1. JAN
  2. FEB
  3. MAR
  4. APR
  5. MAY
  6. JUN
  7. JUL
  8. AUG
  9. SEP
  10. OCT
  11. NOV
  12. DEC

NEW YEAR'S DAY: LISTENER REQUESTS

Join us and hear our listeners’ predictions for the upcoming year, and song picks to match — plus a few all-star dedications to boot, including Tom Waits and others. Plus we visit a local prognosticator for a professional opinion on what the upcoming year has in store.

CHRISTMAS

Here at American Routes we don’t care if you’ve been naughty or nice—we have a present for everyone. So stoke the fire and mix up a nice hot toddy as we play Santa and deliver two hours of great holiday and seasonal music. We’ll also bring you a live recording of the Zion Harmonizers, coming to carol at the studio. And don’t bother keeping the receipt—we’re sure you’ll want to hang onto this one.

RADIO DAYS GONE BY... AND AHEAD

American Routes is dedicated to radio as a medium, bringing you great vernacular music from across the landscape. We also like to hear the voices of radio’s fellow travelers like: the resonant octogenarian, hipster, and “word jazz” man, Ken Nordine up close in his Chicago studio; mystery novelist, songwriter and radio head, Kinky Friedman of Texas; St. Louis’ Antique Radio Museum — home to 10,000 old radios — and the self-proclaimed “radio addict” Jasper Giardina who collects them. That plus a present day music mix designed to glorify the past and future of radio.

DUOS

American Routes shows that two heads, voices, guitars, banjos, or horns can be better than one. Guests include the venerable Piedmont blues pair Cephas and Wiggins, and New Orleans collaborators Henry Butler and Corey Harris. We’ll also hear great singing and composing duos: Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Lester Young and Oscar Peterson, and Lennon and McCartney.

DELBERT MCCLINTON / BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO

American Routes goes from Texas roadhouses to Zydeco dancehalls with two men known for their live performances, Delbert McClinton and Buckwheat Zydeco. Harmonica player, vocalist and songwriter Delbert McClinton has gone from backing up Jimmy Reed and Howlin’ Wolf in the 1960s to top-40 success. But he never stops delivering what his fans want—sweaty, country-tinged rhythm and blues shows. Stanley Dural, Jr., better known as Buckwheat Zydeco, grew up hearing traditional accordion from his father from the very beginning, but preferred soul, funk and R&B. Now he’s known for mixing them all together for high-energy shows across southern Louisiana and the world. All this plus great music from Lightnin’ Hopkins, Emmylou Harris, Fats Domino and more.