Does anybody remember the dull and dreary days before Richmond had WRIR 97.3 FM, our independent, always diverse, community-run radio station? 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 remember it from this morning, Bob.’
After a hiatus, the nonprofit station known for pumpin’ the wattage to your cottage is back with its annual WRIR anniversary party. Celebrating 17 years since commandeering our airwaves and our hearts, dancing in our earholes with a mix of (very) talky talk shows and underplayed, non-commercial music. Where else you gonna rock those Cajun dance stompers to keep the mood light while the car in front of you is texting at a green light? Am I right?
UPDATED, 6:00 p.m. Friday: This year’s party includes the following musicians and bands for FREE, y’all: Note that WRIR deejays will be spinning from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. then it’s the following line-up: Holy River (4 to 4:30 p.m. outside); The Wimps (4:35 to 5:05 p.m. inside); Prabir Trio (5:10 to 5:50 p.m. outside); Ant the Symbol (5:55 to 6:35 p.m. inside); Cassidy Snider & the Wranglers (6:40 to 7:10 p.mm. outside); Gritty City Records (7:15 to 8:05 inside); and Colin Phils (8:15 to 9 p.m. outside). And did we mention, it’s FREE? Which is good because gas and everything is not cool right now. Come to think of it, it’s never cool, we should’ve demanded going fully electric a long time ago. That said, at the party there should be ways to donate to WRIR if you can afford it. “There is no try, only up it coughs,” or whatever Yoda used to spit during swamp jazzercise.
The weather sorcerers are calling for a cool and cloudy, sun-dappled Saturday, April 2nd. In other words, a fine day to hang outside and relearn how to socialize in-person, talking loudly over bands like confused upright hominids who haven’t been in a large crowd in awhile. Or maybe you have, what do we know? We’re still trying to figure out why rhesus monkeys like to steal each others’ babies in those snap-shat video rolls or whatever. Their brains are 93% the same as ours, you know. Damn, that’s too deep for a cal pick, y’all.
Anyway, check out the music videos below if you want to sample the upcoming flavors this Saturday … Oh, also 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).
