LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lyric Theatre in Lexington’s East End is used for the “WoodSongs” weekly broadcast on Mondays. Musical artists perform for a live audience and the show airs worldwide.
Michael Johnathon is the founder of “WoodSongs” and moved to Mousie, Kentucky in 1986 to pursue his dream of being a folk singer.
“I went up and down the hollers with my guitar and banjo for two years, knocking on doors and having amazing front porch hootenannies with everybody teaching me these amazing songs,” said Johnathon. “That’s the spirit of Appalachia, that’s the spirit of folk music and I wanted that spirit on ‘WoodSongs’ and we accomplished that.”
Johnathon started “WoodSongs” in a recording studio over 20 years ago. The shows are a celebration of grassroots music.
“We could seat maybe 12 people on pillows on the floor,” said Johnathon about the recording studio. “We had one radio station that was willing to air it. We used to give it to them on a cassette tape.”
Now “WoodSongs” airs on several platforms including over 530 radio stations, the American Forces Radio Network in over 170 nations, and PBS nationwide.
The program is taped in front of a live audience and is run by volunteers.
“We are like one big family so we have had volunteers that have come from the beginning 25 years ago and then we have college interns who come in every single semester and help and everybody just loves it here,” said Melissa Morae, the show’s associate producer. “It is so welcoming, it’s so warm.”
Artists also volunteer their time to perform at “WoodSongs.” Mindy Murray played guitar and sang for the program’s 1,099th show this week. Johnathon also interviewed Murray on stage so that the audience could learn about her.
“It was so exciting because, like, I just feel like the mission of Michael and the show is just so near and dear to my heart,” said Murray.
Johnathon says that this is a production that comes from the heart.
“It is an act of love that makes ‘WoodSongs’ happen and that’s the part that I’m most proud of,” said Johnathon.
The next show will be on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6:45 p.m. “Riders in the Sky” will be performing songs from their new album. This will be the last chance to catch “WoodSongs” before the year is over. The shows will start again on Jan. 22, 2024.