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.
Sing of Summer Solstice
On the longest day of the year, stretch out, stay out late, hear summer songs, and remember those bygone vacations.
Turning the Wheel
Music will keep you rolling as summer flies by with songs about wheels and other things that spin and turn. Plus, commemorating The Stonewall Uprising on the last Saturday of Pride Month
Hit the Road!
Folk music travels well, so we’ll take to the highways and byways of our nation. Whether a song takes us cross country or across town, music celebrating America and Americans is en route to you this week.
Vive le France!
Folk acquires a French accent ahead of Bastille Day and samplings of musicians born on this day such as Oscar Hammerstein II, Jimmy LaFave, and Butch Hancock.
Notorious!
Famous, infamous, and mythic characters pop up in ballads galore on this week’s playlist on Lizzie Borden’s 165th birth anniversary.
Play ball!
A summertime Chicago tradition on The Midnight Special: Cubs vs. Sox! And is it hot enough for you? Listen to devilishly hot folk songs while you stand in front of the ‘fridge.
