Radio Heartland

From Minnesota Public Radio, a very cool internet service “filled with an eclectic mix of acoustic, Americana, and roots music.” This description doesn’t do the station justice, though. A one-hour playlist gives you a better idea:

9:58 Randy Weeks - Transistor Radio

9:55 Jorma Kaukonen - Late Breaking News

9:51 Louise Taylor - Cherry Tree

9:47 Rodney Crowell - Beautiful Despair

9:43 Asleep at the Wheel - You're My Sugar
9:39 Uncle Earl - Sleepy Desert

9:36 Mahalia Jackson - Down By The Riverside
9:34 John Gorka - Satellites
9:30 Taj Mahal - Mockingbird

9:26 Ryan Adams - Goodnight Rose
9:21 Abigail Washburn and The Sparrow Quartet - A Fuller Wine
9:17 Antje Duvekot - Go Now

9:14 Louis Armstrong - Old Man Mose

9:09 James Hunter - I'll Walk Away

9:04 Karen Savoca - In The Dirt

9:00 Solas - Seven Curses

Eclectic enough for ya? When I turned it on last night, there was sweet B’s elegant friend, Fred Astaire...followed, certainly for the first time in radio history, by Lyle Lovett. You’re liable to go from Frank Sinatra to Taj Mahal. Or from Leo Kottke to Billie Holiday to Gene Autry. Later yesterday, winding astonishingly out of a largely alt folk and world music set came the voice of Doris Day singing “Que Sera, Sera.” So there’s a sense of humor here, too.

The bonus on Radio Heartland is a morning show without screaming morons. This may now actually be illegal in the U.S., so listen soon, before they haul Connelly off to Guantanamo.

[Edit: Nope, it wasn’t alt folk and world music (you can check playlist archives), but it was “Que Sera Sera.” What can I tell you? I was falling asleep.]