Rebooted ‘Prairie Home Companion’ debuts on Charlotte area’s WFAE Oct. 15
Long-time public radio staple, “A Prairie Home Companion,” kicks off a new season with a new host and new attitude on Oct.15. Grammy Award-winning musician Chris Thile takes over as host for show creator Garrison Keillor, who will serve as executive producer and advisor.
For Thile’s first show, Jack White and Lake Street Dive will be the musical guests, along with comedian Maeve Higgins. Other guests include Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and John Hodgman on Oct.22, and Esperanza Spalding, Dawes and comedian Aparna Nancherla on Oct. 29.
Thile made his first appearance on “A Prairie Home Companion” in 1996 when he was 15, playing the mandolin. He started Nickel Creek with Sara and Sean Watkins, and released his first solo album in 1994. Thile is a MacArthur “genius” grant recipient and collaborates with many musicians in a variety of styles. He also leads acoustic quintet Punch Brothers.
This rebooted “A Prairie Home Companion” with Chris Thile looks to attract new, younger audiences but also continue to entertain longtime fans.
According to show’s website, “each of the new live shows will feature a mix of well-known and up-and-coming musicians, humor with sketch comedy and spoken word, plus an original ‘Song of the Week’ composed by Thile.”
WFAE broadcasts “A Prairie Home Companion” Saturdays at 6 p.m. with rebroadcasts Sundays at noon. The show has more than three million weekly listeners across the country.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2016, WFAE 90.7 FM is a non-profit public radio station, licensed to the University Radio Foundation Inc. and erves over 200,000 weekly listeners with an award-winning lineup of local, national and international news, and weekend entertainment programs from NPR®, American Public Media, Public Radio International and Public Radio Exchange
This story was originally published October 10, 2016 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Rebooted ‘Prairie Home Companion’ debuts on Charlotte area’s WFAE Oct. 15."