WWOZ 90.7 FM New Orleans

09/03/2025

"Born in 1829 in New Orleans, Louis Moreau Gottschalk was a child of America’s cultural crossroads. His mother, of French Creole descent, filled their home with European elegance, while his Jewish father, an English immigrant, brought a merchant’s pragmatism. New Orleans was already a crucible of sound — African drumming from Congo Square, Caribbean bamboulas, and the refined strains of French opera houses. Young Louis absorbed it all, his ear tuned to the polyphony of a nation still finding its voice. By the age of 11, he was performing Mozart and Liszt, but it was the rhythms of his hometown that would ultimately define his legacy."

Louis Moreau Gottschalk, detail from a photo by Matthew Brady, made sometime in the late 1850s–early 1860s (public domain) USATHE YEAR OF AMERICAN MUSIC Louis Moreau Gottschalk: an American virtuoso who navigated a divided nation Mark Gresham | 3 SEP 2025 Born in 1829 in New Orleans, Louis Moreau ...

09/02/2025

"Many people know that Jon Batiste comes from a storied musical family in New Orleans – his uncle Lionel Batiste was a mainstay of the Treme Brass Band, and his cousin Russell Batiste, Jr. was a celebrated jazz drummer – but Jon also comes from a family of activists. His mother’s father, David Gauthier, a leader of the Louisiana Postal Workers Union, supported the sanitation workers’ strike in 1968 that drew Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis, where King was assassinated.

Among other causes, Jon has been active in the Black Lives Matter protests, a stance his mother saw as a continuation of her father’s legacy. Her dad 'believed in standing up for what’s right,' said Katherine Batiste, 'and that kind of rolled over on me some, and I passed it on to Jon.'"

The global music star, whose hometown of New Orleans was devastated in 2005 by the hurricane and subsequent levee engineering failures, says ‘people power’ can change the world.

08/30/2025

The Worldwide Music Expo (WOMEX) was held in Manchester, England last October. These are ten of the artists that were featured at last year's event, introduced by "World Journey" host Logan Schutts. This video features performances from Orchestra Baobab (Senegal), Sahra Halgan (Somaliland/France), Amy Laurenson (Scotland), and more. Hear World Journey on WWOZ each Saturday, 4-6pm CT!

WOMEX 2025 is happening in Tampere, Finland this October. Details on this unique festival and celebration of world music at womex.com.

08/29/2025

In the months following the failure of the federal levee system in New Orleans in 2005, a group of 31 community radio stations from around the world lent a much-needed hand as WWOZ struggled to stay on the air.

WWOZ salutes this group of stations — now affectionately called the "Katrina Network" — for embodying the true spirit of community radio, as well as the notion of Guarding the Groove. The Katrina Network was commemorated on the back of the WWOZ Live Broadcast Truck for many years (pictured) as a testament to the power of community radio stations working together.

In November 2012, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Katrina Network also helped WFMU, a community radio station in Jersey City, NJ.

Learn more: wwoz.org/641441-wwoz-salutes-katrina-network

08/29/2025

Tune in to WWOZ today as our show hosts acknowledge and commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent failure of the federal levee system in New Orleans.

We'll also re-broadcast an episode of "New Orleans Calling" from 2015 at 4pm CT. 'After The Flood: An Untold Story of WWOZ' features the voices of more than 30 people who were involved at the station during the time of the flood. You can also hear it on-demand at wwoz.org/media/182806-after-flood-untold-story-wwoz.

Listen locally at 90.7 FM or from anywhere at wwoz.org.

📷 The "Treehouse" studio in Armstrong Park, home of WWOZ from October 28, 1984 to August 27, 2005, by David Stafford

08/29/2025

Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A number of events to commemorate and remember will be held across the city today and this weekend, including:

▪️The 20th Annual Katrina March & Second Line ft. Big 6 Brass Band + More
Starts August 29, 10am in the Lower 9th Ward at Galvez St. & the levee - details at wwoz.org/streets - also streaming live at katrina20.com

▪️K20: Broadmoor Then, Now, and Next
August 29, 10am-5pm at Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center (3900 General Taylor St.)

