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Slaid Cleaves performs in the Radio Heartland studio

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Slaid Cleaves, together with fiddler/mandolinist Wayne "Chojo" Jacques, perform in the Radio Heartland studio.
MPR photo/Luke Taylor

I've been trying for years to get Slaid Cleaves' schedule and mine to line up so he could stop into the Radio Heartland studio for an interview, and I guess the stars finally aligned.

Slaid was in the home-stretch of a long tour of the Midwest in support of his most recent album, Still Fighting the War, which came out in 2013.

Originally from Maine, Slaid is a nice guy who moved his career to Austin, Texas, and found his way into that town's very competitive music industry. Since that move, Slaid has gained a lot of fans and the respect of some of folk music's finest songwriters, as well as a bit of an accent, too.

Great guy. Great songs. Enjoy.

Songs performed


"Still Fighting The War"
"Without Her"
"God's Own Yodeler"
All songs off Slaid Cleaves' most recent album, Still Fighting the War, out now on Music Road Records.

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