. Let's see what happens when they sit in with Mike G.

The Grand

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's premier jazz and cabaret piano player.

From the second floor at 1 Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, in the Port Commission Room. SEDGE welcomes:

Author

NATHANAEL JOHNSON

author of All Natural: A Skeptic's Quest to Discover if the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing and the Environment Really Keeps us Healthier and Happier.

Clown/Activist

WAVY GRAVY

whose one-man unscripted strut down memory lane -- Hippy Icon, Flower Geezer and Temple of Accumulated Error -- is now at the Marsh in Berkeley.

Musicians

SYCAMORE SLOUGH STRING BAND

David Gans, David Thom, Roger Sideman and Dave Muhlethaler bring us their acoustic tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead.

Musician

PAUL KELLY

the influential Australian singer-songwriter whose career has spanned thirty years, from his days with the Dots and the Messengers to now.

Ferry Building's

BLACK JET BAKERY

founder Gillian Sara Shaw will tell us about their Valentine's Day creations for the upcoming Food From the Heart event at the Ferry Building Feb 8th and 9th.

The Groovy

MIKE GREENSILL

an Francisco's Jazz and Cabaret maestro and our House Pianist.

Join us for two hours of conversation, music & play from the legendary Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland at 510 Embarcadero West in the heart of Jack London Square. SEDGE welcomes:

Author

IAN RANKIN

the Scottish crime writer best known for his Inspector Rebus novels brings us his latest installment, Standing in Another Man's Grave.

Author

ADAM MANSBACH

the man behind the hilarious children's-book-for-adults Go the (FCC-bleep) to Sleep, with his new novel Rage is Back, about the underground graffiti world.

Author

THOMAS SANCHEZ

the award-winning California novelist brings us his first novel in nearly a decade, an eco-thriller called American Tropic.

Musicians

TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET

the acclaimed quartet known for its jazz rhythm, rock, and improv music setting it apart in the SQ world.

House Pianist

MIKE GREENSILL

the Bay Area's premier Jazz and Cabaret piano player...and more, guided by Cap'n Sedge!

Join us for the first live show of 2013! From the legendary Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland at 510 Embarcadero West in the heart of Jack London Square, SEDGE THOMSON presents a special Fire themed show, featuring:

Author

ROBERT GRAYSMITH

author of the fascinating account of Black Fire: The True Story of the Original Tom Sawyer - and of the Mysterious Fires That Baptized Gold Rush-Era San Francisco.

Author

COLLEEN MORTON BUSCH

author of Fire Monks: Zen Mind Meets Wildfire the true story of the Buddhist Monks who defended Tassajara, oldest Zen monastery in the US, against massive wildfires in summer 2008.

Artist

STEVEN YOUNG

Executive Director of The Crucible, Oakland's non-profit Arts education facility, specializing in Fire Arts such as blacksmithing, glass blowing, welding, bronze pouring and fire dancing.

Musicians

MARIAH PARKER'S INDO LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE

warm us up with a world of musical influences, from Havana to Kolkata.

Oakland's own

AUTHENTIC BAGEL COMPANY

brothers Mark & Jason Scott stop by to tell us about the delicious new bakery they have fired up in Jack London Square.

The Blazing

MIKE GREENSILL

San Francisco's premier Jazz and Cabaret piano player, and our House Pianist.

Enjoy this super out-of-this-world broadcast from September 24th, 1994 when SEDGE welcomed:

Actor

GEORGE TAKEI

actor, author and human rights activist with his book "The Autobiography of George Takei, Star Trek's Mr. Sulu".

Musician

UTAH PHILLIPS

the late story-telling, folk-singing legend who rambled the country singing for the Working Class, with the great ROSALIE SORRELS.

Composer

NED ROREM

Pulitzer prize winning composer and diarist, who Time Magazine called "The world's best composer of art songs".

Musicians

AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS

with their catchy country tunes full of word plays, double entendres and off-beat but poignant narratives about ordinary life.

