97.3 WRIR - Richmond Independent Radio

I describe Global A Go-Go as "music from around the world in the universal language of groove." In short, you could call it a world music program that emphasizes the danceable over the folkloric.

"World music" is one of those terms that everybody uses but nobody claims to like; I guess I'm that group too. My favorite definition of world music is that it's "local music from somewhere else." That's a pretty good description of my show as well: most of the artists I play aren't the least bit obscure, they're just popular somewhere other than Richmond Virginia.

I live in a metropolitan area (and a country, for that matter) that is becoming more diverse at a rapid pace. Not everybody recognizes it, and more than a few people are actively resistant to it. But resistance is futile: America has always been a multicultural nation, and now's the time for a little bit more multicultural radio programming.

I've been recording and podcasting my show since 2004, even before WRIR began broadcasting. You can find a ridiculously large number of Global A Go-Go podcasts here:

http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

Fan of Global A Go-Go? You might also enjoy these other WRIR programs: The Motherland Influence - If Music Could Talk - Ambiance Congo - The Other Black Music - Mellow Madness

Visit the show website

Recent Blog Entries

5/24/13 Global A Go-Go: Friday May 24, 5-7 PM

Kick off your Memorial Day weekend with a very special edition of Global A Go-Go: a live, in-studio performance by Carbon Leaf. They're back home in Richmond after a Navy Entertainment tour that took them to Bahrain (pictured below), Djibouti and aboard the USS Eisenhower in the Red Sea.

Carbon Leaf is one of the most accomplished and successful bands that Richmond has produced in the last 20 years. While no one has ever called them a "world music" act (of course, lots of people think my program isn't a "world music" show either, starting with me), their sound has always been prominently influenced by Celtic folk and rock, staples of the Global A Go-Go catalog.

On their current album, Ghost Dragon Attacks Castle, those Celtic roots are at the forefront. Carbon Leaf will perform several songs from Ghost Dragon and some others as well, and we'll talk music, business, travel and Brazilian polka metal, among other things.

Thanks in advance to the band for working Richmond Independent Radio into their busy schedule, and to WRIR volunteer Richard Schellenburg for engineering the live set.

A podcast of today's program will be available soon at http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go.

5/17/13 Global A Go-Go: Friday May 17, 5-7 PM

Saban Bajramovic (pictured below) was the king of Balkan Gypsy song, arguably the greatest Roma vocalist of all time (and a serious pigeon-fancier as well). This week I'll present two songs as evidence, one from 1969 and the other from one of his last recordings in 2006. No pigeons were harmed in the production of this radio show.

Also this week: new music from Vieux Farka Toure (a cover of his father, in fact); some nice long songs from the Congo and Kenya; Dubmatix mashes up reggae, electronica and bass music; and as always, much more.

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/68498

All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

5/10/13 Global A Go-Go: Friday May 10, 5-7 PM

Previous reissues by the Analog Africa, Soundway and Popular African Music labels, plus an amazing 2011 reunion album, have provided proof positive that Benin's Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou is one of the greatest African bands of all time.

Analog Africa is back with their fourth Poly-Rythmo release, and I'm still finding new songs to add to my list of favorites from this amazing group. I'll spin one of them on this week's program.

Also this week: a set of music from Zimbabwe, a little bit of funky Asia-tronica, and some cumbia-flavored rock 'n' roll.

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/68347

All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

5/3/13 Global A Go-Go: Friday May 3, 5-7 PM

This week I'm pleased to debut (certainly on WRIR and perhaps in the USA, who knows?) a new compilation of 60s-70s vintage Roma pop 45s from the former Yugoslavia, dug and released (licensed as well, of course) by two enterprising young British vinyl collectors. You can read about their adventures in Skopje and Belgrade here:

http://www.icrates.org/rare-roma-gypsy-vinyl-vlax-stand-up

I'll play a track by Muharem Serbezovski (pictured below), one of the most popular singers Macedonia has produced (despite appearances, he's not the token Macedonian on the Starship Enterprise), along with some groovy related Greek and Turkish music.

Also this week: Brazilian psych 'n' soul, the early years of dancehall, and a few examples of the West African Mande musical heritage.

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/68196

All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

4/26/13 Global A Go-Go: Friday April 26, 5-7 PM

On last week's show, you heard some of the newest in Afro-tronica; this week, it's the latest and greatest cumbia-tronica: nueva cumbia from Palenke Soultribe, Raul Y Meixa, Systema Solar (pictured below) and more.

Also this week: Congolese working in East Africa, classic and current calypso from Trinidad, and the many flavors of desert blues.

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/68009

All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

4/19/13 Global A Go-Go: Friday April 19, 5-7 PM

This week on Global A Go-Go, you'll hear a band whose debut album is merely 31 years late. The 1982 recording session of Senegal's Dieuf-Dieul De Thies (pictured below) never did get released back then; you can buy it for the first time on Record Store Day 2013.

I have two additional Record Store Day specials for you: a track from Chicha Libre's new Cuatro Tigres EP, and one from The Rough Guide To Latin Psychedelia which is coming out on vinyl April 20. Plus a set of British folk-rock, West Africa goes James Brown, a few killer salsa tracks and the sound of Afrotronica, all this week on Global A Go-Go.

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/67864

All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go