Foothills Radio Group, in Lenoir, NC, has announced the creation of a new all-bluegrass radio station. The station is WKGX and can be found at 1080 on the AM dial. Previously an all sports format, the station will now be known as The Bluegrass Station.

WKGX will begin broadcasting on Monday June 11, 2007. The station’s programing will feature a mix of classic and current bluegrass music with a spotlight on local area bands. The morning show on WKGX will be KT and the Bluegrass Breakfast and will present the local news and weather alongside a heavy dose of bluegrass music and talk. The remainder of the broadcast day will be continuous bluegrass music.

Foothills Radio Group Program Director Davy Crockett commented on the creation of this new station.

With so many well-attended events like Merlefest, the Happy Valley Old-Timer Fiddlers’ Convention, the Red, White, and Bluegrass Festival, and the upcoming Longview Centennial Celebration, it’s obvious that Bluegrass fans are being underserved on the radio. This station’s for them.

WGKX will not be webcasting, so only those local to the broadcast area surrounding Lenoir, NC will have access to this all bluegrass formatted station. We still think this is great news that radio business people are seeing bluegrass as a genre worthy of commercial consideration.