StL Bluegrass Breakdown

On air

Sundays (1) 6-8 PM Sundays (2) Noon-2 PM · (1) 6PM (2) Noon – (1) 8PM (2) 2PM · CT

TBJ · U.S

Bluegrass, Country, Gospel, Americana

About the show

Walter and Willa Volz are a beloved husband-and-wife broadcasting duo and foundational pillars of the Missouri bluegrass scene. Broadcasting live from House Springs, Missouri, the couple has been sharing their intense love for acoustic strings with the St. Louis community and beyond since 1999. Walter's radio journey originally ignited when he discovered a local college radio station spinning bluegrass four nights a week. He and Willa quickly became fast friends with the DJs, volunteering at the station before eventually stepping behind the microphones to launch their own program. For nearly 25 years, Walter and Willa defined the weekend airwaves on St. Louis's historic KDHX 88.1 FM. Seeking to bring their localized sound to a massive, worldwide audience, they successfully transitioned to global syndication networks, becoming premier hosts on prominent platforms like The Bluegrass Jamboree and Community Radio St. Louis (CRSTL.FM). Deeply embedded in the bluegrass family, they are widely celebrated by touring musicians and are regular, familiar faces at premier regional gatherings like the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival. On-Air Style & Sound A Signature Opening: In a beautiful nod to traditional bluegrass styling, Walter and Willa purposefully kick off every single broadcast with a curated a cappella vocal number, immediately followed by their hard-driving instrumental theme song: Bill Monroe’s iconic "Bluegrass Breakdown".The Homegrown Segment: Airing at the top of their second hour, the highly popular "Homegrown Segment" shines an intense, exclusive spotlight on the rich heritage of independent bluegrass pickers and songwriters emerging from Missouri and Illinois. Willie’s Favorite Picks: Willa—affectionately known on the airwaves as "Willie"—takes the reins for a specialized weekly segment showcasing her personal, hand-selected favorites from across the acoustic spectrum. Real-Time Requests: To maintain the warm, friendly energy of local community radio, the duo broadcasts live and actively encourages listeners to call into their dedicated show line to chat or submit real-time song requests. A Complete Rotation: Playlists offer a masterful, complete cross-section of the genre, effortlessly weaving together a high-energy mix of traditional bluegrass heritage, cutting-edge new chart releases, and soulful gospel music.