ASHEVILLE, NC (April 11, 2017) – The Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina, an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the North Carolina Arts Council has forged a new partnership with WNCW-FM at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, NC, and the American Roots Music journal, No Depression.
The partnership includes the production, broadcast and on-line distribution of a new series of radio segments and podcasts called “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina” featuring Laura Boosinger, celebrated musician, folklorist and storyteller, as host. The segments highlight bluegrass and old-time music stories, performers and musical traditions across the 29 mountain and foothills counties included in the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina footprint.
Produced by WNCW’s Kim Clark, the short segments cover such subjects as the Piedmont blues style of Etta Baker, the musical recordings of Doc Watson and his family, Round Peak Music of Surry County and Jimmie Rodgers and the Bristol recording sessions. Boosinger’s long history as a performer of traditional and bluegrass music as well as her musicologist background and knowledge of the region provide rich context for the segments.
The segments air on WNCW-FM (88.7) Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. and again Sunday afternoons around 4:30 p.m. during the station’s “This Old Porch” programming. “Down the Road” is also repurposed as on-line content by all three entities.
“We are thrilled to be part of such an exciting partnership that will help to convey the rich music legacy of Western North Carolina, from our heritage artists to rising traditional music stars of today,” stated Angie Chandler, executive director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
“Every corner of Western North Carolina has a special story to tell about its rich musical traditions,” added Laura Boosinger, host for the program. “Through these segments and podcasts we invite citizens and visitors alike to listen, learn, and head ‘down the road’ to explore these special places and get to know our amazing musicians and dancers.”
The title of the segment is based on the tune “Down the Road” from the Doc Watson Family.
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WNCW-FM is an independent public broadcast service of Isothermal Community College and broadcasts at 88.7FM with service in Charlotte, NC on 101.3FM, Greenville, SC on 97.3FM, Boone, NC on 92.9FM and on WSIF Wilkesboro at 90.9FM. WNCW reaches a worldwide audience through its online stream at www.wncw.org/listen-live. For the past 27 years, WNCW has broadcast a variety of music, including Americana, Regional, Old-Time, Celtic, Bluegrass, Singer/Songwriter, Jazz, Blues, Country and Rock. It is honored to support the musical traditions of local and regional artists particularly through this new partnership with the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina and No Depression.
No Depression is a high-end, ad-free quarterly journal of American roots music, presenting exclusive long-form investigative music journalism. Its website focuses on album and live reviews and weekly columns (which don’t appear in print). No Depression is operated by the FreshGrass Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the past, present, and future of American roots music.
The Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina is a project of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council. The Trail covers 29 counties in Western North Carolina and highlights old-time, traditional, piedmont blues and bluegrass music and musicians carrying on the unique sounds of the region. For more information, visit www.blueridgemusicnc.com