notloB Folk Concerts thanks to all for a great 2009-2010 concert year

Bringing traditional American, Canadian, British, and Celtic traditional folk, folk revival, folk rock, world, blues, roots and bluegrass/newgrass music to Somerville, Jamaica Plain, Newton and Grafton!

notloB Folk Concerts are volunteer run and not for profit. Patron donations go to production expenses and the artists.

Thank you for a fun and fulfilling 2009-2010 season. Here is a quick look back at who was presented:

Date	Venue	#	Artists
Friday, June 05, 2009	Unity Church of God, Somerville	39	Spider John Koerner w/ Elizabeth Butters
Friday, June 19, 2009	Jackson Homestead, Newton	40	Brendan Hogan & Frank Morey w/ Dietrich Strauss
Friday, July 10, 2009	Unity Church of God, Somerville	41	Ungar Family Band
Saturday, July 11, 2009	Jackson Homestead, Newton	42	Mary Lou Ferrante & US Sam
Saturday, August 15, 2009	Jackson Homestead, Newton	43	Tim Mason & Tom Begich
Friday, September 11, 2009	Unity Church of God, Somerville	44	Jonathan Byrd, Greg Klyma & Anthony DaCosta
Saturday, October 03, 2009	Unity Church of God, Somerville	45	Malinky w/ Matching Orange
Saturday, October 10, 2009	Jackson Homestead, Newton	46	Mark Brine
Sunday, October 25, 2009	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	47	Marylou Ferrante
Friday, November 06, 2009	Unity Church of God, Somerville	48	Lissa Schneckenburger Band w/ Ari and Mia Friedman
Saturday, November 21, 2009	Jackson Homestead, Newton	49	Claudia Nygaard
Sunday, November 22, 2009	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	50	Claudia Nygaard
Friday, December 04, 2009	Unity Church of God, Somerville	51	Jeremy Kittel Band (featuring Tristan Clarridge, Simon Chrisman and Bodek Janke)
Saturday, December 12, 2009	Jackson Homestead, Newton	53	David Massengill
Sunday, December 13, 2009	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	54	David Massengill
Wednesday, January 06, 2010	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	55	Sarah Wong
Saturday, January 23, 2010	Unity Church of God, Somerville	56	Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers
Friday, January 29, 2010	Jackson Homestead, Newton	57	Jim Infantino
Friday, February 12, 2010	Unity Church of God, Somerville	58	Sam Weiser - NEFMA benefit
Sunday, February 21, 2010	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	59	Tony Bird
Thursday, February 25, 2010	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	60	Sarah McQuaid
Sunday, March 07, 2010	Jackson Homestead, Newton	61	Geoff Bartley
Wednesday, March 10, 2010	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	62	Andy Cohen
Friday, March 12, 2010	Unity Church of God, Somerville	63	Red Hot Blacktop
Sunday, March 14, 2010	Grafton Historical Society	64	Lucky 13
Thursday, April 08, 2010	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	65	Zoe Mulford
Sunday, April 11, 2010	Jackson Homestead, Newton	66	Hannah Sanders and Liz Simmons
Saturday, April 17, 2010	Loring-Greenough House	67	Tri
Saturday, May 01, 2010	Unity Church of God, Somerville	68	Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band
Sunday, May 02, 2010	Jackson Homestead, Newton	69	Brendan Hogan
Saturday, May 15, 2010	Loring-Greenough House	70	Jim Hurst
Friday, June 4, 2010	Unity Church of God, Somerville	71	Long Time Courting
Sunday, June 27, 2010	notfarG House Concerts, Grafton	72	Bill and Eli Perras

Thanks to all artists who performed, Dana Westover for sound, volunteers who assisted and most of all the patrons who supported the series with their donations.

http://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic

notloB Folk Concerts Presents LONG TIME COURTING

notloB Folk Concerts

presents

Long Time Courting

Sarah Blair fiddle/vocals, Liz Simmons guitar/vocals, Shannon Heaton flute/vocals, and Ariel Friedman cello/vocals

http://www.longtimecourting.com

Unity Church of God, 6 William Street, Somerville
Friday, June 4
Doors 7:30, Concert 8:00
Suggested minimum donation: $15/door, $12/advance, $5-10 for students, kids, seniors
Reservations recommended - notlobreservations @ gmail.com

Presented by notloB Folk Concerts:
http://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic

"Long Time Courting infuses traditional ballads, jigs, and reels with fresh life and energy and vocal harmonies that are nothing short of sublime... Their rendition of “Barbara Allen” is beautiful enough to break your heart." - Nashua Telegraph

Take four individually accomplished traditional musicians and singers with fresh attitudes. Combine them, and you have the rich, soaring four-part vocal arrangements, and fiery Irish jigs and reels, that are Long Time Courting.

