Listeners are invited pledge support to WRIR anytime at wrir.org or by calling 804.622.9747 weekdays. For more information, contact mattzoller@gmail.com.

WRIR Celebrates it’s Fifth Anniversary and throws, “Party for the Rest of Us.”

On January 1, 2010 WRIR celebrated its fifth anniversary. For most of the listeners and station volunteers, the day didn’t seem unusual. It didn’t sound different. But it was.

When it launched in 2005, WRIR was one of the first low-power FM radio stations in the United States. Five years ago, the LPFM signal itself was relatively new and seen primarily as a “test frequency” established by the FCC to give local communities easier access to the broadcast airwaves. Though not as powerful as corporately-owned commercial stations, the improved signal was strong enough to transform Richmond independent radio from an underground upstart into a flagship station for the national LPFM movement.

Most impressive is that WRIR launched without financial or technical support from corporations and government agencies. Its creation was the result of a combined effort of passionate and dedicated volunteers who came together to form a community. Today, the WRIR community consists of hundreds of volunteers who work around the clock to give back to the Richmond community.

Together they help deliver a diverse schedule of music, news and originally-produced programming. WRIR remains the only LPFM in the country to air National Public Radio programs. And for the past three years, the station has operated as the City of Richmond’s official emergency broadcast station.

Partially due to the example set by WRIR, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill which will expand non-commercial, Low Power FM radio to towns and cities across the country. The next step is for the Senate to pass (S.592). And while it’s remarkable that the pioneering efforts of WRIR have been nationally-recognized, those involved in the station are perhaps proudest of their impact locally.

The City of Richmond has embraced WRIR and supported it passionately by listening, donating and becoming involved. As the station looks forward to 2010, it has become clear that the WRIR family has grown larger than the small army of volunteers who come through the doors of 1621 West Broad Street. Five years later, the WRIR family includes everyone within earshot of the signal.

All of which seems like the perfect excuse to throw a party.

On February 5, 2010, WRIR celebrates its fifth anniversary with a “Party for the Rest of Us” starting at 7 p.m. in the Renaissance Conference Center, 107 West Broad Street.

Mike Rutz, WRIR board member and events manager has scheduled local bands Heks Orkest, The Hotdamns, Amazing Ghost and Long Arms to perform live. WRIR DJs will be spinning music in a second room. There will be food, cake and drink and, as always, the party will be open to everyone in the community.

More information about the 5th Anniversary Celebration — or WRIR – can be obtained by calling the studio and asking for Mike Rutz, 804-649-9737.

Thank you for tuning in.

…Shearer, 65, resides part-time in New Orleans and is working on a documentary about engineering and planning failures involved in the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He’s coming to Richmond to present a special 25th anniversary screening of “This Is Spinal Tap” at the Byrd Theatre, a benefit for WRIR. Style spoke with him from Los Angeles.

Click here to read the entire piece, penned by Brent Baldwin, at STYLE Weekly.

Join Richmond Independent Radio WRIR 97.3 lpFM for the second annual Monster Mashquerade fall fund raising wrap-up party Friday October 23  at the New York Deli in Carytown.

The party starts at 9 p.m. and features live performances by Cubscout & the Rhinoceros and Coald Toast plus dance music from WRIR DJ’s Jesse Split & Joanna O, Paul G., Lightning’s Girl, and Michael Murphy. The Monster Mashquerade also kicks off RVA Magazine’s Halloweek.

A costume (or mask) and $5 to $10 donation are required for admission. Prizes will be awarded for best mask and best costume.

Listener supported WRIR 97.3 lpFM Richmond Independent Radio, is owned by the non-profit Virginia Center for Public Press and operated by community volunteers. WRIR is dedicated to broadcasting locally produced music shows
(including work by local musicians) and local and national news and talk programs.

Listeners are invited pledge support to WRIR anytime  at wrir.org or by calling (804) 622-9747 weekdays.

On the web:

WRIR 97.3 lpFM  wrir.org
RVA Magazine    rvamag.com
New York Deli   ny-d.com

– The information above was provided by WRIR

Richmond’s City Council has recognized radio station WRIR lp 97.3 FM with a Richmond Community Service Award for “outstanding commitment and service to our community.”

