This is the final week of our 2016 summer hiatus.  The last few weeks we have dipped back 4-5 years into the archives, and on this show we only go back 1.5 years.  Episode 304 originally aired in February 2015 and featured The Gray Havens taking over the UTR controls, including picking out all the music.  Little known fact... UTR was the place for The Gray Havens' very first radio interview!  They've been a sweet …Read More »
Episode Artists:
The Gray Havens, Shane & Shane, Jenny & Tyler, Sandra McCracken, Rich Mullins, Page CXVI, Sufjan Stevens, Katie Herzig, Phil Wickham, Melanie Penn, Andrew Peterson

If there's one episode that deserves a 2nd spin each year, it's our annual audio countdown of the Top 11 Gourmet Albums of the Year.  Last year's list of critics' picks is an outstanding collection of gourmet music, and might make for a good entry point for someone just discovering the world of well-crafted indie music.  We feature songs from the latest work by The Lone Bellow, Josh Garrels, and Jon Foreman.  Who else released …Read More »
Episode Artists:
The Lone Bellow, Sufjan Stevens, Chris Taylor, Gungor, Cindy Morgan, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Josh Garrels, The Oh Hellos, The Gray Havens, Jon Foreman, Sara Groves, Andrew Peterson

I look forward to this episode each and every year... it's one of our longest-standing traditions.  This is the 6th consecutive year we have presented the Top 11 Gourmet Albums countdown.  This year was an exceptional year for "gourmet music" releases -- and maybe the first time ever that Sara Groves, Andrew Peterson, and Josh Garrels all released new studio albums in the same year.  It's really fun to do a show in a "countdown" …Read More »
Episode Artists:
The Lone Bellow, Sufjan Stevens, Chris Taylor, Gungor, Cindy Morgan, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Josh Garrels, The Oh Hellos, The Gray Havens, Jon Foreman, Sara Groves, Andrew Peterson

To be honest, this episode was not supposed to happen.  We plan out our episode themes and recording schedule weeks (sometimes months) in advance, and we had scheduled to air a Christmas rerun from our archives.  But I was swept up into the holiday spirit as I dug into some of UTR's fan-favorite artists renditions of Christmas classics.  So we put in a bit of extra work, but really excited to have a brand new …Read More »
Episode Artists:
The Oh Hellos, Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn , Sufjan Stevens, Anthony Skinner (ft Phil Keaggy), Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Scott Riggan, Michael Card, Jillian Edwards, Sleeping At Last , Julie Lee & Mike Farris, Branches, Randall Goodgame, Benjamin Dunn and Friends

Whenever we get the input of our Critics Panel, it usually results in a stellar episode.  They have worked their magic again, as they share some of the best albums to be released in the first half of 2015.  All albums by Christian songwriters released between 12/1/14 and 6/1/15 were considered.  I hadn't really "discovered" the Trent Dabbs or Riki Michele albums until this episode - and I always find some A+ music thanks to …Read More »
Episode Artists:
Seryn, The Gray Havens, Riki Michelle, Waterdeep, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Josh Garrels, Alli Rogers, Trent Dabbs, Andrew Osenga, Mat Kearney, Sara Groves, Sufjan Stevens

I'll let you in on a little secret.  I actually recorded this interview the first time I met Dave & Licia Radford in person, in March 2013.  They came to the UTR studios shortly after the release of their debut EP "Where Eyes Don't Go." Little did I know this was one of their first professional interviews AND their lunchtime concert that day was one of their first public performances as a duo.  But you …Read More »
Episode Artists:
The Gray Havens, Shane & Shane, Jenny & Tyler, Sandra McCracken, Rich Mullins, Page CXVI, Sufjan Stevens, Katie Herzig, Phil Wickham, Melanie Penn, Andrew Peterson

