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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Jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist Vilray met singer Rachael Price back in 2003 as students at the New England Conservatory of Music, and he also formed a band with other members of what would become Lake Street Dive, which is how we got to know Rachael’s exquisite voice and presence. They began performing together as a duo in 2015. Get to know this wonderful collection of songs, most all of which were written by Vilray. -
It’s a straightforward, down-to-earth, no-frills Americana album from this Arkansas singer/songwriter, that may well end up being one of the genre’s best artist debuts of the year. The Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Creedence Clearwater Revival are some of Clayton’s primary influences. Get to know some of his great new songs with his six-piece band with Spencer on Monday afternoon, and in the weeks to come, here at WNCW.
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Peak of the WeekHe’s achieved an incredible surge of popularity and success in the bluegrass, jamband, and live music world these past few years, and he’d probably be the first to tell you he owes a lot of it to his childhood exposure to pickin’, courtesy of his dad Terry Barber. So he decided to record a duet album with him! Also present is an all-star band including bassist Mike Bub, mandolinist Ron McCoury, banjo player Rob McCoury and fiddler Michael Cleveland as well as special guest appearances by Jerry Douglas, Jason Carter and Strings’ mother, Debra Barber.
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Jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist Vilray met singer Rachael Price back in 2003 as students at the New England Conservatory of Music, and he also formed a band with other members of what would become Lake Street Dive, which is how we got to know Rachael’s exquisite voice and presence. They began performing together as a duo in 2015. Get to know this wonderful collection of songs, most all of which were written by Vilray.
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Singer Irene Kelley has her 4th bluegrass album, mostly recorded in Madison, TN save for contributions from the Kruger Brothers in North Wilkesboro, NC. Other great guests here include Mike Bubb on bass, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, Adam Steffey and Jessie Brock on mandolin, Matt Menefee and Scott Vestal on banjo, Cody Kilby and Josh Williams on guitar, and Ronnie Bowman and Brooke & Darin Aldridge on harmony vocals. Plus about a dozen others!
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Peak of the WeekThe 86-year-old living legend of Chicago blues sounds just as strong as ever in these powerful performances.
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He’s been the dynamic fiddler for the Del McCoury Band for some 30 years, and part of The Travelin’ McCourys for a while now, too. Now, after 25 years, he’s finally released his 2nd solo album! He sings lead on all of the songs on it, but also has quite the lineup of top-tier performers, as you’d expect.
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Underground and understated, more about finding the groove and following the muse than chasing the spotlight, this band from the southern plains of Texas might not mind so much that their new album came out amongst the blizzard of Christmas music last month and you haven’t discovered them yet. But you have now, and fans of the Cosmic American Music Show and WNCW in general will want to give them a try. Lou Lewis is the singer and rhythm guitarist, with tasteful licks from lead guitarist Andrew Chavez. Rounding out the band is drummer Corey Alvarez and bassist Eric Pawlick. Even their record label name fits their country/punk/psychedelia ethos: Feels So Good Records.
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Perhaps ALL of us are brave in one way or another. And we’re featuring songs throughout Monday that reflect upon the bravery of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr… But Ponder was brave enough to leave her successful day job working in the public defender’s office in her hometown of Rochester, NY to devote herself full-time to sharing her powerful singing voice with the world. Her debut album blends R&B, blues, pop, moody trip-hop, and above all, that powerful voice.
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It’s a blues-rock direction on this one for the sister duo of Megan and Rebecca Lovell. The title is taken from a song that Rebecca had written, “thinking about our mother, sitting at the piano and singing with us, and how these traditions get passed down from generation to generation. It’s a very sweet and touching feeling. We wanted to bring all of that into the whole record, because it is a family affair. It’s us sisters, self-producing the record as we have done with the past few.”
