Gallagher Guitars, a boutique luthier in tiny Wartrace, TN that had earned the loyalty of Doc Watson and other important acoustic musicians, was all but left for dead a few years ago. Middle Tennessee native David Mathis took over the brand and moved its equipment and legacy to Murfreesboro. Now it's back on track to make more guitars this year than ever in its history, and it's throwing its first-ever festival in the street outside its shop next Saturday, May 4. A day of instrument contests and performances is capped by a ticketed show featuring bluegrass star Dan Tyminski and his band.
-
In January, the newly energized Nashville Blues and Roots Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to cultivating blues careers and spreading its history through public schools, held its first-ever local competition to nominate contestant artists at the 2024 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. And in a nice Music City surprise, the NBRA’s delegate in the band category, Piper & The Hard Times, went to Memphis during the coldest week of the year, put on several sizzling sets, and came away with the grand prize. In this hour of The String, we meet Al "Piper" Green and his bandmate/guitarist Steve Eagon to talk about their game changing win. Up first, Gulf Coast blues and R&B icon Marcia Ball talks about fifty years of rocking roadhouses and the occasional blues cruise.
-
Suzy Bogguss started playing and performing on a hand-me-down guitar from her sister in small-town Illinois. After almost a decade making a living out west playing at ski lodges and smaller venues, she moved to Nashville, where she carved out a special place in 1990s country music. Amid a time of diversity and vibrancy in the format, her sweet, folky voice took flight when she found the right songs, including the career-makers “Someday Soon” and “Outbound Plane.” She’s toured steadily ever since, though recordings have been selective since 2000. During the pandemic though, she took on her first album of new material with last fall’s Prayin’ For Sunshine, the first where she’d written all of the songs. In this hour, we cover every key stage of this award-winning career.
-
The Wonder Women of Country, a side project of busy Americana songwriter/artists Brennen Leigh, Kelly Willis and Melissa Carper, started in 2021 as a touring vehicle for three friends with compatible visions of country music. Fans have been loving it, and naturally they started asking if there was a recording to take home. The WWOC have made good on that desire with a self-titled EP, released on March 15.
LINER NOTES
-
A closer look at the three bands performing Wednesday night from 7 to 9pm at Tennessee Brew Works for WMOT's Local Brew Fifth Anniversary show.
-
Jessie Scott sat down with Willi Carlisle at The Fitting Room Studio in Madison, as he is getting ready to play the Basement East on April 13.
-
Jessie Scott sits down with Grammy winner, Cedric Burnside for a WMOT Words & Music session.
WMOT VIDEO: LIVE SESSIONS ON NPR MUSIC
-
Click here to watch Steve Poltz and Maggie Antone LIVE at Riverside Revival for WMOT's Wired In series on May 1st at 7 p.m. CST.
-
KT Tunstall performed "Three", "Hallowed Ground" and "Big Black Horse & A Cherry Tree" at a beach house turned studio in Florida for WMOT's 2024 30A Songwriters Sessions.
-
Earlier this month, Sarah Jarosz and John R. Miller performed at Riverside Revival for WMOT's Wired In series. Watch highlights from their show here.
-
Last Friday, Allison Russell was honored with an exhibit at the National Museum of African American Music. To note the occasion, she was interviewed by Alice Randall and her daughter Caroline Randall Williams. Watch the full interview and performance here.
NPR Top Stories
-
Women under 60 can benefit from hormone therapy to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. That's according to a new study, and is a departure from what women were told in the past.
-
The New York State Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction last week, ruling that his trial was unfair.
-
Gov. Katie Hobbs plans to sign the repeal of the law that bans nearly all abortions — keeping the state's 15-weeks-of-pregnancy ban in place. But it's unclear when the repeal takes effect
Win tickets to Amos Lee and the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on May 11, 2024
Win a pair of tickets to Sarah Jarosz at Brooklyn Bowl on May 12, 2024
All good things don’t have to come to an end! Give your used vehicle new life when you donate it to WMOT. Donating is easy, the pick-up is free, and your gift is tax-deductible.
Get our newsletter with music news, concert announcements, 895 Fest news and updates from WMOT