97.3 WRIR - Richmond Independent Radio

"Edge of Americana features the finest in American traditional music forms – old-time, bluegrass, blues, jug band, ragtime, early jazz, novelty songs, classic country, and whatever else seems to fit. Shows are sometimes themed by song topic, a specific instrument, a certain artist, or particular region from which a sub-genre arises. Preference is given to recordings made before the 1960's, though newer bands are welcomed into the playlist, provided that they stray from the ultra-clean and faceless brand of “music” that seeps out of the Nashville machine and infects the world with mediocrity.

I (Josh Bearman) am a musician and music lover. The music I play on my show comes mainly from my own collection (records, tapes, cd's, mp3's), and is not representative of anything more than my own taste. The Americana that strikes my fancy is gritty and frequently comes in the form of “source recordings,” that is, non-commercial recordings capturing bluegrass and old-time music being played for the sake of the music, rather than for an audience or studio engineer. Unlike many other musical forms, these musics, in my estimation, are primarily played for the sake of playing, and it is that aspect that most interests me."

Recent Blog Entries

6/18/13 Music From Fanny Blackburn’s 78 Collection

An example of Fannie's Montgomery Ward 78's.

Otto just returned from a Sunday spent listening to the 78's belonging to a SW VA woman named Fannie Blackburn's 78 collection. Born in 1902, she saved up 17 cents for each Montgomery Ward brand 78, which apparently took some time.

Think about THAT the next time you oh so casually browse the internet for music.

Enjoy!

JBOK

6/4/13 Banjos and Fiddles Twirling in the Sky

Extreme weather of all sorts, tonight!

Cyclones, Thunder, Rainstorms, and more!

JBOK

5/28/13 Wave That Frame

Ladies and gentlemen . . . Mr. Lowe Stokes!

Featuring this guy and a lot of others in tonight's mess of music.

Enjoy!

JBOK

5/21/13 Plunge Into The Depths of Treble With Us

Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys in 1953. Just a great pic.

Another night, another 2 hours of wonderful twangy, tangy, and crotchety tunes.

Enjoy!

JBOK

5/14/13 Once More to the Guitar We Go!

We're so excited for Wayne Henderson and Helen White show this Saturday at Westover Baptist Church here in RVA, we just bursting forth with the sound of America's favorite 6-String instrument!

Saturday, May 18th

Westover Baptist Church - 1000 Westover Hills Boulevard

Doors at 7:00pm, Show at 8:00pm

$22 (and so well worth it!)

Enjoy!

JBOK

5/7/13 Crambone

Just Josh tonight with a random assortment of tunes, including a version of Froggy Went A'Courtin' as sung by Uncle Pecos from Tom & Jerry (pictured here).

Crambone.

JB!