XM is broadcasting the 20th annual MerleFest festival this week, from April 26th - April 29th, on both X Country (ch 12) and Bluegrass Junction (ch 14).

 

MerleFest brings together a mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, acoustic, Celtic, blues, folk, old-time, Cajun, and jazz; all in celebration of the music of the late Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson.

You'll hear artists like Doc Watson and Merle's son Richard, Blue Highway; Sam Bush; John Cowan Band; Donna The Buffalo; Jerry Douglas; The Duhks; Paul Geremia; Pam Tillis; The Waybacks; and many others.

The action starts live on Bluegrass Junction, view the full schedule here.

Hilary Duff, who's like totally single right now (you go girl!), is going to be at XM’s 20 on 20 (ch 20) tomorrow, April 20th, to pick the top 20 songs that like rule her world. Serious!

The party starts at 9pm ET, when Hilary is going to tell us what songs she's like really lovin' right now. She's also going to give the totally dark secrets and behind-the-scenes dirt on her latest CD "Dignity."

Her new album has a couple of songs aimed at her ex-bf, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte. Which you can totally understand because Joel and Hilary broke up after almost two and a half years together, which is so sad.

But we know she's totally better off without Joel, and you can probably bet that Good Charlotte won’t be making her XM favs list. LOL! 

XM's award-winning music show hosted by Bob Dylan, "Theme Time Radio Hour," is wrapping-up its first season today with a special two-hour episode, and will return with all-new episodes in September.

In its second season, fans of "Theme Time Radio Hour" can expect to hear contributions from more special guests (including Ellen Barkin, whose sultry voice has heralded the start of each episode since it debuted about a year ago).

Also for the show's first-anniversary on May 3rd, XM will air a "Theme Time Radio Hour" marathon broadcasting every episode from the first season of Dylan's show back-to-back. The "Theme Time" marathon kicks off May 26th at 6pm ET on The Village (ch 15) and will air during Memorial Day weekend.

John Mayer dropped by Studio A at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center to play live and take questions from a packed house for the latest XM "Artist Confidential" series. The show will air tonight (April 16th) at 9pm ET on XM Cafe (ch 45).

Mayer is an XM customer who actually once wrote an article (partial pay-wall, sorry) about listening to the 40s on 4 channel in Esquire magazine. Think that's cool? He also once stopped by (unannounced) on the Ron and Fez show to debut some of his new material. 

Plus, well, he dates Jessica Simpson. So that's just enough to counterbalance any complaints you might have about hearing "Daughters" for the hundredth freaking time. Full schedule available after the linkage below...

[XM Artist Confidential]

Terry Young is the weekday afternoon DJ on XM's 60s on 6 channel (ch 6). He's also the creative force behind an XM show called "Sonic Sound Salutes," which airs on the same channel, every Friday from 4pm to 9pm ET.

Each show pays tribute to an influential radio station from the 60s. Terry "transforms" XM's 60s on 6 channel into that radio station just for the afternoon.

On "Sonic Sound Salutes," Terry plays the station IDs, radio jingles, and the real DJ airchecks from that era. When Terry opens his mic, he talks about the station, the local city, and what it was like living there in the 60s (he literally does a ton of research before the show including interviewing people who grew up there during the time). Terry also takes live phone calls from people who remember the station during its glory days.

"Sonic Sound Salutes" has generated a fair share of press for XM over the years (Young has been doing broadcasts since 2004). Like today's Buffalo News which waxes nostalgically about this afternoon's tribute to WKBW.

Even if you're too young to remember the 60s - like myself - you should listen to this show at least once. It's an incredible journey back to a golden age of terrestrial radio, an era (unfortunately) long behind us, and well worth the listen.

Gregg Allman, the founding member of the The Allman Brothers Band, will be hosting a special "Offstage" feature this week on XM. The celebrated singer/guitarist actually recorded the unedited radio show from his home in the woods of Georgia.

"Offstage: Gregg Allman" features songs that trace the roots of Allman's career - combined with his personal stories about his upbringing, his early exposure to R&B and other tales illustrating his long artistic journey.

Allman selected songs for his show that offer an inspired look into his musical genius, including: Ruby and the Romantics’ “Our Day Will Come”; “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” by Otis Redding; “ Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top; B.B. King’s “Sweet Little Angel”; and Honeytribe’s “Torch.”

"Offstage: Gregg Allman" will air on XM, this Monday, April 9th at 10am ET. Replays will air throughout the week, check here for full schedule and channel details.

XM Satellite Radio and Wal-Mart have teamed up to create the "XM Kids Traveling Roadshow" - a cross-country initiative to raise $10 million in 30-days for the Children’s Miracle Network.

The XM Kids Traveling Roadshow will kick-off on April 30th in Los Angeles, with XM Kids visiting local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals and hosting events at local Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores nationwide before ending the tour in Washington, DC on May 19th.

The entire on-air team from XM Kids (ch 116) will broadcast live from the "Balloon Bus" for 20 days. Live performances from premier recording artists for young people will air on XM Kids Saturdays from 10am – 2pm ET. The first XM Kids broadcast and live concert will be in Los Angeles on Monday, April 30th with a performance by Paulie Litt, Laughing Pizza, Rhythm Child and Meredith Brooks.

You can track the bus and find out about the events at xmradio.com/roadshow. Not only will you hear live performances every Saturday, but broadcasts from the XM Kids Traveling Roadshow in local Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores can be heard Monday through Friday from 3pm -7pm ET.

At every stop, the tour will encourage parents and kids to purchase a paper Miracle Balloon at Wal-Mart to help their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. The Children’s Miracle Network a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children at hospitals across North America. Since 1987, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc has raised more than $388 million in support of the Children’s Miracle Network.

View the complete schedule of stops on the XM Kids Traveling Roadshow after the jump...