91.3 the Summit

We are very excited to welcom Ryan Humbert to the RCC music family!  We now have his new album, Old Souls New Shoes, as well as the live (recorded at Musica) The Ryan Humbert Band One Night Only Acoustic Live CD/DVD.  Ryan is a big supporter of local music, and also dropped off the Ghost Town album by local artist Tracey Thomas.  Check out a performance by Ryan below:

In this day & age, where Music TeleVision only plays crappy reality shows;, and Clear Channel payolas unoriginal pop music from ‘American Idols’ and Disney tweens, it is refreshing to see & hear a broadcasting station showcase MUSIC.  Lately I’ve been leaving my iPod at home and have been enjoying the non-commercial, member-supported radio of 91.3 the Summit.

I didn’t listen to radio for a number of years.  In April 1999, when Cleveland’s 107.9 the End went off air, I gave up.  I’ve never been one for ‘pop’ music, and I hate hearing the same songs played over and over again.  Thank Apple for the iPod.  When I moved back to Akron early last year, I had a job that I drove around all day long, so I started to listen to the radio a little more.  It’s not the safest thing to drive and have to change the station when a bad song comes on, so I needed to find a station that had a good playlist.  That station was 91.3 the Summit.  They play indie, alternative, old, and unique music that you simply aren’t going to hear on any other station in northeast Ohio.  A station playing Miley Cyrus isn’t going to play old Joy Division or The Smiths, and certainly won’t play local artisits like The Speedbumps or Drummer.  91.3 is amazing.

One of my favorite things about the station is the multiple daily ‘Beatles Breaks’ with Jim Chenot.  It’s great to hear not only a song by The Beatles/solo work/or cover, but also the story behind it.  Actually, 91.3 is pretty good about doing that with almost all of the music they play.  Today, as a special treat to their member listeners, 91.3 is playing Beatles/Beatles-related/Beatles-influenced music ALL DAY.  I’m 4 hours in, and it is AWESOME.  What a great gift to music lovers!

Today is the last day of 91.3’s Fall Membership Drive.  For as little as $5/month, you can support this great radio station and the unique music they play.  I just joined- and you should too!  Click here to fill out a pledge form.  Pledge yourself, or give independent radio as a gift!  You can support them year-round, not just during the membership drives.  Join 91.3 the Summit!

This ain’t your mainstream Hip-Hop.  It’s Hip-Hop in its truest form.  Keeper’s of the Art is a local advocacy organization dedicated to  preserving the roots & integrity of hip-hop.  Through education and entertainment, they spread the word of the art as it was originally intended- not the booty shakin’, money flashin’ form of hip-hop you see on MTV.  It’s the word, the rhythm, the flow, the culture that the group purveys.  KotA does several workshops and lectures, as well as live performances and a weekly show on 91.3 the Summit, “Hip-Hop Flavas- Celebrationg the Golden Age & Beyond,” Saturdays at 10pm.

Tonight you can witness the Art for yourself down at Lock 3, as the group hosts their 2nd Annual Hip-Hop showcase.  They will also be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Stop the Violence Movement- an anti-violence campaign in the hip-hop community formed by acts like KRS-One, Public Enemy, MC Lyte and others.  Live performances at the showcase include headliner KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Buckshot, Mick Boogie, Fly Union, Poetic Republic, and Ace Boogie.  Admission to the showcase is $5, and you’ll definitely want to pick up an event t-shirt to commemorate the event (we didn’t make them, but I hear they are pretty awesome).  We wish we could be at the event tonight, but Akron merch duty calls.  Enjoy the show & make sure you tune it Saturdays @ 10 on 91.3.

This past Saturday we were down at Grace Park for the 4th Annual University Park Art Fair in Grace Park.  You couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day.  The tents were full of local artists and their unique pieces, 91.3 did a live broadcast, their was live music, great people out and about, and some adorable dogs too.  Despite Virtues not having the amazing scallops on this year’s menu, it was a pretty awesome day.

This Saturday we are very excited to be a part of the 4th Annual University Park Art Fair at Grace Park.  It will be a day filled with art, Akronites, great food, live entertainment, and (fingers crossed) nice weather.  We took part in last year’s art fair and had an amazing time.

Located at the corner of North Prospect and Perkins Streets, Grace Park is a lovely park just steps from downtown.  Despite years of a somewhat negative reputation, Grace Park has seen a revival over the last few years thanks to the University Park Development Corporation.  Each year the art fair has gotten bigger & better.  With free admission, dozens of local artisans, a live broadcast from 91.3 the Summit, live local performers, and great food served by one of the area’s best restaurants (last year was Virtues- amazing scallops!).

The Art Fair is this Saturday, August 15th from 10am-6pm.  Admission is free and you are sure to have a great time!