WXPR 91.7 fm Public Radio
WXPR's Twentieth Anniversary Celebration - Public Radio Plus!
The WXPR 20th Anniversary Festival - Riverwalk Park, Rhinelander Wisconsin
How do you celebrate twenty years of the highest quality public radio programming? How about a daylong celebration filled with excellent live music, good food, and a tremendously interesting featured speaker. That's exactly what the folk at White Pine Community Broadcasting must have thought when they planned the WXPR 91.7FM Public Radio Plus 20th Anniversary Festival.
WXPR Station Manager Mick Fiocchi hosted the celebration, held at Rhinelander's Riverwalk Park and band shell, and made possible by the efforts of WXPR staff and volunteers, the WXPR 91.7fm Public Radio Plus 20th Anniversary Festival was a rousing success. As fitting with the stations diverse format, musical entertainment included live performances by The Backstreeters Dixieland Band, The Jim Pekol Orchestra (Polka), Joe Martin & Company (Bluegrass), and the Northwoods Brass Quintet (Classical).
NPR Senior Correspondent Jacki Lyden
The featured speaker was Wisconsin native and NPR senior correspondent, Jacki Lyden, who, most recently has served as guest host of NPR's award-winning All Things Considered. While working as a foreign correspondent for NPR, Jacki Lyden has reported from Afghanistan, Iran, Jordan and Irag as well as many other countries in the Middle East. On September 11th 2001, Jacki Lyden was NPR's first New York reporter on the air that morning, and continued to report from Ground Zero for the next week.
Lyden's next assignment found her in Kabul Afghanistan where she reported on the departure of the Taliban, the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai and numerous stories of repression and newfound freedoms. She has interviewed Jordan's King Hussein, Iraq's Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, and Yasser Arafat as well as writers performers and other people of interest.
Jacki spoke of her beginnings in radio, working for Chicago's WIND, and, of growing up in Wisconsin. Lyden also spoke of her best-selling memoir, Daughter of the Queen of Sheba. It is a very personal tale of a bipolar mother's love and struggles with a tragic affliction that affected all around her. Jacki spoke for an hour. I wish it were longer.
WXPR Public Radio Plus - community supported radio
WXPR 91.7FM is a community supported radio station. The diverse programming, which includes a number of exclusive, WXPR produced programs, such as Midday Classics, Your Favorites, Northwoods Café and Blues Friday would not be possible without listener support. Solitudes, the Polka Show, WXPR Jazz, Classics By Request, and the inimitable Bluegrass Saturday would be sorely missed. What would Saturday afternoons be like without Brother Bill Kaul and some of Mindy's famous coffee?
Events such as the Anniversary Festival are proof of the commitment that White Pine Community Broadcasting has for its supporting members and listeners. It was a way of giving thanks as much as anything else.
If you listen to WXPR and you appreciate the unique programming, please consider becoming a member by making a pledge or contributing through the station's endowment fund. Learn more and find out how you can help support WXPR.
WXPR 91.7FM presents Paul Cebar and The Millwaukeeans
Before the WXPR 20th Anniversary Festival was brought to a close, Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans brought the crowd to their feet. Difficult to categorize, rock-folk-jazz does not do justice, Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans might be described as an amalgam of Jimmy Buffet, Paul Simon, the Talking Heads and The Butterfield Blues Band. Unfortunately, that description would fall short.
Some bands play to the audience, Paul Cebar and The Milwaukeeans played for the audience. They also played for themselves, as only true musicians will do. It's true, I am a huge fan, but I am also a hardcore music critic. The show was great. Not only was much of the audience dancing to the beat, I found myself working hard to steady my camera as I was bouncing to the groove.
This is what festival is all about: good music, good times, and lots of dancing. After the final song, a loud and pleading, appreciative audience brought the band out for an intense encore. The energy levels were high with both the band and the audience enjoying the end to a perfect day and an outstanding evening.
When it finally came to a close, the WXPR 91.7FM Public Radio Plus 20th Anniversary Festival, left many in the audience wishing the day was longer and the night still young. You know, a 21st anniversary is pretty important too. This was too much fun to stop now.
Festival photos: browse the WXPR 91.7FM 20th Anniversary Festival Image Gallery
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