In presenting the award, on July 27, 2nd district City Councilman Charles Samuels noted the tenth anniversary of the creation of The Virginia Center for the Public Press, owner of WRIR, and the location of WRIR’s broadcast studios in Richmond’s 2nd district.

Liz Humes, vice president of The Virginia Center for the Public Press, accepted the award on behalf of WRIR, thanking City Council, Councilman Samuels, and “the over 150 volunteers who make WRIR the nation’s leading low power FM radio station.

WRIR 97.3  FM, Richmond Independent Radio, is owned by the non-profit Virginia Center for Public Press and operated by community volunteers. WRIR is dedicated to broadcasting locally produced music shows (including work by local musicians) and local and national news and talk programs.

For more information, contact mattzoller@gmail.com, or click here.

In addition to direct live broadcast, Live Room events can be recorded for later broadcast or non-broadcast distribution via podcast or other media. Sight lines and remote audio controls allow Live Room event production from the Live Room itself or from WRIR’s broadcast studio.

“From the beginning, our mission was to create a Live Room that is flexible and will serve several WRIR committee groups with special emphasis on music bands, local public affairs programming, and in-house production” said WRIR Operations Director Julia McCauley. “The new Live Room is beautiful and the sound proofing improves quality for WRIR listeners. We’re really excited about the many new broadcast opportunities it will afford the WRIR audience and our volunteers.”

WRIR- 97.3 FM, Richmond Independent Radio, is owned by the non-profit Virginia Center for Public Press and operated by community volunteers. WRIR is dedicated to broadcasting locally produced music shows (including work by local musicians) and local and national news and talk programs.

Splork!, The I-las, and The Sad Galaxy Girls are scheduled to appear live. All proceeds benefit WRIR’s Spring Fund Drive.

Learn more about Splork! and The I-las at MySpace (www.myspace.com/splorksplorksplork; www.myspace.com/theilas).

WRIR 97.3 FM, Richmond Independent Radio, is owned by the non-profit Virginia Center for Public Press and operated by community volunteers. WRIR is dedicated to broadcasting locally produced music shows (including work by local musicians) and local and national news and talk programs. For more information on WRIR’s May 1st Glam Band Jam, please e-mail: events@wrir.org.

Plaza Bowl is located at 521 E. Southside Plaza (off East Belt Boulevard just north of Hull Street).

– The information above was provided by Matt Zoller on behalf of WRIR.

The Fund Drive is a fun time for WRIR’s volunteers, and we try to make it fun for the listeners as well. We have choice gifts for our donors, delicious free food for folks who make their contributions in person at 1621-B West Broad Street (1/2 block west of Lombardy), and the same great Richmond Independent Radio programming as usual. With just a few interruptions to remind you that it’s a special time of year.

To donate call the station at 622-9737 or go to www.wrir.org. Or donate in person at 1621-B West Broad St. — meet our volunteers, take a tour of the station and enjoy some great food donated by local restaurants.

– The information above was provided by Melissa Cape at WRIR-97.3FM.

Hundreds of people will be sporting YOUR DESIGN.

The winner will be mentioned on air throughout the week-long event in April, and will receive a huge goodie-bag.

Interested?

Click here to get started.

– The information above was provided by Melissa Cape

Highlights include:

Opening Reception (Fri., Dec. 7, 6 – 8 p.m.): Elizabeth King: The Sizes of Things in the Mind’s Eye (click here).

Then on Saturday there will be a number of activities (10 a.m. – 5 p.m) under the heading of a Community Celebration. They include family-friendly activities, workshops and artists’ demonstrations, and music by the Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, the Sugar Hollow Ramblers and drummers from Art 180.

Saturday night the party moves across the street and into the alley (between Main St and Cary St,) with the Garage-A-Go-Go Dance Party (8 p.m. – midnight) at the Paradise Garage. Admission is $10 and there will be a cash bar. Music for the dance party will be provided by WRIR deejays Bill Lupoletti (”Global A Go-Go”), David Noyes (”The Motherland Influence” and “Ambiance Congo”) and Charles Williams (”The Motherland Influence” and “The Other Black Music”).

For information, there’s plenty more, call (804) 353-0094, or click here.

– photo of Elizabeth King’s work from the Visual Arts Center