Royalton Community Radio

12/10/2025

Join us on the second Wednesday of the month for open mic at the Tunbridge General Store from 5-7pm. Get on stage and sing a song, read poetry, tell a joke, play an instrument. And get the added perk of meeting Free Vermont Radio DJs!

11/23/2025

11/03/2025

This Monday evening at 8PM (rebroadcast Wednesday at 11AM) on In It for The Long Run Jim Rooney continues to explore his more than 70 years in the musical world by playing whatever comes up on his computer song list alphabetically.

We’re early on in the “P’s” and get off to a good start with a classic from the totally original Mose Allison’s “Parchman Farm.” We go from Mississippi to Ireland in a flash with the beautiful “The Parting Glass” sung by Liam Clancy and the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Next, I dusted off an old demo recording of me singing an early song of mine “Partners In Crime.” We then get to hear Barry and Holly Tashian doe the Buddy Holly classic, “Party Doll.” Tom Paxton gives us “Passing Through Tulsa” from an album we did 30 years ago called “Wearing The Time.” We then get to hear a genuine hit record by Hal Ketchum, Mick Hanly’s “Past The Point of Rescue,” produced by Allen Reynolds and me. Mick Hanly then sings another of his songs “Patrick Hill” from his recent “Homeland” album.

We hear the sweet voce and fine guitar of Mississippi John Hurt do one of his best, “Pay Day.” Merle Haggard pays tribute to Jimmie Rodgers with “Peach Pickin’ Time In Georgia.” Irishman Sean Keane does the sweet song “The Penny Falls,” and we close out with Banjo master Bill Keith giving us a music lesson with his instrumental “Pentachrome.”

Every week you never know what's going to come up, which is why it's fun for me and I hope for you.

Thank you for supporting all volunteer Royalton Community Radio, 96.5 FM locally or streaming out there in cyberspace at www.wfvr.org. Free Vermont Radio!!

10/05/2025

Another beautiful day at the Sheep and Wool Festival in Tunbridge!

09/29/2025

This Monday evening at 8PM (rebroadcast Wednesday at 11AM) on In It for The Long Run Jim Rooney continues to explore his more than 70 years in the musical world by playing whatever comes up on his computer song list alphabetically.

We're in the middle of the "O's" this weeks and get going with Pat Alger and The Woodstock Mountains R***e doing Pat's song "Old Time Music." Next up is John Hartford's "Old Time River Men," followed by Steve Gillette's "The Old Trail." We lighten things up with a very wonderful live performance of John Prine telling how he and Donny Fritts wrote "The Oldest Baby In The Worls" followed by John singing the song. Doc Watson then does a classic Appalachian murder ballad, "Omie Wise."

We then have two songs with the same titel, "On and On," first by Robin & Linda Williams and the by Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys featuring Del McCoury and Bill Keith. We then rock and roll with Pat McLaughlin doing the classic "On Broadway." Irish songwriter Jimmy McCarthy does the mystic "On My Enchanted Sight," and we close out with Shawn Camp and The Earls of Leicester doing the Flatt & Scruggs standard "On My Mind."

Every week you never know what's going to come up, which is why it's fun for me and I hope for you.

Thank you for supporting all volunteer Royalton Community Radio, 96.5 FM locally or streaming out there in cyberspace at www.wfvr.org. Free Vermont Radio!!

09/23/2025

Community Radio is here for you!

WFVR.ORG

09/22/2025

🎶 Catch the Replay Before It’s Gone! 🎶

Last week’s episode of Backroads Bluegrass & Beyond was one for the books! Ralph Molinario welcomed two legends of Americanna and bluegrass: Bill Hearne (fresh off Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance in Taos, NM) and our very own Jim Rooney.

Together, they shared stories, history, and timeless music featuring tracks from Bill & Bonnie Hearne, new material produced by Jim Rooney, and tales from decades of collaborations with greats like Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Nanci Griffith, and more.

If you missed it live, you still have a chance to experience this special broadcast, but only until Wednesday night!

👉 Head to the "Replay" tab on WFVR.org and look for Backroads Bluegrass & Beyond to listen to this unforgettable show before it disappears.

🔗 [Direct Replay Link] royaltonradio.dreamhosters.com/podcasts/BackroadsBluegrass/stream.mp3

96.5 FM | Royalton Community Radio | Free Vermont Radio
Backroads Bluegrass & Beyond

09/21/2025

This Monday evening at 8PM (rebroadcast Wednesday at 11AM) on In It for The Long Run Jim Rooney continues to explore his more than 70 years in the musical world by playing whatever comes up on his computer song list alphabetically.

We're in the middle of the "O's" and get off to a great start with the Bill Monroe fiddle tune "Old Ebenezer" played brilliantly by Blaine Sprouse. We continue with lots more "old" songs starting with "The Old Familiar House" by Robin & Linda Williams, then Dave Mallett's "Old Fashioned Woman," Waylon Jennings doing Billy Joe Shaver's "Old Five & Dimers Like Me," Iris Dement's "The Old Gospel Ship," Jean Ritchie singing about "The Old Grey Goose," The Lilly Brothers singing the Flatt & Scruggs original "The Old Home Town," Ian Tyson doing "The Old House," John Hartford's original take on "Old Joe Clark," Del McCoury give us "Old Memories Mean Nothing To Me."

