Posts Categorized: News

Michael Danahy memorial service this Friday June 16th 7-8pm @ Novare Res

Update to this post is there will be a memorial service for Michael Danahy this Friday, June 16th, at Novare Res , from 7-8pm. We received some sad news yesterday that longtime WMPG volunteer, Michael Danahy, has passed away while visiting California. Michael had his hands in many things over the years here at WMPG, most recently working on the live music show – Local Motives . In the past years he worked with our Development Department, helped with…

Michael Danahy

WMPG in Congress Square Park

We’ve partnered up with the fine folks of Congress Square Park to bring our eclectic mix of DJ’s to the park.  Every other Thursday, from 5pm-8pm, a few of our DJ’s will be playing music for you at the park.

WMPG at Congress Square Live
WMPG at Congress Square

Spectacular Blues Spectacular at OLS

The WMPG Bluegrass Spectacular returned for a night of, you guessed it, bluegrass.  Pejebscot Station kicked it off with their set, followed by Breakin’ Strings with the World Famous Grassholes headlining this event that was filled with great music, a silent auction, big energy, and a sense of community. The Bluegrass Spectacular, in its 18th year was a benefit night for WMPG and was a great opportunity for the community to come together and support…

Penejbsot Station
Photo: Will Fudge

JAM – Jazz at the Movies April 29th

In celebration of International Jazz Day, WMPG’s Jazz At the Movies (JAM) will be showing the film “Blue Note Records- Beyond the Notes” on Saturday April 29th at the Portland Conservatory of Music.  This movie is about the Blue Note Record label, but it is more about the Blue Note founders and the chemistry between them and the great musicians that recorded on this label.  This is truly a case where the musicians made the record label what…

Jazz at the Movies - Blue Note Records film Beyond the Notes. Saturday April 29th 7pm

Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Beaudry- W.E.B Du Bois Symposium Wednesday April12th

Data Visualizations and Diversity in Maine-Evidence, Art, and Advocacy. An all-day symposium that takes an in-depth active learning approach to 40 data visualizations which first premiered at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900. USM’s Dr. Beaudry talks with us about the event that happens Wednesday April 12th.

Dr. Jeffery interview

Interview with Dr. Nicolas Dosman and Dr. Rollo Dilworth

WMPG volunteer DJ Geo spoke with Dr. Nicolas Dosman and Dr. Rollo Dilworth about the Maine Premiere of “Weather” a concert for climate change and social justice. The concert takes place on Sunday, April 23, at 5pm, the Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music at USM. The concert will feature the Osher Concert Ensembles conducted by Dr. Nicolas Dosman and the Osher Concert Band conducted by Dr. William Kinne. Also included in the…

Nicolas and Rollo

WMPG Spring Begathon update – we met our goal!

Updated to show updated figure First a shout-out to everyone who have made the Spring Begathon a success. To  all who donated, answered  phones, put on fantastic radio shows, entered data, donated food and more we have a huge THANKS!  You all made it happen. We are still accepting donations on-line and hope to reach our goal in a week or two. You can wmpg.org , in person, by phone at (207) 780-4151, or via mail….

Eurydice Rising

The University of Southern Maine’s Department of Theatre cordially invites you to Eurydice Rising, created in collaboration with the Osher School of Music. Eurydice Rising reimagines one of Ancient Greece’s most iconic myths of Orpheus and Eurydice in theatre, opera, and dance. This beautiful, moving show is a feast for the eye and ears as it follows Orpheus’s journey into the underworld to be reunited with his young bride, Eurydice, after her death. It’s a story of love,…

eurydice

Meet USM’s Community of Color

We continue our series were we get to know the varied and interesting people who make up USM. WMPG student intern Tash Schneiderat spoke with a few members of FASOC. You’ll hear from Kiva Wright-Berry, Keith Danner, Larissa Malone, and Michelle Vazquez-Jacobus.       Leola-Christina is a freshman who just began her studies here at USM this January! Wait til you hear more about her interests and goals, please listen to our audio interview…

community of color

Begathon Shenanigans

There has been fun and drama at WMPG HQ during our Spring fundraising! DJ Perky ( Perky’s Auditory Canal ) came up with a song for Begathon to the tune of Help! by the Beatles.  Have a watch! DJ Perky singing Help! In other news, it was big drama with Bat-a-thon.  WMPG had a resident bat which had DJ Shaxx crawling across the floor in horror to escape the cute little winged mammal. From being sighted in our basement vinyl vault to thinking we trapped…

bat thad
Photo credit: Thad

WMPG Media Sponsor for Portland Ovations “somewhere/elsewhere”

