88.9 KETR is celebrating the holidays for 2021 with a collection of special programs celebrating the season from NPR and other public radio program producers. Tune in to get in the spirit of the season with these special shows.
2021 Holiday Specials:
Christmas Eve, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols (LIVE) - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols presents listeners with an opportunity to share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music. This special will be presented by one of the world’s foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Christmas Eve, 11:00 a.m. - Festivo Alt. Latino - NPR Music’s Alt.Latino presents a 2015 encore featuring songwriter/performer Gaby Moreno and her band performing tracks from her popular holiday album Posada - recorded live at the KUT studios in Austin, Texas. She was joined by special guests Gina Chavez and Chicano Zen bandleader and record producer Michael Ramos. Hosted by Felix Contreras.
Christmas Eve at Noon (and Christmas Day at 1:00 p.m.) - A World Cafe Holiday - World Cafe is celebrating 30 years by revisiting special holiday performances from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Los Lobos, Andrew Bird, The Bird and The Bee, Pink Martini, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and more. Hosted by Raina Douris, this musical gift will provide a full hour of hip holiday cheer.
Christmas Eve at 1:00 p.m. and Christmas Day at 11:00 a.m. - The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special - Celebrate the season with amazing holiday performances from The Tiny Desk Concert series including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Steve Martin, Hanson, The Polyphonic Spree and more! Hosted by NPR Music frenemies Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson.
Christmas Eve at 2:00 p.m. and Christmas Day at Noon - All Songs Considered for the Holiday Extravaganza - Bob Boilen is like a child this time of year, his eyes and ears full of wonder, as he traipses through the NPR Music offices, vigorously jingling his collection of sleigh bells. He believes, in his heart, that he's truly getting everyone in the spirit of the holiday season. But it's always a steady source of irritation for Robin so he tries to escape but ends up on a steam engine headed to the North Pole.
Christmas Eve at 3:00 p.m. - Tinsel Tales
Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m. and Christmas Day at 2:00 p.m. - Selected Shorts: Holiday Hurdles with David Sedaris - In Selected Shorts: Holiday Hurdles with David Sedaris, audiences are invited to reimagine holiday rituals. Selected Shorts’ late host and founder Isaiah Sheffer is featured as the reader of Tobias Wolff’s “Powder,” in which a pre-Christmas snowstorm provides an adventure for a father and son.
Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. and Christmas Day at 3:00 p.m. - The Thistle & Shamrock Presents 'A Child's Christmas In Wales' - Cerys Matthews is Welsh musician and patron of the Dylan Thomas Society. In this program, originally broadcast in 2015, she narrates excerpts from the Dylan Thomas holiday classic, set to music that she created and recorded with her collaborator Mason Neely. One reviewer wrote: "Dylan’s words are so deliciously descriptive to begin with, and Matthews’ lilting Welsh accent, and deep understanding of the culture illuminates them further. Her love of Dylan’s poetry shines throughout, and serves to make it accessible to a wide audience." Hosted by Fiona Ritchie.
Christmas Eve at 8:00 p.m. - A Soulful Christmas - Julie Amacher and Tesfa Wondemagegnehu host this uplifting Christmas special that features Black music and composers. A Soulful Christmas celebrates classical music by Black artists, while exploring Spirituals, Gospel Music, Jazz and other Black musical traditions.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 9:00 p.m. until Midnight - Holiday Jazz with David Basse - Fill your vicinity with festivity with holiday jazz from Jazz With David Basse. It’s just the dollop of jolly you need to swing in the holiday season.
Christmas at Midnight - Welcome Christmas!
Christmas Day at 1:00 a.m. - St. Olaf Christmas Festival - F. Melius Christiansen started the Christmas Festival in 1911 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota as a simple service in word and song for students, faculty, friends and family. In the 109 years since, it has grown to traditionally include more than 500 student musicians who share their gifts with more than 12,000 audience members at the four live concerts – tickets for which always sell out months in advance.
Christmas Day at 3:00 a.m. - An Afro Blue Christmas - Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Hear the a-cappela group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire. The joyous celebration includes one of a kind arrangements on traditional holiday songs plus new compositions…music perfect for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. Hosted by Michele Norris.
Christmas Day at 4:00 a.m. - All Is Bright - Hosted by Lynne Warfel, All Is Bright is one hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Christmas season and its symbolism. This program uses sacred choral music grouped in a way to tell the traditional Christmas story by way of songs about angels, the star, and the manger scene. Featured artists include Cambridge Singers, Cantus, and Chanticleer.
Christmas Day at 5:00 a.m. - Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square - The sounds of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square floated into many homes during the holidays in the '60s & '70s on Goodyear and Firestone albums, bringing lush renditions of favorite Christmas carols. Those warm memories and feelings come right back again in this holiday special.
Christmas Day at 6:00 a.m. - Jonathan Winters' A Christmas Carol - An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy. From NPR and KCRW.
Christmas Day at 10:00 a.m. - Christmas with Madrigalia
Christmas Day at 5:00 p.m. - Mountain Stage Holiday - Join Mountain Stage host Larry Groce for an hour filled with beautiful music to mark the season. The show features special guests Holly Cole, Joan Baez, Bruce Cockburn, Loudon Wainwright III, The Roches, Kathy Mattea and more. All performances were recorded live on the Mountain Stage.
Christmas Day at 6:00 p.m. - Jazz Piano Christmas - Join the Kennedy Center and NPR Music for this annual holiday tradition highlighting jazz pianists and their favorite seasonal music, captured live in concert with a small audience. The all- star line up includes Patrice Rushen, Gerald Clayton and Eric Reed. Felix Contreras hosts.
Christmas Day at 7:00 p.m. - Jazz Night In America: A Holiday Celebration - This holiday, Jazz Night in America will present popular jazz artists sharing their seasonal music from forthcoming holiday albums. Enjoy first-person stories and memories from the musicians and hear festive originals and new takes on classics in this special episode. Christian McBride hosts.
Christmas Day at 8:00 p.m. - A Chanticleer Christmas - This one-hour program of holiday favorites, new and old, will be presented live in concert by Chanticleer, the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices." Chanticleer is one of the premiere vocal ensembles in the nation. The ensemble has won two Grammys and is a member of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.
New Year's Eve at 8:00 p.m. - 2021 Remembered from The Current - Join The Current in honoring the life, music, and legacy of artists we lost this year with 2021 Remembered from The Current. This hour-long musical tribute is a celebration of all sounds - from indie to influential - and the perfect way for music lovers to unite in paying homage to the artists who have shaped music history.
New Year's Eve from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. on New Year's Day - Toast of the Nation - An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is the perfect audio complement for the occasion. It's festive jazz you can party to, all night long.
