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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With a career that spans 40 years through folk, roots rock, Americana, and country blues, Michelle Malone is no doubt an underground legend in the fabric of Georgia music. Collaborators have included the Indigo Girls, Gregg Allman, and Chuck Leavell, just to name a few. Guitar World said Malone is “equal parts badass guitar slinger and sweet songstress, with masterful lyrical introspection.” She returns to Studio B on Friday afternoon, before playing Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard that evening, and AVL Sounds Fest on Saturday. -
The music world is reeling from the tragic death last Wednesday of Glen Hansard, star of the 2007 film Once and member of The Frames, The Swell Season, and a career that touched the lives of countless musicians, music fans, neighbors, and strangers with his warmth, passion, and philanthropy. He died in a motorcycle accident, aged 56. Recorded live in April 2025 and released just this past month, Vol. 2 – Transmissions West joins Vol. 1 – Transmissions East for a complete record of the two incredible nights spent in Berlin’s Funkhaus. -
Texas songwriter Waylon Payne has released his third album, the follow-up to 2021’s Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me. Collaborators here include Aaron Raitiere, Brennen Leigh, Matraca Berg, and Miranda Lambert. -
Soul, blues, and R&B singer Danielle Nicole first got the spark of music from seeing Etta James perform, back when she was a child. You can hear Etta’s influence in her work, no question! This is her fourth full-length album, releasing Friday, August 28th on Forty Below Records. It features collaborations with guitarist Brandon Miller, keyboardist Jim Pugh, and Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars. -
Michigander is the indie-rock DIY solo project of Jason Singer, from Kalamazoo. “We spend so much of our lives trying to build something that we never have the time to enjoy. That’s the lesson I’ve learned over the past year,” says Singer. “Tell people you love them. Take care of yourself. Fight for the good. That's what this album stands for.” -
This quartet from Birmingham, Alabama received the 2025 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year award and have been named Saving Country Music's 2025 Breakout Artist of the Year. They release their debut album this year, and have a Grand Ole Opry debut! They will be performing at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival at the Tryon International Equestrian Center on September 6th. Billy Strings says this about the guitarist Luke Black: “Kinda rude of him to be this good, honestly… Luckily for me we’re on the same team.” -
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.
