Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Scene

Media Credit: Andrea Pendergast Sophomore Scott Morfitt sits behind the microphone where he records his program in the WUEC radio studio in the Haas Fine Arts Center.

Five years ago, radio station WUEC didn't have much content to broadcast through the air waves to students or the Eau Claire community and was ultimately left for dead. However, Wisconsin Public Radio stepped in and asked the radio station to become an affiliate and the station has since received a new lease on life.

"We didn't have any student produced content," senior and WUEC student manager Jake Kolstad said. "Now we're trying to bring that alternative feeling back to give students an academic outlet through quality produced radio."

To do that, Kolstad and sophomore Scott Morfitt decided to work on producing and hosting a rock show that focuses on the local Eau Claire music scene.

"Local Independence," hosted by Morfitt, is set to air Sunday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. on 89.7 FM WUEC. The show includes local Eau Claire music artists mixed in with regional artists and a guest interview each week with a visual artist, musician or other local independent personality.

While "Local Independence" isn't scheduled to begin for another two months, there will be sneak preview shows on Dec. 2 and 9 at 7 p.m.

Since the shows are recorded before they are played on air, there won't be a call-in or request feature, Morfitt said.

The idea for the show stemmed from Kolstad and Morfitt's brainstorms about show ideas and their realization that there wasn't a strong local presence in Chippewa Valley radio.

"(The idea) came from the station manager and I talking about what we would do if we could have a rock show," Morfitt said. "We realized there's not really an outlet focusing on local music in the Chippewa Valley."

Both Kolstad and Morfitt said the inspiration for the show can be partially credited to Minnesota Public Radio's "The Current." The show showcases local Minnesota music as well as underground independent bands.

"A lot of people say they listen to 'The Current' and it feels like there isn't much like it in the Chippewa Valley," Kolstad said. "We want to bring the future of public radio to Wisconsin and bring WUEC back to its roots of an alternative station."

Continued...

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