When Trent Radio’s “Radio From The Stage” live-to-air radio series hit the halfway point back in March, its curator and host expressed the hope that it would foster “a little bit of healing” in a Peterborough where interactions and discourse have taken on an increasingly nasty tone.
Now, with the 10-episode series set to present its finale on Sunday afternoon (July 28) at Traill College’s Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre, Charlie Glasspool says it has checked that box and much more.
“The feedback I received from artists and audience members alike is they felt kind of rejuvenated and a little more optimistic about things,” says Glasspool.
Such is the healing power of performance. But when you can present that elixir not only live on air but also in person, it takes on a whole new dimension.
Backed by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC), “Radio From The Stage” debuted late last October at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough. It was broadcast live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, which has been the case for the eight performances since, including the most recent one June 30 at Jethro’s Bar + Stage on Hunter Street West.
The final episode of the series, which will be broadcast live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM and online at trentradio.ca from 1 to 5 p.m., will feature performances by Taylor Abrahamse, Copperhead, David Newland, Night Danger, Michael Eamon, and Babe Chorus.
Glasspool, a longtime Peterborough musician and co-founder of well-known local band The Silver Hearts, credits Trent Radio’s director of programming Jill Staveley and director of operations Rob Hailman for applying to the CRFC for funding, which was subsequently awarded.
“The series has been a marathon but it’s also been a sprint at same time,” assesses Glasspool of organizing and presenting 10 shows in the same number of months.
“You say ‘There’s a month until the next one’ and then, all of a sudden, it’s like ‘Oh no, it’s a week away.’ Time flies but it can also move slowly. The first episode seems like it was a long time ago. In that sense, it has been a marathon.”
But Glasspool isn’t complaining. Far from it, his enthusiasm for the series’ concept, and its core objectives, remains as high as it was when he was brought on board.
“Each episode, no matter what kind of audible or sound art, whether it was music or poetry or spoken word, got a little bit better as we rolled out the series,” he says. “It was also the experience of presenting in a lot of different venues, some that were equipped for live performance and some we had to recreate.”
“We had so many great applications (to perform) right from the beginning. By the finale, we will have been able to hire and pay more than 60 local artists which, I think, is a big feather in our cap and a big win for the project.”
“Did we learn stuff along the way?” Glasspool asks. “Yes, but the series kind of curates itself. Peterborough is pretty rich with a real array of talent and artists of all ages. That made it very easy for us to put this thing together.”
Glasspool notes that, while a number of out-of-town artists expressed interest in performing, “We really kept it close to home on purpose. Peterborough needs a win here and there. I hope this was one for the community, not just for Trent Radio.”
In a provided comment at the outset regarding the series, CFRC executive director Alex Freedman said “Radio From The Stage” is a project that “could only be done by campus radio.”
At the time, Glasspool said “It would be impossible for commercial radio” to pull it off,” citing “the freedom” the station fosters in terms of its content.
“When Jill and Rob wrote and submitted the grant application to the Community Radio Fund of Canada, they had some objectives that they wanted to hit,” says Glasspool.
“We’ve surpassed all of them, by miles and miles and miles, especially in terms of content. They envisioned something like ten hours of live radio. We’re double or more of that now, so there’s a really nice archive for our sonic time capsule for future listeners to enjoy.”
While the last episode is scheduled for July 28, there is one more series-related event planned.
On Sunday, August 25th at Jethro’s Bar + Stage, several of the series performers will come to together for a wrap party that will see a physical time capsule — to which each performer contributed — inspected one last time before being closed.
“It’s full to the brim now,” says Glasspool of that collection. “It’s a trove of all manner of trinkets and talismans and treasures, from a CD which who knows if we’ll be able to play in the future, to personal art, little books, poetry, and that sort of thing. Some people left more sentimental objects. Some of our Indigenous performers left medicine.”
“We’re going to have the official closing of it, and then we’ll have to figure out where to bury or hide it.”
Although he has been involved with music locally for most of his life, Glasspool says the series has presented “loads of surprises” for him in form of “eye and ear-opening performances.”
“Fifty per cent of the performers I know personally, but I had no idea who many of the others were. I was intrigued. I couldn’t wait to hear them and meet them, especially folks younger than I am. Peterborough’s in good shape — I will definitely say that.”
“Whether it was music or spoken work, there was something in every episode that lit a spark, or brought joy or delight. There were no disappointments. Everyone really rose to, and with, the occasion.”
As for the final series performance on July 28 taking place at the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre, Glasspool says choosing that location speaks to yet another objective of the project: introducing audiences to venues “that fly under the radar.”
Glasspool also notes “a reflection” on the series will be held.
“We’ll sit down when all is said and done sometime in September,” he says. “I don’t know if it’s an idea to re-apply for CRFC funding to renew this project. I would love to do that. I think the CRFC wants to keep looking at different kinds of presenting and programming, but it would great to keep this, or something like it, alive and well.”
This story was created in partnership with Trent Radio. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
