The Martha Bassett Show launched in 2018, is now airing weekly on 88.5 WFDD.
Every Saturday at 7 p.m., it will broadcast from a catalog which is recorded live at the Reeves Theater in Elkin, N.C.
This weekly one-hour music program combines national, regional and local artists. Known for her rich alto voice and musical breadth, Martha Bassett is one of North Carolina’s most acclaimed performing artists with 11 albums to date and countless performance credits which most recently includes the Winston-Salem Symphony.
The show’s distinctive quality is in its collaboration between guest artists, Bassett, and her band. Along with performing, musical direction, and engaging the guests in candid conversations, Martha hosts and produces the show.
Each show is a delightful collaboration in song and conversation between Martha, her band, and the guests. Past artists have included Mollie O’Brien, Presley Barker, Ben Sollee, Jonathan Byrd, Amythyst Kiah, Jim White, Elizabeth Cook, Rex McGee, Sam Baker, and Gaelynn Lea.
“When I first imagined The Martha Bassett Show it was inspired by the great radio programs that I enjoyed on WFDD as a young adult. What an honor it is to be part of WFDD’s programming and join those ranks. My entire career I have been inspired by this region and my hope now is to introduce new and diverse artists to our community by presenting something every week that combines national, regional, and local artists—rubbing shoulders, collaborating for a day, and putting on a great show,” she said.
The initial WFDD offerings will draw from the show’s 2018 season. The first 4 broadcasts will feature Jonathan Byrd, The Dan River Girls, Mollie O’Brien, Rex McGee, Jim White, Presley Barker, Sam Reider & the Human Hands, and Bruce Piephoff.
In the first year, broadcasts from the 2020 virtual season will be added a result of the ongoing pandemic. Artists on the 2020 virtual season include: Jeff Little, David Childers, Chance McCoy (Old Crow Medicine Show), Sonny Miles, Lyn Koonce, Jon Shain, Momma Molasses, Colin Allured, Matty Sheets, and world- renowned guitarist Charlie Hunter.
The Reeves Theater was crucial to the development of the show. Bassett had the idea in mind, but it wasn’t until she was approached by one of the theater owners, Debbie Carson, about presenting a regular program that it took root. And once Bassett saw the love and grandeur with which the Reeves had been restored by an incredible team of local talent, her imagination was set on fire. From the faithfully and beautifully restored marquee to the vision given to an interior destroyed by years of neglect, she knew this was a great home for what would become The Martha Bassett Show.
After two-years of planning, and with a large amount of support from the town of Elkin, underwriters, and generous grant funds, the show was launched to full houses in 2018 with the opening of the theater.
