The vibrant sounds of Acadiana are set to echo across the nation as KRVS Radio Acadie partners with WXPN’s World Cafe to launch the Acadiana Music Spotlight. This exciting collaboration will debut on Wednesday, September 18, at 9 a.m. Central, both on 88.7 FM and via live streams on the KRVS website, mobile app, and World Cafe platforms.

In the first hour of the broadcast, World Cafe, a nationally syndicated radio show celebrated for showcasing musical talent, will feature a local musical act recorded in KRVS’ Lafayette studio at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This marks the start of a new monthly series highlighting artists from Acadiana, a culturally rich region known for its unique blend of traditional and contemporary music.

Established in 1963 and licensed to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, KRVS is a 100,000-watt FM station dedicated to preserving and promoting the culture of Acadiana. Over the past six decades, it has been a trusted source for news, music, and cultural programming, deeply rooted in the local community.

KRVS Assistant General Manager Megan Constantin, who spearheaded the initiative, expressed excitement over the project. “It’s so exciting to give artists from this region the opportunity to be featured alongside musicians like Tracy Chapman, Emmylou Harris, and Talking Heads on a national platform,” Constantin said. She has worked closely with World Cafe to select 36 Acadiana-based acts, whose audio and video performances will be submitted to the program. While one artist will be featured monthly, all participating musicians will be showcased on KRVS’ YouTube channel and Spotify.

The identity of the first musical act will remain under wraps until the inaugural broadcast, adding an element of surprise for listeners.

Kimberly Junod, World Cafe’s senior producer, is no stranger to Lafayette’s eclectic music scene. A decade ago, World Cafe visited the city as part of its Sense of Place series, which highlights musical hotspots around the world. “I remember being struck then by the diversity of talented musicians, the linguistic richness, and the way tradition and innovation mix to create a one-of-a-kind music scene,” Junod recalled. She expressed enthusiasm about reintroducing the national audience to Acadiana’s evolving music landscape, saying, “Over the next year, our national audience will get to experience that for themselves and hear what is happening in the region now. We are so pleased to shine a light on these artists in the Acadiana Music Spotlight series.”