We celebrate two uniquely American events this November. One happens every year; the other every four years. I'm talking, of course, about Thanksgiving and Election Day, or more specifically, a presidential Election Day. The latter isn't normally "celebrated" like Thanksgiving. We don't get the day off to visit faraway family and stuff ourselves with food and drink and football. But we do get to indulge in a freedom -- perhaps even a responsibility -- for which we should be thankful.

What does this have to do with the Music Monthly? Nothing, really, except for maybe some of the uniquely American artists coming to NPT this month. When you think of independent artists (independence ... a uniquely American ideal?) the first name that comes to mind should be Ani DiFranco. She's maintained a successful independent music career for 18 years, releasing her records on her own Righteous Babe Records label and serving as in inspiration for a new generation of singer-songwriters. She's toured the world, won Grammy Awards, signed other artists to her label, and even fixed up a few old houses. Tune in on Thursday, November 14 at 11:00 p.m. to see what she can do in one of those old houses.

In 1999, Aimee Mann decided she was "Calling it Quits"  with the major label world and created her own SuperEgo Records. She's been vital ever since, and on Austin City Limits on November 15, she brings us songs from her latest release, the call-it-what-you-will @#%&*! Smilers.

Gnarls Barkley may not be independent artists in the label-sense, but Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo certainly go their own way. As does My Morning Jacket (11/1) and Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (11/8) and Johnny Cash (11/30) and George Gershwin (11/27) and those kids on From the Top at Carnegie Hall and Andy Williams .... yes, even Andy Williams, who owns his own theatre in Branson, MO and once spoke up on behalf of John Lennon.

Celebrate freedom, Thanksgiving and independence with another great month of music programming on NPT, your local independent, community-licensed television station.

*** FOR 2009 ITVS COMMUNITY CINEMA IN NASHVILLE SERIES SCHEDULE, PLEASE CLICK HERE. ***

New Nashville Independent Film Series Kicks Off With “Lioness” Oct. 22

For downloadable images, visit http://itvs.org/pressroom/photos/
For the program companion website, visit http://pbs.org/independentlens/lioness

(NASHVILLE, Tennessee) – October 8, 2008 - LIONESS, a new film by Meg McLaren and Daria Sommers that tells the story of a group of female Army support soldiers who became the first women in American history to be sent in direct ground combat, will kick off ITVS Community Cinema in Nashville on Wednesday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. (reception at 5:15) at the Downtown Nashville Public Library.

Presented in partnership with Nashville Public Television (NPT), the entire ITVS Community Cinema in Nashville series will include free screenings, receptions and panel discussions at the Library for six films through May 2009, all in advance of the films' broadcasts on NPT and PBS stations nationwide as part of the Independent Lens series. All screenings are free and open to the public, and those wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

"We are thrilled to partner with Nashville Public Library, an organization that shares our education and public service mission, to bring ITVS Community Cinema to Nashville," said Beth Curley, president and CEO of Nashville Public Television. "Just like public television, these screenings attract people from all backgrounds to learn together and share ideas about a variety of issues that affect Americans."

"Community Cinema is an excellent opportunity to meet with neighbors while learning about current events," said Donna Nicely, director of Nashville Public Library. "As Nashville's civic living room, these films will entertain but also get people talking and thinking." 

Dear NPT Viewer,

I recently finished reading songwriting icon and Nashville resident Janis Ian’s terrific autobiography Society's Child. She’s lived an amazing life of ups and downs and successes and failures, and through it all, managed to survive and sustain a 40-year career as a performing songwriter.

She’s battled domestic difficulties and health problems and weathered artistic, cultural and societal criticisms at every step of the way. She even did a little criticizing of her own when she wouldn’t toe the music industry line during the dawn of the internet music revolution. We’re proud to call her our own, and proud to bring you the NPT premiere of Janis Ian Live from Grand Center on October 30. Recorded in St. Louis in June 2008, Ian performs 15 songs from her career catalog. Interspersed throughout the special is archival footage, including footage of Leonard Bernstein introducing her at age 15 to sing her controversial hit "Society's Child," and a 1975 performance of "At Seventeen."

The 34th season of Austin City Limits the longest running music-performance show on television premieres this month on NPT, and Nashville’s signature is all over it. On October 18, ACL gives us “Lyle Lovett and Friends” with two songwriters that call Nashville home, John Hiatt and Guy Clark, and two that spend plenty of time here, Lovett and Joe Ely. Then on October 25, Jakob Dylan makes his solo debut on ACL with Nashville residents Audley Freed on guitar and Fred Eltringham on drums. EvenSoundstage has a Music City connection, with frequent visitor Jon Bon Jovi and the band encoring on Soundstage on October 3.

The San Francisco Symphony goes all-Bernstein at Carnegie Hall, Keeping Score explores the impact on American music of composer Aaron Copland and Bettye LaVette visits the Scene of the Crime on Austin City Limits.

