WXPN Features Delta Spirit as the XPN Artist To Watch for October

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Created on Tuesday, 30 September 2008 11:36

PHILADELPHIA, PA – WXPN, the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A music and noncommercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, names Delta Spirit as its October Artist To Watch. Host Jim McGuinn will present the first of the month’s on-air segments on Wednesday, October 1 in the 4 p.m. hour.

With rollicking blues riffs, soulful, whiskey-drenched harmonies, and free-wheeling song structures, San Diego’s Delta Spirit tap into a tradition that runs much deeper down the roots of the American music tradition than the majority of their indie-rock contemporaries. Though at times reminiscent of early genre-bending outfits like The Band or The Rolling Stones, Delta Spirit’s music manages to channel these haunting sounds from rock and roll’s glory days through the group’s own sharp, modern ear. After touring with like-minded California group Cold War Kids earlier this fall, the band is positioned to expose wider audiences to a unique sound that is at once reverent to the past, and very much forward-looking. Their debut album, Ode To Sunshine, is available via Rounder Records.

“From the first listen to Delta Spirit's debut album we instantly felt that these guys made a great album,” said Bruce Warren, Assistant General Manager of Programming for WXPN. “It's filled with these super melodic yet quirky pop gems, but also sounds so refreshingly modern. The songs speak to youthfulness and love with equal parts melancholy and nostalgia and at the same time takes an optimistic look into the future.”

WXPN music director Dan Reed said, “One of the best things we've heard all year. This is a band that obviously loves to write and perform. If Ode To Sunshine is any indication, they will be around for a long time. Quite a refreshing take on the usual indie-rock touchstones.”

For more on the XPN Artists To Watch series and this month’s featured artist, visit XPN.org

The XPN Artists To Watch series reflects WXPN’s commitment to nurturing fresh, new talent and exposing listeners to the best new music. Each month, the XPN Artists To Watch series spotlights a different up-and-coming performer who has produced an album or body of work that demonstrates outstanding vision, creativity and songwriting ability. Month-long on-air promotion is combined with online features to help audiences discover each artist.

WXPN, the nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk, is the non-commercial, member-supported radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN produces World Cafe®, public radio's most popular program of popular music hosted by David Dye and syndicated by NPR, and the Peabody Award winning Kids Corner hosted by Kathy O'Connell. WXPN also produces the alternative rock service, Y-Rock On XPN as its secondary radio channel in HD that is also available online. WXPN serves the greater Philadelphia area at 88.5 FM, the Lehigh Valley at 104.9, Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, Lancaster/York at 88.7 FM, Harrisburg at 99.7 FM, and the world via online streaming at XPN.org.