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Here upon my return from the South
It was a glorious trip to Atlanta last week, one I decided not to encumber with blogging efforts. Over the next few days I’ll share some photos and thoughts about my first meaningful trip south of the Mason-Dixon line. But by now readers I’m sure most of you are concerned with what Gov. Pappy O’Daniel…
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Great Northern Radio Show set for Oct. 20 Eveleth show
A new season of my Great Northern Radio Show launches Saturday, Oct. 20, with a live KAXE/KBXE broadcast from the Boardman Theatre at Eveleth-Gilbert High School in Eveleth, Minnesota. Our new take on the variety show format has been touring northern Minnesota for a year and we’re excited to show off our progress back “Home…
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Great Northern stars expand profile in local music scene
A while back I had mentioned that a couple of young stars from our Great Northern Radio Show were competing in a big talent show at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Well, I’m happy to report that our two talents Sonny Johnson and Iris Kolodji did, in fact, win first and second prizes, respectively,…
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Two ‘Great Northern’ alumni in Saturday Reif Center show
The Reif Center in Grand Rapids is holding the 3rd Annual Reif Top Ten Talent Search Saturday night at 7. This isn’t some random collection of wannabees, but rather a tested, auditioned group of 10 regional musicians, dancers and performers. I’m excited to see two performers from my Great Northern Radio Show in the mix.…
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Keeping ‘Wits’ about us
I’m late to the party, but I caught the recent buzz over Minnesota Public Radio’s third-year, limited run show “Wits” and finally took in an episode of the comedy variety show. Hosted by veteran public radio anchor and all-around witty guy John Moe the program’s June 30 episode was an enjoyable listen with some hilarious…
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Great Northern Radio Show Brainerd episode chuffs onto MP3
The downloadable MP3 of the Brainerd edition of my Great Northern Radio Show is now available at KAXE.org. Please give it a listen as it is probably our sharpest overall program. Certain sections are good while others are excellent, but the general mix is diverse and hits the harder edge we’ve been looking for. We…
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Great Northern Radio Show rebroadcasts on July 1, July 4
It’s been a busy summer so I neglected to post an update on our broadcast of the Great Northern Radio Show from Central Lakes College in Brainerd on June 16. The show went very well, arguably our best effort yet, certainly a major step forward in pacing and production value. If you missed it, the…
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Tune to Great Northern Radio Show at 5p: http://www.kaxe.org
You can hear the Great Northern Radio Show today at 5 p.m., broadcasting live 5-7 p.m. from the John Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. I am proud to write, produce and host this show with a large cast of very talented people. Please give it a listen. In Grand Rapids, the Iron…
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Join us Saturday in Brainerd for the Great Northern Radio Show
Today we pack up the overnight bag and trek from the Mesabi Range to the Cuyuna Range, a drive much more common to my family in the 1950s but one seldom taken nowadays. My dad spent some time in Crosby as a kid as his dad and grandpa mined the last underground iron ore there.…
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Great Northern Radio Show throws down the LEGO gauntlet
The Great Northern Radio Show returns to the airwaves this Saturday, 5-7 p.m., live from the John Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota. You can still reserve free tickets with 91.7 KAXE at 800/662-5799. Meantime, hope you enjoy our promotional video, made possible by Spencer Olson Films. Spencer Olson and his brother…
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On public radio and automotive repair
As I’ve already explained, I’m the son of several generations of Iron Range mechanics, truck drivers, railroaders and miners. I’m the first male in my direct family line since American naturalization doing work that doesn’t require the occasional turning of a wrench. I think you have to go back to a long line of 18th…
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Plan a Great Northern Twin Turtles weekend for your hip dad (or your hip self)
If you’re like me, your weekend was consumed by a massive garage sale, purging the tangible evidence that the small boys in your house were ever babies. OK, that’s a mite specific. But my point is maybe you’d like next weekend to be even more hip and happening than this one. We know it might…
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Great Northern Radio Show in Brainerd on June 16
What’s new, AB? How you been? Well, the Great Northern Radio Show returns Saturday, June 16 at the John Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota. So things are looking up. Great Northern Radio Show heads to Brainerd Variety program to broadcast live from Central Lakes College June 16 BRAINERD, Minnesota (June 5,…
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The untold perils of media consolidation
I write a column for the Hibbing Daily Tribune, which is part of the Superior Publishing Group, a division of American Consolidated Media of Texas, itself a division of a vast international company, the name of which I forget. Australian bankers, mostly. When the Superior Publishing group reorganized its management structure a year ago —…
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Download the Great Northern Radio Show podcast
Finally, you can download the entire broadcast of the Great Northern Radio Show recorded live from the Chief Theatre in Bemidji on April 7. Right click HERE to download the file directly to your computer. You can then load it onto iTunes or the program of your choice for use on your digital device. It’s…