The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour wrapped up its first season ever without in-person audiences at Off Square Books. The show, bowing to Covid-19 restrictions, put together each broadcast in-studio with host Jim Dees interviewing authors by phone and using recorded musical performances, including those by the show’s house band, the Yalobushwhackers (above).
Now, the show is adapting its annual holiday fundraiser – normally a well-attended party at Southside Gallery – to an online event, “Wish You Were Here.” The Thacker crew has assembled holiday goodie bags that are now available in exchange for donations at the show’s website, https://thackermountain.com/.
The various “Goodies” include local art, custom-made Thacker coasters, T-shirts, caps and tote bags, plus cool cocktail recipes AND an original, one-of-a-kind photo of notorious Rolling Stones front man, Mick Jagger, by renowned photographer Dick Waterman.
Memberships are $20 for students, $50 for individuals and $75 for family/partners. Memberships are good for one year.
In the meantime, the show goes on! The long-running broadcast (23 years and counting!) has announced its Winter ’20-’21 schedule of programs culled from recent broadcasts. Authors to be featured in the coming weeks include Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Bragg, acclaimed novelist Wayétu Moore, “Sean of the South” essayist, Sean Dietrich, and a Willie Morris Award for Fiction, nominee, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton.
Musical guests will include the Memphis Ukulele Band , Americana songwriter Will Kimbrough, Memphis jazz-soul guitarist Joe Restivo and gospel powerhouse Elizabeth King.
The schedule will be updated frequently on the show’s website.
The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour is broadcast every Thursday at 6 pm on WUMS (92.1 FM) in Oxford. It can be heard every Saturday, online and on the air, at 7 pm on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (90.3 FM in Oxford) and at 9 pm Saturdays on Alabama Public Radio.
Additionally, the show is heard Fridays online and on the air at 9 am on WYXR 91.7 FM Memphis and every Saturday at 3 pm (ET) on WUTC (88.1) in Chattanooga, TN.
The show will resume new studio shows, without an audience, Thursday, January 21, 2021 with author Nikki Giovanni. Other upcoming 2021 guests include acclaimed essayist Kiese Laymon, novelist Brit Bennett (above) whose latest book, The Vanishing Half, is in production as a series for HBO, and Mississippi author, Ralph Eubanks.