We are excited to be a media sponsor for somewhere/elsewhere Commissioned Maine Artist by Portland Ovations Thursday, March 23, 2023, 7 PM Westbrook Performing Arts Center somewhere/elsewhere is a one-night-only concert reading of a new pop-rock musical that immerses us in the migration, losses, and triumphs of a contemporary Turkish immigrant to the U.S. Weaving together Turkish poetry and legend with the original sounds of major label rock band Thanks to Gravity, somewhere/elsewhere is a…

somewhere/elsewhere
somewhere/elsewhere

WMPG working to qualify for a CPB Community Service Grant again

You may have noticed that we no longer have CPB underwriting announcements read after some of our programs. This is due to WMPG no longer receiving this funding. For more than 20 years WMPG has received this funding but last year we lost the funding due to no longer meeting their qualifications. Radio stations like ours need to meet certain criteria to be funded including the number of listeners as measured by a ratings agency,…

cpb logo

USM President shares her playlist on WMPG’s USM, Music & ME

University of Southern Maine (USM) President Dr Jacqueline Edmondson dropped in to WMPG to be a guest on USM, Music & ME on Wednesday. Dr Edmondson is a music fan who has authored many books, including two on musicians Gerry Garcia and John Lennon.  We were unsure what musical choices to expect. Here is what she shared with us: DAYS LIKE THIS by Van Morrison“I picked the song ‘Days Like This’ for a number of reasons. Most importantly, this song…

Jackie
Jackie

Meet USM student Leola-Christine

Leola-Christina is a freshman who just began her studies here at USM this January! Wait til you hear more about her interests and goals, please listen to our audio interview with her.

leola

Meet Dr. Idella Glenn

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Glenn who is USM’s Vice President of Equality, Inclusion and Community Impact

community of color

Meet USM student Shannon Craig

WMPG will introduce you to students, faculty and staff that are making a difference here at USM. We present an audio interview with USM student who is a Media Studies major and does work-study at WMPG. Listen in and learn more about Shannon Craig.

shannon

Meet USM student Yasmin Idow

WMPG will introduce you to students, faculty and staff that are making a difference here at USM. We present an audio interview with Yasmin Idow, please enjoy and meet this wonderful young person.

yasmin

WMPG’s annual Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Cajun Cookin’ Contest winner – Sodexo!

WMPG’s annual Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras and the Cajun Cookin’ Contest. On Tuesday February 21st in the USM Abromson building on the Portland campus, WMPG presented our 27th annual Mardi Gras Cajun Cookin’ Contest! The room was filled with amazing food, music and people as we celebrated Mardi Gras! After taking a break due to the pandemic, it was exiting to be celebrating again with our USM community along with people from all parts of…

Mardi Gras Party
Mardi Gras Party Fat Tuesday

Valentine’s Day dedications

USM students Emma and Jordan went around campus and recorded some Valentine’s dedications!

heart

Dave Wade interviews Delfeayo Marsalis

If anybody knows about Mardi Gras, it’s trombonist and bandleader Delfeayo Marsalis , who will be Dave’s special guest on Juke Jive N’ Jazz this afternoon, (Feb.15th) New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, is alive and happening, and Delfeayo will be here to tell you about it and his brand new album, “Uptown on Mardi Gras Day” Marsalis talks about race, Mardi Gras, film scores and more.. Tune in at 1 PM, Wednesday, for Delfeayo Marsalis and some great New…

Delfeayo_Marsalis
Delfeayo_Marsalis_photo