BLUE RIDGE MUSIC TRAILS PODCAST

The mural of Nina Simone in Tryon.

DOWN THE ROAD

BLUE RIDGE MUSIC TRAILS OF NORTH CAROLINA PODCAST

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area has launched Season 4 of the Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails podcast on WNCW-FM (88.7). This podcast highlights bluegrass and old-time music stories, performers, venues, and traditions across the mountain and foothills counties of Western North Carolina. These traditions and stories are the soul and spirit of the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina.

Coming up in Season 4, we’ll spend time with ballad singers, historic venues, musical communities, legendary instruments, and more!

The podcasts are hosted by Laura Boosinger, musician, folklorist, and storyteller; scripted by Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Program Manager, musician, and luthier Brandon Johnson; and produced by Corrie Askew and Joe Kendrick of WNCW-FM.

Episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 ran approximately three minutes. Starting with Season 3, episodes were expanded to 9 minutes to feature more content and music highlighting the musicians and stories being told. The episodes from Season 3 covered a wide range of topics including Dinner on the Grounds, the NC Musician Murals Project, the legend of Tom Dula, music camps across Western North Carolina, and more. The last two episodes of Season 3, focused on Arvil Freeman, a legendary fiddler and teacher who passed away in 2021 and celebrated David Holt, who received the North Carolina Award in 2021. Another episode explored the history of the song “The Cuckoo,” which dates from 12th Century England but gained prominence in old-time music through the recording of Clarence Ashely.

You can listen-in to the podcast every other week on WNCW-FM (88.7) at about 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday mornings (at the end of NPR’s Morning Edition). Episodes from all four seasons can be found at blueridgemusicnc.com/listenand-learn/down-the-road-podcast.