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born in the foothills of the great smoky mountains, and raised on the shetland islands...

The journey

Fate played a pivotal role in the creation of Smoky Shores. During the COVID lockdown in 2020, many of us sought ways to feel connected to the world; that was music for me. Using the Radio Garden app, I spun the virtual globe.I landed on 60 North Radio, a station that played the music I loved the most and had often listened to during my travels. After months of enjoying the station, I contacted Andy, the station's owner. We struck up a conversation about everything from station merchandise to the technology behind broadcasting.Over the years, Andy and I stayed in touch, and when a one-hour time slot opened up, I jumped at the chance to create a show. With guidance and support from family and friends, Smoky Shores was born. My youngest child chose the show name, which reflects The Great Smoky Mountains just outside our front door and the lakes, and oceans that have shaped our family's journeys over the years together.Now, after producing Smoky Shores for a while, it's been a true privilege to share my passion for music with listeners around the world. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I enjoy bringing it to you!

Road trip time

The
Music

In our first year on the air, we featured almost 50 hours of music, highlighting a range of genres, such as dream pop, surf rock, alternative, and indie.Smoky Shores has featured top bands like Coldplay, Beck, and R.E.M., rising artists like Goth Babe and Royel Otis, and even some vintage bands like Knoxville's own The Judybats.The show blends tracks from the early 2000s to new releases, offering a mix of nostalgic hits to never heard before tracks. Around 88% of all artists played on Smoky Shores were only heard once throughout the previous year. You'll love what you hear and might find a new artist to venture down the road with!

supporting a good cause

The
merch

Smoky Shores is a passion project which I have a lot of fun producing. In selling merch, I wanted to showcase the amazing graphics design work created by the talented Robert Wishart, and spread the good vibes of the show all while supporting another cause I deeply care about: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (STJ).100% of the Smoky Shores merch sales profits are donated to STJ. With a personal connection to their work, I am fully committed to making a difference and supporting their mission:"The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay."

Smoky Shores Merch

behind the curtain

The
people

I'm Chris Haynes, your host, broadcasting from my studio at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. My passion for music goes with me everywhere. Music is a constant for me, and the beautiful landscapes I live and travel through inspire me to share the sounds that accompany my journey with listeners around the globe.All photographs by Victor Rollins. Based in Denver, Colorado, Victor combines years of experience with film and digital photography mastery. His work, celebrated in local music publications, authentically and artistically captures the energy and emotion of the Denver music scene.Logo Design by Robert Wishart, a talented graphic designer based in the Shetland Islands, specializes in crafting timeless brand identities. With over 20 years of experience and a portfolio spanning international clients, Robert combines creativity and expertise to deliver standout designs that leave a lasting impression.

come hang out

listen
Up

Smoky Shores is broadcast live every Saturday at 4pm EDT, on 60 North Radio in a lossless FLAC format via a global CDN. Using the buttons below, you can listen live or replay any past Smoky Shores episode.Send me your music requests or station breaks via email or Bluesky below. Let me know where you're listening from and I’ll play it on the show!Here we go…