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Local Music Shows

Volunteers make up well over half of the specialty music shows you hear each week on KSMU. In addition, our trained staff boasts a knowledge and passion for various types of music that offers a unique combination of entertainment options you won't find anywhere else. Browse our shows below for schedules, descriptions, and playlists.

The Basement:

  • Producer DJ Imperial offers a mix of club/dance, hip-hop, R & B, soul--in fact, just about anything with a danceable groove.

Beneath the Surface

  • As a self-described music enthusiast, singer/songwriter Eddie Gumucio explores the vast multi-genre world of Indie and Alternative music. From the pre-familiar to the post-obscure, hear an eclectic mix of both contemporary and past recordings. 

The Choral Tradition:

  • Randy Stewart hosts a Sunday-morning hour showcasing more than five centuries of great choral music from both the secular and liturgical traditions.

The Gold Ring:

  • Broadcast since 1982, The Gold Ring airs host Lee Worman's weekly session of traditional Celtic and British Isles music, from the pioneers of the 1920s and '30s to today's leading Celtic folk musicians.

Journey Into Jazz:

  • Randy Hamm explores the music of the great jazz artists of the 1950s and 60s, and then follows the jazz timeline through the 1970s, 80s, 90s and into the 21st Century.

Monday Jazz Excursions:

  • Sit back and enjoy great jazz each Monday night, as you may discover something new or rediscover a classic. We'll cover a wide range of artists from the up-and-coming to class jazz legends.

The Mulberry Tree:

  • Local singer-songwriter Emily Higgins hosts this weekly hour of, as she likes to say in the program's intro, "eclectic musical selections from singer-songwriters, and musicians of various folk and folk-pop genres."

Punk & Variations:

  • Host Meghan McKinney picks a hardcore genre each week, exploring old to modern music through punk, garage rock, grunge - anything with an aggressive sound.

The Roundabout:

  • Host Joe Livingston brings you along for a ride, with the dial turned to those great rock tunes that don't fit into one genre. Buckle up, 'cause it's no diverging diamond - it's the Roundabout.        

Saturday Afternoon Classical:

  • Randy Stewart hosts three hours of concert music--orchestral, chamber, solo, choral, vocal, you name it.  The emphasis is on new and recent releases, but Randy frequently digs up gems from the KSMU CD library--sometimes even vinyl!

Seldom Heard Music:

  • Hosted by  Mike Smith since 1982, Seldom Heard Music features new releases and historic recordings of Bluegrass and acoustic music, old timey tunes, and the latest information on Bluegrass events and performances in the KSMU listening area.  

Studio Live:

  • Hear songs from local musicians as they perform live from the KSMU studios. This hour-long event, held at noon one Friday out of each month, mixes conversation with performance. We'll learn more about these musicians and their love for music, as well as the music itself.

World Beat Broadcast:

  • "World beat" is a highly inclusive and eclectic musical category--it's a  mixture of Western pop and rock with world folk-music traditions.  And you'll hear plenty of both on KSMU's long-running Friday night program.  Anything with a beat is fair game, even including classic American country-and-western.