Long Time Courting brings heavenly harmonies to old and new ballads--and serves up a zesty side of high energy dance tunes!

Bringing together the talents of Sarah Blair on fiddle/vocals, Liz Simmons on guitar/vocals, Shannon Heaton on flute/vocals, and Ariel Friedman on cello/vocals, this Boston-based band shares a love of traditional Irish and American music, as well as contemporary folk and pop. They bring elements of these various genres to their traditional repertoire with sensitivity, musicality, beauty—and a bit of mischief, too!

From their first appearance at Cambridge’s Club Passim in October 2008, they have begun to win over audiences throughout the Northeast.

Meet Long Time Courting:

Sarah Blair "Sarah Blair is simply a great fiddler. Her combination of grit and control makes for music with drive, lift, and a compelling earthiness." -Fiddler Magazine.

Sarah began playing Irish fiddle in Providence, Rhode Island's thriving traditional Irish music scene. She honed her playing as a sought-after session leader in Boston and in the world of American contra dancing. With her band The Sevens and with other ensembles, Sarah has played at festivals, concerts, and dance weeks from Alaska to Quebec to Florida. Her most unusual gig was filling in for fiddler Liz Carroll for a portion of The Eagles' singer Don Henley's 2000 tour. In 2001, the Sevens were featured on NPR in an interview with Noah Adams. She is included in "Handy with the Stick: Fiddler Magazine's Best of Irish fiddling," a forthcoming book profiling top Irish fiddlers by Brendan Taaffe.

Liz Simmons "A honey-voiced singer. . .Simmons sings with winsome ease and genuine feeling." -Dirty Linen Magazine

Liz grew up in a musical family in Southern New Hampshire. As a child, she was exposed to a mixture of classical, rock, bluegrass, traditional, folk and pop music. Her passion for traditional folk singing developed in her late teens, after she spent a few years studying classical voice. Since then, she has developed a unique style that incorporates the sounds of Appalachian traditional singing and pop. Her performance credits include North Cregg, The Sevens, and The John Whelan Band. She is currently the lead singer of Annalivia, a band that infuses a contemporary edge with the traditional sounds of Ireland, Appalachia and Cape Breton.

Shannon Heaton "Shannon's voice is the sun: remarkably light yet powerful, reminiscent of the 10,000 Maniacs' Mary Ramsey...Shannon's flawless flute playing adds another layer of lightness..." -Molly Snyder, OnMilwaukee.com

Shannon is a veteran performer, having toured nationally with her husband, guitarist Matt Heaton, for over ten years. She developed her love of folk and traditional music early on, having lived in music-rich Nigeria and Thailand. It was in Chicago, IL that she discovered the local Irish music community and began learning tunes at Comhaltas and pub sessions. Since then, her keen melodic and arranging sensibilities, discerning ear, and exquisite Irish flute style has been featured with numerous Boston area ensembles.

Ariel Friedman "...adventurous and lyrical... a unique style and approach..." - Dirty Linen Magazine

Ariel is an inventive folk and classical cellist from Boston, and a winner of the American String Teachers Association's 2009 Alternative Styles Award. She recently received a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University, where she studied with cellist Hans Jørgen Jensen. She works as a duo with her sister Mia, a fiddler. She also performs, tours, and records with Scottish National Fiddle champion Hanneke Cassel and New England's highly acclaimed fiddle band, Childsplay. She teaches at a music school and her private studio, and is in demand as an instructor at fiddle camps around the country.

http://www.longtimecourting.com/

----------------------------

"In this era of pop-driven acoustic music, notloB is keeping the folk tradition alive." ~ Jack Hardy

