Arts and Culture

House Concerts: An Intimate Way to Enjoy Live Music

Imagine attending a concert in the comfort of your home surrounded by dozens of friends both old and new. That’s what it’s like hosting a house concert. This tradition has been around for decades and is a popular way to enjoy music in an intimate setting.

Bruised Fruit? Wilted Greens? Don’t Toss Just Yet

Saturday is Earth Day, and if you’re looking to turn over a new leaf, one place to start is in the kitchen. Each year, Americans toss out 133 billion pounds of food, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The number one wasted food category? Fresh produce.

Arc Stories: March 2017 Edition

Four stories, each recorded throughout Birmingham at different Arc Stories events. A young boy thinks he’s figured out the secret to never having to wrestle with the regret; a young man’s attempts to rise above the legacy left by his father; a new husband forced into a precarious situation because of the incompetence of others, and […]

A Murder in Rural Alabama? S-Town Podcast is on the Case

The creators of This American Life and the popular murder-mystery podcast Serial released a third season today. This one’s called S-Town, and it’s set right here in Alabama. WBHM’s Gigi Douban got a preview of the first two episodes, and S-Town host Brian Reed tells her his reporting revealed some painful truths about life in […]

TEDx Birmingham 2017: Possibility

This year's theme was “Possibility”. Each speaker challenged the status quo and looked for better ways to impact Birmingham and the world. Program Director Michael Krall attended and spoke about his experience with Andrew Yeager.

The Pizitz Then and Now

In its prime, you would run into almost anyone from any side of town in Pizitz. The same was true of my lunchtime stroll – then and now, a place to be.

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A TV Meteorologist Like No Other

Weld reporter Cody Owens discusses his story on Birmingham TV meteorologist James Spann. Spann has amassed a notable social media presence and personal brand turning him into something of a celebrity.

One African-American’s Mission to Preserve His Family’s Rural History

Albert “Peter” Datcher Jr. has been tracing his family history -- from slavery to farming -- in a small, rural, predominately white town in Shelby County, Alabama for the past 15 years. He wants to be sure people recognize African-American contributions to the region.

Arc Stories: February 2017 Edition

Stories about growing up during the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham. A young black boy who lives in the basement of a wealthy white family’s home and then becomes a key player during the civil rights movement; a young woman who was arrested by Bull Conner, then driven in his car to be dropped off […]

Living History: A Freedom Rider Shares His Story

The “Freedom Riders” were civil rights activists, black and white, who challenged segregation by riding buses across the South. In 1961 near Anniston, a mob slashed one of those buses’ tires, set it on fire, and beat some of the passengers. Freedom Rider Hank Thomas was one of them.

The Green Book and the Black-Jewish Relationship During Segregation

The Green Book has been described as the Bible for black travelers in the mid-20th century. It featured black-friendly businesses like motels and restaurants where travelers could rest on long road trips. The book’s publisher actually took the idea from a similar book used by Jews.

She Brought Water to the Freedom Riders: “I Couldn’t Let It Pass”

There’s a new national monument to the “Freedom Riders, the civil rights activists – black and white – who challenged segregation by riding buses across the South. In 1961, a mob set one of those buses on fire and beat some of the riders. But there’s a lesser-known wrinkle to the story: a little white girl, whose family feared the Ku Klux Klan, brought water to the injured passengers.

Black History Month Specials on WBHM

In honor of Black History Month, WBHM presents four documentaries highlighting America’s racial past and the long, dramatic struggle for civil rights.  Also, jazz with significant commentary on the African-American struggle, and a special themed Arc Stories featuring stories about growing up during the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham Say it Loud: Great Speeches on […]

Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Carlos Conducts Copland

WBHM's Michael Krall talks with Carlos Izcaray about this weekend's upcoming Masterworks concert.

Noise Music and Birmingham’s Growing Local Music Scene

When it comes to live, local music, Birmingham is still in it's infancy. From The Spring Street Firehouse, Saturn and WorkPlay have emerged as creative spaces where the city's many talented, local artists can perform and make a name for themselves.

Arc Stories: January 2017 Edition

Arc Stories features live storytelling from right here in Birmingham. No notes, no outlines. Just great storytellers sharing great, true stories. Sometimes funny, sometimes moving, and always engaging.

New National Monument Connects Birmingham’s Past to Today

President Obama establishes the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument place many notable civil rights sites under the banner of the National Park Service.

Magical Things Happen Here….

Musician Kevin Kozak of Homewood…

The Power of Music…

Dementia Care Coordinator Pam Leonard of Alabaster…

Talladega Band Looks to Crowdfunding to Help Pay for Inauguration Trip

The 200-member band wants to raise $75,000 to help pay for transportation, lodging and other expenses. A total of $6,625 has been raised through 110 contributions, since the campaign launched five days ago.

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Musician James Mullis: An Old Soul with a Millennial’s Heart

Birmingham musician James Mullis offers his unique blend of blues, folk and Americana.

Talladega College President Undecided On Band’s Inauguration Performance

Talladega College doesn’t have a football team, but it has a band – the Marching Tornadoes. More than 100 band members from the historically black college east of Birmingham have been invited to perform in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural parade. The college president is undecided on whether the band will perform, a college spokesman said. Talladega […]

Meet the Host of 1A: Joshua Johnson

Meet Joshua Johnson, the host of 1A -- a new program which will succeed The Diane Rehm Show.

Arc Stories: Holiday Edition 2016

Arc Stories features live storytelling from right here in Birmingham. No notes, no outlines. Just great storytellers sharing great, true stories. Sometimes funny, sometimes moving, and always engaging.

The Queer Library: A New Home for LGBT Literature

The brainchild of Change Project founder Steven Romeo, every book is written by an LGBT author or contains LGBT content.

Historic Marker Commemorates Gadsden Lynching

Tuesday, a historic marker will go up in Gadsden, Alabama, commemorating the 1906 lynching of a black man, Bunk Richardson, by a white mob.

The Junction: The Parsonage Bombing

Ensley residents who remember that tragic event and the role the community played in the civil rights movement say this rich history is important today as Ensley looks toward revitalization.

New “Nutritional Labels” For Trails Go Up At Oak Mountain

Hikers and runners who use trails at Oak Mountain State Park south of Birmingham have a new tool to help guide their outdoor fun. They’re trail signs, but they’re more than simple markers.

“What’s Lost is Found” — Photographs of Hale County

For decades, photographers have captured Hale County in Alabama’s Black Belt. Photojournalist Walker Evans documented families there suffering from the Great Depression. Starting in the 1960s, Alabama-native William Christenberry took pictures of decaying buildings. Now photographer Lauren Henkin can add her work to the tradition. Last year, Henkin spent a month in Hale County as an artist-in-residence sponsored by the Do Good Fund, which supports photography of the South. Some of those pictures will be displayed in an exhibit called “What’s Lost is Found.” It opens Friday at the Birmingham Museum of Art where she’ll also talk about the project. Henkin spoke with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.

Big Push to Make AL Civil Rights Monuments National Parks

A big push is underway to designate several Alabama civil rights locations as national parks. National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Mayor William Bell joined Jewell for a tour of Birmingham's civil rights district.

A Prison Drama Written and Performed by Prisoners

Prisons have been used as a setting for popular entertainment. The Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” is just one example. But a new radio drama is taking that a step further. “Corrections” is a health-themed drama produced by UAB that’s written by and performed by inmates at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in western Jefferson County. The first episode airs Saturday morning on WJLD AM 1400.

Affecting your surroundings…

Aspiring hip-hop artist and vegan activist, Walter Duke of Birmingham…