When I go back to Philadelphia, my hometown, there are only a few things that make me the least bit wistful for the place (besides some people, of course): the Wissahickon woods’ walking path, the vegan chili at Jonathan’s, those generous stone houses fronted by neon stands of forsythia, and WXPN’s World Café.
WXPN love is a big deal for me. I listen to the station when I’m driving around Philly and I wish it were mine, in person, in the car, not streamed. How funny since I’m so entirely delighted by my radio here at home. I mean we’ve got NPR in spades. We’ve got our own college station, where my friend, Fern, plays great music. And we’ve got WRSI.
❥ One of the crowning moments in my adult life was the day I stopped automatically turning to Morning Edition or All Things Considered if I got into the car when those shows were on. It wasn’t that long ago. I listen to the news, sure, however these days, I tend to stay with music. I am a much happier driver, now.
❥ The River—in that old-school-Valley way I still think of as RSI—has had all sorts of great folks sharing their voices over its airwaves. Its mixture: catchy songs, older songs, homegrown songs—and if you listen at the right time—you can even learn a little bit about birds.
Unlike many stations, I am glad to happen upon the radio on Saturday morning for Spare the Rock Spoil the Child’s whimsy-through-kindie music or Sunday morning’s acoustic and homey Back Porch.
During farmers’ market season, you can go say hi to Joan Holliday in the WRSI tent on Tuesdays. Year-round, there are all sorts of fun live broadcasts. The ridiculous wealth of local talent, from locals who play on the street to locals who play in small clubs, to locals that are whispered about when spotted in cities far from here, all contribute to our local radio’s awesomeness.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am October 16th & 17th, 2010 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Listen Now
FEATURED VIDEO: The Leisure Society play live at the Union Chapel on 15 May 2010 to launch American Laundromat’s latest charity compilation, Sing Me to Sleep: Indie Lullabies.
Steve Weeks – “Someday” [Alphabet Songs Vol. III: Rabbit Run]
Rebecca Frezza – “Take A Ride” [Tall and Small]
Justin Roberts – “Willy Was A Whale” [Yellow Bus]
Justin Roberts – “Meltdown” [Meltdown!]
Tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show on Saturdays from 9-10am on Valley Free Radio (VFR), 103.3FM (Northampton, MA), or listen via streaming audio at www.ValleyFreeRadio.org.
Every Saturday VFR offers four hours of commercial-free, quality family program from 6-10am, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7am-9am. It’s better than Saturday morning cartoons! Turn off the T.V. and turn on local community radio!
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
Mélange of Music Episode
08/15/09 PLAYLIST
This week's episode is a mélange of music with many colorful new songs, including "Farmer's Market" by Laura Doherty, the very place this beautiful bouquet of flowers were found in Florence, MA this week! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Saturday from 9-10am
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
Robbie Schaefer – “Sally, Can I Walk You Home?” [Songs For Kids Like Us]
Billy Jonas – “Some Houses” [What Kind of Cat Are You?]
The Hipwaders – “Educated Kid” [Educated Kid]
Ben Rudnick & Friends – “A Frog Named Sam” [A Frog Named Sam]Music
They Might Be Giants – “Hot Dog!” [Here Come the 123s]
Tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show on Saturdays from 9-10am on Valley Free Radio (VFR), 103.3FM (Northampton, MA), or listen via streaming audio at www.ValleyFreeRadio.org.
Every Saturday VFR offers four hours of commercial-free, quality family program from 6-10am, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7am-9am. It’s better than Saturday morning cartoons! Turn off the T.V. and turn on local community radio!
Big thank you to Keeth and Nala from The Harmonica Pocket for stopping by the studio on their way to Mass MoCA to co-host HFVS. Keeth put together a fun playlist and together with Nala performed three live songs. See the video below taken while performing their song, One Tree Said off of their album, Ladybug One. Head on over to Mass MoCA today to see their performance at 1pm!
Trout Fishing in America – “Peco De Gallo” [Family Music Party]
Trout Fishing in America – “18 Wheels on a Big Rig” [Family Music Party]
The Harmonica Pocket – “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” [Ladybug One]
Peter Himmelman – “Watercolor Set” [My Green Kite]
Elizabeth Mitchell – “Little Bird, Little Bird” [You Are My Little Bird]
The Harmonica Pocket – “Hush Little Baby” [unreleased]
Justin Roberts – “Everything Else Start With E” [Great Big Sun]
They Might Be Giants – “The House at the Top of the Tree” [No!]
Johnny Cash – “Ah Bos Cee Dah” [The Johnny Cash Children's Album]
Woody Guthrie – “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8″ [Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child]
The Harmonica Pocket – “Little Saka Sugar” [Live in studio]
The Harmonica Pocket – “One Tree Said” [Live in studio] – See video below
The Harmonica Pocket – “La Luna” [Live in studio]
The Harmonica Pocket – “The Sun Song/You are My Sunshine” [Live in studio]
Bruce Springsteen – Erie Canal” [We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions]
Welcome to Hilltown Families, a grassroots communication network for families living in Western Mass, established in 2005 by hilltown mother and long time activist Sienna Wildfield.
"Hilltown Families keeps us connected with all the amazing educational and cultural activities and resources that abound here in W. Mass and curates them in a way to let us know just what’s out there for the many varied interests of our young families and communities,while creating networks of support and growth." - Kara Kitchen (Plainfield, MA)
The Hilltown Family Variety Show (HFVS) airs Saturday mornings on Valley Free Radio, 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA from 9-10am with encores on Sunday from 7-8am. Playlist and podcasts are posted immediately following broadcast. Listen to our archived shows at any time: HFVS Archived Shows.
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Information provided on Hilltown Families (HF) is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Reasonable efforts are made to provide the most accurate information, but no guarantees of any kind can be made. Information can be changed without prior notice. Please check with 3rd parties to confirm all listings for date/time, cost, location and age appropriateness before attending. Opinions expressed on HF are that of the writer and not necessarily that of HF. In no event shall HF be liable (directly or indirectly) for any losses or damages causes (or allegedly caused) in connection with HF. All health and wellness related information is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used to substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. All provided links are provided as a courtesy and not as an endorsement.
The exhibit will be on display at the Forbes Library in Northampton for the month of February 2013, and at the City Hall Gallery in Easthampton from Sept 13-Dec 11, 2013. - We're currently booking shows for the Spring/Summer of 2013 and for 2014. Each exhibit is a unique showcase of images that correspond with the season and venue. Contact us to inquire about hosting this fundraising exhibit for Hilltown Families in your town/venue.
When I go back to Philadelphia, my hometown, there are only a few things that make me the least bit wistful for the place (besides some people, of course): the Wissahickon woods’ walking path, the vegan chili at Jonathan’s, those generous stone houses fronted by neon stands of forsythia, and WXPN’s World Café.
Music