“"From a musician's perspective, I really appreciate the effort Jeff puts into his shows. Nobody on the Boston folk scene works harder to pull a concert together."
~ Alastair Moock, in an article written by Jonathan Perry, published in The Boston Globe

notloB Folk Concerts (Somerville, Newton and Jamaica Plain) are volunteer run and not for profit.
Mailing list ~ http://groups.google.com/group/notlobmusic
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/pages/notloB-Folk-Concerts/118395891509908
Website ~ http://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic

notloB Folk Concerts (Somerville, Newton and Somerville) are volunteer run and not for profit. For more information go to the website ~ http://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic
Mailing list ~ http://groups.google.com/group/notlobmusic
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38565709718&ref=ts

Jim Hurst Workshops and Concert

notloB Folk Concerts

presents 2-time IBMA guitarist of the year

Jim Hurst

Two-time IBMA guitarist of the year, multi-award winning guitarist in Bluegrass, as well as country, and other acoustic music genres, Jim is known throughout the Nashville TN area as one of the best in the business. His talents of singing, multi-instrumentalist abilities and well-rounded stylings have garnered him support positions and recording sessions with some of the best artists in Country and Bluegrass music. Trisha Yearwood, Sara Evans, Holly Dunn, Claire Lynch, Travis Tritt, John Cowan, Mark Schatz, Tim O'Brien and more.

“Jim is what I consider genius level as a player and a thinker.”
~ Claire Lynch

Jim's website ~ http://www.jimhurst.com/

Jim's Facebook fan page ~ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Hurst-Fan-Page/118927888131479

"Theory of Musical Relativity" guitar workshops in Lexington, Worcester and Jamaica Plain.

"If you play guitar around the house, in weekend bands, or for a living, my guess is you have questions about something to do with being a better guitar player than you are currently. My workshop title should give you an indication of my thoughts about it, how we relate our musical likes and desires to the instrument(s) we play. How to become aware of the fretboard and our accomplishments to this point and make the best use of it all. I cover many facets of musical abilities, understandings, fundamentals, practice and performance tips, the importance of melody, right hand exercises and techniques for single and multi-string improvement, Left hand challenges and exercises, chord positions, and scale importance. I adapt the workshop to many accomplishment levels, and while it is a guitar workshop, it is not restricted to guitar. I also welcome and invite flatpicking and fingerstyle players. While some of the workshops I do tend to have a bluegrass music flavor, I welcome any acoustic players.

"You are encouraged to bring audio recording devices (sorry, video not allowed) to record the workshop, but I must state that no sharing of the recordings are allowed. Note taking is always allowed and encouraged. I suggest attendees bring any questions to the workshop.

*No tablature or notation is provided or used, but discussion of this is likely.

"Come on out and let's learn something together."

"Theory of Musical Relativity" - Guitar Workshop, Lexington
Wednesday, May 12, 7:00pm, in association with the Boston Bluegrass Union and the Music Emporium

Location:	Music Emporium
Street:	165 Massachusetts Avenue
City/Town:	Lexington, MA
	View Map

$45 BBU members / $50 non-members.

More information / register at http://www.bbu.org, or send email to cameron.pforr (at) gmail (dot) com

Facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117646604921813

=================

"Theory of Musical Relativity" - Guitar Workshop, Worcester
Thursday, May 13, 8:00pm

Location:	Printers' Building
Street:	50 Portland Street
City/Town:	Worcester, MA
	View Map

$50 regular, $45 members of WCUW or WICN, $40 students/seniors, $30 college students enrolled in music programs.

More information / register by email to notlobreservations @gmail.com

PARKING: Do NOT park in the Portland Street lot, it belongs to the Bancroft Apartments, and they tow. Park in the Printer's Building own lot on the Myrtle Street side of the building. If full, park at a meter on Portland Street or or in the public lot next to the library off Salem Street.

The entrance is accessible from the building's lot, to the left of the dock. There will be a a sign on the door.

Facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117433784955135

======================

"Theory of Musical Relativity" - Guitar Workshop, Jamaica Plain
Saturday, May 15, 1:00pm

Location:	Temple Sound & Stage
Street:	670 Centre St., Suite 9
City/Town:	Jamaica Plain, MA
	View Map

Workshop only: $50 regular, $45 people who reserve through notlobreservations@gmail.com, $40 students/seniors, $30 Berklee/NEC/Emerson consortium college students enrolled in music programs.

