This week on A Prairie Home Companion, it's a back-to-school bumper crop featuring bits and pieces from the Universities of Michigan, South Dakota, Minnesota and Purdue. Jerry Douglas plays the "Emphysema Two Step," The Purdue Glee Club sings from the LaFayette phone book, Becky Schlegel sings Greg Brown's song "Early," and Robert Sonkowsky—Latin professor from the University of Minnesota—recites a bit of Horace. Plus, Bella Hristova plays Kreisler, and in the Lives of the Cowboys, Lefty sits in on a class at Winona State. It's the last of the summer compilation programs before the 2011-2012 Season Opener next week, live from The Fitzgerald Theater.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, the aroma of deep-fried foods calls us back from the first leg of the Summer Love Tour for our annual Grandstand show at the Minnesota State Fair. With special guests, Minneapolis twang-rock heroes The Jayhawks, and singer-songwriter-fiddler Sara Watkins. Also with us, fresh from the rides of the Mighty Midway, The Royal Academy of Radio Actors; Tim Russell, Sue Scott, Tom Keith, and Fred Newman. All this, plus giant summer squash champions The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band with Richard Dworsky, and of course, the latest News from Lake Wobegon.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, a mosaic of memorable moments from St. Louis, with Jearlyn Steele singing the "St. Louis Blues," Del McCoury and his band playing "Quicksburg Rendezvous," and the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli peforming Prince with pianist and singer Tony DeSare. Guy Noir chases around after a nefarious baseball player named Louie Spitui, the pastor's daughter, Erin Bode, sings "Be Still My Soul," and the story of one naive 13-year old Wobegonian's eye-opening train trip to the Gateway City.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, a mix of shows from The San Diego Civic Theater including a rousing performance by The U.S. Navy Band Southwest, Sean and Sara Watkins with "I'm a Memory," and Guy Noir on the trail of a wayward seal trainer named Frank Fish. Plus, Jealryn Steele sings "Tell Mama," surf band The Duo-Tones play "Pipeline" and Cape Breton's Natalie MacMaster with "The Fairy Dance." In Lake Wobegon, Clint and Irene Bunsen "celebrate" 38 years of marriage at the Moonlight Bay Supper Club.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, a summer compilation of shows from The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, including an episode of The Lives of the Cowboys with Emmylou Harris and Sara Watkins, and a young and hip Nashville duo called the Civil Wars. Plus, a few archival items from the dim mists of antiquity (a.k.a. the early '90s) with Chet Atkins, Buddy Emmons, Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Prine. And in Lake Wobegon, Marilyn Magandantz finally got fed up with Gene's chuckling. She moved to Florida, dyed her hair red, and changed her name.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion: a summer compilation of Town Hall broadcasts from New York City, with the legendary Leon Redbone, troubadour Tom Rush, brother-guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad, young pianist Shai Wosner and a little taste of Broadway from the Stephen Sondheim Theater with Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster. Plus, Justin Townes Earle sings "One More Night in Brooklyn," and Guy Noir—like a lot of New Yorkers—is dealing with bed bugs. In Lake Wobegon, the tundra swans returned and LeRoy gets in trouble for avoiding his manure pile.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, another summertime compilation featuring bits and pieces from our run last fall at The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, including Ricky Skaggs as an evangelizing preacher in an episode of The Lives of the Cowboys, a re-telling of Madame Butterfly with Heather Masse, Storyhill sings "Fallen," The Klezmatics, and Louisiana legend Dr. John. Plus, a tribute to William Blake with Butch Thompson and a message from Mel's Diner, home of the "All-You-Can-Eat-Taco-Sandwich."

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, it's a show compiled from the live events onboard the MS Maasdam as we sailed the Northwest Atlantic, the Canadian Maritimes, and the Saint Lawrence River. With special guests, masters of foot-stomping French Canadian folk music, Le Vent du Nord and Genticorum, the reunited Hopeful Gospel Quartet, and our good friends Peter Ostroushko, Storyhill, Andra Suchy, Vern Sutton, and Butch Thompson. Plus, l'Académie Royale des Acteurs de Radio: Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman, and the greatest band ever to sail the Seven Seas: The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band.

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, a summertime compilation featuring bits and pieces from our shows last year in Seattle, Washington. With Brandi Carlile singing Johnny Cash, The Wailin' Jennys singing "Away But Never Gone", and Nellie McKay with a Doris Day tribute. Plus, Dusty and Lefty have landed jobs with "Foam on the Range" coffee, and in Lake Wobegon, the smell of freshly mown grass conjures up all sorts of memories.

Coming to you this week from Cincinnati, Ohio, it's the first in our summer compilation series with bits and pieces from our recent Cincinnati performances. Local boys, Jake Speed and the Freddies, play the "Queen City Rag," Howard Levy joins Pat Donohue and The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band on the "Deep River Blues," Guy Noir investigates the infamous "Cincinnati Three Way," and poet emeritus Billy Collins recites the "Hangover." Plus, the Boys of the Lough, Kasey Chambers, the Punch Brothers, and in Lake Wobegon, Margie Krebsbach goes to Florida to visit her parents.