HOMEGROWN ROCKER 4/3/16 (WALKNEY)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the April 3 edition of 105.9 Qwik-Rock's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on Lion Country's Rock Station, 105.9 Qwik-Rock. The show can also be streamed via Qwik's website, www.1059qwikrock.com.

Thanks to our guests this week, Derek Mrdjenovich and Aaron Porta of Altoona rockers Walkney, for joining us via an interview recorded earlier in the week at D'Ottavio's Gran Sasso in Hollidaysburg! Formerly known as The Big Time, Derek and Aaron discussed their new band incarnation and what prompted it, as well as their upcoming debut performance as Walkney at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona on April 9. And we played several brand new Walkney tracks, as well as a few Big Time numbers. Along the way, we debuted new tunes from Young Lungs, Vitruvia and Making State. We also updated "Local Music News," and pulled a 1999 tune from Huntingdon's Coil from the archive for this week's "Local Music Flashback!"

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

THE CLARKS - "Trampoline"
MIXING NUMBERS WITH SOUNDS - "Haste"
WALKNEY - "I Always Wanted You"
YOUNG LUNGS - "The Same"
THE BIG TIME (WALKNEY) - "Transparent"
BLACK RIDGE - "Too (Somethin' Like This)"
WALKNEY - "Airplane"
ERIC VAL - "Beautiful Lie"
VITRUVIA - "Walking Through Concrete"

HOUR TWO:

POST SEASON - "I'm Still Kinda Bitter"
ANCHORS TO ANCHORS - "Stay Lost"
WALKNEY - "North"
JOY IKE - "The Fall Song"
THE BIG TIME (WALKNEY) - "Sandcastles"
COIL - "Crossfire" (1999, Local Music Flashback)
THE BIG TIME (WALKNEY) - "City Lights"
THE CREW OF THE HALF MOON - "The Party After the Show"
MAKING STATE - "All I Need"
JIM DONOVAN & THE SUN KING WARRIORS - "You Got to Believe It"

On our next program, we'll see what new recordings have arrived in the "Homegrown Rocker" mailboxes in recent weeks, so the focus will be on spotlighting new local and regional music! Along the way, we will update "Local Music News," dig a "Local Music Flashback" from the archive, and step "Across State Lines" to check out a tune from an independent band or artist from outside the state!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

MAY 8 - The Daily Grind
MAY 29 - Memorial Day Special

(All dates are subject to changes as circumstances warrant.)

Bands and artists wanting to submit news items for "Local Music News" may email their news to homegrownrocker@gmail.com. Indicate "MUSIC NEWS" in the subject heading!

Bands and artists interested in having music aired on the show are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: Magnum Broadcasting, 315 South Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801; ATTN: Jim Price/Homegrown. Or drop the recordings off at the station during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM. You can also email digital song files or inquiries about the show to homegrownrocker@gmail.com.

Jim Price

In Local Music News...

One of the namesakes of Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band has departed the group. Bassist Mike Stanley has left the group due to personal reasons; the departure is a friendly one. Former R2B2 bassist Bill Smith is taking over bass duties. Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band are nearing completion of their third full-length album, entitled Trinkets and Time Travelers. They will open for The Clarks' concert at Altoona's Mishler Theatre on Friday night, April 15, and their official album-release show will happen on Saturday, April 23 in the ballroom of the James Street Astropub and Speakeasy in Pittsburgh.

Two popular May events have released their live music line-ups. The 8th annual Pints for Pets Brewfest will take place on Saturday, May 14 at People's Natural Gas Field in Altoona, with proceeds helping out the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society. Four area bands will entertain while folks in attendance sample a wide variety of craft beers and microbrews. Nobody's Heroes and Shallow Nine will perform during the afternoon session, which starts at 1 p.m., while The Chrome Hearts and Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band will entertain during the evening session, which begins at 6 p.m. The Brewfest is open to folks ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the website http://pintsforpets.com.

The performance schedule has been announced for the 49th annual Blair County Arts Festival, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22, at Penn State Altoona. Saturday's performers will include Jerry Haines, Jay Smar, Tree, R2B2, Born and the Beanstalk, Chris Vipond & the Stanley Street Band, Ride the Song, Rick Hirsch 4, Your Dad's Friends and Flood City Brass. Sunday's line-up includes Sarah Everett, Project Blues Book, Randy Jackson Trio, Chris Woodward & ShinDiggin,' the Ed Heads, Flight 19, Pat McGinnis and Frackwater Jack. Admission to the festival is free, while donations will be accepted for parking. For more information, visit the festival's website, http://blaircountyartsfestival.org.

And a popular name from the Johnstown area music scene has passed away. We are saddened to report the passing of Frank Genovese during the past week. Frank was a singer and guitarist, and known as the frontman and leader of Frankie & the Nomads for many years, as well as being a member of other groups. More details about Frank's career and passing on next week's "Homegrown Rocker."