News

We’re getting ready to celebrate our 30th  Anniversary! In 1989, October 13th, the first DJs at WNCW opened the mic and we went live, from Spindale, NC.  And, yes – it was a Friday! We’ve been going strong for almost three decades now, thanks to our volunteers, members, musicians, underwriters, sponsors and amazing staff members. Most of you are familiar with the many different logos we have created over the years. This year, we thought it would be cool to hold a contest to create a 30th Anniversary Logo for our Fall Fundraiser merchandise.

Our favorite blues singer/bassist/gas can guitarist from Pelzer, SC returns to Studio B this week! It's always a blast catching up with Mac about his memories of playing with Muddy Waters and James Brown back in the day, and all the various projects he and his band are involved with here in the Carolinas these days.  Their upcoming gigs  include Sierra Nevada on Wednesday, the Spinning Jenny on Friday, and Sparkle City Rhythm & Ribs in Spartanburg on Saturday the 1st.

We'll rewind Sunday evening with a session from Grain Thief, a string band from Boston, Massachusetts that sounds a whole lot like Appalachia, playing songs from their album “Stardust Lodge” live in Studio B back in early March 2019. We'll also share a session - a toast to this past MerleFest, with Elephant Sessions. Kim Clark says we'll celebrate a great interview and performance recorded at WNCW with this rockin' Celtic band the day after they departed the stage in Wilkesboro, NC. It's all on Studio B Rewind on Grassroots Radio, WNCW FM 88.7.

Perhaps what the world needs now, is a group that weaves European, Middle Eastern, and American folk music together into a beautiful tapestry that simultaneously showcases tradition and innovation. Enter The Resonant Rogues, an Asheville ensemble that returns to Studio B with songs from their new release "Autumn of the World." Their hometown album release show is at The Mothlight on Friday the 31st.

We're excited to welcome back one of 'NCW's favorites, this time with his bluegrass band! After first hitting the scene fronting Colorado bluegrass band Hot Rize in the '80's, Tim O'Brien has proven to be one of the most versatile, talented, and prolific of roots music leaders, be it Celtic, old-time, or his own singer/songwriter originals. He's back to his bluegrass roots these days, and Tim & co. play the Grey Eagle on Sunday the 26th.

It's hard to believe... Cosmic has turned ten years old. Thanks to the hard work of host Brad Watson, who came up with the concept in 2009, and the fans who have flocked to the airwaves on Friday night to get their Cosmic American Show fix, it's become one of WNCW's most popular programs.

Matt Lorenz, a.k.a. The Suitcase Junket, is a one-man-band of guitar & drums, plus an arsenal of instruments built of broken bottles, thrift store forks, dried bones, gas cans, shoes, saw blades, a toy keyboard, salvaged instruments, and an overhead compartment’s worth of luggage. The New Englander is known for  his "lo-fi, low-tuned, low-down blast of end-times folk blues. Matt Lorenz ... incants and intones like a cross between Hound Dog Taylor and a Tuvan throat singer who has swallowed a bird.

"This week, two singer/songwriters who, combined, have written nearly twenty #1 bluegrass songs: Milan Miller and Thomm Jutz, " said SBR Host Kim Clark.

It's Spring LEAF time friends - the festival of great music, fun, food, drink, dance and world culture! The theme this year is "Breaking Ground" and LEAF's Artistic Director Ehren Cruz explains it best:

One of our favorites returns to Studio B! The SCOTS lineup (Dave Hartman – drums; Mary Huff – bass and vocals; Rick Miller – guitar and vocals) has been playing together for over 30 years now. They're leaving the Kudzu Ranch to play Thursday evening at "Bonnamoo", a farm-to-table event at Cleveland Preserve Farm in the Spartanburg area. 8 piece box of fried chicken? Too much pork for just one fork? Banana Pudding?!

We fell in love with Alexa Rose's blend of folk and Americana mountain roots music in 2017 when her Low and Lonesome album came out. The Asheville musician won the "General" category in last month's MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for her new song "Medicine For Living", and she promises to include it in her live session with us on Wednesday. She plays Sunday the 19th in Asheville, and then May 30th in Charlotte.