More About BackStage Pass

About BackStage Pass

BackStage Pass features live studio performances, behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive artist interviews. In each episode, artists reveal their inspiration behind the music.

Through the conclusion of season ten in January 2020, 116 musical acts will have appeared on the program since the series debut in January 2009.

BackStage Pass is produced by WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University.

Anywhere, Anytime

All full episodes can be viewed online anytime in the free PBS app and at video.wkar.org.

Seen Across the Country

BackStage Pass is distributed by the National Educational Television Association (NETA) to public broadcasting stations across the country.

In 2018-2019, BackStage Pass episodes aired over 8,500 times on more than half of the public television stations in the U.S., with airings in top ten markets New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Wash., D.C., and Atlanta. (source: TRAC Media 10/18/2019).

Since the series debut in 2009, BackStage Pass episodes have aired on more than 72% of public broadcasting stations in the U.S., with 26,450 airings to-date. (source: TRAC Media 10/18/2019).

Award-winning

BackStage Pass has been honored with eight Broadcast Excellence Awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and six Regional Emmy® nominations from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

SEEN ON BACKSTAGE PASS 2009-2020

Season 1 - 2009-2010

MSU Professors of Jazz
MSU College of Music - H2 Quartet
Root Doctor
Big Willy
organissimo
String Doctors
Jen Sygit and Spare Change
Huckleberry Groove
Steppin' In It
Shout Sister Shout
Orquesta Ritmo
Those Delta Rhythm Kings

Season 2 - 2011

The Mickeys
Frog and the Beeftones
MSU College of Music - Voice
Thom Jayne and the Nomads
Groove Merchant
Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys
Don Middlebrook and Living Soul
The Verve Pipe

Season 3 - 2012

The Chenille Sisters
Rusty Wright Band
Seth and May
Orrick Ewing
Seeley and Baldori
The Lash
MSU College of Music - Chamber
Larry McCray
Bowery
Greg Nagy

Season 4 - 2013

Silent Lapse
Brenda Loomis Band
Sena Ehrhardt Band
John Douglas Quintet
Domestic Problems
Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys
Heather Jones and Jones'n
Home Again
Bryan Michael Fischer
Eyde Evans Hyde
Brian Lorente and the Usual Suspects
Howling Diablos

Season 5 - 2014

Elliot Street Lunatic
Mardra Thomas
Sugar Ray and the Bluetones
Mustard Plug
The Rodney Whitaker Quartet
The Hard Lessons
The Maurice Davis Quartet
Simien the Whale
Phil Denny
Big Llou and the BluesVille Review
The Lowdown Brass Band
Kevin Nichols and Blue Tuesday
Funktion

Season 6 - 2015

Harper & Midwest Kind
Hank Mowery & the Hawktones
Jim Alfredson’s Dirty Fingers
Planet D Nonet
Aguanko
Kathleen and the Bridge Street Band
Randy Gelispie Quartet
Marci Linn Band
Glenn Brown and Intergalactic Spiral
Root Doctor

Season 7 - 2016

Toronzo Cannon
Paul Keller Orchestra
Chris Canas Band
Betty Joplin
Good Cookies
Tony Monaco & The Fareed Haque Trio featuring Randy Gelispie
Donald Kinsey with the Dewaynes
George DeLancey Quartet
Thornetta Davis
Grupo Ayé

Season 8 - 2017

Joshua Davis
Mama Sol and Tha N.U.T.S.
Danielle Nicole
Off the Ledge
Stella!
Nicole New
Bobby Murray
Lowdown Brass Band
The Crane Wives
The Accidentals

Season 9 - 2018

The Go Rounds
Luke Winslow-King
The Harmaleighs
SIAS
Karen Lovely
Lil’Ed & The Blues Imperials
Sister of Your Sunshine Vapor
Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish
Jack & The Bones
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

Season 10 - 2019-2020

Mike Mains & The Branches
Paddlebots
Tishmal
Brother Elsey
Joshua Powell
Eliza Neals
Willy Tea Taylor
The Harmed Brothers
The Way Down Wanderers
Outer Vibe
Tunde Olaniran

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updated 10/23/19