....and that same evening Jim will be giving a solo acoustic concert at the nearby Loring Greenough House.

Workshop & evening concert combo - The workshop price above + $10.

Concert only: Suggested donation $20- at the door; $15- if reservation is made at least 24 hours in advance and Tuesday Club members; $12- for students and seniors; $50 - max on families. Addition of a $1/person “preservation fee” that goes to the LG House.

More information / register by email to notlobreservations @gmail.com

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

PARKING: Recommend the large public lot behind Blanchard's Liquors. Also available on the street (meters).

CHAIRS: Bring your own armless chair or stool.

Facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117043834995272


======================

Parlour concert at the Loring Greenough House, JP

Date:	Saturday, May 15, 2010
Time:	7:30pm - 10:30pm
Location:	Loring Greenough House
Street:	12 South Street
City/Town:	Jamaica Plain, MA
	View Map

Suggested donation $20- at the door; $15- if reservation is made at least 24 hours in advance and Tuesday Club members; $12- for students and seniors; $50 - max immediate families. Addition of a $1/person “preservation fee” that goes to the LG House. See above if interested in combining the workshop and concert.

Seating limited to 40, reservations suggested ~ notlobreservations @gmail.com

Facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115890011783159

notloB Folk Concerts (Somerville, Newton and Somerville) are volunteer run and not for profit. For more information go to the website ~ http://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic
Mailing list ~ http://groups.google.com/group/notlobmusic
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38565709718

Globe puff piece produces interesting reader comments

Meg Griffin, walking one of her horses at Kittery Crossing Farm in Rowley. (Jim Wilson/Globe Staff)

A recent Boston Globe "puff piece" about WUMB's newest "on air personality" has produced some very interesting and I am sure unanticipated reader comments (read the PR backfired) about the station's programming, policies and management. I attribute the volume and intensity to pent-up feelings by the dispossessed former fans of the former folk station due to lack of the Globe's lack of coverage ...

The departures of Brian Quinn and, more recently, Barnes Newberry from WUMB certainly ARE newsworthy, but somehow got not a whisper of mention even on the stations' own web site, let alone in the local media. Not a word! That's simply amazing, since these are losses whose magnitude defies description by (or to) anyone with a real knowledge of folk music since the sixties.

...of WUMB's transformation into a AAA station.

In a nutshell, "WUMB: get back to quality folk music AND quality on-air FOLK."

Select reader comments (see article for all).

jayfin wrote:

One tires of these puff pieces. Why not some info about ratings, about how a team player broadcasts from her house not the studio, how about most people do not care about the DJ - it's the music that matters. I admit I do not listen, not a night time radio listener, but I did find the World Cafe a bit cloying and artificial. In any case, some advice -- interviews with DJs are as boring as interviews with musicians (something that always surprises me).

===============

ookpik wrote:

Meg Griffin is great at what she does, and a welcome substitution for "World Cafe."

That said, the old folk station WUMB is sadly missed. Likewise, WGBH's 2009 decision (taken apparently without consulting its audience, and followed by a display of contempt towards those of us who asked that WGBH reconsider) to abandon almost all of its own excellent folk and blues program is deplored. Together, these changes leave one of the strongest folk-music communities in the nation without a radio presence; we listen to Internet stations such as Folk Alley when we have access, and wonder how newcomers will ever have the opportunity to discover the music we love.

===============

Paine wrote:
There are two errors/misconceptions in the story and the subsequent comments.

1. "a local college station". WUMB is not a college station. True, the license is held by UMass Boston, but its staff consists of professionals on the UMass payroll. There is not one minute of student- or community-member produced or hosted programming, such as with the three other UMass stations, WUMA (Amherst), WUML (Lowell) and WUMD (Dartmouth). This past Sunday, WMUA's Celtic program, hosted by a member of the community who is not compensated for her work, was pre-empted by coverage of a softball game. When is the last time one heard UMass Boston sports or any other student program on WUMB?

2. “WUMB dropped "World Cafe" to make room for Ms. Griffin.” Not true, it moved the start time back from 7 to 10pm. "World Cafe" is still broadcast some 20 hours per week, a new or repeated show from 10-midnight, echoed immediately midnight-2am.

