Moondog Matinee is quintessential public radio programming.
Only on a listener-supported station would the idea of two hour-long shows produced by a gifted musician, one by a nationally celebrated poet, two by local theatre groups and several others from passionate music fans sharing songs they love not only be considered - but enthusiastically embraced - and scheduled every Saturday evening from 6 PM until 8 PM.
If you’d like to know more, each of the producers has written about their show below.
First Saturdays
6 PM: Supersonic Soul Show / Doug Cook. Every month, Doug Cook brings plenty good soul - from Memphis to Muscle Shoals, Motown to Philly, Mayfield’s Chicago to Brother Ray’s classics at NYC’s fabled red-and-black Atlantic. We highlight lost gems along with a few big hits - and more recent and current R&B stars like Sharon Jones, Leon Bridges, D’Angelo the Black Pumas and Brittany Howard. On occasion, a quick story - heard the one about Mel Brown’s tantalizing soul jazz confection, “18-pounds of Unclean Chitlins’”? Mmmm, soul good!
7 PM: The Honky Tonk Revival Hour / C.T. Martin. A mix of music from Nashville to Bakersfield, it’s an hour of classics and unique one-of-a-kind finds including vintage Country music, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, and Western Swing from days gone by. Listen in, sing along and tap your toes to these great hits!
Second Saturdays
6 PM: American Songcatcher / Nicholas Edward Williams. Tracing the roots of American music from its emigrated past to artists playing the songs forward. In each show, folk singer-songwriter Nicholas Edward Williams uncovers unique stories and lesser-known facts behind five songs, spanning from centuries ago to those carrying tradition today. Then, as folk artists have always done, Williams recreates them. From European immigrants, to songs of the South: gospel, ragtime, blues, country, and the folk music derived from it all. Hear stories of legends and the underrepresented. Here’s to the songs of old, may they live on forever.
7 PM: The Songbirds Radio Hour / Reed Caldwell. A music-and-interview show recorded in front of a live audience at the Songbirds Guitar & Pop Culture Museum in downtown Chattanooga. Each episode covers a different theme and how it intertwines with music, featuring regional and national celebrities — from authors and journalists to musicians, producers and others involved in the music industry — in a Q&A-style format, along with music from a regional or national band.
Third Saturdays
6 PM: Dante's Old South / Clifford Brooks. Dante's Old South upends negative stereotypes and highlights the diversity that makes us a people. From the same company behind The Blue Mountain Review, a journal of culture, this radio program proves laughter, art and healthy conversation food for the soul.
7 PM: Open Book / Richard Winham. Richard Winham speaks with local, regional, national, and international writers on "Open Book."
Fourth Saturdays
6 PM: Louisiana House Party / Debi Crabtree. Bon soir, mes amis! Bienvenue à la Louisiana House Party! For an hour, let’s stroll down Bourbon Street . . . soak in the sounds of Henry Butler and Big Chief Bo Dollis at the Funky Butt . . . stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the revelers at The Maple Leaf . . . recline in a pasture in Opelousas to the sound of Wayne Toups’ accordion and a thumping bass . . . and drip wet with sweat at Richard’s where the dancing pounds the ancient wood floor until the wee hours of the morning. The Louisiana House Party gives voice to the rich heritage of jazz, funk, blues, Cajun and Zydeco music that is the collective memory of Louisiana. We’re havin’ a House Party. Ya’ll invited down!
7 PM: The Line / Butch Ross. A show about connections. Musical connections. Topical connections. Connections between the present and the past. In short, connections between anything that Butch Ross decides to connect. Mostly acoustic, completely eclectic. Butch is known around town as "the dulcimer guy." He is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, live looper and producer.
For Fifth Saturdays, check our schedule for special programs.