Highway 309

10/26/2022

We're celebrating today's Public Radio Music Day by announcing a new yearlong series to debut in 2023:

WGLT’s Highway 309 LIVE presented by CEFCU.

WGLT’s Highway 309 LIVE presented by CEFCU will continue to champion local and new music. The series will bring artists from radio to stage to share intimate details of their life, artistic process and more.

09/20/2022

What is Highway 309? It's our eclectic music format that plays Shemekia Copeland, the Mountain Goats, Sudan Archives & Jason Isbell (among others).

Here's a Spotify playlist of some of the new music now rotating on the '309.

New music is the lifeblood of Highway 309. Here's a Spotify playlist of some of the new songs you're hearing when you travel this eclectic highway.

04/12/2022

During the Spring Fund Drive, we're asking HWY 309 listeners to help pay for the service they tell us is so unique and special. Nowhere else can they hear this mix of music that spans Blues, Folk, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, and Americana, and the best music Central IL has to offer.

As Public Media outlet, 60% of the money we use to pay for HWY 309 comes from local dollars. People just like you. How much should you give? That's up to you. The important thing is that you DO contribute to keep this Highway open..

Here's how to donate, and thanks. WCBU.org/Donate or WGLT.org/Donate

An updated roots-based format that encompasses WGLT's deep history with blues and folk while including pop, soul, gospel, Americana, and country, and seasoned with a dash of adult rock.Keep the music playing! Make a contribution today.

10/06/2021

It's free to listen to Highway 309, but it's not free to produce. Support great weekend music and our 24/7 stream with a contribution to the Fall Fund Drive.

It’s easy to give to WGLT. Choose a one-time gift or set up a monthly contribution. Thank you for your support!

07/19/2021

So much great new music added to Highway 309 lately, and Central IL artists are leading the charge. Here's a Spotify playlist of ALL "current" music added to the 309 in 2021, including just added Sarah & The Underground, Darīus H Williams, Backyard Tire Fire, Stone & Snow, John Till, Jared W Grabb and The Way Down Wanderers.

Central Illinois artists take a backseat to nobody when it comes to new music as evidenced in this Spotify playlist.

03/07/2021

Just added Rhiannon Giddens, Dropkick Murphys, Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak, Julien Baker, Robert Finley, and The Weather Station to this Spotify playlist of new music added to Highway 309.

You never know what you’ll hear traveling Highway 309 , but what you do hear ... will be good.

12/22/2020

WGLTs Highway 309 found its groove in this tumultuous year. And despite the pandemic, or in some cases because of it, the quality of music released was again stellar.

This Spotify documents the most played songs on Highway 309 in 2020. Enjoy!

WGLT Highway 309 found its groove in this tumultuous year. And despite the pandemic, or in some cases because of it, the quality of music released in 2020

12/21/2020

You’ve traveled with us during this turbulent year. To say thanks, we’d like to give you an hourlong special called HOLIDAYS ON HIGHWAY 309, hosted by Ariele Jones.

Listen at 5 p.m. Thursday or at noon Friday on 89.1 FM or stream at WGLT.org.

11/18/2020

The late WGLT Hall of Famer and longtime blues host Frank Black touched thousands of lives during his 29 years on the air. He died Sunday from COVID-related complications: https://bit.ly/FrankTribute

To honor the man known as “Delta Frank, the Blues Doctor,” we'll re-broadcast the final hour of his encore appearance during WGLT's 50th anniversary celebration. Listen at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 on 89-1 and 89-9 in Central IL, or online at WGLT.org or WCBU.org.

Listen at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, for an hourlong special dedicated to Delta Frank, our legendary blues host. Listen on 89.1 FM or stream at WGLT.org.

10/12/2020

Do you enjoy riding on Highway 309? This handcrafted stream and weekend music costs money to produce. Support Highway 309 today during our Fall Fund Drive. Give at WGLT.org/Donate or WCBU.org/Donate.

09/18/2020

Wow.

Proud to play Tyler Childers on Highway 309.

Listen here: or tell Alexa to "Stream Highway 309"

Kentucky singer-songwriter releases surprise album with a six-minute video message to his “white rural listeners”

06/26/2020

Two of the best blues albums of 2020 are from Central IL bands Hoosier Daddy (Peoria) and Mary Jo Curry Blues (Springfield). Both are part of this Spotify playlist featuring all the new music added to Highway 309 in 2020.

You never know what you’ll hear traveling Highway 309 , but what you do hear ... will be good.

06/23/2020

New music is the lifeblood of Highway 309. New cuts from Bob Mould, Lianne La Havas, Willie Nelson, Sarah Jarosz, Hatchie, Twan Mack, Hinds, Shemekia Copeland, Good Morning Bedlam, and Boom are some of the more recent "adds."

Listen to Highway 309 here: https://bit.ly/2Ves0n8

And here's a Spotify list you can follow to hear all the new music added to Highway 309 in 2020.

You never know what you’ll hear traveling Highway 309 , but what you do hear ... will be good.

04/16/2020

Over 20 million listeners tune in weekly to stations like WGLT and Highway 309 to discover, learn about, and enjoy music available only on public radio. With Public Radio Music Day on April 16, we recognize public radio’s special role in music discovery. See how stations like us are participating: https://bit.ly/339IpvG

Public Radio Music Day - Happening Near You

02/27/2020

New music of all genres is part of the secret sauce of Highway 309. Lately, we've added new music from Lucinda Williams, Nada Surf, José James, Vandoliers, Rory Block, Bombay Bicycle club, Ruby Amanfu, The Strokes, Puss n Boots, and Normal native Pokey LaFarge.

You never know what you'll hear traveling Highway 309, but know ... it will be good.

You never know what you're going to hear on Highway 309 . But know that what you hear will be good.

02/15/2020

Congrats to 's Stone & Snow for more national acclaim for "Love is a Weapon," a song we're proud to play on Highway 309

This is pretty neat! 👍🔥🤘🎶 https://inacoustic.com/winners/

01/01/2020

June 1, 2019 is when Highway 309 debuted on WGLT and WGLT.org. WCBU, Peoria Public Radio followed a couple months later.

This Spotify playlist including Brittany Howard, Vandoliers, Jade Jackson, Durand Jones & The Indications, Old Salt Union, Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, Amy LaVere and 90-some others lists the 100 most played of 2019. Looking forward to a smashing 2020.

The 100 most played songs in 2019 on Highway 309, where POP - ROCK - SOUL - BLUES - AMERICANA - GOSPEL - COUNTRY - JAZZ ( and then some ) are all in-play. Listen 24/7 @

12/30/2019

Thanks for the great support this year for Highway 309 where FOLK - ROCK - POP - GOSPEL - SOUL - COUNTRY - AMERICANA - JAZZ (and then some) are all in-play. Here's a playlist of the 100 most played songs since the 309 debuted June 1.

The 100 most played songs in 2019 on Highway 309, where POP - ROCK - SOUL - BLUES - AMERICANA - GOSPEL - COUNTRY - JAZZ ( and then some ) are all in-play. Listen 24/7 @