'A Prairie Home Companion' Celebrates 40 Years

Forty years ago, the radio variety show A Prairie Home Companion and host Garrison Keillor held the first show at Macalester College. In total, twelve people attended. But apparently, those twelve managed to spread the word. Today, the show is broadcast out of The Fitzgerald and  is heard by 4 million people on more than 600 different public radio stations. Over the years, the show has moved to New York City and back, has been broadcast from all around the world and been host to a variety of performers. To celebrate its 40 years and all of its accomplishments, the show will hold a festival July 4 to July 6 at Macalester and a special three-hour broadcast on July 5. The festival will feature rock 'n' roll, blues, country, folk and soul musicians all performing throughout the day. Event grounds open at 11 am and close at 10 pm. Two ticketed events will be featured, one on Friday and one on Saturday. The first is 40 Songs, 40 Years, a concert celebrating the music of the show. Tickets are available here. The Saturday night event is the live three-hour broadcast with Keillor. Tickets are sold out. Photo via: WITF