Chris Thile/ courtesy of the Walker Art Center
For only the second time in "Prairie Home Companion"'s 40-year history, Garrison Keillor is turning over hosting duties to someone else.
The Feb. 7 and 14 shows will be hosted by Chris Thile, a mandolinist for the Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek.
The only other substitution happened in 2011, when Thile's Nickel Creek band mate Sara Watkins took over with Keillor watching from the wings.
"'Prairie Home' has been a pretty dependable show and now and then it likes to do something entirely different," Keillor said in a press release. "I look forward to sitting at home and listening."
Keillor will be at the helm for the other four broadcasts in January and February.
Upcoming guests include Nellie McKay, The Gibson Brothers, Heather Masse, Robbie Fulks and the Punch Brothers.
Tickets for the next six shows, which kick off Jan. 17, will be available starting Tuesday at the Fitzgerald Theater or at www.eTix.com.