▪️Wild Tchoupitoulas & Friends Katrina 20th Anniversary
August 29, 6pm - details at wwoz.org/streets

▪️"A Reason To Stay" screenings Friday and Saturday at The Broad Theater (Friday 9pm after-party at the Broadside w/Rough Seven and Happy Talk Band) - hear the film's directors' appearance on the Kitchen Sink with the Boudin Man, AA, and Fox Duhon on our 2-week archive at wwoz.org/listen/archive/show.php?date=2025-08-27&time=10PM

▪️ Peoples Speakout on the Unfinished Business of the Katrina Recovery
Saturday, August 30 at 5pm
Front entrance to New Orleans City Hall

See more on our Community Events calendar at wwoz.org/calendar/community.

08/28/2025

Six weeks ago we shared with you that federal funding for WWOZ totalling $400,000 annually had been revoked. Today, we are thrilled and thankful to announce that we have raised $412,000 from 1,794 Guardian Angels of the Groove from around the globe!

Thank you for this incredible outpouring of generous support for our beloved WWOZ!

This crucial funding will be used for important infrastructure necessities including upkeep and maintenance for our broadcast transmitter, equipment, and internet streaming for our worldwide audience. Additional funds will be used to cover broadcast and internet music licensing fees for WWOZ which has historically been negotiated and paid for by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

You can still become a Guardian Angel of the Groove as our campaign will end at midnight this Sunday, August 31st which is the last day of our fiscal year! Join the rest of our angels at tinyurl.com/wwozguardianangel.

As we prepare to celebrate our 45th birthday it's good to remember we started off as a station with the humblest of beginnings... in a tiny beer storage room above Tipitina's. Since then, we have grown into an award-winning multimedia organization followed locally and worldwide via our radio waves, live streams, video and social media platforms. WWOZ is an international treasure and with all of us working together, we will continue to thrive and Guard the Groove!

08/27/2025

Angel Update!

We are just $10,000 away from our Guardian Angel of the Groove goal of $400,000! Help us to bridge this gap caused by the revocation of WWOZ's federal funding by supporting us at tinyurl.com/wwozguardianangel. Thank you!

08/27/2025

Southern Decadence is happening this weekend! Get all the details at southerndecadence.com.

08/26/2025

The Don "Moose" Jamison Heritage School of Music, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's signature music education program, is accepting applications for auditions! Students ages 8-18, ranging from beginner to advanced, are invited to apply. Auditions for the fall session will take place Saturday, September 6, 10am-1pm.

The Heritage School of Music offers a free, jazz-focused curriculum with courses in vocal performance, improvisation, music theory, ensemble performance, and more! Get the details and apply now at heritageschoolofmusic.com.

📷 Heritage School of Music students performing at Jazz Fest 2024 by Michael White

08/26/2025

The Krewe of O.A.K.'s 39th annual Midsummer Mardi Gras was held along Oak Street Saturday! This year's theme was "To Easy LOL." Here are a few shots from a fun evening! Mardi Gras 2026 is February 17.

📷 MJ Mastrogiovanni

08/25/2025

Since learning of the revocation of WWOZ'S federal funding of $400,000, we have received 1500 donations totaling $355,000!

These generous gifts have come from Guardian Angels of the Groove from every US state and 29 countries!

Thank you to everyone who supports WWOZ. We appreciate you!

We are getting so close! Please consider making a donation now to help us bridge this funding gap at tinyurl.com/wwozguardianangel.

We have received so many wonderful notes with these generous donations. We wanted to share a few:

"Because we need each other. Thanks OZ!" - Edward, Pittsburgh, PA

"Y'all are broadcasting from some kind of Groove Mecca. I need to make that journey! -Geoffrey, Prescott, AZ

"Best radio station in America" -Erich, San Diego, CA

"I need to have WWOZ in my life" -Nancy, Helena, MT

"Listening from Mozambique last week. I love WWOZ!" -Simon, Malmo, Sweden

"Amazing job with Festing in Place!" -Julia, Tallahassee, FL

"I've listened for years. Now it's time to Pay Up!" -Chris, NYC

Please support WWOZ with your contribution and thank you for helping us Guard the Groove!