1. JAN
  2. FEB
  3. MAR
  4. APR
  5. MAY
  6. JUN
  7. JUL
  8. AUG
  9. SEP
  10. OCT
  11. NOV
  12. DEC

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE: EASTER

Celebrate the holiday with music for Easter, Passover and the spring season. We’ll dig into the vaults and hear interviews with gospel great Mahalia Jackson. Plus we’ll talk with Sacred Steel guitarist Calvin Cooke about how the spirit speaks through his instrument.

AMERICAN ROUTES GOES TO THE MOVIES

Get your popcorn and tell the guy next to you to pipe down, as American Routes features soundtracks and songs from great films. Cine noir to spaghetti western, King Creole to Pulp Fiction, music makes the movie. Nick will talk with director Jim Jarmusch about the soundtracks to Mystery Train, Down By Law and Ghost Dog. And producer T Bone Burnett lets us behind the scenes of O Brother, Where Art Thou. Shhh… down in front please!

STREETBEATS

We got the beat. From second line rhythms and tap dance in the street, to funk in the studio and the cowbell on concert stage, rhythm’s something we all have. This week, check out the beats of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Cuban bandleader Cachao and tap-dancer Savoin Glover. Plus drummer Earl Palmer tells us about playing with Little Richard and Fats Domino. We’ll dig into the clave rhythm with Tom McDermott, and Elvis’ man in the pocket DJ Fontana keeps the beat with American Routes.

JOHN HIATT & EDDIE PENNINGTON

Over the years John Hiatt has played many roles: successful songwriter, soulful rocker, blues boogie man with a message, and recently an acoustic country balladeer. Also, a mini-concert from America’s greatest thumb-picker, Eddie Pennington, who spins remarkable tales and tunes. In his day job as an undertaker, Pennington buried his hero: the late guitarist Merle Travis.