This fall, we’re taking the WXPN community on a musical journey through the advent of the alternative era and a heyday for singer-songwriters. Through the quirky world of modern rock, the frenetic frenzy of electronica, and the golden age of hip-hop and R&B.
We’re so excited to bring you WXPN’S 90s A – Z, a week-plus listening event showcasing an array of music from an adventurous and eclectic decade, presented alphabetically by song title. Beginning at 6 a.m. on December 1st, and ending some time the following week, the 90s A – Z will play the hits, the deep cuts, the one-hit wonders and forgotten favorites from the 1990s, across a spectrum of genres.
There are so many ways to define 90s music: in the decade itself, for example, WXPN was ground zero for the thriving singer-songwriter scene: Ben Folds and the BoDeans, Dar Williams and Duncan Shiek. You’ll hear many of those artists on the 90s A – Z, but you’ll also hear artists and songs from the 90s that WXPN has embraced in its music mix in the three decades since — No Doubt to Neutral Milk Hotel to Naughty By Nature and beyond. Think of it as a musical tour through the breadth of the 90s, through the lens of WXPN.
We’ll also present a series of events and special programming features between now and the start of the A – Z to get you excited. On November 22nd beginning at 7 p.m., XPN Morning Show host and 90s at 9 curator Kristen Kurtis will join What’s The Frequency host John Vettese for a 90s dance party at World Cafe Live. The event is free to the public but you must RSVP in advance. There will also be on-air specials and features to set the mood in the month of November — stay tuned for more on those! And get psyched for a week of fun on WXPN’s 90s A – Z.