One of the great things about Brattleboro is the abundance of locally produced media including, for those of us who love music, independent community radio station WVEW. This year, WVEW has been especially wonderful with many new shows featuring a wide variety of music including jazz, R&B, vintage American pop, indie rock, blues, reggae, avant garde, and much more. At the risk of sounding a bit hackneyed, there is truly something for everyone. Check it out and see.
Independent radio is a treasure and if you want it to continue, it helps to support it as they rely on membership, donations, and underwriting for their funding. Now would be an especially good time to support them as their annual fundraiser is Friday night (December 13) at the Backside Cafe from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Just buy a drink at the bar and you’ll be supporting the station. Drop a check or some cash into their donation jar and you’ll do even more to make sure their great programming continues.
Are you a local business owner? Underwriting costs are low and your ad will be aired every broadcast day. It’s a great way to advertise your business while helping theirs at the same time.
If you’re not currently a listener, I urge you to pick up a program guide, available at a number of places downtown including Zephyr Designs where I found mine. You may need your glasses to read it but once you do, I think you’ll be impressed with the breadth of their offerings. Then just tune in 107.7 FM and listen. Don’t have a radio anymore? They also have a live stream available from the WVEW web site.
I mentioned music as the main attraction but there’s plenty of talk radio too including Amy Goodman’s acclaimed Democracy Now every day at 5:00 pm. In addition, local talk shows are produced and aired each week to keep you up to date with public affairs.
WVEW’s fundraiser this Friday will feature music from three station DJs, sure to be offbeat and interesting. Food, drink, and friendly conversation will also be on the agenda.
So, in sum, listen to WVEW. Get a show if you’re so inclined. But above all, support them financially if you have the means to do so. Not every town has local radio on the air or the opportunity to host a show yourself. In fact, almost no towns have what we have. Let’s keep it going!
You can send donations and underwriting contributions to:
Brattleboro Community Radio, P. O. Box 653, Brattleboro, VT 05302
Or donate online through their website at http://wvew.org/support/ (just click the donate button at the top right of the page).
WVEW is sounding better than
WVEW is sounding better than ever, to my ears. Nice work everyone.
It’s the only place I can hear John Coltrane, Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame, show tunes, Jack Benny, reggae, Public Enemy, children’s music, etc. in the same week on the same station. With friends and neighbors at the mic…
I’m a pretty loyal listener (except for some of the early morning shows before I’m up and around.) Here are just a few of the shows I recommend:
Monday
– The Wayne Show is always a fun listen, with an interesting mix of generally upbeat and sometimes fun and funny music.
– Blue Monday -an excellent blues show, a long-time favorite. Junior X interviews musicians, too.
– Team Awesome On-Air has electronic dance mixes, which are usually good listening while working late nights.
Tuesday
– Rolling River – Rick Rivers has a show that plays a lot of familiar rock, carefully chosen and explained
– buttahmilk – pockets typically delivers a mix of reggae and information. Great interviews on tough subjects with interesting people.
– Noise by Noyes/West – I miss this and buttermilk fairly often due to select board meetings, but give a shout out to the duo for mixes of newer, indie sorts of music, often tied to a theme.
– No Boundaries – Eugene’s jazz show. One of the best jazz programs there is.
– Carousel – Cam’s merry go round of music. Spin the wheel, where it stops nobody knows! Show tunes, classics, funny songs, and music themed to the season or holiday most near.
– All Mixed Up – a relatively new show that often has newer, indie music
– The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Wendy, of Cheese Shop fame, is you host for an eclectic mix. Old punk, weird songs, and so on. I like her commentary, too. (“I just don’t like songs with children singing…”)
Thursday
– Musical Nature – Karen’s show often has birdsongs and peaceful pieces that make the afternoons glide by.
– Blackbeard’s Delight – Professor Kitty has excellent taste in pop, both old and new.
Friday
– Monkey and Mama Show – songs for families and kids, often with special guests and themes. Educational, fun, and funny. Monkey has been a DJ since about age 2 or so, and has become quite an on-air talent. (Roland, watch out.)
– Hello Young Larva – I don’t know much about this show, but like it when I catch it. Surf, punk, jazz, movies…
– The Victory Hour – BCTV has the Rhema Word, WVEW has the Victory Hour. Good ol’ bible talk.
– Art Talk – Jim Maxwell’s long-running show in which he discusses upcoming arts events, and plays some oldies but goodies during the breaks.
– One Drop – Selector D’s program has moved around a bit (at least I think it has) but settles in here Friday night for the sounds of the islands. Jamaica, to be specific.
Saturday
– Chocolate City – old school R&B and dance songs. This is my show. I can almost request things via ESP. This is the show I’d be doing, but someone is doing it for me so I can just listen.
– Perfect Prescription – is a new show, but the first few have kept me tuned in. Not sure I’ve heard enough to describe it. Good Saturday afternoon music. How’s that?
– Recycled Radio – a long-running favorite of big bands and ballads, often featuring old radio snippets from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. Old radio new broadcasts, a look at the evening Reformer from decades ago, and more.
– Busted Muffin Radio – this show starts with old school hip hop, moves into newer, underground hip hop, then slides into classic punk (did punks ever imagine their music would be described as “classic”?) and alternative rock. Very professional and interesting.
Sunday
– Anything Goes – Dr. Deane picks a theme and dives in.
– Patterns of Chaos – Great mix of non-pop and ideas.
….
I apologize to those I didn’t mention. I recommend those shows, too, but may not be quite as familiar with them, or have conflicts in my schedule and just haven’t heard ’em.
Hope to see many people turn out for this fundraiser, too.