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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Check out this album that celebrates inclusivity, togetherness and the deep African imprint on American roots music. “The porch is a metaphor for a perfect world - with the kind of smiles like those between the two of them on the cover,” said MIX Magazine in a recent front-page profile. It’s their 2nd “TajMo” collaboration, the first being in 2017. Singers Wendy Moten and Ruby Amanfu are among the musicians joining them here; for the TajMo duo though, there was one collaboration that felt particularly moving: “We had our sons in there playing with us and all the other musicians and writers were hanging the whole time,” remembers Keb’ Mo’. “So it was a really fun place to be.” -
Produced by longtime collaborator and Detroit garage-rock luminary Bobby Harlow (The Go), this one includes some collaboration with Anders Osborne; The Kansas-bred Fish now lives in New Orleans, where Osborne has certainly made a great name for himself. She tracked Paper Doll in Austin and LA in the midst of a grueling touring schedule, recording with her touring band for the first time: Ron Johnson (bass), Jamie Douglass (drums), and Mickey Finn (keys). It was this environment that helped shape the album’s vivacious but nuanced sound, with its “road-worn chemistry and raw, electric charm” (Blues Rock Review). As for the album name, “It’s about rebelling against other people’s expectations of who you’re supposed to be, which feels pretty relevant for the times we’re living in right now.” -
Bluegrass Gospel favorites The King James Boys have officially released their brand new album, Get A Transfer. The collection showcases the group’s signature blend of Southern Gospel-inspired lyrics, tight harmonies, and driving bluegrass instrumentation. With its mix of heartfelt ballads and uplifting anthems, the project delivers a powerful message rooted in faith and hope. The new single "The News That Never Changes" has already hit the #1 spot on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Gospel Chart and follows the success of “Ready and Waiting,” “Glory Ride,” and “I Can Hear The Savior,” all of which landed in the Top Ten of the Bluegrass Today Weekly Gospel Chart. With a mission rooted in ministry and music, The King James Boys have spent years sharing their message across the country. Hailing from South Carolina, the group continues to build on the legacy of Bluegrass Gospel through dynamic performances and sincere storytelling. Get A Transfer is the follow-up to their acclaimed 2022 album, Walk on Faith, and continues the journey with a renewed sense of purpose and praise. -
Peak of the WeekIt’s the Soul Queen of New Orleans herself! And one of the city’s coolest bands ever, with this new collaboration on Galactic’s own Tchuop-Zilla Records. The band’s core instrumentalists – Ben Ellman (saxophones, harmonica), Robert Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar) and Rich Vogel (keyboards) – usually feature a variety of guest vocalists, but this time it’s all Irma, 83 years young and leading them on all 8 new tunes written specifically for her, plus a new take on Nancy Wilson’s “How Glad I Am.” -
We have a relatively personal album from the Nigerian Afrobeat legend -- and son of the original Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti -- with this year’s release. Femi balances his signature “sweet music with a bitter message” with introspective reflections on family, life, and personal growth. Revisiting old tracks with fresh perspectives and producing entirely on his own for the first time, the album captures his journey as an artist, activist, and father. -
We’re pleased to present this set of 15 new originals by O’Brien and Fabricius, many of them in co-written with the great Tom Paxton. A West Virginia native who burst on the scene with Colorado bluegrass group Hot Rize in the late 1970’s, O’Brien has since earned renown with a solo career built on his soulful songs, heartfelt vocals, and collaborations with everyone from Steve Earle to Steve Martin. The multi- instrumentalist started dating Kansas native Jan Fabricius in 2011. A cardiac ICU nurse and single mother, Jan grew up singing in church and school, playing mandolin and singing informally around festival campfires on weekends. Moving to Nashville in 2013, she took a crash course in the music business as tour manager and bookkeeper for Grammy winner O’Brien. It wasn’t long before she started joining him onstage, in the studio, and in the songwriting room. (Coincidentally, Tim’s sister and brother-in-law Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore have a new release this week, too!) -
Here is some of Luther Dickinson’s description of this special new Allstars album: “Still Shakin’ is a celebration of our life-changing first album, Shake Hands with Shorty, which we released 25 years ago, and a love letter of appreciation to everyone who supported us and kept us in the game all these years. Touring this album cycle into 2026 will mark thirty years since we started North Mississippi Allstars, and we couldn’t resist by commemorating both of those anniversaries. Rather than focus on the old material, we decided to record new music in the spirit of our debut. -
This Brooklyn singer has a tight band, that burst on the music scene as regular performers at Levon Helm's legendary Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, New York. On this new album of songs about filled with love, encouragement, truth, despair, and even humor, they aim to elevate your mood in every way. Suter explains, "Our writing journey began during the pandemic, at a time when we knew we needed to stay on the path of conscious creativity, spending many days collaborating and brainstorming to make our dream come to life. 'Just Stay High' is exactly what we did, and now through our gifts of music bring a message of consciousness for the world to heal." -
As his website describes it, Tyler Ramsey’s key to drawing you in when he’s performing is his ability to honestly connect with the listener, whether it be a packed room amid a live show or just someone throwing on his melodies in their own time and space. In 2017, the humble, soft-spoken singer/songwriter/guitarist left the mainstage and the bright spotlight of Band of Horses after a decade tenure in the group, all in an effort to, perhaps, find solid footing in his own personal life and musical endeavors — creatively and spiritually. “Every day, I’m trying to slow down the wheels, so I can just watch and be with my family and absorb all the moments I get with them,” Ramsey said. -
Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz started performing together in 2009 in coffee shops and restaurants of Chapel Hill and other NC towns under the name Mandolin Orange. They now have their 2nd album under the Watchhouse name, and an extensive tour of North America that comes back to us over Labor Day weekend for the Earl Scruggs Music Festival. They are certainly a grassroots success story that’s been driven by Marlin’s poignant songwriting, that has earned them a reputation for creating music that “redefines roots music for a younger generation” (Washington Post), with songs that touch on the unknowable mysteries, existential heartbreak, and communal joys of modern life.
