Erika Brady

by Don Thomason
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 2:38 PM CST

There is a lot of good music that falls through the stylistic cracks of the popular mainstream simply because it doesn't fit into the neat categories of pop, rock, dance, or country. If a tree falls where no radio station points a microphone, does it make a sound' Well, it roared last month at the Grammy Awards, with multiple awards going to the quadruple-platinum, radio-ignored Oh Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. Good music that doesn't fit music biz format is still good music. Someone who has done more than her share to bring bluegrass and other roots music to the attention of the public is Erika Brady, the quite recognizable co-host of WKYU-FM's Barren River Breakdown.

One of the oldest programs on Western's Public Radio, Barren River Breakdown features what Brady calls 'American music with roots' in a mix that appeals specifically to its listening area, a geographical space which has given the world Bill Monroe, John Prine, Merle Travis, New Grass Revival, the Everly Brothers, Chris Knight, Curtis Burch and Pat Haney. For two hours every Sunday afternoon (and two hours every Saturday afternoon when the Metropolitan Opera is not in season), Barren River Breakdown treats listeners to bluegrass, vintage country, Americana, and contemporary folk music, some of which is made by Kentucky artists both inside and outside of Western's Public Radio's western and central Kentucky listening area.

Brady talked with the Amplifier about the history of Barren River Breakdown, which has been on over 20 years, and the music she has featured, along with her co-hosts, since she started in 1997. Barren River Breakdown was originally intended to fill the void on Saturday afternoons when NPR's Metropolitan Opera broadcast was not in season, and WKYU wanted to do something different from its weekly classical programming. It later became sufficiently popular that a permanent Sunday spot on the programming schedule became necessary, along with the Saturdays in the Met's off season.

The first host was Jeff Esworthy, who is now hosting a nationally syndicated classical radio show. Versailles native and public radio veteran Jane Moore was the longest running Barren River Breakdown host (11 years) and was WKYU's station manager by the time Brady became host. Four months into hosting, Brady found she could not adequately produce Barren River Breakdown along with her teaching duties at Western Kentucky University. David Baxter from Somerset was brought in as Brady's co-host. By this time, Barren River Breakdown was taking a different slant from what Jane Moore programmed, which was contemporary folk, Celtic, and some bluegrass. Brady now co-hosts with Paul McCoy, a native Kentuckian who until recently was bass player with Pat Haney's band; his wife is Alexis Combs McCoy, an actress who was executive director of Public Theater of Kentucky.

With a honeyed alto and an on-air delivery that draws the listener in, Brady comes across as both cultured and down-to-earth when talking to listeners about the music and artists she's playing. The affinity Erika has for the music she plays each week is palpable to anyone tuning in. It is a passion that is shared by regular Barren River Breakdown listeners. Station manager Peter Bryant has said that listeners to BRB and the Met are similar in that each is passionate about their show.

Brady has a family background in radio and music. Her mother worked in radio from the time she was out of high school -- she worked at WRC in Washington, D. C. when the Today Show's Willard Scott was there -- and Erika got used to the surroundings. While in college in Boston, Erika had a radio show called 'Back Porch' and helped start a concert series for area blues musicians. Her father loved classical music, particularly Bach, and Erika received both appreciation for and training in the classics. She sought out traditional roots music as a way to balance her classical training, and Washington, D. C. was a great place for rhythm and blues and for bluegrass.

Barren River Breakdown has a bluegrass term in its name, but Brady pointed out that it's not exclusively a bluegrass show. She likes to play music that is a forerunner of a style or genre, keeping with the roots emphasis. The only country music that she puts on Barren River Breakdown is what she calls vintage country, primarily from the 50s and 60s. Americana and alt country are represented as well, although she tries not to let things get in a rut -- 'even Americana is starting to get a particular sound,' said Brady. She loves to play musicians from the listening area, and from other areas with strong music -- her husband is from Texas and likes to hear music from that area. Brady said that both Texas and Kentucky seem to develop a 'heartland' sound.

As for area artists, Brady is 'truly in awe of the talent and generosity' of those from the listening area. And this reporter has heard appreciation from Pat Haney and Brent Nelson Embry for what Brady has done for them individually and for area music in general with Barren River Breakdown. Brady has been recognized for her efforts in other ways, such as induction to the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame as a non-musician member.

Brady tries to keep her ears open for music from the area. 'I do try to make a special effort to hear music from musicians in the area,' said Brady, although she can't fit everyone in on her two hours per week or even hear everyone that may deserve an audience on her show.

Questions come up from time to time about syndicating Barren River Breakdown. However, Brady prefers the local focus of the show, saying it is a local show not due to lower level of talent but due to the local focus of the music. She likes that more local view and would rather not program for a larger geographical taste. Besides, Brady pointed out, programming John Prine a few counties over from Muhlenberg County has a different slant than programming him anywhere else, and one can see how Prine influenced area songwriters like Pat Haney and Chris Knight. Brady suggested that broadcasting Barren River Breakdown on the Internet would be a good way to let a larger audience hear the show.

But things seem to be working well with Barren River Breakdown as it is. 'I don't think there's any other medium that's more intimate' than radio, Brady said, and she gets more indications of that during WKYU membership drives when people ask many personal questions about the hosts. That intimacy builds on the acoustic sounds of Barren River Breakdown and the feeling listeners get of hearing something not often heard anywhere else.

Don Thomason is a freelance writer, songwriter and performing musician living in Dunbar. http://www.geocities.com/donetho

Don Thomason is a writer and musician living in Dunbar. Visit him at www.myspace.com/donthomasonmusic

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