Secret Bonus Level
How did you get here? How did you unlock this secret area? This oasis of rhythm and melody in the midst of a level you’ve replayed too many times to count? Are you the partiest of animals, perpetually lit until the last call of every school night? Are you the artist too impassioned by love of the craft to sleep? Or the rarified being who sifts through endless hours of radio waves for hidden treasure with a fine toothed comb? Are you totally inexplicable, and here solely by random chance and happenstance? Are you normal but destined for the supernatural? No matter how you found us, you did it. You’re here! And this moment is special. Let it enjoy you as you enjoy it. Type in this cheat code and bask in 8 bit wonder as a chest appears, wedged deep in the corner of your own personal life’s underworld. Let the yellow light within spill out over you as you reach in a trembling paw to retrieve these unimaginable treats.
Noah Page, hosts these utterly improbable broadcasts. A rotating cast of MCs come through every week to freestyle or let glimmer the written verses they’ve polished up privately, meticulously in their hidden lairs. The unfathomable wild beasts of our own beautiful city, from right around that next corner, orange in the streetlights, lumbering toward you, unstoppable as a your high school crush. And PLUS interviews the likes of which you won’t find scrolling past your life on that phone. And all in the name of Secret Bonus Level’s mission to introduce rap to new audiences while championing inclusion and respect for peoples of all genders, races, sexual orientations, religions, heights, weights, and astrological signs (even though astrology is totally made up and fake SORRY NOT SORRY). Grade AA eggs. Beats and refrains to not just soothe, but upgrade your stats. You’ve leveled up.
It’s impossible to say how you found yourself in this unlikely place at this unlikely time, but where else would you find a secret show like this? And now it’s yours. We’re all so happy to give it to you. These are your friends. Play through Noah Page’s brief tutorial and suddenly you’re Player 1, the unlockable character that no one even knew was programmed into this game of your life. Music is your MP. This single potion fills your meter fully.
enzo July 17th, 2017
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Ambiance Congo / The Other Black Music
Ambiance Congo features the best of Congolese popular music. From the 1950s to the present day, Congolese music is the most widely distributed and appreciated music throughout the African continent. Congolese music is also appreciated worldwide from Western Europe to Japan, Colombia and the Caribbean.
I wanted the city to be able to hear the unrepresented sound in Black Music. I like Hip-Hop, top 40 oldies and smooth jazz but there is a LOT more. Blues, new and old Funk/Soul, Zydeco, Black Country, Afro-pop, Latin, Caribbean, Rock and much more. Thanks to WRIR I can do that. All you have to do is tune in and turn up the volume.
Anna C. March 28th, 2016
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Mellow Madness
Mellow Madness is a DeeJay radio show that focuses on Soul, Funk, Jazz, various International, Psyche and other genres and has an emphasis on original press vinyl records. The show is hosted by Michael Murphy but periodically has guest appearances from local DJs and even the occasional world famous record collector.
The host, Michael Murphy, has been a DJ in Richmond for over 15 years and got involved through an interest in Hip Hop and Dance music. He was part of the tag team duo Sleek and Ruckus in the mid 90s but continued working with other groups, notably The Infectious Organisms in the late 90s. Over the years Michael has DJed in many cities, including the opportunity to DJ at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2007.
“While growing up in Richmond I was into Rock, Punk and Heavy Metal as a kid, but developed a taste for Hip Hop during my teenage years. A lot of the golden era Hip Hop beats were produced with samples of soul and funk records from the 60s and 70s. Once I started discovering the original sample sources for all of my favorite hip hop songs, I quickly realized that there was a whole other world of older music that I was not aware existed. My tastes over the years have branched out to many other types of music besides 60s and 70s Soul and Funk. On any given Sunday on Mellow Madness you might hear Deep Soul 45s, Brazilian Sambas, International Psyche Rock, Disco Boogie, Black Jazz, Post Punk, Afro Funk, Psychedelic Folk, Roots Reggae, and a lot more.”
Anna C. October 19th, 2015
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House Music Sessions
House Music Sessions w/ DJ Vince Slay
A New Soulful House music show Dedicated to Soulful House Music Lovers! Will have Live sets all mixed by DJ Vince Slay and will also have live interviews from time to time.
House Music is Here RVA!!!
Anna C. October 14th, 2015
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What the Fontaine?!
