Wisconsin Public Radio to air Holiday Edition of The Big River Radio Wave
The Big River Radio Wave 2011 Holiday Special, a music and variety show, will be broadcast on 88.3 WHWC/Menomonie-Eau Claire, 88.7 WRFW/River Falls, and 90.3 WHLA/ La Crosse on Friday, December 23 at 5pm, and will be repeated on 88.9 WLSU/ La Crosse on Sunday, December 25 at 6pm.
"The goal of The Big River Radio Wave is to gather the best performers, artists, musicians, and comedians for the enjoyment of live audiences and radio listeners," said Mac Cherry (pictured left), host of the show.
The show highlights music by The RiverBenders (pictured right), a six-piece versatile band featuring vocal harmonies supported by accomplished musicians and led by Brian Schellinger, veteran singer/songwriter/musician.
The show includes storytelling, comedy, skits and readings. In addition to Cherry and The RiverBenders, the cast includes:
Kenny Salwey (pictured left), an author, naturalist, and the show's resident storyteller. He was featured in the internationally acclaimed BBC documentary, The Last River Rat:Tales of My Life on the Mississippi River.
"Santa Claus" filling in for regular voice Al Ross, carries out the announcing duties on the Holiday edition of The Big River Radio Wave. Ross is a voice talent on Wisconsin Public Radio and is the host of Spectrum West, a weekly program focused on the arts, music, and humanities in Western Wisconsin. He is a veteran broadcaster having spent time in stations from Miami to Milwaukee and points in between.
Mary Mack (pictured right), a comedian born and raised in rural northwest Wisconsin, brings an original style of humorous storytelling to the show. She has been a guest on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom radio show and was a finalist on NBCs Last Comic Standing in the summer of 2008. Cherry calls her humor, "contemporary, intelligent, and hilarious."
Dixie Duffey (pictured below with Santa), is a special guest on the show singing the Christmas classic Santa Baby . Over the last twenty-five years, Duffey has performed with a number of musical groups in Western Wisconsin including The Dixie Duffey Band, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jazz Ensemble, and currently, Dixie and the Dreamers.
The Big River Radio Wave is usually recorded before a live audience at the historic Big River Theatre located in downtown Alma, WI, a town of 900 people located along the banks of the Mississippi River. The 2011 Holiday Special was recorded at the Heyde Center for the Arts.
Recordings of the show are produced by John Gaddo, Wisconsin Public Radio's La Crosse regional manager. Gaddo explained, "Broadcasts of the Big River Radio Wave continue WPR's commitment to showcasing the creative energies of Western Wisconsin artists and performers."
Details about the program are available by calling 800-228-5615 or visiting the website at www.wpr.org/whwc.
