Mic'd Up

PROCEEDS FROM WEDNESDAY’S OH HE DEAD CONCERT TO BENEFIT LOCAL RADIO STATION

Come celebrate KOTO community radio station’s 50th anniversary this Wednesday, March 5, at a special winter fundraising concert at the historic Sheridan Opera House featuring Oh He Dead, an indie/soul band out of Washington, D.C., followed by a free after-show with DJ Wombat at the Show Bar.

“KOTO’s 50-year legacy is a testament to its resilience and to the people who’ve fought to preserve the characteristics that make KOTO unique,” explained KOTO Executive Director Cara Pallone. “KOTO is one of the last listener-supported, non-commercial radio stations in the U.S. which speaks to the community support KOTO has as well as our commitment to providing freeform, locally driven programming. For an independent radio station, 50 years is remarkable.”

A five-piece band, Oh He Dead performed at Jazz Festival in 2021 and at Blues & Brews in 2022. Lead vocalist CJ Johnson describes their music as “soul/rock with a splash of pop that makes people feel good and want to dance.”

“We travel a lot, and Telluride stands alone in terms of the kindness we experienced,” she said. “I’m going to buy a house here one day.”

“The Telluride crowd was absolutely electric,” added lead guitarist Alex Salser. “It’s rare to feel so much energy from a group of people by the end of the first song.”

“The crowd gave us energy to reciprocate into our performance, driving us to hit an extra gear in the show,” drummer Adam Ashforth concurred.

Salser says the band has a passion for local radio because “they’re the people on the pulse of what’s happening in music.”

In lieu of traditional on-air DJ fundraising, this concert serves as KOTO’s winter fundraising drive.

“Turning 50 is the perfect time to switch frequencies and try something new, just for this year,” Pallone explained. “This allows space for staff to think strategically about their work and KOTO long term, to complete important projects, and to gear up for the huge summer ahead. By buying tickets to this concert, you’re making your winter donation to KOTO. If you don’t attend, we’ll be coming for you during our on-air pledge drive in July.”

Just like traditional on-air pledge drives, funds raised with this concert will support the station’s general operations.

“We’ve launched our Fiji raffle sales to support the KOTO equipment fund which paid for a huge chunk of the Ouray County signal expansion project last year,” added Pallone. “I can’t stress enough how important it is for folks to really, really want to go to Fiji and buy up those raffle tickets!”

In addition to expanding its signal across Ouray County, KOTO recently improved its physical space, cleared the mortgage on its property, and will soon launch a revamped website, all while remaining non-underwritten and commercial-free. “I’m most proud of how the Telluride community supports KOTO and how it has evolved while being passed on to new generations of locals who have allowed it to grow organically,” reflected KOTO co-founder Jim Bedford. “KOTO is on the air because hundreds of people think enough of it to write a check, donate a stock, give premiums that KOTO can give away in its fundraising events, etcetera. KOTO is the Voice of Telluride and is made so by an amazing staff and outstanding local support.”

The station has lost iconic DJ’s recently, including The Burd (Donna Fernald), Roadhawg (Dick Unruh), and The Spaghetti Cowboy (Luigi Chiarani), the latter who, Pallone says, was “charmingly unconventional.”

“This concert on March 5 is dedicated to Luigi, thanks in part to a sponsorship from the Cronin family who had a connection with Luigi and loved him dearly,” she added. “Additional sponsors include Citizens State Bank and the Ebb Point Foundation, making it possible for us to host this Winter Fundraising Concert but we still need people to buy tickets for it to work.”

With approximately 25% of KOTO’s budget granted by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Pallone encourages people to sign a petition to protect this funding stream at protectmypublicmedia.org.

Next up on the 50th anniversary schedule of events is the KOTO Spring Street Dance, scheduled for Friday, April 4, an annual event that will also see changes this year.

“The opener will be Telluride’s own funk/soul group LavaNova, and then we’re bringing in Rootbeer Richie & the Reveille out of Denver as the headliner,” Pallone enthused. “They played Blues & Brews last year, and we were enamored by their energy and sound. It’ll be a party for the books.”

The Telluride Historical Museum’s annual exhibit will feature KOTO over the years with an opening tentatively scheduled for June. The station will also host two Live @ the Drive concerts, one honoring Immigrant Heritage Month in June, featuring KOTO’s Spanish Language News Reporter Luis Tavares, aka “Beats by Lart.”

The July event will feature local Americana band Birds of Play.

“Our big 50th birthday bash is planned for Saturday, Oct. 4, the day after KOTO’s official birthday,” Pallone concluded. “To give you a hint: It’ll be Cool, Cool, Cool.”

Doors for Oh He Dead are at 7 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. With proceeds benefiting KOTO, GA tickets are $50, and balcony and reserved tickets are $75, available at SheridanOperaHouse.com.