Re "In an era when commercial-laden, focus-grouped, talky, pre-formatted stations have driven any thoughtful (sic) listener to other music mediums" describes WUMB to a "T".
• commercial-laden – much of its daytime programming is in-house produced commercials for itself.
• Focus group – check – when management took WUMB from a folk station to AAA, it used focus groups.
• pre-formatted – check – what an “on-air personality” will say or do next is predictable.
Its format is as predictable and stale and like a AAA pop station, it features the same few trendy AAA pop artists ad nausium. It does not have DJ's, their own term is "on-air personalities". The "OAP's" have little or no freedom to produce their own programs, instead that is done by a music director who was hired for his AAA background; all songs and artists must be approved by station management. They do little more than voice-overs, often giving the same repeated trite facts about the repeated artists. What a waste of professional talent.

With regard to Arbitron ratings, if they were not so important to WUMB, why else would they subscribe and participate? WUMB subscribes to Arbitron and airs canned national syndicated programming and has a programming formula because its handlers at NPR tell it to do so.

WUMB's Arbitron numbers (1)

S-09 O-09 N-09 D-09 Holiday J-10 F-10 M-10
Est 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
% cume 59300 44300 33500 52300 54600 52900 41300 44600

These numbers are not exactly stellar, WUMB is ranked #41 out of 56 in the Boston market. Makes one think, if federal/state/university money were not propping up the station, how long could it afford to carry its professional staff?

Sources
1. http://www.radio-info.com/site/markets/grid/boston
2. http://www.stationratings.com/ratings.asp?market=13

==========

SWozniak wrote:

I've been finding WUMB a little too "uptempo" lately.

I never heard of Meg until she came to WUMB but I was an 'underground radio' listener in Detroit when people like Jerry Goodwin, later of WADN, played bands like The Amazing Blondel.

Honestly, after a listen or two, I find Meg a tad grating.

=========

manoakid wrote:

Wumb pretends to be a "public" radio but is operating under the dictatorship of one Ms. Pat Montieth. She pulls down a salary of well over 90,000 per year and stands at the helm of a sinking ship brow beating employees and volunteers alike. UMASS Boston seems to have a cloak of silence surrounding her behavior although over the years has collected countless complaints from her co-workers. Meg is an asset but I doubt that she will last very long....she is too good. Ms Montieth consistently demeans those that work for her....and if they don't like the abuse they can leave. Bear witness to the departure of Mr. Barnes Newberry who decided to leave with his dignity and not accept his banishment from live airwaves for two weeks because he dared to express displeasure on a decision Ms. Montieth had made concerning his show. His show was one of the most popular and financially sound spots on the station....and now is gone. Hopefully Meg can rise above Montieth's reign of terror and we can finally have some 'good radio' on the airwaves!

=============

Paine wrote:
Since Barnes' resignation has been brought up…

1. Is anyone aware of a Boston Globe article by Joan Anderman or other writer about Barnes' "resignation"? Or come to think of it, Brian Quinn's (former program director and 20 year vet) or Marilyn Rae Beyer's (former program director and 14 year vet)? Prove me wrong, show me the article. If it wishes to make amends and cites the sources, the Globe is welcome to any of the information contained in this series of articles - http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/search/label/WUMB

2. Read the public facts about Barnes' "resignation" in a blog post titled "End of the Highway" dated 4/25/10 at http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/end-of-highway.html and mirrored in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/message/9800

3. Read "Brian Quinn, WUMB program director, "laid off"", dated 11/12/09, and his own announcement dated 11/10/09 at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolknRoots/message/8608

Remember, this is the same Globe that buried the fact that WUMB laid off its weekend staff in an article about serving alcohol at Club Passim. Read
http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/2009/03/confirmed-wumb-has-laid-off-its-weekend.html

…and glossed over the folk-to-“music mix” format change in a small mention in passing buried in an article in its “celebrity” section titled “Wahlberg and gang take over oyster house” dated 1/2/09 – http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/12/09/wahlberg_and_gang_take_over_oyster_house/

Do we see a pattern here? If you want happy news, read the Globe. If you want reality, dig and share it yourself.

