Radio Heartland

11/10/2025

Congratulations to the many artists heard on Radio Heartland who were nominated for Grammys: Jon Batiste, Bon Iver, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, Laufey, Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, Margo Price, Charley Crockett, I'm With Her, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, Alison Krauss, Molly Tuttle, Jesse Welles, Maggie Rose, Grace Potter, Sierra Hull, Willie Nelson, Billy Strings, Rhiannon Giddens, Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell.

The awards ceremony will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, and broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.

11/09/2025

This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for fresh new sounds from Greensky Bluegrass, Caroline Spence, Ana Egge, Anna Tivel, and Todd Snider, along with favorites from Elephant Revival, Leftover Salmon, and Hayes Carll, plus happy birthday shout-outs to Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell. We also take time to remember the Scottish folk legend Archie Fisher—and more.

Listen Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. CDT on Radio Heartland. https://www.thecurrent.org/playlist/radio-heartland3

11/09/2025

On this week’s brand-new Mountain Stage, guest host David Mayfield welcomes Minnesota-raised indie-rocker, songwriter and storyteller Craig Finn & The Band of Forgiveness, Nashville bluegrass group East Nash Grass, folk-pop singer-songwriter Deb Talan, the modern-day American roots music of Nicki Bluhm, and folk duo Two Runner to the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, W.V.

Listen to Mountain Stage on Radio Heartland on Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Central. 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

11/08/2025

This week on American Routes, we hit up Preservation Hall in the French Quarter for a potent dose of trad jazz, as bandleader and fourth-generation Creole musician Charlie Gabriel tells of his Caribbean roots, jazz funerals, and New Orleans’ hybrid rhythms. Then we head to the Lonestar state to hear the reworking of jazz into Texas swing, as played by the Quebe Sisters. The fiddling siblings tell of their sheltered upbringing outside Ft. Worth and their fiery baptism into western swing. Plus, we spin other pioneering Creoles — Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Fats Domino — and country & western greats from Bob Wills to Willie Nelson.

Listen Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT 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

11/07/2025

For this week’s Classic Americana pick, we spotlight Gram Parsons, who developed a sound he called “cosmic American music.”

Listen to Radio Heartland on Friday at 11 a.m. Central, and visit the link below for more:

For this week’s Classic Americana pick, we spotlight Gram Parsons, who developed a sound he called “cosmic American music.”

11/06/2025

The Current presents The Cactus Blossoms Monday night January 2026 residency at the Turf Club.

Follow the link below get your tickets today, Thursday, November 6, starting at 10:00 a.m. before the general on sale tomorrow. Passcode is "THECURRENT".

https://first-avenue.com/home/2026-01-the-cactus-blossoms/

11/05/2025

Donate today and get your T-shirt!
https://on.mpr.org/currentgtmd25

11/04/2025

Jeff Tweedy performs on Thursday, Nov. 6 at First Avenue. Bill DeVille will feature a few tunes from his ambitious new album ‘Twilight Override.' Plus, a brand new tune from Lucinda Williams!

Listen to United States of Americana on Tuesday from 6 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: https://www.thecurrent.org/playlist/radio-heartland

📷 Shervin Lainez

11/04/2025

Super cool T-shirts in the works!
Help support Radio Heartland with your donation: https://on.mpr.org/currentgtmd25

11/02/2025

This week on Folk Alley, enjoy songs to welcome in November from Tom Waits, Brian Henke, and The Dead Tongues, new music from Rosie Flores & The Talismen, Greensky Bluegrass, and The Mammals, along wiith favorites from Lyle Lovett, Joan Baez. Plus, we'll share some exciting news from Billy Bragg and Wilco.

Listen Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. CDT on Radio Heartland. https://www.thecurrent.org/playlist/radio-heartland3

11/01/2025

This week’s new episiode of Mountain Stage was recorded live at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia. Guest host David Mayfield welcomed two-time Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan, multi-instrumentalist Joachim Cooder, Nashville singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt, and Charleston, West Virginia's own WoodbineBand.

Listen to Radio Heartland on Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Central (remember the clocks change back to Standard Time overnight). 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

11/01/2025

It’s Halloween weekend… a time of spirit and flesh, tricks and treats. This week on American Routes, we’ll hear from Houma Indian carver and instrument-maker, Ivy Billiot, about rougarou – or werewolves – and the spirit world. Then, Bentonia bluesman Jimmy “Duck” Holmes tells us about the devil in daily life. Also, songs about murder, mayhem, and beings from beyond the stars… and beyond the grave. Plus music from Dr. John and Memphis Minnie, Hank Williams, and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

Listen Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT 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