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Music

Holiday and Best of 2025 specials from the KAXE Music Team

KAXE | By Kari Hedlund,
Malachy Koons, Dan Gannon
Published December 22, 2025 at 8:16 AM CST
KAXE's music team, Dan Gannon, Kari Hedlund and Malachy Koons in Bemidji on May 1, 2025.
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
KAXE's music team, Dan Gannon, Kari Hedlund and Malachy Koons in Bemidji on May 1, 2025.

Tune in throughout the holiday season for a year-end Spin that Ish, top album countdown, Dave Simonett guest DJ and more from the KAXE Music Team.

This time of year offers a great look back on 2025, which for the three of us includes a lot of music-related lists, thoughts and reflections.

On top of all the great music released, the year brought us new music programming including Headwaters, After Dark, and On the River expanding to seven days a week. The music team launched a monthly music recap, Spin that Ish, along with your weekly dose of new music in Fresh Picks.

In place of our regular Headwaters shows at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. every weekday, tune in over the holidays for special programming that taps into the holiday spirit, personal favorites and the music that stood out to the DJs of KAXE.

9 a.m. Wednesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve with Kari Hedlund
9 a.m. Thursday, December 25th – Oddball Christmas with Malachy Koons
9 a.m. Friday December 26th - Year-end edition of Spin that Ish
10 a.m. Friday, December 26th - MN Mixtape Top Albums of 2025 Part 1 with Malachy Koons
9 a.m. Monday, December 29th - Volunteer Favorites 2025 with DJ Dang
9 a.m. Tuesday, December 30th - Listener and Staff Favorites 2025 with Malachy Koons
9 a.m. Wednesday, December 31st - Top 25 albums played at KAXE in 2025 with Kari Hedlund
9 a.m. Thursday, January 1st - Graveyard Boogie: honoring musicians we lost in 2025 with DJ Dang
9 a.m. Friday, January 2nd - KAXE Guest Hour with Trampled by Turtle's Dave Simonett & Family
10 a.m. Friday, January 2nd - MN Mixtape Top Albums of 2025 Part 2 with Malachy Koons

Thanks for listening and coming along on the KAXE music journey!

Cheers to a great 2026.

More from Headwaters
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Music KAXEHeadwatersBest of 2025Fresh Picks
Kari Hedlund
The Music Director since 2014, Kari (pronounced Car-ee) Hedlund oversees the music programming and content you hear each day on KAXE. She hosts Headwaters every Wednesday (9 a.m. and 10 p.m.) and is co-host to Heidi Holtan on the Thursday Morning Show.
See stories by Kari Hedlund
Malachy Koons
Malachy joined Northern Community Radio in 2022, where he helps curate the sound of KAXE and gets to share his passion for local music as Producer of Minnesota Mixtape, an all Minnesota music show airing Fridays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. You can also find him hosting Headwaters every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., and curating our weekly live music feature The Setlist.
See stories by Malachy Koons
Dan Gannon
Dan was born on the south side of Chicago and remembers dancing to Booker T and the MG's as his 1st musical memory. What followed has been a lifelong adventure of hearing new music and being exposed to the people and communities that produced the artists. Forwards in all directions!
See stories by Dan Gannon
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