After a three month hiatus, it is SO good to be back with brand new episodes. In fact, there was a moment when I wondered if we would ever present another new episode of UTR.  I am so grateful for the help and support of so many, including dozens of financial backers who were first-responders to our need. I had some time to think, "What type of show should we do for our grand return to the …Read More »
Episode Artists:
Nick Flora, Green River Ordinance, Josh Garrels, Tal & Acacia, Sufjan Stevens, Tommy Sims, Christa Wells, Ben Rector, The Farewell Drifters, Hark The Herons, Brooke Waggoner, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Waterdeep

Episode Artists:
Phil Wickham, Johnny Cash, Sufjan Stevens, Page CXVI, Smalltown Poets, Alathea, Jenny & Tyler, Jill Phillips & Andy Gullahorn, Downhere, Mindy Smith, Robbie Seay Band, Jason Gray, JJ Heller

Episode Artists:
Audrey Assad, Mat Kearney, Andrew Peterson, Sufjan Stevens, Ben Rector, Ayiesha Woods & Paul Wright, Matt Wertz, David Crowder Band, Ginny Owens, House of Heroes, Buddy Miller/Julie Miller, Nick Flora

Episode Artists:
Fernando Ortega, Page CXVI, Rebekah Maddux El-Hakam, Sufjan Stevens, Jeremy Casella, Leigh Nash, Rich Mullins, Chris Rice, Steven Curtis Chapman, Ron Block, Amanda Noel, Tim Coons, The Innocence Mission, Jadon Lavik, Ginny Owens, Matthew Perryman Jones

Episode Artists:
Sufjan Stevens, Bart Millard, Randall Goodgame, Bart Millard, Crystal Lewis, Ginny Owens, Josh Garrels, Katy Bowser, The Southern Sea, Kevin Max, Ginny Owens

Episode Artists:
Griffin House, Breanna Paletta, JJ Heller, Sufjan Stevens, JJ Heller, Burlap To Cashmere, JJ Heller, Jon Troast, JJ Heller, Bebo Norman, Randy Stonehill, JJ Heller

Episode Artists:
Burlap to Cashmere, Andrew Belle, JJ Heller, Sufjan Stevens, Griffin House, Hark the Herons, Andrew Osenga, Josh Wilson, Brooke Fraser, Eric Peters, Pierce Pettis, Jon Troast, Amanda Falk

Episode Artists:
Josh Wilson, Bebo Norman, Matt Wertz, Attwater, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sleeping At Last, Sufjan Stevens, Jill Phillips & Andy Gullahorn, Bruce Cockburn, Joy Williams, Seabird, Terry Scott Taylor, Kings Kaleidoscope

Episode Artists:
Sojourn, JJ Heller, Sufjan Stevens, Mindy Smith, Kevin Max, Seabird, Randall Goodgame, Relient K, Sara Groves, Chris August, Over the Rhine, Future of Forestry

Episode Artists:
Josh Garrels, Talain Rayne, Andrew Peterson, Cindy Morgan, Tommy Sims, The Lost Dogs, JJ Heller, Sufjan Stevens, Gungor, Jenny & Tyler, Eric Peters, Switchfoot

Episode Artists:
Burlap to Cashmere, Andrew Belle, JJ Heller, Sufjan Stevens, Griffin House, Hark the Herons, Andrew Osenga, Josh Wilson, Brooke Fraser, Eric Peters, Pierce Pettis, Jon Troast, Amanda Falk

Episode Artists:
Alli Rogers, Brooke Waggoner, Sufjan Stevens, Jill Phillips & Andy Gullahorn, Josh Schicker, Mindy Smith, Eric Peters, Bebo Norman, So Elated, Jaron & Katherine Kamin, Jars of Clay, Jenny & Tyler, Ben Rector

Episode Artists:
The City Harmonic, Bradley Hathaway, Joy Whitlock, The Farewell Drifters, Jeremy Keen and The False Starts, Sufjan Stevens, The Farewell Drifters, Mindy Smith, The Farewell Drifters, Brooke Waggoner, Julie Miller, The Farewell Drifters

Episode Artists:
Trevor Morgan, Seabird, Seabird, The Spares, Seabird, Ginny Owens, Seabird, Sufjan Stevens, Lanae Hale, Out of the Grey, Caleb Chapman, Seabird