Martin Anderson
Music Director & HostEschewing his mother’s taste for easy listening music early on, Martin Anderson was raised on his dad’s love for jazz, his brother’s Beatles/classic rock LP’s, and the bluegrass and Top 40 radio of the D.C. area. He began volunteering for the University of Delaware’s WXDR/WVUD eclectic overnight and morning mixes in 1989. Upon graduating with an American History degree, he moved to Eugene, Oregon, he spent the 90’s working in natural foods, environmental causes, and above all, public radio. He hosted various folk, world, Triple-A, and other shows at KLCC, and started a “Miles of Bluegrass” show at KRVM.
After two years working underwriting sales and various music and public affairs programs at KHSU in Arcata, CA, Martin joined WNCW in 2001 as your weekday morning host. He loves interviewing the many talented musicians who come to Studio B, stretching out with the many styles ‘NCW embraces, and reflecting listener requests, events of the day, and our beautiful Southern Appalachian landscape. As Music Director, he books our live sessions, and keeps in touch with the record labels and promoters that send us new music. When not at the station, he enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling, history, and raising his daughter on good music and more.
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Produced by GRAMMY®-winning close collaborator Matt Ross-Spang (who helmed Price’s prior albums Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, All American Made, Hard Headed Woman), this surprise new album from Margo honors former songwriters who have used the emotional and lyrical power of song to advocate for human dignity and independence – in this case, Bob Dylan, Blaze Foley, and Charlie Daniels. Tracing a lineage of protest music through some of its most powerful voices, the surprise drop comprises nine tracks that embody the issues Price has championed both on and off the stage, from prison reform and marijuana legalization to the rights of farmers and immigrants, and the struggles of working people around the world. Joan Baez and Memphis Mariachi are among the artists here. -
Charley surprised everyone with this new release, recorded in Clovis, NM, back at the end of April, less than a month after he’d released his *other* new 2026 album Age of the Ram, on Island Records. Age of the Ram had wrapped up his trilogy of albums about the American West. Label contract disputes forced it to be pulled from circulation, but it's now available digitally again thanks to a new deal with Atlantic Outpost, which Charley considers a win: “Sometimes you need to fight. Goliath vs Goliath. On this 250th birthday for America, I’m reminded that freedom is something you continue to fight for. A war that never ends. Today, we win one battle. Clovis is out on the 4th of July weekend on Atlantic Outpost. Let’s ride.” Co-produced by Shooter Jennings. Charley performs in Charlotte on September 24th. -
Tasjan’s latest album is an 11-song collection about the duality of the American underdog. The characters within these tunes are exotic dancers, cringe white guys, historic world explorers, ultra-wealthy people playing God, baby Jesus, eccentric women who have done life their own way, and dreamers. Each song takes an honest look at what it means to be some kind of underdog, all coming from a songwriter who has been called an underdog by others and who has at times identified himself in this way only to realize that in the end, every human being contains multitudes beyond the limited capacity we have to observe and truly know ourselves and each other. The late Todd Snider, a good friend of Aaron’s, played a pivotal role in shaping the album, offering guidance during a period when Aaron found himself questioning his creative direction. Snider’s presence can definitely be felt here. -
We may be celebrating the 250th anniversary of our independence from Great Britain, but we will perhaps never surrender our love for British Invasion greats like The Stones. This new one is the follow-up to Hackney Diamonds, featuring twelve new originals in addition to covers from Chuck Berry and Amy Winehouse. There are also appearances by Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney, The Cure’s Robert Smith and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the late Charlie Watts from one of his final recording sessions. -
This band, fronted by BJ Barham (who has NC roots, by the way), may not have found anything approaching mainstream success, but it’s certainly got a loyal fan base throughout the country that eagerly awaits each strong release from them. And we have that again this year, with another one produced by Shooter Jennings. As Peter Churchill of Americana UK writes, “Barham founded the band in 2006 and, twenty years and twenty albums later, is still writing songs that could sit quite easily within the catalogues of a Springsteen or a Mellencamp. Tackling themes like the downfall of small-town America, the yearning for true connection and the socioeconomic wreckage of unconstitutional politics, Barham’s lyrics paint pictures wrapped around a rock and roll soundtrack.” They play the Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte on August 15th and the Grey Eagle in Asheville on September 3rd. -
Folk Alley now airs on Monday nights after Sander's Music Mix (technically Tuesday morning) in the 12am to 1am slot, replacing Transmissions from the Time Machine. Host Cindy Howes presents an exciting, eclectic, and intelligent mix of the best traditional folk, Americana, contemporary singer/songwriters, and roots music, from the latest releases, classics, and exclusive in-studio Folk Alley Sessions and live concert recordings. -
We’ve got three brand new cuts from some of our favorites in Americana music today. Billy Strings’ career has been on fire the past few years, and “Burn the Other End” is on his new album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, coming out August 28, which is a tribute to his late mother, So Much for Goodbyes. “Dog or Wolf” is on Ray Wylie Hubbard’s forthcoming album Reel 2 Reel 4 Real, out August 21st; it’ll be his 20th album in a career going back to the mid-70s. The Troubadours have a great new version of Robert Earl Keen’s “Feelin’ Good Again”, with help from Sierra Hull. (They’re playing in Charlotte on July 17th and Beech Mountain on the 18th, by the way!) -
Produced by GRAMMY®-winning close collaborator Matt Ross-Spang (who helmed Price’s prior albums Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, All American Made, Hard Headed Woman), this surprise new album from Margo honors former songwriters who have used the emotional and lyrical power of song to advocate for human dignity and independence – in this case, Bob Dylan, Blaze Foley, and Charlie Daniels. Tracing a lineage of protest music through some of its most powerful voices, the surprise drop comprises nine tracks that embody the issues Price has championed both on and off the stage, from prison reform and marijuana legalization to the rights of farmers and immigrants, and the struggles of working people around the world. Joan Baez and Memphis Mariachi are among the artists here.
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Brittany Haas is one of the premier fiddlers in modern folk music these days. Natalie is similarly revered for her cello work with greats such as the legendary Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. The two sisters have self-produced this sublime album of instrumentals, with help on a couple cuts from Sam Bush on mandolin and Darol Anger on additional fiddle. It features the same refreshing mix of American, Scandinavian and Celtic styles and influences as the previous (2023) collaboration album did. -
This band, fronted by BJ Barham (who has NC roots, by the way), may not have found anything approaching mainstream success, but it’s certainly got a loyal fan base throughout the country that eagerly awaits each strong release from them. And we have that again this year, with another one produced by Shooter Jennings. As Peter Churchill of Americana UK writes, “Barham founded the band in 2006 and, twenty years and twenty albums later, is still writing songs that could sit quite easily within the catalogues of a Springsteen or a Mellencamp. Tackling themes like the downfall of small-town America, the yearning for true connection and the socioeconomic wreckage of unconstitutional politics, Barham’s lyrics paint pictures wrapped around a rock and roll soundtrack.” They play the Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte on August 15th and the Grey Eagle in Asheville on September 3rd.