===============

no-moore wrote:

Congratulations to Meg- perhaps the recent changes at the radio station will create enough force to impact the current mismanagement that would allow the loss of Barnes.
Meg's quote says it best... "To be remembered as a radio personality you need a singular vision, and you can’t be compromised.’’ Keep that thought Meg-never allow yourself to be compromised!

==============

unabashedleftist wrote:

I can tolerate Meg, though the chatter - from her and all the other "on-air personalities" (some of whom cannot even pronounce the names of the artists they're playing...) - is grating.

What I can't tolerate is the steady deterioration of WUMB. The loss of Brian Quinn ("laid off" after 20 years) and the programming takeover by the incompetent pop fanatic John Laurenti had me on the edge. With the loss of Barnes, I made my decision to stop donating to the station after a decade of doing so.

============

Olgasparky wrote:

I myself have doing a gradual to steady burn re: WUMB, and the wave of obvious change. More and more, just turning it right off, with the amount of chatter..but also the change in music. The times when it has seemed like there was just a reel to reel playing. Or hey, set your clock..THAT song is on again..hmm same time too! My donations have always been plugged to Highway 61, and Barnes Newberry. I can't believe that #1 Barnes would leave, unless totally provoked. #2 That management, Pat Montieth, would think is a good decision to let another of the true anchors, slip away from this WUMB Family. Although more and more it seems to be a total disfunctional family. With various cuts here and there, I wonder..did managment make any effort to take a cut in their salary? Many of us in listener land, are under huge economic cuts, yet believe in supporting what we enjoy and love..for me Hwy 61 AND Barnes the host. So although I cut the dollar amount, I still donated, to back up the full version of my Hwy 61..NOT the now..duluted version of this show, and others. Shame on WUMB for letting another great slip out the door!

=============

TBRodman wrote:
The "addition" to WUMB of a New York DJ who was most recently "a champion of the punk and new wave scene" to a station which purports to be "all about folk radio" is hardly a "plus" by my math. It is neither sensible nor newsworthy, except perhaps to illustate the egomaniacal and completely out of touch nature of the alleged "management" currently in place at WUMB. Such developments are an insult to seasoned WUMB listeners and (in my case, now former) regular financial supporters.

The departures of Brian Quinn and, more recently, Barnes Newberry from WUMB certainly ARE newsworthy, but somehow got not a whisper of mention even on the stations' own web site, let alone in the local media. Not a word! That's simply amazing, since these are losses whose magnitude defies description by (or to) anyone with a real knowledge of folk music since the sixties. The loss of all the knowledge of the culture, music, history, evolution and meaning of folk music went out right out the door with Brian Quinn and, more recently, Barnes Newberry. Meg Griffin and her punk background and horse hobby are somehow news, or cause for celebration? Sorry, but I don't think so...

Simply stated, WUMB manager Pat Monteith should either quit or be summarily fired. If the station continues to plummets any further downhill, the (clearly already waning) support for the station will dry up completely. The death knell won't be far behind. Say goodnight, Pat Monteith. What you know about folk music wouldn't fill a matchbook cover! Meanwhile, my checkboois CLOSED when it comes to further financial support for WUMB.

===============

EthansDad67 wrote:

Highway Sixty-one
Revisited is gone and
so is my support

Cole of Arlington

==============

Talisker wrote:

Well, WUMB’s made one move in the right direction by bringing Meg on. Her music offerings are a big improvement on what the station's come to. I do appreciate her banter, whether commentary or info-based. I hope they can keep Meg, but that’s to be seen.

Sorry to say that Meg can’t make up for the significant program deterioration and disappointing personnel changes at ‘UMB. In these economic times, why move away from what’s been so long appreciated and respected?

WUMB: get back to quality folk music AND quality on-air FOLK.

==============

pedrolr wrote:

Despite being a foreigner and to live in Europe, I discovered WUMB googling for "FOLK RADIO" back in 2005. Since then I addopted WUMB as my favourite radio station listening its internet stream. Due to WUMB, I spent 2 holidays in Northeast, music has such power, doesn't it? Since 2005 I'm a member of this station, to whom I donate every 6 months at Barnes' HW61R.

