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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WNCW Program Director Joe Kendrick has put together a 5-hour program spotlighting two massive fundraiser compilations released this Fall: “Cardinals at the Window”, and “Caverns of Gold”. Each of these eclectic releases was created to raise (100% of) funds for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Joe’s feature gets underway at Midnight. Spread the word about this special ARC Overnight program, and these two generous fundraising efforts! The need for relief in Western NC and other areas hit by Helene remains critical, especially as we head into these cold winter months. -
Producer, singer/songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist. That describes the professional side of Chris Rosser, and those multiple talents are all in top form on his new album “Worrying Boy. It’s his 5th solo album, but it’s been a while. He’s kept busy these past few years with his family, and running his Hollow Reed Studio in Asheville, and with the trio Free Planet Radio, with whom he’s played the Indian dotar, Turkish cumbus oud, melodica, piano, and guitar on their five album releases. “Worrying Boy” didn’t start out as a concept album, but there seems to be a thread throughout it of negotiating some of the heavier struggles of life and finding ways to cope with challenges while maintaining a sense of hope and a spiritual center through it all. A number of familiar local talents are on here, such as River Guerguerian, Chinobay, and Beth Wood. Guerguerian and bassist Jake Wolf will join Chris on Thursday, in advance of Chris’ album release show at 7:30 at the AyurPrana Listening Room in Asheville on Saturday. -
We’re excited to welcome this trio of “Los Angeles League of Musicians”, which is what LA LOM stands for. They are Zac Sokolow on guitar, Jake Faulkner on bass, and Nicholas Baker on drums/percussion, blending an instrumental mix of soul, rockabilly, cumbia, and bolero together for a wonderful representation of West Coast hipness. Zac’s father made a name for himself in the Southern California bluegrass scene. He and Jake have played together for a number of years now, most notably in a rockabilly band. Nick is deeply involved in a variety of Latin rhythms and influences. They play Eulogy in Asheville on Thursday the 5th. -
Two of the cofounders of the revered traditional Irish band Solas are performing a Holiday show at the Grey Eagle in Asheville Friday the 6th at the Grey Eagle. We’re excited to welcome them to Studio B on Tuesday morning to share some Irish holiday cheer with us! Mick and John released a wonderful album together a couple years ago, and John released “Haven” this year. -
Peak of the WeekThese two friends present a full-length cover of Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham’s eponymous LP, Buckingham Nicks – a rare, cult record that has yet to ever be released on digital platforms or CD, or reissued on vinyl since its 1973 debut. -
Listen for some Holiday cheer, WNCW-style throughout December, beginning with these new singles. -
David Lowery and Johnny Hickman wanted to introduce new fans to the band Cracker, but discovered that algorithmic streaming playlists put too much emphasis on just their ‘90s alt-rock hits. As great as those tracks are, there’s so much more to them, as many of us WNCW listeners know! Licensing issues made rereleases of their catalog challenging, so they’ve decided to re-record a lot of songs, and release them along with demos, outtakes, collaborations, and live tracks. Thus we have a 2-CD and 3-LP release with Cracker, Leftover Salmon, Drive-By Truckers, and others. “’Cause what the world needs now…” -
Check out the follow-up to his 2019 self-titled collection, once again reflecting on universal themes but delivered with a personal touch that makes it seems like he’s having an intimate one-on-one conversation with just you. A British singer-songwriter of Ugandan descent, Michael sings songs of self-discovery and acceptance with strikingly honest delivery, and a wide variety of musical styles woven in. -
As his publicist says, after a decade of being born, Josh Tillman is finally busy dying. Supposedly this is in reference to his time stepping out into the spotlight since his previous life as drummer for Fleet Foxes, and now coming to terms with mortality and finding spiritual contentment. Mahashmashana is Sanskrit for “great cremation ground.” Check out this 6th album of his, which includes Jonathan Wilson, Drew Erickson, Eli Thomson, and others. -
We always have much to be grateful for: the best listeners in the world, the best musicians in the world, our host for 35 years Isothermal Community College, and the beautiful, resilient region of Southern Appalachia. This month, we’re even more thankful than ever, thanks to the recovery efforts from countless individuals and organizations in the wake of Helene, and the members who helped us have what we believe is our strongest fund drive yet, currently at $300,000 raised. Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving in style! Per tradition, Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” will air at Noon. Maybe later in the day, too?
