Sunday Supper: Now and Then
Maidin (photo by Sydney Tate, PR)
In a monthly column, former "Sunday Supper" host John Platt writes about a new folk release he likes — and reflects on a past "Sunday Supper" session.
For July's "Sunday Supper: Now and Then," I wrote about the tribal gatherings of new folk music at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, a 2026 lineup that included Susan Werner, Joe Jencks, Greg Greenway, and Vance Gilbert.
It also included outstanding newcomers like Sam Robbins, Damn Tall Buildings, the trio Twangtown Paramours, Bryan Titus, and High Tea, the last three having won the 2025 Emerging Artist Showcase (and awarded an hour's set at the festival).
The 2026 Emerging Artists — 15 newcomers who won out of 100+ entries submitted to a pool of judges — were particularly strong. Each auditioned with two songs. The contenders included a number of "On Your Radar" alums, such as Aaron Nathans, Doug Mishkin, Rees Shad, and Marian Halliday, along with Jim Infantino, David Coller, Route One, and Diamond Spur Rodeo.
I personally want to mention Maidin, a young New Jersey-based artist, who was a strong "On Your Radar" alumna from this past March. Her real name is Meghan LaFlam, but she wanted a name that spoke of the goal of her music project (such as Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver). “Maidin” means “morning” in the Irish language, as she has explained. To say "good morning," you say “Maidin mhaith.”
Since there are no Falcon Ridge video clips of her performances, I've chosen Maidin performing "Better Why" from "On Your Radar" at The Bitter End, joined by violinist Lia Davies and bassist Greg Pise. Maidin and some fellow "On Your Radar" alum will be at Folkus-NYC at Williamsburg’s Art Haus on September 17.
As for looking back at great "Sunday Supper" moments of the past, I want to focus on Jimmy Webb as he celebrates his 80th birthday on August 15, exactly a month after his good friend Linda Ronstadt’s 80th.
Jimmy joined me at WFUV’s studios in 2007 to talk about the many artists who interested him: Frank Sinatra, Stephen Sondheim, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. He talked about and played “Wichita Lineman” and “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” and touched on “MacArthur Park” too. Listen in the player above.
It’s a beautiful conversation which captures Webb as a raconteur and storyteller. He'll be at City Winery on November 1 and My Father's Place in Roslyn, New York, on November 21.