WUMB decided by their own to make a shift in their philosophy without even consult their members and supporters. I can't agree with their decision. WUMB is not anylonger a folk radio station rather a "patchwork" radio station. As my father taught me, "when a man loses his credit he hasn't anything else to lose". So here's how I picture WUMB. As far as I am concerned, WUMB lost its identity. I don't know why Barnes had to quit, but together with Dick Pleasants, he was the last man WORTHY at this radio station. I don't have much left over there... And quite frankly, my support is gone for good too...
Pedro Ribeiro, Lisbon, Portugal

.

The Grateful Dead at MIT, 5/6/70

Description: Mary Ann Vecchio gestures and screams as she kneels by the body of a student, Jeffrey Miller, lying face down on the campus of Kent State University, in Kent, Ohio. On publication, the image was retouched to remove the fencepost above Vecchio's head.
Source: © 1970 Valley News-Dispatch
Date: 1970-05-04
Author: John Paul Filo, who was a journalism student at Kent State University at the time

40 years ago the Grateful Dead were booked to play a concert at MIT. Then tragedy struck at Kent State, four students protesting the US invasion of Cambodia were struck down by the soldiers of the Ohio National Guard. For more information read Wiki "Kent State Shootings".

Like most other colleges and universities across the country, the MIT students' response was to close down the school by a strike.

Because Kresgee was not available for the concert, and when the Dead saw hundreds of students milling about in the yard, they decided to "jam". A reel to reel tape recorder took the feed off the sound board, the impromptu concert was recorded.

Some years later, Eli Polonsky, now host of "60's/70's Lost and Found" on WMBR , Tuesdays noon-2pm discovered the tape in the WMBR vaults and contacted David Gans, host/producer of the Grateful Dead Hour. David subsequently restored, mastered and turned the recording into digital format.

The Grateful Dead at MIT, 5/6/70 will be broadcast tonight starting at 8pm PDT on the mother station, KPFA, Berkley. Check TGDH listings for other stations and times.

==============

The basic information was correct, Eli supplies the details.

The Dead were scheduled to play a paid concert the next night (5-7-70) in MIT's DuPont Gym, which they did, but they were in the area the day before, saw the massive student strike in front of the student center, and decided to spontaneously set up on Kresge Plaza in front of the student center and play a free concert for the rally crowd. MIT radio station WTBS (now WMBR) was set up with a direct mono high-fidelity feed to record the strike rally on reel-to-reel, and ended up with a soundboard tape of this impromptu (but legendary) Dead concert. The digitzed version (by David Gans) of that original reel is what will be played tonight on KPFA. http://www.kpfa.org at 11 PM EDT for us east coasters.

- Eli Polonsky

FCC Warning to Worcester Unlicensed Station Is Indicator of Big New England Pirate Scene

Originally published to Radio Survivor ~ http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2010/04/27/fcc-warning-to-worcester-unlicensed-station-is-indicator-of-big-new-england-pirate-scene/ ~ on 4/27/10

FCC Warning to Worcester Unlicensed Station Is Indicator of Big New England Pirate Scene

April 27th, 2010 by Paul Riismandel in Uncategorized

Worcester, Massachusset’s unlicensed Flava 105.5 has received some mostly positive press coverage recently for its focus on underserved Caribbean populations in the area. Probably not coincidentally, about two weeks after it appeared in the local newspaper the FCC issued the station a Notice of Unlicensed Operation (NOUO) ordering it to cease broadcasting immediately.

In a follow-up story reporting on the Commission’s action that appeared in the News Telegram on Saturday the station’s general manager said that “We’re no longer on the air. … We’re not in business.” However, the paper’s reporter noted that the station was still on the air as of Friday night.

Every FCC field office prioritizes unlicensed stations differently. Sometimes a station operating as openly as Flava 105.5 might go unbothered for months. Other times the Commission will act quickly once a station gets noticed. A significant variable in this is how loudly local licensed broadcasters complain and bug the FCC.

In this case it looks like the Boston field office has been hitting unlicensed stations all over its geographic area of responsibility since February. Scanning over the Enforcement Bureau’s recent field actions it looks like quite a few Massachusetts stations were on the radar. The Boston field office issued NUOUs to another Worcester station, along with stations in Hartford, Webster, Boston, Norwood, Boxford, two stations in Mattapan(1, 2) Springfield and three stations in Brockton (1, 2, 3). Additionally, the Boston field office sent NUOUs to four stations in Rhode Island and three in Connecticut over the same period.

