LIVE FROM THE ISLANDS WEEKEND BROADCAST

OF CHOOCHOKAM FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS IS

“LATIN MEETS LOCAL!”

One year ago, Live From the Islands burst onto the air of community broadcaster KSER 90.7, Everett, beginning a weekend of music and entertainment hosted by David Ossman and Judith Walcutt at WICA and at the corner of First and Anthes in “downtown” Langley.

After Choochokam faded away into the mists, Live From the Islands reappeared on Saturday afternoons throughout the Fall, broadcasting from the Edgecliff restaurant and providing a weekly two-hour showcase for musicians, writers, film-makers and humorists. Hosts Ossman and Walcutt were joined by Jim Freeman and Sue Frause at “The Big Round Table” before a frequently sold-out lunch-time house.

Live From the Islands continued not-so-live with delayed broadcasts from Choochokam’s evening shows at WICA, including the Watercarvers Guild, Tickle Tune Typhoon and poet Sam Hamill in a solo reading of his own work and Island poets and actors in an original performance from his anthology, “Poets Against The War.”

Live this Spring for the Whidbey Writers Conference, the poetry festival of the Burning Word at Greenbank Farm, and the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, David and Judith now welcome KSER 90.7 listeners to spend a few happy hours at the Island’s best weekend getaway – Live From Choochokam 2004.

This year the broadcast starts at 11:00 am from bustling Bayview Corners Farmers’ Market with a performance by Grupo Samay of music from the Andes. The theme behind this year’s Choochokam programming is a mix of Latin spice into Whidbey’s own home cookin’, so the Market is just the place to begin.

Through an experimental use of Wi-Fi and DSL technology, sponsored in part by WhideyNet and the Goosefoot Community Fund, the entire KSER broadcast can be seen and heard via webcast throughout the Bayview building and on line as well.

At Noon, the Langley Main Stage erupts with Show Brazil! A tribute to the country’s traditional music and dance. After an interval with poets Judith Adams, Eve Preus and Joni Takanikos, Blues guitarist and singer Lars Gandil takes the stage. Local Islanders then seize the perfect Island afternoon with The Charlie Patnoe Jazz Combo, poet and songwriter Beverly Graham, and Jack Knauer and his back-up on Main Stage and, from the Park, klezmer and gypsy swing from Yours Truly and bluegrass with Stone Road. KSER 90.7 returns to its regular programming at 5:30 pm.

Sunday’s broadcast gets off to a fast start at 11:00 am with Island favorites Bahia and The Shifty Sailors. Story teller Grey Eagle and poets Susan Zwinger, and Peter Lawlor perform in the Park, followed on Main Stage by Janie Cribbs and Friends, the authentic samba club band Bambula, Latin jazz and traditional boleros from Alma Villegas, and, from the park, vocal trio Wayward Sisters, singer-songwriter Timothy Hull and vocalist Barbara Dunn. KSER will return to regular programming at 5:00 pm

Live From The Islands is also producing and recording a Friday night showcase of great Latin American music with Coreo Aereo, Grupo Samay, La Luciernaga and Show Brazil! Andean rhythms, Brazilian heat, Argentine tangos, and traditional sounds from Mexico blend into a spicy and romantic Summer night’s cocktail to be enjoyed at WICA, beginning at 9:00 pm.

And, at 9:00 pm on Saturday night at WICA, a Live! “Garage Band Jam” with Wayward Sister, Group Therapy, and The Spheres. Be in the audience to honor Island youth and witness the historic recording session! Live From the Islands is produced by Otherworld Media. Executive Producer, Judith Walcutt.

Support for these broadcasts comes from

The Goosefoot Community Fund, Island Athletic Club, Neis and Associates, South Whidbey Youth Center, Whidbey Market Place & Community Journal, WhidbeyNet, the South Whidbey Record, and the merchants of Langley