NPR Folk Music Programs Worth Listening To
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If you’re a fan of folk music, check out this list of NPR folk music programs worth listening to. From Americana to world music, there’s something for everyone.
NPR Folk Music Programs
If you’re a fan of folk music, you’re in luck – NPR offers a wide variety of folk music programs that are sure to please. From shows that feature traditional folk music to ones that focus on contemporary artists, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few of our favorites.
Car Talk
Car Talk is a weekly radio show broadcast on NPR stations nationwide. It features two hosts, Click and Clack (aka “The Tappet Brothers”), who provide advice on car-related problems and discuss topics of interest to car owners and enthusiasts. The show is known for its humor and off-the-cuff commentary, as well as the hosts’ knack for coming up with creative solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.
If you’re a fan of folk music, you’ll definitely want to give Car Talk a listen. Click and Clack are self-proclaimed folk music aficionados, and they often feature interviews with folk musicians or play recordings of particularly good (or bad) folk songs. You never know what you’ll hear on Car Talk, but it’s sure to be entertaining!
All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered is the flagship folk music program of NPR. It’s a weekly show that features interviews, reviews and live performances from some of the biggest names in the genre, as well as up-and-coming artists.
The program is hosted by Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, two of NPR’s most experienced music journalists. All Songs Considered is a great way to stay up to date with the latest in folk music, as well as to discover new artists and albums.
Fresh Air
One of the most popular NPR folk music programs is “Fresh Air.” This show features interviews with both well-known and up-and-coming folk musicians. Host Terry Gross has a knack for getting her guests to open up and share their stories. You’re sure to hear some great music on “Fresh Air” – and learn a lot about the people who make it.
Other Folk Music Programs
NPR offers more than just Ted Radio Hour and All Songs Considered. Here are a few other folk music programs worth listening to.
A Prairie Home Companion
NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion is a weekly folk music program hosted by Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Chris Thile. The show features live musical performances, comedy sketches, and special guests.
The Thistle & Shamrock
The Thistle & Shamrock is a weekly folk music radio show hosted by Fiona Ritchie that originates on NPR station WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, and is distributed nationally by NPR. The show concentrates on Celtic music – traditional and contemporary – from across the Celtic diaspora, particularly Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Cornwall and Cape Breton Island.
Mountain Stage
Since its inception in 1983, Mountain Stage has been a showcase for the best in contemporary and traditional folk, rock, country, blues and more. The two-hour radio show is now heard on nearly 200 NPR stations across the U.S., as well as internationally on the Voice of America network.
Mountain Stage is produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and recorded before a live audience at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The program is hosted by Larry Groce, who’s also the show’s creator and executive producer.
