Ante Meridiem

John Darnielle thought he had a solid plan for the first half of 2020. In January, he and the members of the Mountain Goats, his band of almost 30 years, would convene at a studio not far from his home in Durham, N.C., to run through songs he'd written for their next album. A month or so later, they'd bounce between two famed studios in the Deep South, recording the meat of that album.

Who: Margo Price

Where: Outside Nashville, Tenn.

Recommendation: Family time

I have been quarantining with my husband Jeremy and our two children: Judah, age nine, and Ramona, nine-and-a-half months. The four of us are all self-isolating at our home in the middle of nowhere, just outside of Nashville.

When I heard that John Prine was dead, and would never be going to Arnold's Country Kitchen again to nab the last piece of banana cream pie; and that I'd never stand in a packed room full of old hippies and young hipsters and just plain folks and bellow out the words to "In Spite of Ourselves" as he chuckled at all of us; that I'd never meet another young songwriter who'd recently been blessed the wisdom he offered as Nashville's most generous mentor; that old friends like Bonnie Raitt would never grinningly match hi

John Prine, a wry and perceptive writer whose songs often resembled vivid short stories, died Tuesday in Nashville from complications related to COVID-19. His death was confirmed by his publicist, on behalf of his family. He was 73 years old.

"Entirely Different Stars," from Lukas Nelson's newest album, Naked Garden, is a song many people might relate to right about now. It's a fantasy about grabbing that special someone and blasting off to a less troubled planet.

Our Daily Breather is a series where we ask writers and artists to recommend one thing that's helping them get through the days of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Who: Jason Isbell

Where: Nashville, Tenn.

Recommendation: Happy People: A Year In The Taiga

Twenty seconds of hand washing. 60 to 90 percent alcohol. Six feet of distance. People worldwide have absorbed these guidelines as the coronavirus pandemic has closed its fist around the world. But humans also need to keep the spirit moving, as did Charles Dickens — who lived through a few epidemics — by taking a daily "breather" in the fresh air. Here we offer recommendations for psychic health from people who go deep into their own hearts and minds: artists and writers. Creative people have been uniquely affected by the onset of the current pandemic.

Late last summer, saxophonist Joshua Redman engaged in some light time travel: For a couple of nights, he reconvened a stellar ensemble he'd led 25 years prior, with Brad Mehldau on piano, Christian McBride on bass and Brian Blade on drums.

The Canada-bred, Nashville-based musician Billy Raffoul will perform Live From Studio A in advance of his show that night at the Rumba Cafe with Columbus musician Erin Mason!

Paste Magazine just named her one of "Ten Artists To Watch In 2020".

Based in Baltimore, her latest release "Circadian", just came out in February.

Working with veteran producer Neilson Hubbard, she also recieved help from Will Kimbrough on Guitar and Mandolin for her latest effort.

She's currently on tour, but does not have a Columbus show scheduled at this time.

She will, however, play live right here in studio A.

EmiSunshine is back in Ohio to play a show at Marathon Center For The Performing Arts in Findlay Ohio the evening of March 5th.

She will also play at Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati on Friday March 27.

Her latest release, "Family Wars" came out late last year.

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Andy Frasco to perform Live From Studio A in advance of the show that night with Big Something at Woodland's Tavern! 

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Chicago Farmer aka Cody Diehkoff to perform Live From Studio A! 

WCBE will host Christopher Paul Stelling Live From Studio A in advance of his show that night at Natalie's in Worthington.  

It's been a few years since The Grahams last visited studio A.

This time it's going to be a radio only visit.

They're getting ready to release, "Kids Like Us" on March 27th, the same day they embark on a string of shows in England.

A video of one of the tracks off that release, "Searching The Milky Way", can be heard through their website.

Tune in to hear The Grahams play live, right here on 90.5 FM WCBE Columbus, 106.3 FM Newark, online at wcbe.org and on Apple Music.

The "Cash Only" Johnny Cash tribute concert and WCBE benefit returns to Woodlands Backyard on February 28 and 29.

Ian Hummel will play with his band, The Apple Bottom Gang, and Zach Whitney will be on stage with his band, The Zach Whitney Show.

The Nashville Grammy award winners The Steeldrivers will play a few songs during the Global Village in advance of their show at the Lincoln Theatre! 

Dave Simonett the frontman for Trampled By Turtles will return to WCBE for perform Live From Studio A in advance of the show that night at Express Live with Them Coulee Boys!  

Them Coulee Boys the Folk Rock group hailing from western Wisconsin will perform Live From Studio A in advance of the sold out show that night at Express Live with Trampled By Turtles!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets for the show!

It's all waiting for you on 90.5FM Columbus, 106.3FM Newark and on line at www.wcbe.org!

Philadelphia's Celtic/Folk/ Rock outfit House Of Hamill will join us Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at Natalie's Grandview!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

It's all waiting for you on 90.5FM Columbus, 106.3FM Newark and on line at www.wcbe.org!

Marcus King has rock and roll in his bones: He comes from a family of famed guitarists in Greenville, S.C. With his raspy falsetto and guitar licks, he's been hailed as a revival of B.B. King or Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Sammy Miller And The Congregation return to WCBE to perform Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at the Rumba Cafe with Sam Muccio!  

This Columbus based act will be coming out with their new release the same day they visit studio A.

The evening of January 17 they will be at Rumba Cafe, performing at their cd release show.

Also on the bill is the Columbus based act Mungbean.

He will be returning to Studio A before the Dave Buker And The Historians 10th anniversary show at The Shrunken Head, coming up on Saturday January 18.

Also appearing at this show will be The Devil Doves, and Topher James And The Biscuettes, which is a stripped down version of Topher James And The Biscuit Brigade.

WCBE is looking forward to the return of G. Love to perform Live From Studio A in advance of the show that night at the A&R Music Bar with G. Love & Special Sauce and DJ Williams' Shots Fired!