What the Fontaine?!: You never know what you’ll hear next on this fun mix of tunes from across the decades and musical genres. On any given week I might play punk, funk, rock, blues, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, electronica, country, rockabilly, new wave, industrial, African, metal, soul, classical, go-go, gospel, cajun, local music or whatever else I can think of. Often there are themes and occasionally local band interviews.
Fontaine has been an indie radio DJ in Richmond, VA for many, many years. In addition to hosting WTF since Summer 2008, she is among the rotating cast of DJs bringing you the 80s show (now ’75-’99, Saturdays 3-5 PM) and the local band show (River City Limits, Saturdays 5-7PM).
Twitter: @WhatTheFontaine
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/What-the-Fontaine-on-WRIR-973-FM-273679064155
Anna C. October 14th, 2015
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Paul’s Boutique/Pan-Galactic Brunch
Saturdays from 11-1pm, Paul G. and Paul Ivey alternate to bring you the best, the weirdest, the rockin-est sounds around! Tune in to hear free-form radio at it’s very best.
PAUL’S BOUTIQUE: Searching for something to fit your ears just right? Tune in to Paul’s Boutique alternating Saturdays to hear rock, indie rock, dance, punk, post-punk, pop, metal, Brazilian grooves, classic country & western, blues, jazz, kraut rock, afro-funk, French stuff, rockabilly, soul and rhythm & blues, funk, reggae, dub, experimental, garage, psychedelic, hip-hop, folk and more handpicked by me. Woo haw, you’re all in check!
Anna C. October 12th, 2015
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The Breakfast Snob
The Breakfast Snob originally aired on Sunday mornings and is now airing every Thursday evening. The show features tracks by new and “under-known” artists of many genres and localities, highlighted with cuts by older, established- but often obscure- bands that helped influence today’s artists, and punctuated by brief, intense flashes of loud guitar- simply because I love loud guitar.
The show’s title is a reference to my old friend and mentor, Michael Hawkesworth (the original Breakfast Snob) who introduced me to a world of new music in the 1980’s…a tradition that I endeavor to continue today. As one of my favorite artists said:
“I used to think that music was a universal language, but I’m not so sure anymore it is any sort of language; not as we think of language anyway. It’s more like telepathy. It’s knowing, and the sense that you have known forever, and will know always, for those who can receive the transmission. It touches mind, body, and spirit, all at once, and moves them into harmony, or dissonance, or both, depending on how you define these things, and depending always on the intent of the artist, and the intent of the listener, not only at the moment of creation or the moment of listening, but from the infinite past to the infinite future, stretched between the points which are both closest together and farthest apart, a circular continuity of sorts.” -Cary Grace
Anna C. October 12th, 2015
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The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit/Nighttime Maneuvers
Rotating Shows
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit hosted by The Haberdasher
Several years ago I was burnt out from years of business travel, long meetings, sales reports, and corporate America. I guess I was teetering on the edge of a midlife crisis. Luckily (for my wife), I found WRIR and, thus, the opportunity to host a radio show.
My show takes its name from the book written by Sloan Wilson. The novel is “about the search for purpose in a world dominated by business.” In the novel the main characters “share a struggle to find contentment in their hectic and material culture”.
I guess you could say my show is my own personal search – through music – in the middle of the night every Monday. So join me and I’ll bring you an out-of-the-ordinary mix of blues, soul, rock, funk, Americana, bluegrass and whatever else it takes to shake the work blues.
Oh and the name, the Haberdasher – well, that’s a story for another day. So tune in.
Nighttime Maneuvers hosted by Hip Hop Henry
Anna C. October 9th, 2015
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Louisiana Dance Hall
Zydeco, Cajun, Funk, Brass Bands, Swamp Pop … and more! Tune in for our eclectic jam of danceable sounds from across the great state of Louisiana!
Talia and Bill take turns hosting this show on alternating Mondays, 7 to 9 pm. In addition to crawfish, Talia serves up Cajun, Zydeco and Swamp Pop — and Bill adds a heaping helping of Funk, Brass Bands, Jazz and Blues to the mix!
Fan of Louisiana Dance Hall? You might also enjoy fellow WRIR program Edge of Americana. As always, thanks for listening — and we love to hear from you!
Anna C. October 9th, 2015
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