History lives in NOLA music, and continues to this day. I think it was when I lived in New Orleans - I became aware of roots music and how the music informed the culture, particularly brass bands and gospel music. I suppose I was always interested in roots music, but didn’t know it. What was the first artist or album that got you into roots music? When, or how did you hear about them? Most of the music is indie, but what - really - is that anymore? I don’t play too much major label stuff, unless it’s older, heritage music. But on certain shows, I play a lot of old music - mostly themed shows. I’m very much interested in playing new bands and artists, because there are so many. How many new releases and independent artists do you play?Ī lot. I’ve also done specials on Harry Smith, American protest songs, why NOLA matters, “Psycho! PNW Garage Rock,” and Woody Guthrie’s Columbia River Songs, which spawned my new book, 26 Songs in 30 Days. There is not a better era in pop-rock-soul music. I have in-studios on occasion (lately- Margo Price, Courtney Marie Andrews, Allah Las, Easy Leaves, Drive By Truckers) and I do about 6-8 annual theme shows - Halloween, Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving folk, MLK & the Songs of Freedom, Very Vintage Christmas in Jazz and Blues, Soul Freedom (4th of July), and my most popular show, ’70s AM/FM Summer Gold, in which I play all the hits from basically 1970-1974. It takes about 4-6 hours of prep, including the social media stuff and some writing. How do you prepare for your shows? Do you have theme show? It’s an American Music show - old and new. It’s also available anytime via the KEXP streaming archive. I host a show called the Roadhouse on KEXP-FM Seattle, which airs on Wednesdays 6-9 p.m. Where do you work now and what hours, show name, etc.? I currently curate at Pickathon music festival, for the Lucky Barn (an interview/session stage) and book all the DJs on-site. I also worked at Sound Of Brazil in NYC in the mid-’90s for Larry Gold, and I volunteered and did some on-air fills at WWOZ when living in New Orleans in the mid-’90s. I did a punk rock show, then a reggae show called “Now Hear This!” I was the Special Events Coordinator (booker) too, and brought Gil Scott Heron to the remote, nearly all-white campus in 1988. Greg Vandy: I started in college at KUGS-FM in Bellingham, Washington. He obviously has good taste.īill Frater: Where and when did you start in radio and at what other stations have you worked? Then I find out he’s from the highly regarded KEXP in Seattle. I knew he was cool because I saw him at all the good shows over the week and then at Arnold’s “meat & three” Country Kitchen. I introduced myself to Greg Vandy at this year’s Americana Music Conference in Nashville, back in September.

26 Songs in 30 Days by Greg Vandy