Global A Go-GoGlobal A Go-Go: Friday October 25, 5-7 PM

WRIR's Fall '13 Fund Drive, now just past its midpoint, is shaping up as one of our most successful drives, both artistically and financially, to date.

On the financial side of things, we're well on our way toward raising the $40,000 we need in order to keep Richmond Independent Radio solvent and vibrant for the next six months.  On the artistic side, I'd say that the programming (always good IMHO) has reached a new, higher level during the fund drive.

Especially noteworthy has been the remarkable number, variety and quality of live bands that have played in our Live Room, a facility built with money that folks like you have donated in our previous fund drives.  And I'm going to raise the bar a notch with this week's show, which will feature a live performance by the band Rattlemouth (pictured above).

If you're not familiar with Rattlemouth, they're a Richmond-based ensemble, founded in 1989, who describe their music variously as "world groove," "Ethio jazz" and "Afro zen."  Their specialty is arrangements of classic recordings from around the world — their current catalog includes 76 compositions from 23 different countries.  In other words, they're kind of the band version of Global A Go-Go.

Rattlemouth will play a few of those arrangements on today's program, and for my part I'm going to spin some tracks that I think would be worthy additions to Rattlemouth's catalog.  We'll see what the band thinks of my suggestions!

Of course, all this great music will be used as a reminder of what you, the listener, get as a result of supporting WRIR with your generous donations during this fund drive.  This artisinal form of radio may be rare but it isn't expensive; it simply requires you to participate as a donor as well as a listener.  More than three-quarters of our annual expenses are paid from donations made by our listeners — that's what keeps us making handmade radio instead of using the airwaves to sell home improvements, insurance and hamburgers.

So if you haven't made your donation yet, please consider doing so now by calling 804-622-9747, donating online at http://www.wrir.org, or visiting us in person at 1621-B West Broad Street in Richmond.  Thank you for your support, and long live Richmond Independent Radio!

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/72041

All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go