Radio Heartland

02/16/2025

This week on Folk Alley, we celebrate Black History Month with a spotlight on two pillars of American blues and gospel: Memphis Minnie (pictured) and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Plus, we’ll feature favorites from Leo Kottke, Darlingside, Langhorne Slim, and a live Sam Bush performance from our exclusive Kent State Folk Festival recordings archive.

Listen to Folk Alley Radio Show on Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. Central on Radio Heartland. https://www.thecurrent.org/playlist/radio-heartland

02/16/2025

It's an encore episode of Mountain Stage Radio Show this week. First broadcast in June 2024, you'll hear live sets of music by Southern Avenue, Driftwood, Elvie Shane, Melissa Ferrick, and Jeff Plankenhorn.

Listen to Mountain Stage on Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Central on Radio Heartland. Tune in on 91.1 FM HD2 in the Twin Cities, and from anywhere, listen using The Current's free smartphone app, tell your smart speaker to play Radio Heartland, or stream here: https://www.thecurrent.org/playlist/radio-heartland

02/15/2025

Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter Mary Bue has carved a unique space within the music scene, using her art for healing, and leading her to create an innovative sound. Bue's new album releases this Sunday, Feb. 16, with an album-release show at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis.

Visit the link below to learn more about Mary Bue and to watch the music video for her song, "Right Now."

Minneapolis-based Bue’s latest album ‘The Wildness of Living & Dying,’ to be released Sunday, explores humanity, love, healing and trauma. A release party is being held at The Parkway in Minneapolis on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. with special guest Mae Simpson Duo.

02/15/2025

This week on American Routes, it's time to celebrate drummers! 🥁
We'll hear an archival interview with the late Earl Palmer talking about his creative percussion for Fats Domino and Little Richard sessions, then a live set dedicated to the soul, funk and jazz of the legendary New Orleans drummer James Black courtesy Adonis Rose and the The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra- NOJO.

Listen Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central on Radio Heartland. Tune in on 91.1 FM HD2 in the Twin Cities, and from anywhere, listen using The Current's free smartphone app, tell your smart speaker to play Radio Heartland, or stream here: https://www.thecurrent.org/playlist/radio-heartland

02/14/2025

Listen to Radio Heartland on Friday at noon Central to hear a studio session with Jeffrey Foucault, playing songs from his album, "The Universal Fire."

You can also watch and listen to the full session at the link below:

New England-based singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault and his band visit the studio to play songs from Foucault’s latest album, the songs on which were inspired by the memory of his best friend, the late Billy Conway.

02/14/2025

This week's Classic Americana pick honors the late Razzy Bailey, a singer-songwriter whose career underwent a couple false starts before he enjoyed five consecutive No. 1 hits in the early 1980s.

Listen Friday at 11 a.m. Central, and find more at the link below:

Our Classic Americana pick this week celebrates a singer-songwriter whose career was a slow starter, but once it got underway, he enjoyed five consecutive No. 1 hits.

02/13/2025

If you love fingerstyle guitar playing, don't miss this performance by northern Virginia musician Yasmin Williams, recorded live at NPR Music's Tiny Desk.

Visit the link below to watch and listen:

The fingerstyle guitarist builds worlds with her music; at the Tiny Desk, Yasmin Williams invites us into hers.

02/12/2025

This week in the Radio Heartland newsletter, we have ticket presale info for upcoming concerts by Ben Harper and Charley Crockett — plus, we'll have links where you can enter for chances to win tickets to shows by Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Greensky Bluegrass and others!

Subscribe to our newsletter by midnight Wedensday to receive this week's email early Thursday morning. Find the subscription form here, and be sure to mark the box for Radio Heartland: https://www.thecurrent.org/newsletter

02/11/2025

On this week's United States of Americana, we'll spend a little time in the winner's circle and play some of the artists from the Americana world who took home statuettes from the Grammys the other night. We'll also celebrate the 78th birthday of Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely.

Join Bill DeVille for United States of Americana, Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Central on Radio Heartland. Tune in on 91.1 FM HD2 in the Twin Cities, and from anywhere, listen using The Current's free smartphone app, tell your smart speaker to play Radio Heartland, or stream here: http://bit.ly/RdioHrtlnd

02/11/2025

Tuesday is New Member Day! Today only, new and upgraded sustaining donations are matched for a full year thanks to the MPR Member Fund. That means your donation of $10/month or $20/month will be matched to become $20/month or $40/month! Gifts of every size make a difference. Thanks to our community of members, you can hear the music you love on Radio Heartland; celebrate this amazing community by giving back. Donate today:
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02/09/2025

This week on Folk Alley Radio Show, with Valentine's Day approaching, it's a "matters of the heart" theme, featuring Buddy & Julie Miller, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, and more!

Listen Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Central on Radio Heartland. http://bit.ly/RdioHrtlnd

02/09/2025

It's an encore broadcast of Mountain Stage this week. Hear sets of music recorded live by Suzy Bogguss, plus Stephane Wrembel, Mama's Broke, Denitia, and Goldpine.

Listen Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Central on Radio Heartland. Tune in on 91.1 FM HD2 in the Twin Cities, and from anywhere, listen using The Current's free smartphone app, tell your smart speaker to play Radio Heartland, or stream here: http://bit.ly/RdioHrtlnd

02/08/2025

On American Routes, it’s New Orleans jazz clarinet in street parades and clubs. We’ll hear clarinet in the hands of New Orleans clarinet virtuoso, Evan Christopher. Then, a live cultural exchange between French Louisiana and West Africa with singer, percussionist and dancer Sidiki Conde from Guinea, and zydeco accordionist, cultural historian and sometime alligator wrangler, Bruce Sunpie Barnes.

Listen to American Routes on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central on Radio Heartland. Tune in on 91.1 FM HD2 in the Twin Cities, and from anywhere, listen using The Current's free smartphone app, tell your smart speaker to play Radio Heartland, or stream here: http://bit.ly/RdioHrtlnd

02/07/2025

After a short break, the Classic Americana feature is back! This week, we spotlight Carole King just ahead of her birthday this weekend by featuring a song from a beloved album — and that appeared in an updated duet form with King's daughter Louise Goffin in the opening credits of the beloved TV series Gilmore Girls.

Listen Friday at 11 a.m. Central, and find more at the link below:

Our Classic Americana pick this week celebrates one of the most important songwriters of our time with a song that is much-loved by fans of a certain TV series.

02/06/2025

Radio Heartland and The Current are committed to bringing you the best new music and growing our creative community. This is only possible thanks to support from people like you. Donate today — and check out our special new thank-you gifts when you do!
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02/06/2025

Singer-songwriter Chris Smither tells a story about how a custom-build from Collings Guitars that one artist rejected became a guitar he fully embraced.

It's the latest addition to The Current's Guitar Collection. Watch and listen at the link below:

Chris Smither tells a story about how a custom guitar that one person rejected became a guitar he’s embraced.