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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Bonnie has four solo albums under her belt, and Eleanor has releases with her husband Chris as The Mastersons, as well as the past number of years backing up Steve Earle as The Dukes. This is their first album together! -
They’re one of our favorite progressive bluegrass/newgrass bands, and they follow up last year’s tribute to Bill Monroe with this one of all originals. “It’s been fun to explore a little bit of The Dusters’ darker side for this album,” dobroist Andy Hall says of this one, out Feb. 18th. “Sometimes the times call for some serious reflection, and these songs really hit home. Get ready to go deep with us!”
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Like the Stringdusters, here’s another favorite newgrass quintet! They first formed in Michigan in 2000, but they recorded two of the three sessions that make up this new one at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville (the other in Vermont.)
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We’ve become big fans of singer/bassist Melissa Carper, and this latest project includes her, fiddler Rebecca Patek (and the two of them also perform as Buffalo Gals Band), banjo player Joe Sundell, and guitarist Brian Martin. “Sad Daddy do what they do best: mine old-time string music for today’s lessons.” (The Boot)
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Peak of the WeekIt took this Oakland, California band a good six years to complete this soul/funk album, and we think it was worth the wait! Recording it on a vintage 8-track machine (as seen on the cover) adds to the appeal. We’ve enjoyed spinning “Bird of Paradise”, “Get in the Groove”, “Color Blind” and others for you these past couple months. #73 in our Top 100! (See the full list here: https://www.wncw.org/2021-12-31/wncws-top-100-albums-of-2021)
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Monday: Tune in for songs inspired by the inspiring teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., throughout our music mix on Monday. Musicians from every genre we play help to keep his dream alive.
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The Montreux Jazz Festival calls him “The new master of the slide guitar.” The singer/songwriter from England visited us in Studio B last November for a great session, and we’re glad to see he’s got this new collection of songs.
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Guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, mandolinist/singer Chris Thile, and fiddler Gabe Witcher are back with some inventive reimaginings from the likes of Bill Monroe, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, and this Norman Blake/Tony Rice classic that is their title track.
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Pedal steel, horns, and strings converge on this fourth album from the folksong interpreter and guitarist from Columbus, GA and Durham, NC. But this is the first one to feature some of his own songwriting. Contributors include Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Mipso’s Libby Rodenbough.
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Like his previous two albums Look Now and Hey Clockface, Declan McManus is back with his bandmates who are the same Attractions lineup of Steve Nieve on keys and Pete Thomas on drums, with Davey Faragher filling in on bass. Fans of his brilliant punk-rock-meets-new-wave era, dig in!