Chris Brashear sings about "The Old Pueblo," Grandpa Jones stirs it up with "Old Rattler's Pup," Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs tear through "The Old Salty Dog Blues," and we wind up with Hal Ketchum singing a song he wrote with Dave Mallett, "Old Soldiers."

Every week you never know what's going to come up, which is why it's fun for me and I hope for you. Thank you for supporting all volunteer Royalton Community Radio, 96.5 FM locally or streaming out there in cyberspace at www.wfvr.org. Free Vermont Radio!!

08/20/2025

WFVR-LP/Free Vermont Radio partners with Fledge Fest in Tunbridge again!

Our 12th Annual Pedal Power to the People gravel bike rides will precede this year’s Fledge Fest on Saturday, August 23rd with a site check-in time of 8AM at our green Radio Trailer in the sheep pasture just across from the festival site on Curtis Hill above Bicknell Hill Road.

We are offering three levels of gravel rides that will include some pavement and a few Class IV segments. A gravel or mountain bike is recommended. The 3 rides include sections in Tunbridge, Chelsea, and Strafford, and measure 10, 18 and 30 miles respectively. Strava route maps are available upon request.

Advance registration of $70 is on-line at wfvr.org and can also be paid via cash or cheque at the registration table. All rides will depart between 8:30 and 9:00AM.

All registrants will gain free entry to the post-ride festival. Registration proceeds will benefit the station and Fledge Fest.

08/12/2025

DJ Schlottmachine in the news again!

Patrick Schlott often finds himself in a cellular dead zone during his drive to work.

"You go down the road, you turn the corner and you're behind a mountain and you'll lose cell coverage pretty fast," he says.

The 31-year-old electrical engineer says poor reception is a common frustration for residents of Vermont's Orange County. To address this issue, he's providing his community with a new way to stay connected.

Schlott has taken old pay phones, modified them to make free calls, and set them up in three different towns across the county. He buys the phones secondhand from sites like eBay and Craigslist and restores them in his home workshop.

With just an internet connection, these phones can make calls anywhere in the U.S. or Canada — no coins required. And Schlott covers all the operating costs himself.

"It's cheap enough where I'm happy just footing the bill," he says. "You know, if I'm spending $20 a month on, say, Netflix, I could do that and provide phone service for the community. And to me, that's way more fun."

08/07/2025

Dear Jazz Fans,

I'll be on the air this evening for Thursday's 4th Branch Jazz show. If you're in the upper reaches of Vermont's beautiful White River Valley, tune your FM radio to 96.5 at 7:00 pm. If out of radio range, link to the show at wfvr.org or royaltonradio.org on your device of choice.

Tomorrow's show will feature the following artists, in no particular order:
Compositions and performances on tenor sax by Benny Golson;
Latin jazz from pianist Eddie Palmieri and vibraphonist Cal Tjader;
Alto sax by Donald Harrison and Gigi Gryce;
Trumpet by Art Farmer and Donald Byrd;
Trombone by Conrad Herwig;
Compositions and performances of keyboardists Herbie Hancock and Joe Zawinul.

If you miss the show's live time slot, listen to the replay of the show on Monday at 1:00 pm ET. Or find the replay on demand for a week by going to the WFVR LP website, clicking on REPLAY (between SCHEDULE & SUPPORTERS), and choosing 4th Branch Jazz.

Thanks for listening.

Mort (AKA Richard to his oldest friends and relations)

07/27/2025

This Monday evening at 8PM (rebroadcast Wednesday at 11AM) on In It for The Long Run Jim Rooney continues to explore his more than 70 years in the musical world by playing whatever comes up on his computer song list alphabetically.

This week as we travel through the "M's", the "my's" have it, starting with irishman David Hammond doing "My Aunt Jane" and "Fair Rosa." Nina Simone follows with her signature song "My Baby Just Cares For Me." Buddy Guy and Junior Wells are up next with the amazingly titled "My Baby She Left Me (She left me a mule to ride)".

Tom Rush sings about "My Best Girl" and the I do Dolly Parton's "My Blue Tears." Hank Williams does the classic blues "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It." Mississippi John Hurt sings his own classic "My Creole Belle" followed by Bill and Bonnie Hearne doing the Carter Family classic "My Dixie Darling." Barry and Holly Tashian sing the Bluegrass standard "My Favorite Memory." Guy Clark sings bout his wife Susannah in the memorable "My Favorite Picture of You." Tom Paxton sings of the joys of baseball in "My Favorite Spring." Fat's Domino salutes "My Girl Josephine(AKA "Hello Josphine"). From Cork in Ireland the Lee Valley String Band does "My Heart's Tonight In Texas" and we wind up with a classic performance from Muddy Waters, "My Home Is In The Delta."

Every week you never know what's going to come up, which is why it's fun for me and I hope for you.

Thank you for supporting all volunteer Royalton Community Radio, 96.5 FM locally or streaming out there in cyberspace at www.wfvr.org. Free Vermont Radio!!