Thacker Mountain Radio to Welcome Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Jayne Anne Phillips for “Summer of Buzz” Series Kick-off

Thacker Mountain Radio Welcomes Pulitzer Prize Winner to Kick-Off “Summer of Buzz”

On May 6, 2024, when the esteemed 2024 Pulitzer Prizes were declared, the production team at Thacker Mountain Radio positioned in Oxford grabbed the scoop. The enduring music and of literature program had previously welcomed renowned author, Jayne Anne Phillips last fall, who recently received the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Phillips earned the prize for her compelling post-Civil War novel, Night Watch, drawing upon the atmosphere and life in an “insane asylum” located in West Virginia during the time.

The producers of Thacker Mountain Radio immediately slated Phillips’ November 2023 show for their summer rebroadcast series. This prelude led to things taking an interesting twist. With a closer look at their past shows, the team realized their potential to churn out a remarkable line-up for the upcoming summer. Thus, the concept of “Summer of Buzz” was conceived.

‘Summer of Buzz’ Line-Up

The next three months will witness Thacker Mountain Radio Hour presenting encore presentations of recent shows. The shows feature an eclectic mix of talents like the superstar country trio Chapel Hart, the bluesman James “Super Chikan” Johnson who fabricates guitars at home, and the heartthrob of the 1980s movies turned author, Andrew McCarthy.

The esteemed line-up also includes celebrated novelist Kaveh Akbar, popular southern essayist Sean “Sean of the South” Dietrich, fife and drum master, Sharde Thomas, bestselling mystery/thriller writer Ashley Elston, and Mississippi gospel rockers, the Staples Jr. Singers, among other significant artists.

Listeners can check out the times and schedules for all shows on the Thacker Mountain website. Weekly broadcasts on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) will also air every Saturday at 7 pm, not to mention, the on-demand platforms such as Spotify and Soundcloud.

Beyond Just Being a Radio Show

The continuity of power-packed shows, week after week, year after year, no doubt, speaks volumes about the prowess of the team behind Thacker Mountain Radio. Credit goes to the bookstore Square Books based in Oxford for booking their authors and production director with 40 years of music industry seasoning, Tim Lee for being in charge of the musical bend of the show.

The Thacker house band, the Yalobushwhackers, led by the professional guitarist Paul Tate lends the opening and closing tones to each show and often accompanies guest performers. At times, writers and musicians who have recently appeared on high-profile national shows such as NPR’s All Things Considered, or featured in prestigious publications like the New York Times, get direct entry on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour in the same week.

The radio show has carved out its niche despite operating within a fraction of the budget of large-scale competitors. It further invites new listeners and emphasizes that the show runs on grants and donations received through its website, ensuring continuous access to valuable music and literature.

During the summer, Thacker Mountain Radio plans to venture across Mississippi, visiting Clinton, the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, and the Gulf Coast in Ocean Springs for ticketed performances. All fall season shows in Oxford are free of cost and will be open to the public from September 5 through November 21.

Aligned with Mississippi’s rich heritage in music and literature, the show is optimally positioned to be a vibrant voice for these artists. On this note, they invite everyone to tune in and keep contributing to the “buzz”.