The Bluegrass Horizon

On air

Momdays · 7:00PM – 10:00PM · ET

WDVR/WPNJ · 89.7FM/90.7FM · Western New Jersey & Southeast Pennsylvania

Mondays 7 to 10 PM Eastern Time

About the show

Mike Wuerstle is a highly respected, veteran bluegrass broadcaster and an active performing musician rooted deeply in the Mid-Atlantic acoustic music scene. Mike's lifelong journey with music began on the piano in elementary school, but his true musical path took shape in his early 20s when he picked up the acoustic bass to pick with friends while camping at music festivals. Over the decades, his passion for jamming blossomed into a professional career, and today, he serves as the dynamic acoustic bass player and vocalist for the acclaimed Flint Hill Express Bluegrass Band. Mike channelled his immense knowledge of the genre into radio starting in 2002, spending over a decade hosting The Bluegrass Crossroads on WXLV. In 2005, he stepped behind the microphone at WDVR 89.7 FM (broadcasting across west-central New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania), where he has spent over 20 years hosting his flagship program, The Bluegrass Horizon. An active member of both the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and the Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association (AFBA), Mike serves as an official national chart reporter, feeding weekly spin data directly to the prestigious Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey. On-Air Style & Sound Where Roots Meet Wings: True to the show's poetic signature philosophy—"The place where the roots of traditional bluegrass meets the wings of newgrass"—Mike expertly curates a weekly set that spans the entire chronological horizon of the genre. The Demolition Derby: A massive, interactive highlight of the broadcast is Mike's weekly "Demolition Derby" segment, where he crashes two songs together and lets listeners vote to crown a champion track that returns to face a new challenger the following week. Live In-Studio Showcases: Leveraging his deep ties to the regional picking scene, Mike regularly features regional and touring bluegrass acts live in the WDVR studios for interviews and intimate acoustic sessions. Deep Knowledge, Light Delivery: Listeners get a masterful mix of traditional hard-driving bluegrass, contemporary hits, and progressive newgrass, all presented with Mike’s warm, approachable, and seasoned delivery.