WNCW

24/11/2025

WNCW is sad to report the death of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

The musician was known for hits like You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now.

17/11/2025

It's that time again! Time to vote for your 10 favorite WNCW releases of 2025, and help us create the Top 100 for our end-of-the-year countdown airing Monday, 12/29 from 9am to 6pm, and again on Tuesday, 12/30, with different songs.Click through to see the list of albums we have featured this year a...

15/11/2025

WNCW is sad to report the death of beloved singer/songwriter Todd Snider.

Snider was born in Portland and became well known in the roots music scene of the early 2000s, particularly for his album “East Nashville Skyline,” which helped shape the modern alternative country genre.

15/11/2025

WNCW is sad to report the death of beloved singer/songwriter Todd Snider.

Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world. Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases? Always creating rhyme and meter that immediately felt like an old friend or a favorite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humor in this crazy ride on Planet Earth.

He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker.

How do we move forward without the one who gave us countless 90 minute distractions from our impending doom? The one who always had 18 minutes to share a story. We’ll do it by carrying his stories and songs that contain messages of love, compassion, and peace with us. Today, put on one of your favorite Todd Snider records and "play it loud enough to wake up all of your neighbors or at least loud enough to always wake yourself up.” We love you Todd, sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You will always be a force of nature.

"Like A Force of Nature"

If we never get together again
Forgive me for these fools I’ve been
See if you can remember me when
I was listening to my better angels

It’s like a force of nature
Coming over me
I can’t keep myself from moving
It’s like a force of nature

May your hope always outweigh your doubt
Until this old world finally punches you out
May you always play your music
Loud enough to wake up all of your neighbors
Or may you play at least loud enough
To always wake yourself up

Todd Daniel Snider
October 11, 1966 - November 14, 2025

15/11/2025

WNCW is sad report the passing of beloved singer songwriter Todd Snider .

Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world. Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases? Always creating rhyme and meter that immediately felt like an old friend or a favorite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humor in this crazy ride on Planet Earth.

He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker.

How do we move forward without the one who gave us countless 90 minute distractions from our impending doom? The one who always had 18 minutes to share a story. We’ll do it by carrying his stories and songs that contain messages of love, compassion, and peace with us. Today, put on one of your favorite Todd Snider records and "play it loud enough to wake up all of your neighbors or at least loud enough to always wake yourself up.” We love you Todd, sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You will always be a force of nature.

"Like A Force of Nature"

If we never get together again
Forgive me for these fools I’ve been
See if you can remember me when
I was listening to my better angels

It’s like a force of nature
Coming over me
I can’t keep myself from moving
It’s like a force of nature

May your hope always outweigh your doubt
Until this old world finally punches you out
May you always play your music
Loud enough to wake up all of your neighbors
Or may you play at least loud enough
To always wake yourself up

Todd Daniel Snider
October 11, 1966 - November 14, 2025

14/11/2025

WNCW was honored to have a presence at the North Carolina Awards, which has been held in Raleigh since 1964, but for the first time was held in Western North Carolina! Governor Josh Stein held it in Asheville, to draw continued attention to restoration efforts needed in the region following Hurricane Helene. He and others were on hand to recognize Buddy Melton (formerly of Balsam Range) and Woody Platt (formerly of the Steep Canyon Rangers) as this year‘s Award recipients for Fine Arts.  The other recipients recognized were basketball coach Roy Williams for Public Service, climatologist Kathie Dello for Science, novelist Wiley Cash for Literature, and the late attorney James E. Ferguson II for Public Service. 

13/11/2025

Penny for your thoughts? The last one-cent piece was minted yesterday, ending a tradition that goes back to 1792 when President George Washington signed the Mint Act, making it our first currency produced (pictured here.) It makes cents to play some songs about them; got any? Feel free to email them to [email protected]. If we had a nickel for every song in our library about them...

11/11/2025

MerleFest announces initial lineup!
MerleFest 2026 will welcome Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, Blackberry Smoke, Molly Tuttle, Ketch Secor, Sam Bush, The Jerry Douglas Band, Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Creekers, Trey Hensley, Sister Sadie, Jake Shimabukuro, Hogslop String Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Melissa Carper, Leon Timbo & The Family Band, DUG, Scythian, Donna The Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, Amelia Day, Andy May, Banknotes, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, The InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Joe Smothers, The Knackered Ramblers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Williamson and Wayne Henderson, with additional artists to be announced in the coming weeks.

MerleFest 2026 tickets are available now at merlefest.org

10/11/2025

Sunday, November 16, 2025 | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | Asheville, NC

10/11/2025

Here's the Free Planet Radio livestream that took place Sunday, November 9th at River Guergarian's Resonating Room studio outside Weaverville! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWgvJrhJT-M Many thanks once again to all who participated and donated.

DONATE TO SUPPORT WNCW AT:https://givebutter.com/bIU4vwThank you!FOLLOW WNCW:http://wncw.org .bsky.socialhttp://facebook.com/WNCW887http://www.instagram...

10/11/2025

Join this special holiday show featuring Celtic folk songs, tunes & ballads alongside a Christmas-themed selection from Appalachia to Scotland.