Roots Radio News

Last weekend in Raleigh, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn brought their intimate banjo-centric duo to several thousand people at World of Bluegrass, because they’re among the biggest stars in the genre. This week though, Béla and Abby, as they are affectionately known to the bluegrass community, will scale down and give back in a series of benefits shows in Nashville, starting on Tuesday evening.

“October 3rd at the Basement we are going to be working with the Tennessee Environmental Council, which is a group that Bela in particular has worked a lot with.”

RALEIGH, NC (Havighurst)  -- The premium prizes at this year’s International Bluegrass Music Awards were bound to go to industry veterans based on the nominee pool, but an insurgent slate of young and first-time winners in the instrumentalist categories sent a signal Thursday night in Raleigh, NC that bluegrass in the coming years will be defined at least as much by a new generation as by the seasoned artists that have tended to win prizes year in, year out. Serial winners have been a source of frustration within the bluegrass community for some time.

Elizabeth Cook wrote El Camino in Shelby Bottoms Park in East Nashville. Cook performed El Camino during WMOT's May Wired In session from Thiel Studio.

Mama's Funeral is Cook's personal account of her mothers death and funeral.

Charles Bradley, the "Screaming Eagle of Soul," whose late-blossoming career was built on fiery performances that evoked his idol, James Brown, died in Brooklyn on Saturday, Sept. 23, according to a statement by his pu

blicist. In 2016, Bradley was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which spread to his liver. He was 68 yeas old.

The best way to approach an oncoming juggernaut like AmericanaFest is a delicate balance of reckless ambition and meticulous planning. That, in any event, is one of my takeaways from observing how WMOT and Music City Roots made the scene and flew their flags amid this year’s city-wide roots music extravaganza.

WMOT hosts its first birthday bash at 6th & Peabody in the Yee-Haw Tent with a amazing lineup of Americana artists. If you can't make it in person watch it live here on WMOT.org.

11:00   Paul Thorn

12:00   Reckless Kelly

1:00     Whitney Rose

2:00     The Secret Sisters

3:00     The Deep Dark Woods

4:00     The O’Connor Band

5:00     Lilly Hiatt

6:00     The Texas Gentlemen

7:00     Aaron Lee Tasjan

8:00     Katie Pruitt

9:00     Vandoliers

10:00   Mike Farris 

WMOT presents a special AMERICANAFEST 2017 edition of Wired In with Brent Cobb, Tony Joe White and Lori McKenna live from Thiel Studios.

Veterans of roots music fared well at the 2017 Americana Music Honors & Awards, with John Prine and Marty Stuart accepting hand-made trophies for Artist and Group of the Year respectively. The 16th annual ceremony again offered resonant performances and speeches at the Ryman Auditorium on a night that showcased the diversity and mutual admiration of the musical format and its community.  

  Wired In AMERICANAFEST 2017 EDITION

Thursday, Sept. 14 at Thiel Studios 150 3rd Avenue South, Suite 108 from 4 to 7 PM

4:00 PM Tony Joe White

5:00 PM Brent Cobb

6:00 PM Lori McKenna

WMOT members and AMERICANAFEST Badge Holders are welcome.

Music City Roots

Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Yee-Haw Tent on 6th & Peabody from 7 to 11 PM

Pony Bradshaw, Angaleena Presley, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Cactus Blossoms, John Paul White and a special after show performance by Lee Ann Womack.

Americana is celebrated as a big musical tent, and WMOT Roots Radio will embrace that by putting up a big musical tent at AmericanaFest 2017.

The Yee-Haw Tent, with seating for 500 people and rigged for our signature quality sound and staging, will be centrally located at 6th Ave. S. and Peabody Street, just a block south of the Music City Center and an easy walk from the Americana Business Conference home at the Westin Hotel.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Glen Campbell, the affable superstar singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Wichita Lineman" whose appeal spanned country, pop, television and movies, died Tuesday, his family said. He was 81.

Campbell's family said the singer died Tuesday morning in Nashville and publicist Sandy Brokaw confirmed the news. No cause was immediately given. Campbell announced in June 2011 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and that it was in its early stages at that time.

Luther Dickinson performed for WMOT's Wired In session from 3rd and Lindsley last week. Dickinson is part of the North Mississippi Allstars, a band he and his brother Cody Dickinson founded. 

Check out Dickinson's 50-minute set filled with blues, insightful interview and extraordinary guitar playing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is opening an exhibit on the life and career of Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn in Nashville.

"Loretta Lynn: Blue Kentucky Girl" opens Aug. 25 and runs through Aug. 5, 2018.

The museum said in a news release that highlights include Lynn's original handwritten manuscript for her 1970 hit, "Coal Miner's Daughter," the microphone used at her first recording session, some of her dresses, and the sewing machine she used to make her stage clothes early in her career.

Missed our Wired In session with EmiSunshine from 3rd and Lindsley? See the entire set on our VuHaus.com channel.