WEXT | Listener-supported roots and rock music from Albany, New York.

'The Latin Alternative' Celebrates Its 300th Episode and Ten Years On The Air

"I remember at the time I was looking at a radio report and suddenly saw Manu Chao getting like 20 spins a week in Albany, NY. What is this? How is this possible?!" That was 2009. WEXT was two years old. Slingerlands native Josh Norek was living in California and was Vice President of Nacional Records . When Norek phoned WEXT's Chris Wienk for answers, it sparked a conversation. What if we put together a one-off show about Latin music and play it over the Fourth of July holiday? Soon, there...

Listen: Local 518 Tumo-Kohrs

Listen: Local 518 Show 1901

firekid Live @ EXT

By Chris Wienk • Apr 20, 2016

firekid is Dillon Hodges. Dillon learned to play guitar from his neighbor. His neighbor said he couldn't teach him how to play the pop rock music in the books he brought. He said "I'm a bluegrass musician. That's what I can teach you." In Athens, AL, there isn't much call for bluegrass music, but Dillon learned. And then he went on to win a national flatpick guitar contest in Oklahoma at a festival.

Connect with firekid on Facebook here.

The Record Company at WEXT

By Chris Wienk • Apr 19, 2016

The Los Angeles trio, The Record Company came to Albany February 5th, 2016. While they were in town for a show, they stopped by to play a few songs in an acoustic setting.

Happy Anniversary Caffe Lena

By Chris Wienk • Apr 16, 2016

It’s time to celebrate Caffe Lena’s anniversary! And do it in style with a big, special concert!

May 21st | Arthur Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College
Click here for tickets and details.

We are counting down the days until the rebirth of their historic home with a major renovation. Celebrate the vibrant Caffe Lena of today with four of their current brightest shining stars.

A Conversation with Rock Legend Graham Nash

By Dave Michaels • Apr 14, 2016

"I could drop dead in the middle of this conversation." 74-year old music icon and two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Graham Nash opens up about his life from The Hollies, CSN&Y to his latest solo release, This Path Tonight.

If you want to hear the whole conversation, it's here on Soundcloud:

William Bell is Back!

By Chris Wienk • Apr 13, 2016

William Bell came on the scene with his debut single in 1961, "You Don't Miss Your Water." At 76, he's about to release his newest effort called "This Is Where I Live."

Introducing SIMO at The Hangar

By Chris Wienk • Apr 12, 2016

Friday, May 6th

The Hangar on the Hudson (click for the event page)

For some time now, you've heard us playing the track "Long May You Sail" from SIMO's album "Let Love Show The Way." We continue to introduce you to great rock music, and now we are excited to have The Hangar bring SIMO to Troy.

See a great live video below, and enter to win tickets to the show.

The Lumineers Light Up Ommegang

By Chris Wienk • Apr 7, 2016

July 30, the crowd will descend upon Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown for The Lumineers. Tickets are on sale now!

Dan Smalls Presents has given us some tickets to give away before they can be purchased. Click here to buy tickets.

The Local 518 Takes Over Tulip Fest 2016

By Chris Wienk • Apr 1, 2016

The City of Albany presents the 68th Annual Albany Tulip Festival on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 in Washington Park!

Welcome Amy Helm to the Cohoes Music Hall

By Chris Wienk • Mar 29, 2016

Guthrie/Bell Productions Presents :

Amy Helm
w/s/g Connor Kennedy and the Minstrel
The Cohoes Music Hall

Fri. April 22 , 2016

The 100 Best One-Hit Wonders

By Chris Wienk • Mar 19, 2016

So, you’re looking for the list. Here it is!

100 Best One Hit Wonders (pdf)

Thanks for making your contribution this week. You help us remain eclectic, unique and diverse. Every contribution makes such a difference. If you have yet to make that contribution, there are some great thank you gifts available at the website, or by phone at 1.800.272.6492.

Support The Music

Donate Your Vehicle

Stores From NPR Music

Kenny White On Mountain Stage

By Adam Harris • 5 hours ago

As guest host Kathy Mattea notes in her introduction of New York-based songwriter Kenny White, he is a "musician's musician." A pianist, producer, composer, arranger and renowned commercial music producer, White has played with Jonathan Edwards, Tom Jones and Judy Collins, among others. As a producer he worked on Shawn Colvin's single "I Don't Know Why" and helmed four solo CDs by Peter Wolf.

Gary Clark Jr. Shows Impressive Musical Range On 'This Land'

By Talia Schlanger & John Myers • 6 hours ago

We're thrilled to have Gary Clark Jr. on World Cafe today. Gary is a guitar prodigy from Austin who showed so much promise that the mayor held a ceremony to declare "Gary Clark Jr. Day" when he was still in high school.

First Listen: Della Mae, 'The Butcher Shoppe'

By Jewly Hight • 14 hours ago

In the thoroughly collaborative bluegrass world, where musicians continually embark on new lineups and side projects with kindred pickers in their circles, it's hardly a given that a band would last a decade — especially one with a beginning as facetious as Della Mae's. Early on in the tenure of what was once the only string band on the circuit made up entirely of women, fiddle-playing founder Kimber Ludiker was often called upon to recount the group's origin story.

More Music News

Pages

Support The Music

Donate Your Vehicle

Stores From NPR Music