The Fret Knot Radio Hour debut episode launched on Valentine's Day, 2010. Our unique program intro sets the stage with a medley of chattering typewriter, rumbling thunderstorm and eerie accordion, followed by a charming welcome by local musician and voice talent Laura Blackley. Episode One opens with a dry comedy skit - an editorial phone conference gone awry between executive producer Chris Weller and his contributing editor, Graham Shepherd.

Upon ending of the phone conversation, our first story, "I Love Mountains - an evening with Larry Gibson," begins. In this chapter of Fret Knot Radio Hour, we revisit a November 2007 evening spent with Gibson in his cabin on Kayford Mountain in West Virginia, in the heart of coal country. Gibson managed to save the beloved home of his ancestors when he established it as land trust. And now his tiny green island, surrounded by 12,000 acres of biologically barren moonscape, is protected for generations to come, never to be sold to Massey Energy or anyone else wishing to suck the life out of it. Sadly, there’s little hope for the scarred earth that daily swells closer and closer to his property line. In total, there are 187,000 endangered acres surrounding Gibson’s property, whether operating as active mountaintop removal sites or waiting in line for the dozer to see them next. But this man, short as he may be, with his third-grade education and heart of gold, refuses to give up the fight. We promise you'll be moved by his words.

The Larry Gibson story ends, and again the telephone rings. This time it's Scott Avett calling.

The Avett Brothers hit the ground running in 2010 with a sold-out New Year’s Eve show at the Asheville Civic Center and a new song release – “I Love,” a cover of the 1973 Tom T. Hall crossover hit – on the Starbuck’s Valentine’s Day compilation, “Sweetheart 2010″ which includes 14 artists performing their favorite love songs. And now Scott Avett’s feet are scheduled to leave the ground with a “levitation” scheduled for February 9th and an international tour to begin next month. Fret Knot Radio Hour figured it was high time to track him down for a chat. We discovered that despite an escalating career, where it seems as though the sky’s the limit, Scott Avett remains well-grounded and down-to-earth as ever before. Listen in on our conversation about life, liberty and the pursuit of chocolate-covered cherries.

The episode closes with a thanks to our contributors, a shoutout for our website and plug for our event at Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe in historic downtown Asheville on March 2nd at 7pm. "An Evening with Fret Knot Radio Hour" will feature the musician Tom Thumb, the author Brian Lee Knopp and the advocate Asheville Grown Independent Business Alliance.

We leave our audience with a the song, "Gypsy Curse," from the Tom Thumb album, The Taxidermist.

We're digging deep for the seeds of change, and we hope that you'll join us.