Live From Here, the long-running (but recently rebranded) live radio performance series and variety show which has been hosted by mandolinist Chris Thile since 2016, will be ending production effective immediately. The weekly show aired live from the Town Hall in New York City over the last year since its relocation from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN, and featured special guests who ranged from Cory Wong, Bruce Hornsby, and Trey Anastasio to name a few. The show’s latest season beginning this past fall welcomed names like Mavis Staples, Pixies, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Sara Bareilles.
The announcement shared to the show’s Facebook page on Tuesday reads,
Live from Here has always been about bringing people together. It has been a joy to connect with you in person, on the radio, and online. However, as gatherings have become increasingly complicated, we are sad to announce that we will no longer be producing Live from Here. This past week’s broadcast was our final new show. COVID-19 has deeply impacted live events, from Broadway to concerts. With that uncertainty, we simply cannot continue to make the show we want to make and host Live from Here the way it was intended.
We are happy to say that we are going out on top – the show has never been better, thanks to the irrepressible genius of Chris Thile, our spectacular house band, the guest artists who have graced our stage in person and virtually, and the team making it all work behind the scenes. We have loved every minute of bringing you along for our shared moments of discovery, entertainment, creativity, and surprise. We thank you all with all our hearts for coming together with us.
Thile first performed on the show at age 15 when the series was then known as A Prairie Home Companion. When longtime host Garrison Keillor left the show in 2016, Thile was handed the reins and has helped to revitalize the weekly variety show over the last few years with legitimate guest musicians and unique collaborations.
Thile, like everyone else in the live events industry, was forced to adapt and reformat the show to Live From Home with the arrival of COVID-19 earlier this year.
“Though it turns out this past episode of ‘Live From Here’ was our last new show, I know we’ll have many more music-filled evenings together by and by, and I’d like to propose a toast: to all you listeners out there,” Thile said in a statement via his Twitter on Tuesday. “Thank you. It’s time for this noise-maker to follow your lead.”
Thile continued, “Speaking of my teammates, nothing you’ve heard over the last four seasons would have been possible without their boundless ingenuity, and inexhaustible drive. I’ve been in awe of them every step of the way, and will forever be grateful to have shared the stage AND office w/ them.”