Happy April, Neighbors! Springtime is here and I am here to give you some music to make those flowers look beautiful and the beaches feel great for you! We visited a new song from the legendary group Arrested Development. We played a new jam from DJ Harrison, a member of the soul-jazz-funk-hip-hop group Butcher Brown. Lastly, we played some hometown …
On Jazz Beyond Tradition, Ulysses Owens Jr. & Keanna Faircloth Explore the Past, Present and Future of the True American Artform
In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, WJCT Public Media and the Jacksonville Music Experience will debut Jazz Beyond Tradition, a six-episode limited series that explores jazz voices from the past, present and future, beginning Sunday, April 21 on both WJCT News 89.9 and the Independent 89.9 HD4. Hosted by Jacksonville-bred, Grammy-Award-winning musician and educator Ulysses Owens Jr. and award-winning radio …
Jax Music Hour Playlist | March 2
On the March 2 episode of the Jax Music Hour (Saturdays at 8PM on WJCT News 89.9 FM), we were joined by singer-songwriter Rick Colado, best known as rickoLus, whose album, These Things Happen, was released on March 1. The Jacksonville music veteran has been part of the local scene for decades and told us about the evolution of the …
The Neighborhood Playlist | February 24
Neighbors! We’re at the end of February. The time was short, but hopefully you enjoyed the playlists and the interviews. In this episode, I sat with visual artist Erin Kendrick at Jacksonville Arts and Music School (aka JAMS) and we talked about the music she listens to as well as what she’s currently creating. Enjoy the playlist below. #TOTHETOP Corinne …
Jax Music Hour Playlist | February 24
Last week on the Jax Music Hour (Saturdays at 8PM on WJCT News 89.9 FM), we spoke with Hiss Golden Messenger’s MC Taylor, who performed at the Bier Hall at Intuition Ale Works on Wednesday, February 28. The Durham singer-songwriter spoke about his songwriting and lyrics-gathering process. In addition to Hiss Golden Messenger and other artists coming through Northeast Florida …
Jax Music Hour Playlist | February 3
This week on the Jax Music Hour (Saturdays at 8PM on WJCT News 89.9 FM), we had a special treat from Geoff Rickly, lead singer of the veteran hardcore band Thursday. Rickly wrote a novel, Someone Who Isn’t Me, released last year on Rose Books, and he read a section from his book during our show on Saturday night at …
Playlist | February’s Best New Music
Featuring a few dozen new tunes from local, regional, national and international artists, our Fresh Squeeze playlist features the best new music emenanating from Northeast Florida and beyond. Handpicked by our team of contributors, there are no rules or genre restrictions; just songs we thought were worth a share. Our latest Fresh Squeeze playlist includes new music from Black Thought. The …
Jax Resident and Videographer Richard Borders Illuminated the ‘60s Rock Scene and Beyond
The world has grown a little darker with the recent passing of Richard Borders. For more than a half century, the Northeast Florida resident was a proud member (and storied survivor) of the mid-20th-century counterculture. A childhood fan of the phantasmagoric and horror films, Borders was a pioneering artist who worked in the nascent psychedelic light shows of the 1960s, …
Here’s What to Expect from The Independent 89.9 HD4, Our New Music Discovery Station
Today, WJCT Public Media and the Jacksonville Music Experience officially unveiled The Independent 89.9 HD4, our new music discovery radio station. Folks of a certain age may be wondering: What’s a radio station? Well, long before subscription music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal) made available the entirety of recorded music for a flat monthly fee, radio stations provided the connective …
Go | Jacksonville Symphony wind and string ensembles at WJCT
The Jacksonville Symphony’s 2021/2022 season is underway, and, as expected, the beloved local institution has been firing on all cylinders. From the highly approachable Symphony in 60 and pops series events to the mind-blowing musicianship on display in the symphony’s Mozart Piano Series (which kicked off with Italian virtuoso Alessio Bax and contiuned with once-in-a-generation talent Conrad Tao in late …
Playlist | Chill out and discover new music in the Electro Lounge
Start the New Year off right with a chill new playlist
Electro Lounge welcomes 2022 with a new and ultra-chill playlist. In the lounge this week, we’ve got help from classic songstress Alice Russell, with some much-needed ambience from Thievery Corporation. In between: Bliss, Blur, Molly Burch, Sneaker Pimps, JAFFA, Noiseshaper, Alessia Cara and much more. Discover new and eclectic music, and take off into the New Year with with a visit to the Electro …
Get More ‘Get Back’ | What we learned from the new Beatles documentary
If you’re a fan of The Beatles or even just a regular user of social media, you’ve probably heard the buzz around the new documentary The Beatles: Get Back. Director Peter Jackson pored over more than 60 hours of footage and exponentially more hours of audio, all of which was originally captured for Let It Be, the documentary that chronicled …
Bring the Beat Back | A brief history of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A highlight of the city's cultural calendar for 40 years
This year marks 40 years since the Jacksonville Jazz Festival first took place. And the only thing that’s changed more than the festival is the music itself. The name has changed, the dates have changed, and the location has changed––multiple times. One thing that’s never changed, though, is the festival’s status as a highlight of the cultural year in Northeast …