Dear Listener,
It's mid-summer and the station finds itself a-bustle with growth. We're bombarded by a bevy of engineers, volunteers and constructioneers building out offices and production areas at 'OZ central. This is a physical testimony to our new, long-term lease at the French Market, burgeoning staff and additional production equipment. I'll keep updating you on the build-out and our growth in future newsletters.
Don't forget to tune in on August 2nd and 3rd as 'OZ takes you live and direct to the 8th Annual Satchmo SummerFest at the Old Mint right here in the French Quarter.
And, oh — did I forget to mention that last month the readers of JazzWeek magazine named WWOZ Best Jazz Station in 2008 for medium-sized markets? This, after being acclaimed as one of the top 5 radio stations in America by Rolling Stone and the best Internet station of the year by Esquire.
Man, those guys must be zoned!
May the ether gods be with you,
David Freedman
General Manager
Satchmo SummerFest
The annual festival at the beginning of August that celebrates New Orleans' most famous musician, Louis Armstrong, has many sides. There is the two-day music festival at the Old U.S. Mint on four stages with great New Orleans food and beverages. There is also a Satchmo Art Show and reception at the Crescent City Brewhouse on Wednesday, July 30th.
On Friday night, August 1st, starting at 6 p.m., Frenchmen Street hosts a Satchmo Club Strut, where many clubs and businesses have live music, and one ticket gets you into most of the Strut's events. And there is also a world-renown symposium with experts from around the world dedicated to learning more about Louis Armstrong.
WWOZ will be there in many ways bringing you the full flavor of the events, so if you can't make it to the Fest, tune in or check out the web site for all the breaking news and live music.
Upcoming July Community Events
While July finds people settling in for the rainy hot summers of Louisiana, there's still plenty to do. What could be better than a festival dedicated to the cocktail? Find out more about this and other interesting community events in the city.
Check out the July community events listing
We're Redoing the Studios and Offices!
It's been almost three years since Katrina, and like so many people in New Orleans, we're just starting to really settle into our new digs at the French Market Corporation Building. We'll be creating desperately needed office spaces, building out two production areas and then tackling the remodeling of the control room. There's a long way to go, but still we are very glad that the work is underway. Ultimately, this will improve the mental well-being of the staff and our ability to host live broadcasts from the studio.
Look at pictures of the work in progress
WWOZ Website Steps Into the Twenty-First Century
We'll be launching our new website this month with new interactive community Discussion Forums and the ability for users to post comments throughout the site. The Forums will be your one-stop shop for conversations on New Orleans music. The site will have a new look and feel, and it lays the foundation for all kinds of exciting future features. We're expanding the reach of the website so that we can keep pioneering new ways to bring New Orleans music to the Universe.
Read more about the new WWOZ website
Brass Pass Name Engraving Party
We know you love your Brass Pass during Jazz Fest and thanks to our contest last month, we are finding out what people do with them after the fest. Some folks miss having their names on the passes and have asked if we can arrange to have them engraved. The answer is yes!
Find out more about the engraving party
Christmas in July for WWOZ Members
WWOZ members are invited to shop early for WWOZ gear, and to get the very first glimpse of beautifully framed 'OZ posters and other memorabilia. Members will have the opportunity to order these limited items first! Stop on by the station, located on the second floor at 1008 North Peters (across the street from the French Market), from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 26th.
If you can't make it to the Christmas in July member's preview sale, then be sure to check out our Swamp Shop with lots of other 'OZ gear.
Street Talk
This Week: Roll with the NOPD Crisis Unit
The New Orleans Police Department's Mobile Crisis Unit attends to the city's mentally ill on their worst days. With employees like Cecil Tebo and Earl Wilson, that's the good news. The bad news is that the city's medical infrastructure isn't equipped to handle everything that comes their way. Eve Abrams takes you for a drive with the Crisis Unit.
Listen to this Street Talk now
Last Week: "Listen Up, New Orleans"
Check out last week's Street Talk, where under the guidance of radio producers Eve Abrams and Jacob Brancasi, youth radio reporter Kadija Garner explores the issue of teen pregnancy in New Orleans. What are the options for pregnant teens? How are teen mothers judged by others and by themselves? This story is the product of a project called "Listen Up, New Orleans," funded by the Arts Council of New Orleans and housed at the Lafayette Charter Academy. "Listen Up, New Orleans" teaches teens the art of making radio stories.
Listen to this Street Talk now
Creole Tomato Dill Soup
It might be the end of the Creole Tomato season, but there are still plenty of good tasting 'maters out there. Who doesn't like a good tomato soup? Plus, this recipe is much better than anything you can find in a can. How about a nice tomato soup for a hot day?
Find more great food ideas at WWOZ Recipes
WWOZ Quick Links
Playlists Online
Are you interested in an artist we played on the air? You can search playlists by song title, band name, CD title or label.
WWOZ Swamp Shop
The 'OZ Swamp Shop is open and chock full of WWOZ gear.
New Orleans Music Calendar
There's live music in locations all around New Orleans. We've got a music calendar online.
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