ACafé: ZZ Ward’s new straight blues album, cool covers from the ’60s-’80s + more

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, ZZ Ward joined us in the studio for songs both old and new. Starting as a blues/hip-hop hybrid pop artist, ZZ Ward has fully embraced the blues on her new album of originals and classic covers called “Liberation.”

Also this week, cool archived performances from Joy Clark, Valerie June, Mike Doughty and more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for May 11, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Ribbon” – Milk Carton Kids
• “Train Of Thought” – Olive Klug
• “Number One” – Q
• “happiness (live)” – Adrianne Lenker
• “Shine” – Joy Clark (2025 in-studio performance)
  
• “Rebel Yell” – Joey Hendricks
  
• “Liberation” – ZZ Ward (Acoustic Café in-studio guest)
• “Bag Of Bones” – ZZ Ward (Acoustic Café in-studio guest)
• “waste” – Vraell
• “Someday We’ll Be Free” – Lady Blackbird
• “Without You” – Brandon
• “27 Jennifers” – Mike Doughty (2005 in-studio performance)
  
• “Showdown” – Julienne Baker + TORRES
• “Hard To Tell” – Sons Of The East
• “Farmer’s Almanac” – Stoll Vaughn
• “To Love Somebody” – Carla Thomas
• “One Man Holds The World Hostage” – John Moreland (2024 in-studio performance)
  
• “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” – Muireanne Bradley
  
• “Should Have Known Better” – Sufjan Stevens
  
• “Sweet Things Just For You” – Valerie June
  
• “Workin’ Woman Blues” – Valerie June (2013 in-studio performance)
• “Landslide” – Baby Rose
• “Important” – Michigander
• “Put The Gun Down” – ZZ Ward (Acoustic Café in-studio guest)
• “Lioness” – ZZ Ward (Acoustic Café in-studio guest)