It’s another great month of music programming on NPT.

Friday, October 3, 2008

11:00-Midnight
Soundstage: Bon Jovi: Lost Highway, The Concert.
In Soundstage's intimate studio setting, Bon Jovi delivers a high energy, rousing performance of its #1 Billboard album Lost Highway in its entirety. From a specially-built set resembling an old roadhouse, Bon Jovi brings you "(You Want To) Make a Memory," "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" and "Lost Highway" and more.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

9:00-10:00
Keeping Score” Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
Michael Tilson Thomas tells the story behind Stravinsky's revolutionary work The Rite of Spring.
10:00-11:00
Austin City Limits: R.E.M.
In its first-ever appearance on the historic AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, R.E.M was captured live during the SXSW Music Festival. Weeks before the release of its 14th studio album Accelerate, R.E.M. gave an audience of 350 a concert experience that Pitchfork Magazine called “amazing” and USA Today dubbed “a special treat.”

Sunday, October 5, 2008

9:30-10:00
From the Top at Carnegie Hall: Meeting Our Heroes.
Fourteen-year-old Travis Johnson, from Milwaukie, Oregon performs "Boppin'" by Bryan Johannson, a piece commissioned for him. Seventeen-year old marimba player Jingchen Sun gives an energetic performance of Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic's "Ultimatum I." Twelve-year-old MacKenzie Melemend, closes the episode with a performance of Prokofiev's Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 1.

Friday, October 10, 2008

11:00-Midnight
Soundstage: REO Speedwagon.
In 1971, REO Speedwagon released its first record, jump started a tour in a rented Chevy van and went on to produce 17 critically-acclaimed albums with 13 Top 40 singles (including two Billboard #1's) and sell over 40 million records. In this Soundstage special, the band performs its many hits, including "Keep On Loving You," "Take It On The Run," "Roll With The Changes," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Ridin' The Storm Out" and many more.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

9:00-10:00
Keeping Score: Copland and the American Sound.
Michael Tilson Thomas discovers how Aaron Copland created a revolution in American music.
10:00-11:00
Austin City Limits Bettye LaVette/Pinetop Perkins. HD
R&B veteran Bettye LaVette sings songs from her critically lauded album The Scene of the Crime, followed by legendary pianist Pinetop Perkins and his catalog of blues classics.

Friday, October 17, 2008

11:00-Midnight
Soundstage: Stevie Nicks, Part 1.
In her first filmed solo performance since 1987, Stevie Nicks, clad in heels and lace, boldly jumpstarts this concert with "Stand Back" and doesn’t let up. What follows is "Fall From Grace," a stunning performance of "How Still My Love," and cover of Dave Matthews Band's "Crash" interpreted through the eyes of a woman. Nicks also gives us "Sara," a song rarely performed without Fleetwood Mac, and an amazing cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll."

Saturday, October 18, 2008

10:00-11:00
Austin City Limits: Lyle Lovett & Friends: A Songwriters Special. HD
Acclaimed tunesmiths all, Lyle Lovett and his friends Guy Clark, John Hiatt and Joe Ely pool their talents for this special episode of AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.

Friday, October 24, 2008

11:00-MIdnight
Soundstage: Stevie Nicks, Part 2.
In Part Two of this theatrical evening, Steve Nicks mixes in favorites like "Landslide” "Gold Dust Woman,"  "Rhiannon" and an epic rendition of "Edge of Seventeen." Guest Vanessa Carlton joins Nicks on stage for a special duet of Bonnie Raitt's "Circle Dance," as well as "The One," a cut from Carlton’s latest album.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

10:00-11:00
Austin City Limits: Jakob Dylan/Carrie Rodriguez. HD
Wallflowers leader Jakob Dylan showcases tunes from his debut solo album, Seeing Things, followed by songwriter/violinist Carrie Rodriguez performing songs from her latest album, She Ain’t Me.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

8:00-10:00
Great Performances: Carnegie Hall Opening Night 2008. HD
Carnegie Hall’s opening night concert features the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, in an all-Bernstein program.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

11:00-Midnight
Janis Ian Live from Grand Center
Legendary Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter Janis Ian performs 15 songs from her 40-year career in this beautifully crafted concert. The program is augmented with archival footage, which includes Leonard Bernstein introducing her at age 15 to sing her controversial hit "Society's Child," and Ian's 1975 performance of her iconic lament "At Seventeen."

Friday, October 31, 2008

11:00-midnight
Soundstage: Matchbox Twenty.
Matchbox Twenty showcases selections from its latest record, Exile on Mainstream, a retrospective collection of 11 previously-released hit singles and six new songs, including the new hit "How Far We've Come." Other performances include"Long Day," "3 AM," and and "Unwell."

As always, you can check the NPT schedule at wnpt.net.

Until next month,