20 years ago, the levees failed after Hurricane Katrina and covered 80% of New Orleans in water. The Federal flood left a human and ecological disaster in its wake. We take a look back at the catastrophe, recovery and renewed hope for the culture of the Crescent City with Dr. John, Irma Thomas, the Rebirth Brass Band and Allen Toussaint and archival audio from our first broadcast, After the Storm in September 2005.

This week, we look back on a live concert celebrating the music of the legendary Cajun band BeauSoleil, led by fiddler Michael Doucet, with family and friends in their 50th year of playing Louisiana French folk and popular music locally and globally, all in front of a packed hometown house in Lafayette, Louisiana. 

We asked our listeners to help pick music and musicians that deal with the troubles we’re facing, and we added a few songs and singers that fit the mood as best we could, including the Staple Singers, Allen Toussaint, Woody Guthrie, Toots and the Maytals, Son Volt, Carole King, John Coltrane, Los Super Seven, Dr. John, and Tom Waits. So we’re just trying to make it real, and the big question remains: Compared to What?

A tribute to the late guitarist Jerry Garcia, who passed away 30 years ago this August. Featured is an exclusive interview with Garcia made during his 1989 visit to the Smithsonian Institution. Roots and branches of the Grateful Dead's sound take center stage in this mid-summer celebration in music and memory.