Back Roads & Blue Highways

Saturdays, 8 pm-midnight

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The following is a news release from WVTF Public Radio:

WVTF Public Radio announced July 7 (2008) plans to add a locally-producedAmericana/acoustic music show to its Saturday night schedule.

At 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 19 (2008), WVTF will premiere “Back Roads & BlueHighways,” a four-hour music show featuring Americana and acoustic rootsmusic. Hosted by WVTF Music Director Seth Williamson, the new show willspotlight artists such as Tim O'Brien, John Hiatt, James McMurtry, SteveEarle, Reckless Kelly, Dan Tyminski, Tift Merritt, Emmylou Harris, VanMorrison, John Mellencamp, Delbert McClinton, Kathy Mattea, Rosanne Cashand Leo Kottke, to name just a few.

“The public radio audience contains quite a few listeners who are attracted to the honesty andthe emotional directness of country music, but who are alienated by whatthey perceive as the glitz and phoniness of much of the Nashville product.TheAmericana format speaks to these individuals, who value the purity andunadorned integrity of such artists as John Fogerty and Hayes Carll andLucinda Williams and Levon Helm,” said Williamson.

“It's music that springs from the American heartland, and it taps directlyinto a rich native artistic vein. This is roots music that combineselements of the blues, bluegrass, alternative country and folk.It isfurther enriched by older music from artists who, had the format existedin their day, would have been recognized as Americana artists, such asJohn Stewart, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Jim Croce, and many tracks  by The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and others,” added Williamson.

“Because most of the biggest Americana artists have been familiar guestson ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ WVTF will now have a six-hour block ofprogramming on Saturday nights that features the same roots-orientedsound,” said Williamson.

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• Staff