WRIR Party for the Rest of Us

This past January marked the sixth anniversary of WRIR, 97.3 FM. To commemorate the occasion, Richmond’s independent radio station is throwing its annual birthday bash this Friday. The show is a chance to support the station and to catch a cross section of what the Richmond music scene has to offer.

February 2, 2011; 6:30 AM • by Kelly Gerow

“The show is designed to celebrate independent radio and independent arts in general in Richmond,” Mike Rutz, events coordinator and host of the local show “Activate!,” said. It’s also a way to reach out to the Richmond community and spread awareness of the station. Of the many genres that the station plays there is bound to be something that most everyone will enjoy.

The artists for the Birthday Bash were selected by committee and are “a great overview of what Richmond has to offer,” said Rutz.

This year’s show offers two stages of music and will open with the Native American drum and dance group Youghtanund. Ultra Dolphins, Pennyshaker, The Diamond Center and Marionette are among the artists on the main stage. The second stage features hip hop acts such as Ms. Proper, Artik Phreeze, Doethepaperboy, Official Freeze, and Skurban Barz Ent. The second stage also has comedy from Dave Garland, Joe Hafkey and John Reaves, as well as WRIR DJs, the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild and other acts.

And, like any good birthday party, your donation gets you snacks and birthday cake. A bar is located in the ballroom.

It’s fitting for WRIR to court only local acts for its anniversary shows. The station not only dedicates itself to local news and events reporting, but Richmond bands pop up on the playlists of most shows. Rutz’s program, “Activate!,” highlights the music of artists that are playing shows in the coming week. Rutz said that it’s part of the station’s responsibility to the community to support the local arts scene.

In more diverse radio days it wasn’t uncommon to hear local and regional music on the radio. WRIR is one of the few places to hear Richmond acts, past and present. Rutz said that WRIR wants local bands to learn about the station and to send in CDs or digital copies of their music.

“I don’t think a lot of bands are aware of that possibility” when it comes to radio airplay. “It’s really important for them to know that the outlet is there,” he said.

WRIR hosts two other annual shows to coincide with spring and fall fund drives. For those who haven’t seen a local band play since Fighting Gravity, this show is a great way to reconnect with the Richmond music scene and surely to run into a who’s who of former — and current artists — from the area. That the show benefits the station is just the icing on the cake. The icing on the actual birthday cake makes the night a triple win.

WRIR’s “Party for the Rest of Us” is on Friday, Feb. 4 from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Roosevelt Ballroom of the Renaissance Conference Center, 107 W. Broad St. in Richmond. The suggested donation is $10.

About WRIR

The past six years have seen much growth for WRIR. The station features nationally syndicated shows like “Sound Opinions” and “Talk of the Nation,” but also has hours dedicated to locally produced talk shows including board president Liz Hume’s weekly book discussion “Wordy Birds,” and Cathy Patterson’s “Brown Bag Lunch Special,” which focuses on news about local non-profit groups. WRIR broadcasts 24-hours a day, and reaches a 3.5 to five-mile radius (depending on the radio) from its antennae on 1202 North 1st St. The station broadcasts at the maximum coverage allowed through its FCC license. Since it is a low-power FM station, WRIR’s Web site offers good tips for best reception on its FAQ page. Shows can also be streamed online. WRIR is the city’s official emergency broadcast outlet, too.