Global A Go-GoGlobal A Go-Go: Friday October 29, 5-7 PM

WRIR's Fall 2010 Fund Drive starts when this program goes on the air — Friday October 29 at 5:00 PM here in Richmond Virginia USA.  The fund drive is a time when all of Richmond Independent Radio's 200 volunteers dress foolishly and stand in the middle of busy thoroughfares holding signs.  Well, maybe a few of our volunteers do — after all, it is Halloween week.

Actually, the fund drive is a time when we ask all of our listeners (and that means webstream and podcasts, too) to think about the value that WRIR brings — the great music you wouldn't hear otherwise, the unembedded news that isn't beholden to established powers or points of view, the discussions that treat you like an intelligent adult and not like … oh, let's say a potential voter whose button we're trying to push.  After all, it is election week here in the USA as well.

After you tally up that value, perhaps the spirit will move you to make a donation.  We count on those donations for a substantial fraction of our annual budget — they pay for the programs you hear, the equipment we use to get them to you, rent and utilities at the place we broadcast from, necessities all.  So please consider making a donation now by calling (804) 622-9747 or by clicking here:

https://wrir.wufoo.com/forms/2010-form

Follow me below the fold where I'll tell you what's special about today's program, let you know about the  special premiums we have for folks who donate during Global A Go-Go, and I'll post my tracklist as the show proceeds.  Click here for a podcast of today's program:

http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/46767

The complete catalog of Global A Go-Go podcasts is here:

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

To get you in the donating spirit, I've invited the band Rattlemouth to perform in WRIR's Live Room.  If you're not familiar with Rattlemouth, they describe their sound as "musical gymnastics for the body and spirit."  Their repertoire includes music from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Lebanon and parts unknown, so they're one of the most Global A Go-Go bands I know.  And they're great supporters of Richmond Independent Radio who will be glad to tell you why it's so important that you make a donation during the Fall '10 Fund Drive.

To give you a little extra incentive to donate, there are two special gift packs you can win if you donate during Global A Go-Go (by phone or in-person only).  The first person who donates $100 or more will win the Global A Go-Go Stash of three excellent brand-new releases I've been featuring on this program, all from the World Village record label:

• Ancestors Call by Huun Huur Tu:  Amazing throat singing and other traditional vocal techniques by the legendary band from Tuva
•  Sin Rumba No Hay Son! by Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro:  Speaking of legendary, this Cuban group was founded in 1927 and they swing like crazy
• Sonando Ya by Sierra Maestra:  The latest release from the band that kicked off the Cuban son revival, years before the Buena Vista Social Club

We also have the Global A Go-Go Super-Stash, six of the finest, funkiest recordings I've heard this year.  This prize goes to the person who donates the largest dollar amount during Global A Go-Go:

• The Budos Band III (Daptone Records):  The latest from Staten Island's number 1 afro-funk collective
• Dr. Boondigga And The Big BW by Fat Freddys Drop (Electrofone Records):  An unclassifiable, brilliant funk/reggae/jazz band from New Zealand
• El Existential by Grupo Fantasma (Nat Geo Records):  One of the great live bands in America, playing a fusion of salsa, Latin soul, psych rock and funk
• The Electric Sound of Johnny Arrow by Cochemea Gastelum (Mowo Records):  The saxophone player from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings steps out on electric sax a la Eddie Harris
• Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music From South Africa (Honest Jon's Records):  The latest in rural-to-urban South African pop, probably the most amazing thing I've heard all year
• Egypt Noir: Nubian Soul Treasures (Piranha Records):  A great sampler of the funky popular music of Nubia in southern Egypt