WIDR Week rocks WMU this month

By Kelsey Joachim

Western Herald

Every year, WIDR, the Western Michigan University student-run non-commercial radio station, holds a series of events to raise funds and awareness of the station.

This year’s WIDR Week just started, and many events will be taking place throughout March, all benefitting WIDR (89.1 FM). 

“WIDR is a non-profit, student-run station on Western [Michigan Univeristy]’s campus,” said WIDR General Manager Dave Emmert. “We get some funding, but not much, and because we are a community station, we turn to the community for donations to help us run for the next year.”

“WIDR Week is the official name of the event,” Emmert added. “Although we have events over the course of the month, one week is specifically for our on-air pledge drives, where we ask for money.” 

Last year, WIDR Week raised more than $16,000 to help fund station functions and other events, Emmert said. 

“WIDR Week has been happening for over five years at least,” Emmert said, who has been with the station for five years. 

According to WIDR’s Web site, the station started out as Western Inter-Dormitory Radio, an AM station available only to WMU residents, evolving into “one of the finest campus stations in the country” according to Campus Media in 1969.  The station has since become a “progressive” or “underground” station, and was the first station in the area to play rap, punk, and grunge.  

 “WIDR serves as an escape from all evil that exists in mainstream media and is still the only true alternative listening source in Kalamazoo,” states WIDR’s Web site. 

This year, WIDR Week will feature some events that happen every year, such as movie nights.  Other events are new to WIDR Week.

 “We want to keep things fresh for our listeners and keep them coming back and coming out to enjoy WIDR,” Emmert said. 

The Kalamazoo Film Society hosted a showing of the film “Pirate Radio” from March 5 to March 7 at the Little Theatre, proceeds of the event going to WIDR.  The screening was the first event of this year’s WIDR Week.

The next WIDR Week event, a CD release party, will take place on March 12 at The Old Dog Tavern. The party will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight, and admission will be a donation of any amount. The event will be catered and a live band, Son Drop, will be featured. 

“This is the first time we have had an event like this and our first CD to be released to the public,” Emmert said. “The CD mixes and masters the best of the live performances done in the WIDR studio.” 

On March 14, a record swap will take place at The Strutt from noon to 5 p.m. The event will feature live DJs Napoleon Solo, Richard Bowser, and The Doctor, and is open to the public to buy, sell, and trade records with other locals and record shops.

Another event that is making an appearance this year is the WIDR St. Patty’s Dance Party on March 17 at The Strutt, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The party, which will feature live music from Nunca Duerma, DJ HotPocket, and Body Rock, will charge $3 for admission.

The next scheduled event will have listeners staying up all night.

“We are bringing back a long-standing tradition – WIDR Alnidr, twelve hours of live band music going from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m.,” Emmert said. 

Narc Out The Reds, Matt Black, Dooley Noted, Harvyst, Only The Ashes Remain, Who Are The Owls, and more will be featured on WIDR Live On-Air on March 25 for the WIDR Alnidr.

March 27 will include another WIDR live showcase at The Strutt, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. A $3 cover charge will get audience members live music by Pile, Th3yN3v3rSI33p (featuring members of the god bullies), Amoebas, Margin Walker and New Sprites.

“Most of the DJs and performers are volunteering their time to us and are very generous to do so,” Emmert said. “It is a symbiotic relationship. They help us so we can help them in the future.” 

The beginning of April will bring WIDR full circle with another film at the Little Theatre. From April 9 to 11, the Western Film Society will host “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassis.” 

“With all of our events we figure out how to raise money while spending the least,” Emmert said. “We here at WIDR are really focused on making a connection with the students on campus and with the community as a whole. WIDR week is a great way to see what WIDR is all about.”

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Posted by heraldstaff on Mar 11 2010. Filed under A & E, Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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