American Routes keeps you cool in the heat of the summer with help from guests Bo Diddley and Tony Joe White. Mississippi-born and Chicago-bred legend Bo Diddley talks about his rockin’ blues and freight train sound, and Tony Joe comes up from the swamps to play an acoustic version of “Polk Salad Annie”, among other tunes. Plus a refreshing summer visit to a New Orleans landmark: Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, servin’ up the best sno-cones you’ve ever tasted.

Two men who embody eclecticism in the music they play and love. First, an in-depth discussion with guitarist and producer Ry Cooder: from his California roots in American blues, country and rock, to his forays into Tex-Mex, African, and East Indian music, his many film soundtracks, and most recently his work in Cuba with the Buena Vista Social Club and guitarist Manuel Galban. Also meet 90-year-old blues and gospel singer Gatemouth Moore, who began performing with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels in the 1920s and currently preaches at his church in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Plus the American Routes music mix we hope you seek… each week.

In addition to American Routes’ weekly mix of enduring and eclectic musical styles, we interview old and new school alternative country artists. Willis Alan Ramsey, the cult musical hero from Austin, Texas who wrote “Muskrat Love,” released one very successful country folk album in the ’70s — then all but disappeared from the music scene. Neko Case, a former punk drummer turned country chanteuse, serenades us in the studio, and talks about her atmospheric recent album “Blacklisted.”

Blues, rock, soul, and jazz… all with a little twang of country. This show features artists who take elements of the great country tradition, mix them up and make them their own. Nick talks with a living legend of old time country, Ralph Stanley. Also hear an interview and a short live set from young House of God steel guitarist Robert Randolph. Plus a talk with Cajun country elders the Hackberry Ramblers, and the down-home rock sound of the Sadies out of Canada.