Radio Free Athens

 

Adventurous. Unexpected. Fun. They're words not usually associated with AM radio. That's all changed on WOUB-AM, thanks to some music-obsessed community volunteers.

 

Since debuting in June 2002, Radio Free Athens has been offering an alternative to the usual Saturday AM lineup of talk shows, Top 40 countdowns and the like.

 

On any given Saturday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., listeners will hear a great mix of rock and roll from the 60s to the present, with other genres such as soul, rockabilly, folk and old-time acoustic sprinkled in along the way.

 

Raised on Paul Simon, The Eagles, The Statler Brothers, Elvis Presley, Alabama and Willie Nelson, James Hill's tastes have branched out considerably since childhood. Listeners can expect anything from Billy Bragg to Ella Fitzgerald, with a healthy dose of folk, R&B, Americana, classic rock and local music.

 

Jim Phillips has been the senior writer and reporter at The Athens News for more than 20 years. Local music buffs also know him as a talented singer-songwriter. Join Jim as shares his extensive collection of vinyl during a fun and eclectic show.

 

Dave Baer has been a fixture on the local music scene for years, playing guitar and bass for bands like Gravyland and Stella. Join Dave for a mix of classic and modern rock, soul, blues and Americana.

 

Doug "Rat" Brooks, an avid lover and collector of all sorts of music, has been part of the Athens music scene for many years. His bands include Gravyland and the "performance art/musical act" known as Larry and the Lima Beans. Armed with hundreds of pieces of vinyl and CDs, listeners will hear anything from ABBA to Zappa.

 

Michael Tedesco has championed underrepresented musicians on non-commercial radio on both coasts since 1980, characterizing his programs as "what progressive radio would be if it had remained progressive."  In addition to stints as a guitar technician, tour manager, concert promoter and independent record label director in the 90s, he has also performed in the US and Europe as a guitarist in his own bands as well as with Trap Door and Robert Fripp & the League/Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists.

 

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