I’m going to tell you about a Cool Thing.
What is this Cool Thing, you ask?
It’s a radio show in the vein of A Prairie Home Companion, put together by Lee Camp, a theology professor at Nashville’s Lipscomb University. Jeff Taylor, the musician who you may have seen playing with Michael Card, Buddy Greene, Ricky Skaggs, the Chieftains, or–if I say so myself–myself, is the band leader for the show, and told me about the concept months ago. He asked if I’d be into playing on it and I immediately said yes.
The house band is a who’s-who of great (and I mean great) Nashville players, like the aforementioned Jeff Taylor and fiddler Aubrey Haynie (the genius who played the mandolin and fiddle on Carried Along way back in 1999–remember that killer mandolin/fiddle romp at the end of “The Ninety and Nine”?). But in addition to a great band, the show featured taped interviews with authors such as Brian McLaren, plus skits that were–I know this is hard to believe–actually funny. The show was a delight. Ben and I stood in the wings listening to the rehearsal with the feeling that we were witnessing the beginning of something very special.
The show I was honored to be a part of was titled “The Appalachian Longing for Home”, and I played “Let There Be Light” and “After the Last Tear Falls.” There was also a lady named Odessa Settles who sang some goosebump-inflicting negro spirituals. It was beautiful.
Well, the first show hasn’t aired yet, but the second taping is in a couple of weeks and you might still have time to reserve a few tickets. Jamie and I will be there in the audience, and I’ll be wearing my nicer jeans and my less-wrinkled button down shirt. This is a classy affair, mind you.
Be sure and visit www.tokensshow.com to find out more about the show, and to reserve tickets for the upcoming taping. You’ll be glad you did.
Andrew Peterson is a singer-songwriter and author. Andrew has released more than ten records over the past twenty years, earning him a reputation for songs that connect with his listeners in ways equally powerful, poetic, and intimate. As an author, Andrew’s books include the four volumes of the award-winning Wingfeather Saga, released in collectible hardcover editions through Random House in 2020, and his creative memoir, Adorning the Dark, released in 2019 through B&H Publishing.
6 Comments
Chris R
For all who haven’t checked it out, you can go the music section of the Tokens website and check out AP singing “Let There Be Light”… way to not toot your own horn AP, but it is a pretty darn good version of it
Nate
A great performance of Poor Wayfaring Stranger is on there.
Nate
Your song is good, too, Andrew.
easton crow
Oh this is a rare new pleasure, one that I haven’t much confidence will be showing uip on my local Christian station. Thank heaven for the internet. Thanks for letting us know about this. it will become a regular part of my listening life.
Your Most Emphatic Fans
We initially brought up the link for “Let There Be Light” on my computer (a dinosaur of sorts) but it wouldn’t play, so my hubby brought it up on his across the room. He built the computer himself, and his brother had contributed the speakers which just-so-happen to be dinosaurs, too. Only they are Bose dinosaurs. So I’m sitting over at my desk and from across the room the most beautiful music begins to reverberate itself through our little German living room lined in acoustic floor tiles. Thank you so much for sharing what you are doing here on this blog. I know (from experience) that maintaining relationship with folks all over the world takes a lot of time and sometimes you may wonder if anyone cares about all the investments you make in this blog. I want you to know that we read them, and appreciate them. This is a beautiful rendition of “Let There Be Light” and the experience of listening to it was only second to being front and center at an AP show… I think I’ll borrow his speakers more often. Many thanks to you and Jamie for all you do!
Steve
Incredible. How do we get this quality work on the air to larger audiences?
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