String Fever

On air

Schedule details coming soon.

ST · NY

Bluegrass

About the show

Barb Heller is a monumental pillar of the New York acoustic roots scene and a nationally recognized public radio personality. Based in Canton, New York, Barb has been an on-air staple for North Country Public Radio (NCPR) since 1989. Her elite reputation for music curation extends across the country, having also served for over a decade as a prominent host on NPR’s premier national acoustic channel, Folk Alley. Barb's signature program, String Fever, has served as the premier voice for bluegrass and acoustic music in the North Country for decades. When she is not behind the studio console, Barb is an incredibly talented, professional fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter with five studio albums to her credit. She frequently tours, hosts family sing-alongs, and collaborates with acclaimed traditional artists, including performing as an engaging musical duo alongside award-winning regional fiddler Gretchen Koehler. On-Air Style & Sound Nearly-As-Good-As-A-Live-Gig: Driven by her signature broadcasting philosophy, Barb structures her two-hour weekly Thursday block to mirror the infectious, high-energy environment of a live bluegrass festival or café. Studio Gathering Spot: Barb actively opens her microphone to the picking community, regularly welcoming live soloists, traveling bands, and local co-hosts into the NCPR studios for intimate, live acoustic sessions. Genre-Bending Specials: Barb delights in breaking formatting molds to surprise her audience, famously hosting hybrid "Bluegrass and Punk" music mashups to showcase the wild, high-energy storytelling commonalities between the two genres. The Regional Calendar: The show serves as a critical cultural lifeline for New York music fans, featuring comprehensive on-air updates regarding upcoming bluegrass concerts, picking workshops, and community events across the region.