The book is a listener's guide to Upper Midwestern traditional and ethnic music, packed with photos, essays, and resources. The recordings provide samples from the Down Home Dairyland series on Wisconsin Public Radio and include interviews with traditional musicians and discussion of the patterns of musical styles in Wisconsin's musical heritage.

James P. Leary is professor of folklore and Scandinavian studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His books include Yodeling in Dairyland, So Ole Says to Lena, and Wisconsin Folklore. Richard March is the traditional and ethnic arts coordinator for the Wisconsin Arts Board.