KACU Special Christmas Week Programming
KACU will present a week of special programming to celebrate this holiday season. From comedy specials and choral performances to enlightening stories and family Christmas favorites, gather your family and friends for entertaining and enlightening programs perfect for any Christmas celebration. Whether you listen as you travel to get together or stream us live from your living room, we want to be part of your holiday festivities. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from KACU!
For a comprehensive schedule, click here.
Special Christmas Selections with Kyle McAlister
Monday through Friday at 7 pm.
Kyle McAlister, host of KACU's Night Sounds, presents a special collection of Christmas favorites with a twist. These songs are not you normal "Deck The Halls". Kyle presents holiday favorites with a twist that will have you singing along in no time.
Jonathan Winters' A Christmas Carol
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 1 pm, with an encore presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 3 pm.
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.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Monday, Dec. 23 at 9 am.
One of NPR's most popular holiday specials returns with new talent and old friends. Malian singer Abdoulaye Diabate joins The Paul Winter Consort with Paul McCandless, the Drummers of The Fores of Nature, Gospel vocalist Theresa Thomason, and the historic reassembly of the Paul Winter Sextet in the World's Largest Gothic Cathedral -- New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine. WNYC'S John Schaefer hosts this NPR holiday broadcast favorite. The Winter Solstice Celebration is a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals, when people came together during the longest night of the year to celebrate the return of the sun, as the Earth begins its rotational cycle back towards summer. Now in its 33rd year, the performance at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the world's largest cathedral, is New York's favorite holiday alternative to The Nutcracker and Radio City Christmas.
Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites
Monday, Dec. 23 at 12pm, with an encore presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 1 pm.
This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk -- these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Tinsel Tales 2
Monday, Dec. 23 at 12 pm, with an encore presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 2 pm.
NPR fills millions of homes each holiday with humor, warmth, and a host of festive voices. Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Festivo Alt. Latino
Monday, Dec. 23 at 3 pm, with an encore presentation on Friday, Dec. 27 at 10 am.
Latin American holiday traditions often reflect both indigenous and European roots with distinct characteristics that are often only similar in the language used. NPR Music's Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd take us on a Latin American holiday travelogue through the eyes and ears of four very different Latin Alternative musicians who put aside their contemporary sounds and go back to their musical and cultural roots.Latin Alternative music is at its core a cultural hybrid of tradition mixed with genres like hip hop, rock, punk and electronic dance music. Contreras and Garsd have assembled a sampling of some of the genre's most creative minds to share holiday music from four very rich Latin American cultures.
Jazz Piano Christmas XXIV
Monday, Dec. 23 at 3 pm
NPR Music brings you another great concert from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Andy Bey, Stanley Cowell, Sullivan Fortner and Michele Rosewoman perform their favorite holiday songs. Additional artists TBA.
Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 12 pm
One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 10 am, with an encore presentation on Thursday, Dec. 26 at 9 am.
Hosted by Alison Young, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival is a service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event, which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, are always gone months in advance. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians who are members of five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
A Chanticleer Christmas
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 10 am
A Chanticleer Christmas is American Public Media’s one-hour celebration of the season as told through the glorious voices of Chanticleer, the 12-voice San Francisco-based men’s choir. The program spans the globe and the centuries – from England in the 1300s to new arrangements of classic and contemporary carols.
Welcome Christmas!
Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 9 am
The best way to welcome Christmas is Welcome Christmas!, the VocalEssence holiday concert from American Public Media. This year's concert features old favorites, and some new discoveries including the world premieres of two new American carols in the annual VocalEssence/American Composers Forum Christmas carol contest. It’s an hour of joyful holiday music featuring the Minneapolis-based chorus, VocalEssence, and hosted for the fifteenth year by APM’s John Birge.Gramophone magazine called VocalEssence “excellent and vibrant.” NEA Chairman Dana Gioia named them “one of the irreplaceable music ensembles of our time.” Join us in December for holiday classics new and old, when Philip Brunelle and VocalEssence Welcome Christmas! from American Public Media.
Lucky 13
Thursday, Dec. 26 at 11 am, with an encore presentation on Friday, Dec. 27 at 12 pm.
No political rants or shutdowns here. A positive look at 2013 - The Boston Marathon bombing comeback, Broadway's Tony Awards, the Oscars, sports champions such as swimmer Diana Nyad, Comet ISON and unexpected discoveries in astronomy, Batkid's saving of San Fransico, the '72 Miami Dolphins White House visit, the rescue of the Twinkie, and many more surprises.
