Welcome to WUTC's monthly newsletter, bringing you station updates, upcoming events, and the occasional peek behind the mic at Chattanooga's NPR station.

Follow WUTC & Download the WUTC App!

​​​​

10/7/2025

Chattanooga is Showing Up for Public Radio. Are You In?

Every Gift Powers Local Music, Stories, and Journalism That Matters. Join the Drive Today.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of listeners like you, we’ve already raised $86,840 toward our $126,000 Fall Pledge Drive goal — 68% in just three days!

Your support is keeping local voices strong at a time when it matters most. With federal funding eliminated, it’s listener contributions that keep WUTC’s music, stories, and trusted journalism on the air.

Every dollar you give goes directly toward the programs, people, and community connections that make WUTC unique.

Give today and help close the gap, so we can finish this drive strong, together.

World of Bluegrass on WUTC

This year, the IBMA World of Bluegrass came to Chattanooga, and WUTC was proud to be the local radio partner on the ground, capturing the sound and spirit of the week.

We hosted interviews and in-studio performances from more than 25 incredible artists, including Peter Rowan, Sister Sadie, The Wood Brothers, East Nash Grass, Wyatt Ellis, and more.

It was an unforgettable week filled with music, stories, community, and plenty of late-night jams. Explore all of our bluegrass coverage and relive the highlights from World of Bluegrass on WUTC.

This Weekend:
Cave Fest 2025 at The Caverns

CaveFest returns October 11–12 for two days of music, camping, and underground adventure at The Caverns. Enjoy cave tours, late-night jams, workshops, food trucks, craft vendors, and activities for all ages. Two-day tickets are just $99 and include camping. Arrive early for the Friday Kick-Off Party. Grab your tickets here.

Highland Park Porchfest

​Highland Park Porchfest is back this Saturday, October 11, turning neighborhood porches into stages and front yards into festival grounds. This free, grassroots music event will feature 17 bands across more than a dozen porches, bringing a full day of music, community, and front-porch magic to the heart of Chattanooga. See the full schedule here.

In the lead-up to Porchfest, we’ve talked with many of this year’s performers. Listen to interviews with John Benjamin Davis, Ringo and more on WUTC.org.

The Month’s WUTC Must-Listens

The Month’s Story Highlights, Handpicked for You

• ​Chattanoogans in New York on 9/11 Remember and Reflect​​
  On this episode of Scenic Sounds, host Alex Volz shares a moving account of his experience in Lower Manhattan on the morning of the September 11th, 2001.​
• ​One-On-One With Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly​​
  ​Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly joins Ray Bassett for a wide-ranging conversation on juvenile crime, public safety, DEI laws, World of Bluegrass, and more.​
• ​At Songbirds, A Merger For Creative Education In Chattanooga​​
  Songbirds Foundation and Dynamo Studios have merged to expand creative education in Chattanooga, and we spoke with John Dooley and Kessler Cuffman about what’s next.​
• ​Alva Leigh Album Release​
  Alva Leigh joined Haley Solomon to talk about and perform songs from her new solo album Wilderness, ahead of a sold-out release show at Yellow Racket Records.​
• ​A Remembrance For Victims Of Homicide​​
  District Attorney Coty Wamp joined Scenic Roots to reflect on the National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims and a virtual memorial honoring lives lost across the state.​
• ​Interview: Peter Rowan​
  Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan talks with WUTC’s Sam Blevins about his five-decade music career and IBMA's World of Bluegrass coming to downtown Chattanooga.​

WUTC Merch is Now Online

Show your support for WUTC and grab your favorite gear. From hats and shirts to tote bags and lunch bags, every purchase helps fund quality journalism, local music, and stories that matter.

You can pick up your items at our studio or have them shipped straight to your door.

​Shop now at the WUTC Merch Store.

Mark Your Calendar

• Oct 9: North Mississippi Allstars @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
• Oct 10 & 11: CaveFest @ The Caverns
• Oct 11: Highland Park Porchfest​
• Oct 11: Rachel McIntyre Smith @ Yellow Racket Recs
• Oct 16: Flamy Grant, Randy Steele @ Barking Legs Theater
• Oct 17: Lily Seabird, Thomas Dollbaum @ Cherry St. Tavern
• Oct 17 & 18: Cohutta Song Fest​
• Oct 18: Writers Round @ The Woodshop
• Oct 18: Nick Lutsko & The 100K Band @ Barrelhouse Ballroom
• Oct 26: Chattanooga Jazz Fest @ The Choo Choo
• Oct 30: Choral Arts of Chattanooga @ Second Presbyterian Church

Thank You for Standing With WUTC

We’re so thankful for listeners like you, who care about independent journalism, local music, and the voices that make Chattanooga special. Because of your support, WUTC stays on the air and in the community. With federal funding no longer available, your support ensures we can continue delivering the stories, music, and programs that matter most.

Every gift makes a difference. By contributing to our Fall Pledge Drive, you are powering quality reporting, supporting local musicians, and amplifying the voices of Chattanooga and beyond. Your generosity keeps public radio strong, independent, and true to its mission.

Please make a gift today. Together, we can finish this drive strong and ensure that WUTC remains a trusted source of music, stories, and community for years to come.

With deep gratitude,

Your WUTC Team

​Help us continue this work by making a donation today.​

Connect to WUTC.org​

423-425-4756 | Contact Us​

​​​​

​