Listen to new episodes of “Down the Road” on North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Music Trails, a series that highlights traditional music and bluegrass stories, starting this week at WNCW-FM at Isothermal Community College in Spindale.
The series is created by Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina, an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the North Carolina Arts Council, in partnership with WNCW-FM.
The segments air on WNCW-FM (88.7) Mountain Mornings on Tuesday at the end of “Morning Edition” alternating with “Southern Songs and Stories”. “Down the Road” is also reused as online content by partners.
“At WNCW, we love our mountain music and the Appalachian cultural traditions, so it’s a natural fit to broadcast ‘Down the Road’ on Blue Ridge Music Trails on FM and also via podcast,” said Joe Kendrick, WNCW’s director of programming. and operations. “It is a great pleasure to join your team and work together to preserve the music of our region and to strengthen your future.”
The partnership includes the production, transmission and online distribution of the new series of radio and podcast segments with Laura Boosinger, renowned musician, folklorist and storyteller, as a presenter. The segments highlight stories of bluegrass and music from the old days, artists and musical traditions in 29 mountain and foothills counties included in the footprint of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Music Trails.
Produced by WNCW-FM, the short segments cover subjects such as a story about the journey of a violin that was once owned by Madison County legend Byard Ray, the Farmers Federation’s influence on music in western North Carolina and a look about banjo builders in the region. Boosinger’s long history as an interpreter of traditional music and bluegrass, as well as his musicologist background and knowledge of the region provide a rich context for the segments.
“We are excited to offer this new set of ‘Down the Road’ episodes to convey the rich musical legacy of western North Carolina, from our historic artists to today’s growing traditional musicians,” said Angie Chandler, executive director of Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
The segment title is based on the Doc Watson Family’s “Down the Road” tune.
North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Music Trails is a Blue Ridge National Heritage Area project in partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council. For more information, visit www.blueridgemusicnc.com.
WNCW-FM is a public broadcasting service independent of Isothermal Community College and broadcasts on 88.7FM with WNCW 88.7 FM is a public radio station owned and operated by Isothermal Community College.
The station, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, is a nationally known leader in the American and Triple A formats, or alternative adult albums. The main signal of WNCW 88.7 can be heard in parts of five states.
The station also has translators in Boone, Charlotte and Greenville, South Carolina. In addition, WNCW broadcasts on the 90.7 frequency at WSIF FM in Wilkesboro. For more information, visit: www.wncw.org.