Community Radio in Wolfville

Wow, tell ya the truth I've avoided the mass media and main stream media for quite a few years now. When I heard that there's was gonna be “radio” in Wolfville for a whole week, I was not impressed. Who needs that asymmetrical kind of stuff anyways... well that's how i felt two weeks ago. Not any more.

It started when we (Ariana and I) broke down last week, re-activated our old radio-alarm-clock and dialed into 98.7FM, a community radio experiment furnished by, or in part by “Equity and Technology” and represented in town by a team including Fred Campbell, Ivan Emke, Dianne Looker and Charlene Croft.

Last Thursday we heard our friend Kim Smith talking about his music and film work, all the talk and music was revolving around our town. It was about people we know or people we can see on the street in Wolfville during the course of normal life. We then heard “Rust Bucket” playing live on the air for more than an hour. Yes, my very own friends (I share them occasionally with others in town) live on the air, where they belong. Right on! Friday night Ariana and myself got to play some music ourselves, live on the air! Great fun! Especially for us. Coming into the studio we encountered a very relaxed and informal atmosphere, lots of encouragement and incredible support for what we're trying to do. We as a pair/band on the airwaves for the very first time :)

Saturday, the radio hosted an open stage, Again we heard lots of our friends play live music directly into other local homes. What a thrill, the Potter Boys on the radio. Adam Bazinet playing, among other tunes his hit song “Stop Listening”. It was fantastic. Aran Silmeryn played traditional British a American Music.

By Sunday we started hanging out near the Kipawo Arts Centre, saw Wendy Elliot discuss local media with the likes of Kim Smith and Frank from “Just Us”. Photos of this are on Wolfville.org. All of those people are real people from our real everyday lives. So cool! Later Paddy's Session Bandplayed live music on the radio before playing their regular gig at Paddy's Pub. Video of this is also on Wolfville.org.

I thus decided that I would likely volunteer a few hours weekly if it helps people in town to get air time.

Rant end.

PS: More about Wolfville Radio at the following locations
http://ryakuga.blogspot.com/
http://www.ryakuga.org/