Holiday Specials on Red River Radio

Airs Sunday, December 23 at 5:00 p.m. 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. 

Airs Saturday, December 22 at 8:00 p.m.  Once again on the darkest night of the year, NPR Music presents the illuminating tradition From New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine: the 32nd annual Paul Winter Solstice Celebration, featuring gospel singer Theresa Thomason, Mbira Master Chris Berry and The Paul Winter Consort with Paul McCandless, Eugene Friesen, Paul Sullivan, Eliot Wadopian, Jamey Haddad, Tim Brumfield and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ. 

Airs Saturday, December 22 at 7:00 p.m.  Everyone is invited to laissez les bons temps rouler, let the good times roll! Each holiday season, join singer-songwriter Monty Brown for A Cajun Christmas. Brown offers up spicy reminiscences from some of the bayou folk, and draws out more poignant memories from others. But mostly it's the music that tells the story. You'll find yourself two-steppin' and waltzin' to "Joyeux Noël" as swamp fiddles, accordions, and singers cook up a holiday gumbo, a delicious feast for the spirit and the ears! The program features internationally known and locally prized music-makers. Some of the songs are familiar, like "Vive le vent" ("Jingle Bells") and the traditional French "Il est né." Artists include fiddler Michael Doucet, accordionist Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold, and Harrison Fontenot. These Cajun revelers' mirth is positively infectious, and their gift, compelling. 

Airs Friday, December 21 at 9:00 p.m. An hour of rare, exclusive and fun seasonal music from deep in the heart of you-know-where...! Willie Nelson, Kelly Willis, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Asleep at the Wheel, Ruthie Foster, the Rev. Horton Heat and many more are among the featured artists in this hour-long seasonal music showcase.  There are inventive reworkings of some holiday classics, surprising originals, and exclusive live music recorded in KUT's legendary 'Studio 1A'.  Hosted by David Brown of KUT's Texas Music Matters with minimal interruption. 

Airs Thursday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m. This year's annual special Christmas broadcast from the Washington National Cathedral with the Cathedral Girls' Choir brings a unique performance of Benjamin Britten's much-loved Ceremony of Carols, marking 70 years from its first performance in England in 1942. Often performed by boys and harp, its first performance was in London with women's voices and the celebrated Welsh harpist Osian Ellis. The girls are joined by young actors from Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ, who present the biblical narrative in their own words and commentary.