50th Anniversary acknowledgements including The March On Washington, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, The First American to Summit Mt. Everest.
Music by Neil Diamond, Tony winners Cyndi Lauper (Kinky Boots) and Patina Miller (Pippin), Oscar winner Mychael Danna (Life of Pi), Medal of Freedom honoree Loretta Lynn, Bill King, Tina Turner, Danny Elfman, and more.
Reclaiming the Holidays with David Freudberg
Monday, Dec. 23 at 11 am.
This special profiles people from different backgrounds who seek to get past the consumer frenzy of the December holidays, and to focus more on authentic family connection and giving charity in the spirit of the season. Interviewees include Annie Leonard, whose environmental film 'The Story of Stuff' attracted over 10 million online viewers. Our second half-hour examines the movement to carve out family downtime from our digital devices. This special is an hour-long special episode of Humankind with David Freudberg. More information on Humankind can be found at humanmedia.org.
Christmas At The Movies
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 2 pm.
The Christmas holiday is charged with nostalgia and hope, so a Christmas setting can effectively heighten the emotional power of any film. There have been many Christmas scenes in movies, and host David Garland unwraps some of the accompanying music for them. Holiday favorites such as It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street and The Bishop's Wife are included. This special is from Movies on the Radio WQXR in New York.
America’s Test Kitchen Holiday Special
Monday, Dec. 23 at 1 pm.
America's Test Kitchen holiday special will feature top kitchen gifts, wine guide, and celebrity holiday memories Kitchen Gifts. During this program, host Christopher Kimball talks to special guests about their happiest holiday memories, culinary expert Bridget Lancaster takes calls from listeners and answers their cooking questions, wine expert Stephen Muse challenges Christopher to a blind wine tasting, gadget guru Lisa McManus reviews her top ten holiday gift ideas, test cook Dan Souza uncovers the secrets to making Fallen Chocolate Cake, and Christopher takes a look at the origins of New Orleans Bourbon Bread pudding.
Christmas Crazies with Charlie Warren
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 3 pm.
It's time to douse the political winds, typhoons, and floods; and listen to some light holiday ditties, wacky Christmas classics, and quirky quips, in a fast-moving personable style. Host, Charlie Warren, presents many seldom heard and some popular tunes in a variety of styles; AC, country, folk, soft rock, Celtic, and more: The Irish Rovers, Ricky Skaggs, Jingle Cats, Cyndi Lauper, Spike Jones, Stan Freberg, Mannheim Steamroller, Mickey Rooney, Elvis, the Muppets, and some talented unknowns.
Santa’s Greatest Hits
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 11 am
Steve Jencks hosts this trip down Memory Lane featuring Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, Eartha Kitt, Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Bob Dylan, Dinah Washington, Louis Prima, Mel Torme, Mitch Miller, Tex Beneke, June Christy, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Included is a brief history of Santa Claus. The songs include: Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Santa Baby, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, The Night Before Christmas, Zat You, Santa Claus?, Ol' Santa Claus, What WIll Santa Claus Say?, The Christmas Song, Here Comes Santa Claus, A Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus, Must Be Santa, Here Comes Santa, and Ride on Santa Ride On.
The Christmas Story Through Carols Old and New
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 9 am
This hour long choral music show tells the Christmas story through a variety of carols. They range from medieval music to carols written in the last few decades. Each set focuses on a different part of the story, from the angels to Mary and the baby, the shepherds and how they spread their joyous message.
The Fireside Afterglow
Thursday, Dec. 26 at 11 am, with an encore presentation on Friday, Dec. 27 at 9 am.
"The Fireside Afterglow" provides a laid back seasonal theme, featuring music that evokes love, reflection, and peace and the warm moods of winter--a sort of secular musical Yule-log offering. Performers include Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Bill Evans, Norah Jones, and Louis Armstrong, doing songs such as "Violets for Your Furs," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," "Peace," and "Snowbound." Perfect for any time in December, and especially for the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Life in 2013
Friday, Dec. 27 at 12 pm.
Robots that fight fires, cars that drive themselves, clothes that prevent illness the stuff of science fiction novels? Or, are they closer than we think?
Life in 2030, a one-hour special from The Engineers of the New Millennium, explores the latest advances in science and technology to give listeners a glimpse of what life may be like in the not-too-distant future.