The Devil Makes Three has been one of roots music’s outstanding if quiet success stories of the past twenty years. Formed in Santa Cruz, CA in 2001, they got out ahead of the O Brother phenomenon and built a unique, crowd-pleasing sound through a renegade admixture of early blues, hard country and gospel. In this hour, founding singer and songwriter Pete Bernhard reflects on a career that’s surprised him and the joyful process behind the rather dark and candid album Spirits, their tenths as a band.
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We’re halfway between Americanafest 2024 and 2025 - the Roots Music Equinox if you will. And we bring that up because we’ve recently posted the last in a long string of performance videos from last Fall’s famous WMOT Day Stage. It’s our carefully curated showcase at East Side Bowl, with lineups so good that many folks bring a chair and post up for entire days or even the entire three days of the annual festival-within-a-festival. And we’re hoping that this collection of performances takes you back - or brings to your attention - to the superb music we’ve been sharing this winter.
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WMOT isn’t the only Nashville radio station that opened a new studio in 2024. The other one is twice as old and changed American music history. WSM 650 AM, known since the 1930s as the Air Castle of the South, conceived and built the Grand Ole Opry, oversaw a massive, multi-genre live music apparatus, launched the business environment known as Music Row, and even gave Music City its identity and name. And this coming Oct. 5 will be its 100th birthday. So it was due to get some gifts, including a new broadcast studio and museum.
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Sierra Hull brings a measure of small-town delight and innocence to roots and bluegrass that perfectly compliments her innate gifts and her formal schooling in high level music-making. The mandolinist, songwriter, singer, and band leader has emerged, since her youthful debut in 2008, as a star of her field and an inspiring figure in Americana. Her four IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year awards are part of the story. But so is her composing, her collaborating and her records. The first in five years - and her first independent release - is A Tip Toe High Wire, coming March 7. This episode complements a bio-oriented show in 2018, emphasizing Hull’s recent work with Béla Fleck, Cory Wong and others, and of course the thought behind and production of her newest release.
LINER NOTES
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Jessie Scott sat down with Judy Collins for a special Words & Music session at WMOT's Riverside Revival studio in East Nashville.
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Listen to Jessie Scott as she sits down with William Prince for a Words & Music session.
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The gang from Fruition sat down with Jessie Scott for a special Words & Music set Monday, November 18th.
WMOT VIDEO: LIVE SESSIONS ON NPR MUSIC
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Watch Them Coulee Boys, Olivia Wolf, Jeremie Albino perform LIVE for WMOT's monthly Wired In concert series at Riverside Revival in Nashville, TN at 7:00 p.m. CST on March 19th.
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Roots-rocker Sam Morrow rounds out the last of our 2024 AmericanaFest Replay series with performances of "Medicine Man" and "On My Way". Watch the clips here.
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Multi-instrumentalist Lizzie No performed "Lagunita" and "The Heartbreak Store" from her album 'Halfsies' live at the 2024 AmericanaFest Day Stage. Watch the performance here.
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Last week, husband-wife duo Chatham Rabbits stopped by the WMOT studio in Nashville for an impromptu 3-song set and interview. Listen to the full episode here.
NPR Top Stories
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Trump invoked the wartime authority Alien Enemies Act, targeting members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua for expedited deportation. But a federal judge blocked the action Saturday evening.
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Trump said the U.S. would use "overwhelming lethal force" until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping. The Houthis said nine civilians were killed.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he's kicking out the Ambassador from South Africa -accusing him of hating America and hating Donald Trump.
Win Tickets To Nashville Women Sing For Choice At Eastside Bowl Monday, March 24th at 7pm
Win a pair of tickets to Jason Isbell at The Pinnacle on March 28, 2025
Win tickets for Rooster Walk in Martinsville, VA, May 22 - 25 with Trampled By Turtles, Lettuce, and Town Mountain
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