Does anybody remember the dull and dreary days before Richmond had WRIR 97.3 FM, our independent, community run and always diverse community radio station above the Camel? We barely do. Age will do that to you. Oddly, we do remember laughter though, if you were to ask that question in a sexy Robert Planet voice. We would say ‘yes, we do remember it from this morning.’
After a hiatus, the nonprofit station known for pumpin’ the wattage to your cottage is back with its annual WRIR anniversary party, celebrating some 17 years since entering our airwaves and dancing on our earholes with a mix of talky shows and various, often underplayed, non-commercial musical genres.
This year’s FREE party includes the following musicians and bands: Colin Phils, Ant the Symbol, Gritty City Records, Prabir Trio, Cassidy Snider and the Wranglers, the Wimps, and Holy River (congrats to Laney and Jamison on their new baby!) And did we mention it’s all FREE! Which is good because … gas and everything. Though there should be plenty ways to donate or spend money on beer, food and other WRIR items. If you can, do please. “There is no try, up it cough,” or whatever Yoda spit.
Looks like the weather sorcerers are calling for a somewhat cool, sunny, cloud-covered Saturday, April 2nd; in other words, a fine day to hang outside and relearn how to socialize in-person, talking loudly over beers and bands like confused upright apes who haven’t been in a large crowd in awhile, maybe. Or maybe you have, what we do know? We’re still trying to figure out why rhesus monkeys like to steal each others’ babies in those snap-shat video rolls. Their brains are 93% the same as ours, you know.
Anyway, check out the music videos below if you want to sample the flavor on display this Saturday. Because really, sharing YouTube videos is always better than us just rambling on and on, never really saying anything deeper than, “Why don’t you come out and support a good cause and good people? Listen to good music and enjoy your good selves?” We know that pretty soon people will be communicating only by emoji languages projected on their foreheads.
Oh, also do remember, organizers for WRIR have some big plans underway for a new home base. That’s right, they’re moving on up. If you read our last WRIR story, you already know they’re planning “to either purchase a 2,500-plus square foot building or build their own space from the ground up by this time next year” and there are some things they could use some help with. Check out our article from last December for more info if you’d like to help ’em out. Enjoy the free party and don’t steal each others babies .. or beers, we mean.
WRIR’s Party for the Rest of Us takes place Saturday, April 2 at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 2410 Ownby Lane in Richmond, Va. from 2 to 9 p.m. Free.
Now to the videos (in no particular order).