29 Sep 2016 Radio conference in Hot Springs

On Friday, Oct. 7, national community radio celebrities will converge on Hot Springs for the 20th anniversary of the Grassroots Radio Conference.  

The event will be held in Downtown Hot Springs Oct. 7-10 at the Springs Hotel, Maxwell Blade’s Theater and Low Key Arts. Session topics will include solar power installation, open source software, FM transmit chains, grant writing, live remote broadcasts, station management and more.

The conference is an annual event of the Grassroots Radio Coalition, which invites community radio volunteers and activists to gather and learn new skills, discuss issues, network and have fun. Founded in 1996, the GRC is dedicated to preserving the grassroots nature of community radio and to developing this medium. The conference is hosted at a different location each year by a community radio station in the area.

“As a young station, we’re honored to host the 20th annual gathering of the Grassroots Radio Coalition,” said KUHS Station Manager Zachary Smith. “It’s a great organization that’s helped pave the way for new, low-power stations like ours.” Launched in August 2015, KUHS is Arkansas’ first and only solar-powered station. It was engineered by Bob Nagy, who will offer courses on alternative technologies at this year’s conference.   

Clyde Clifford, host of Beaker Street, will present Saturday night’s Keynote Address. Beginning in 1966, KAAY’s 50,000 watt AM signal carried Clifford’s late-night program out from Little Rock up into central Canada and down into communist Cuba. Beaker Street developed a broad international following and is recognized as the first underground music program in the Midwest.  

Tickets are available at GRC2016.net.