In the first article on Flava 105.5 a local online radio director was quoted saying she’s “heard of a lot of Haitian radio stations popping up in the Boston area.” This pattern looks a lot like the unlicensed activity in the New York City and South Florida areas which also have significant Caribbean and Latino communities who are otherwise not well served by licensed stations, commercial or noncommercial.

I was actually surprised at the number of notices the Boston field office sent out this year (20!). That number alone represents a lot of unlicensed broadcasting. But if you take into account the likelihood that there are many other stations that haven’t been identified by the FCC or just haven’t been contacted yet, I’d say there’s a pretty big pirate scene going on in southern New England. The Commission doesn’t note the kind of programming aired on the stations it contacts. But just looking over the names of the persons identified in the notices there seem to be what look like a lot of Latino and Hatian names.

The takeaway from this is that there are still a lot of communities and groups who are not well served by licensed broadcasters, leading a significant number of people to take to the air without a license to fill the void. This is especially true in big metropolitan areas, like greater Boston, where low-power FM licenses have not been available in the densest population areas. I think it’s fair to say that even if LPFM licenses to become available there will not be enough to go around, and not much of a dent will be made in the number of unlicensed broadcasters.

Finally, I must note that all the Boston office has done is sent out warning letters that say the equivalent of “we’re pretty sure you’re broadcasting without a license and you better cut it out!” That letter alone is enough to scare a lot of unlicensed broadcasters off the air. But it’s a long way from the NUOU letter to a real fine, and then collecting the fine or taking a station off the air by police force.

While LPFM provided a very needed avenue for many different populations and communities to obtain broadcast licenses, the service is not and will not be enough to make up for the lack of diversity on the majority of the radio dial. While the FCC may have hoped LPFM would hold back the tide of pirate radio, a decade later there’s no evidence that happened. There may be fewer outwardly political pirates like Free Radio Berkeley, but that doesn’t mean today’s stations aren’t there for important reasons.

Happy Birthday, Pete!

Photo by Anthony Pepitone

notloB Kitchen Concerts Presents BRENDAN HOGAN

notloB Kitchen Concerts

presents

Brendan Hogan

Date:	Sunday, May 2, 2010
Time:	5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Jackson Homestead
Street:	527 Washington Street
City/Town:	Newton, MA
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Brendan's THIRD notloB appearance!

"A distinctive new musical voice."
- The Boston Phoenix

"Hogan's music is a transporting experience."
- The Deli Magazine New England

"The roots of Brendan Hogan's music run in all directions, allowing him to draw on the past to make compelling music for the present."
– Ted Drozdowski, Nashville Scene newsweekly/Scissormen frontman.

"Brendan Hogan's beautifully unadorned music [captures] the voice of an old soul in a young man's body."
- The Nashua Telegraph

"If you care anything for the current state of blues and roots music, then Brendan Hogan is a name you should know. And with his hard work and focus, it’s a name you won’t be able to keep from knowing."
- John Weeks, BostonBlues.com

http://brendanhogan.net/

Suggested minimum donation $10. $7.50 for museum members and those making reservations at least 24 hours in advance. All donations go to the museum and artist.

Seating is limited to 30, reservations are strongly recommended - notlobreservations @ gmail.com

notloB Folk Concerts (Somerville, Newton and Jamaica Plain) are volunteer run and not for profit. Dedicated volunteers are needed - notlobreservations @ gmail.com

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"In this era of pop-driven acoustic music, notloB is keeping the folk tradition alive." ~ Jack Hardy

“"From a musician's perspective, I really appreciate the effort Jeff puts into his shows. Nobody on the Boston folk scene works harder to pull a concert together."
~ Alastair Moock, in an article written by Jonathan Perry, published in The Boston Globe

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5/1 TAO RODRIGUEZ-SEEGER BAND - Somerville
5/2 BRENDAN HOGAN - Newton
5/15 JIM HURST (note date change) - JP
6/4 LONG TIME COURTING - Somerville
6/6 JO WILLIAMSON - Newton