Radio Heartland

07/26/2025

This week on American Routes, we dip into crossover currents of country music sung by Black American performers, including Ray Charles, Ike and Tina Turner, and Fats Domino. We’ll also hear white musicians influenced by Black music: Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Dylan. Then, it’s the Baton Rouge Blues legacy, with recordings from Buddy Guy, Slim Harpo, Silas Hogan, Tabby Thomas and the late harmonica man Raful Neal. Plus a live performance from Raful Neal’s son, Kenny Neal, a mouth harp and guitar player, now the senior statesman and artist from the Baton Rouge Blues scene.

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

07/25/2025

The Twins of Franklin brought a set of beautifully sung folk-pop songs to Sociable Cider Werks for the latest event in The Current’s Happy Hours series. The local duo of Becky Shaheen and Laura Lou performed at the northeast Minneapolis cidery’s patio on Thursday, July 24.

Visit the link below to see a whole bunch of photos from the day:

The local duo of Becky Shaheen and Laura Lou performed at the northeast Minneapolis cidery’s patio on Thursday, July 24.

07/24/2025

Don't miss this spellbinding performance of "Mad Love" by Lucius, recorded around a single microphone after soundcheck at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visit the link below to watch:

Watch Lucius perform "Mad Love" onstage at the Palace TheatreSupport The Current: https://support.mpr.org/youtube or hit the Thanks buttonOn Friday, May 9, L...

07/23/2025

If you're a fan of The Last Revel and/or Dan Wilson, be sure you're subscribed to the Radio Heartland newsletter. This week's issue will have some ticket presale info for each of these artists!

If you haven't subscribed yet, be sure to do so before midnight Wednesday so you can get this week's Radio Heartland newsletter early Thursday. Visit this link to subscribe: https://www.thecurrent.org/newsletter

07/22/2025

Sunday marks the 56th anniversary of the first Moon landing by Apollo 11, sometimes known as National Moon Day. So we'll moon you with a handful of tunes. Also, one of Bob Dylan's greatest songs of all was released 60 years ago this week. We'll hear that one as well. Plus the usual dose of new tunes.

Listen to United States of Americana on Tuesday from 7 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

07/20/2025

This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes as we celebrate our favorite music of 2025 (so far)! It's a playlist you won't want to miss. Tune in for fresh tracks from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, I'm With Her, Eliza Gilkyson, Jesse Welles, Alex Cuba, Mon Rovia, Bruce Springsteen—and so much more.

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

07/20/2025

This week’s episode of Mountain Stage Radio Show was recorded on April 13th, 2025 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes The War & Treaty, Johnnyswim, and Olivia Ellen Lloyd.

Listen to Mountain Stage on Sunday starting at 10 a.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

07/19/2025

It’s summertime, and the living is easy on American Routes. We’ve got cool tunes from Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Martha and the Vandellas, and the Beach Boys to help you beat that summer heat. We’ll hear memories of Sea Breeze, NC, a historically Black resort community that was an early site of integration in the Jim Crow South… And visit with some surfers at Mission Beach, San Diego.

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

07/16/2025

Radio Heartland has your opportunity to win a pair of tickets to see Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick at Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua this Sunday, July 20.

Enter by Friday at 10;00 a.m. via the link below.

https://www.thecurrent.org/giveaways -by_truckers_and_deer_tick_at_big_top_chautauqua_in_bayfield%2C_wi_on_july_20.

07/15/2025

Looks like we made it to the halfway point of the year, a good time to look back at some of the best Americana music from 2025, so far. There's been some good stuff! We'll check out tunes from Charley Crockett's major label debut, Jason Isbell's first ever solo acoustic album, Alison Krauss and Union Station's first album in 14 years, and The War and Treaty's new gospel influenced effort, among others.

Listen to United States of Americana on Tuesday from 7 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

1: Raymond Alva for NPR, 2: Christy Bush, 3: Randee St. Nicholas, 4: Sophia Matinazad

07/15/2025

Tuesday on Radio Heartland, we’ll celebrate the birthday of the great Roger Mcguinn of The Byrds. We will also listen to some new music from The Mammals, The Accidentals, local sounds from Alan Subola and also Erik Koskinen. And we’ll have a new tune from long time partners in music, and life, Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricious.

Join Mike Pengra on Tuesday at 6 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

📷 1: Courtesy of Artist, 2: Tania Barricklo, 3: Courtesy of Artists, 4: Derek Ramirez

07/13/2025

This week on Folk Alley we’re celebrating the Father of American Folk Music, Woody Guthrie, and the many projects his daughter Nora Guthrie spearheaded over the decades to share unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics with a wider audience. Hear from Billy Bragg & Wilco, Wenzel, The Klezmatics, Jonatha Brooks, Jackson Browne, and The Dropkick Murphys; plus, a belated happy birthday to Arlo Guthrie, and more!

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