Guitarist

ROBBEN FORD

the great blues, jazz and rock guitarist brings us some tunes from his album Robben Ford and the Blue Line.

The Ever Great

DIANE HIDY

West Coast Live's first house pianist! Stay tuned for our upcoming guests and venues in 2013!

Happy New Year! Enjoy this special show from September 17th, 1994 at the Cowell Theater, when SEDGE welcomed:

Poet

ALLEN GINSBERG

the great Beat poet best known for his epic poem Howl, in which he celebrated his fellow "angel-headed hipsters" and harshly denounced the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in the US.

Monologist

JOHN O'KEEFE

the award-winning playwright, director and monologist who co-founded the Blake Street Hawkeyes, a performance lab ensemble based in Berkeley, California.

Naturalist

CLAIRE PEASLEE

brings us the naturalist perspective on our feathered friends, with a humorous twist.

Musician

HUGH MASEKELA

the Grammy-award winning South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer, here with his band.

Musician

STEPHEN KENT

San Francisco's didgeridoo performer, percussionist and composer, with singer EDA MAXYM.

The Timeless

MIKE GREENSILL

on house piano.

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There's a kind of spontaneous combustion that provokes thought and laughs

- Rick DelVecchio

Past Programs 2013

DECEMBER 28, 2013 Taped at The Marsh Berkeley - Show 1042

Author

The Dude

Artist

Comedians

Musicians

The Saint Nick-like

DECEMBER 21, 2013 Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1041

Author

Poet

Author

Singers

Singers

The Merry

DECEMBER 14, 2013 A Special from the Archives - Show 1040

DECEMBER 7, 2013 A Special from the Archives - Show 1039

NOVEMBER 9, 2013 Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1035

Poet

Astronaut

Musician

Musicians

Farmer

House Pianist

NOVEMBER 16, 2013 Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1036

Humorists

Author

Cooking teacher

Musician

Musicians

Poet

NOVEMBER 30, 2013 Taped at The Marsh, Berkeley - Show 1038

Doctor

Doctor

Comedian

Musicians

Musician

The Swingin'

NOVEMBER 23, 2013 Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1037

Author

Author

Philanthropist

Naturalist

Chef

Musicians

OCTOBER 5, 2013 Taped at Society Cabaret - Show 1030

Poet

Authors

Author

Musicians

Musician

The Marvelous

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 Live from the Freight & Salvage - Show 1029

Author

Author

Theatre Troupe

Musicians

Musicians

The Brilliant

NOVEMBER 2, 2013 Taped at The Marsh, Berkeley - Show 1034

Cartoonist

Performer

Mathematician

Musicians

Musician

OCTOBER 26, 2013 Taped at The Marsh, Berkeley - Show 1033

Author

Comedian

Actors

Musicians

The Magnetic

OCTOBER 19, 2013 Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1032

Author

Author

Singers

Singers

Musician

Piano Man

OCTOBER 5, 2013 A Favorite from the Archives - Show 1030

SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 A special from the Archives - Show 1028

DECEMBER 28, 2013
Taped at The Marsh Berkeley - Show 1042

DECEMBER 21, 2013
Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1041

DECEMBER 14, 2013
A Special from the Archives - Show 1040

DECEMBER 7, 2013
A Special from the Archives - Show 1039

NOVEMBER 9, 2013
Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1035

NOVEMBER 16, 2013
Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1036

NOVEMBER 30, 2013
Taped at The Marsh, Berkeley - Show 1038

NOVEMBER 23, 2013
Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1037

OCTOBER 5, 2013
Taped at Society Cabaret - Show 1030

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013
Live from the Freight & Salvage - Show 1029

NOVEMBER 2, 2013
Taped at The Marsh, Berkeley - Show 1034

OCTOBER 26, 2013
Taped at The Marsh, Berkeley - Show 1033

OCTOBER 19, 2013
Live from the SF Ferry Building - Show 1032

OCTOBER 5, 2013
A Favorite from the Archives - Show 1030

SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
A special from the Archives - Show 1028

OCTOBER 12, 2013
A Special From the Archives - Show 1031