Craig Havighurst

Music News Producer

Craig Havighurst is WMOT's music news producer and host of The String, a show featuring conversations on culture, media and American music. New episodes of The String air on WMOT 89.5 in Middle Tennessee on Sundays at 8 am, repeating Mondays at 9 pm.

Yola Plays ACL And Offers The New "Hold On"

By Craig Havighurst • Oct 9, 2020

English singer-songwriter Yola, one of roots music’s biggest breakout stories of the past five years, continues to hit career landmarks even during this year of Covid. She’ll appear nationally this weekend in a rare full-hour feature on Austin City Limits, a full-band set taped before the pandemic. Nashville viewers can find the broadcast next Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 9 pm on NPT-2, repeating Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 11 pm on the main NPT, Channel 8.

Named For A Typewriter, Granville Automatic Documents A Changing Music City

By Craig Havighurst • Oct 8, 2020

Music Row is a special place, but as stories go, it’s harder to tell than some. History was made there by thousands of creatives scattered across hundreds of addresses, with only a few focal points and people that command the public imagination. Seventy years after Owen and Harold Bradley opened the first studio there, we hear calls to “Save Music Row,” but how to do that has been among Nashville’s most vexing concerns. Now a duo offers a new angle with an ambitious act of multi-media history.

On The String: Elizabeth Cook’s Aftermath Clears The Ground For Growth

By Craig Havighurst • Oct 6, 2020

When Elizabeth Cook talks about growing up in Florida with parents who played country music in roughneck honky tonks, the stories are endlessly fascinating. But she’s never helped us be there and see and smell the scene as vividly as she does in her song “Stanley By God Terry” on the new album Aftermath.

They could kinda play but they could really drink

Somebody’d finally say exactly what they think

And Pine-Sol, sawdust and last night’s beer

And a bolo tie on a rear view mirror

As The Time Jumpers Return, Wendy Moten’s Versatile Voice Finds Its Country Music Heart

By Craig Havighurst • Oct 2, 2020

As live music cautiously returns to Nashville venues, fans are anticipating the revival of longstanding residencies that anchor the local scene. One that feels particularly heartening is the homecoming of the Time Jumpers to 3rd & Lindsley in a sold-out show coming Monday, Oct. 5. Singing lead vocals will be the newest member of the Grammy-winning, Western swing super-group Wendy Moten. Besides a dazzling voice, Moten brings a one-of-a-kind story to the stage.

Sister Sadie Takes Top Prizes At IBMA Awards

By Craig Havighurst • Oct 1, 2020

Sister Sadie, an all-woman bluegrass super-group that’s been knocking on the door of major success for years, claimed the top prize at 31st annual International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, presented online Thursday evening. Besides being named Entertainers of the Year, the group took its second consecutive Vocal Group Of The Year award, while its fiddle player Deanie Richardson won her instrument category for the first time.