Saturdays at 9:00 pm
Unique weekly series featuring songs, silliness, and show tunes
Original and offbeat, this three-hour Saturday night romp presents fresh new singer-songwriters alongside well-known artists who have played at Chicago area clubs, concert venues, festivals, and on the comedy scene. Inclusive, high-energy, and always entertaining, The Midnight Special offers listeners a lively potpourri of folk songs, ballads and blues, showtunes, spoken word, and hilarious novelty routines. Escape into the stories, experience the emotions, and let loose with a good guffaw whenever you tune in. Get onboard here, on wfmt.com, or use the WFMT app. The Midnight Special first aired in 1953 with Mike Nichols as host. View The Midnight Special archived playlists.
You might also be interested in WFMT's weekly series Folkstage featuring a one-hour folk concert.
The Midnight Special is available for free streaming in two different ways – live during the broadcast and on demand via the rights-compliant 5-hour, non-interactive player below within two weeks of the broadcast.
Thanks to the teachers!
School’s out for the summer, but it’s not too late for story songs about teachers and what we owe them.
Summer picnics and hats off to Dad
A Father’s Day and solstice outing and a look back at the influence of Illinois legend Burl Ives.
United in Pride
Remembering Stonewall and the late Dave Van Ronk, activist anchor of the Greenwich Village folk revival.
Rev up for a folky Fourth of July
A look at America – and our love affair with cars – through contemporary and traditional folk songs.
