KFAI 30th Anniversary & Flip The Switch Celebration

From 30 Watts to 900 Watts. Antenna on top of the IDS Center, somewhat directional to not interfere with close-by broadcast frequencies. Digital transmission (for a second broadcast/web radio channel) a go. FCC gave approval a year ago, and KFAI-FM is just waiting on the final word. They were expecting it last week, hence the party on Saturday, and are now expecting the last hurdle to will jumped on Monday or Tuesday. Naturally, the station held a party.


former and current Station Managers Denise Mayotte and Janis Lane-Ewart
KFAI 30th Anniversary & Flip The Switch Celebration
Eagles Club Mpls, 10/8/08
The station was 30 last April, so this was mainly a party for the FCC approval. Still, it was fun.

Aside: Shockwave started Sept. 19 1979. On Sept. 20, we were in our 0th year. Does that mean Shockwave is now in it's 30th year? Is that what follows the 29th Anniversary? (Which I didn't formally celebrate, not having a broadcast show. On the other hand, chances of getting a show on the digital channel are good. More later.)

Old friends and new were around.


Jerry Stearns dishes lasagna
KFAI 30th Anniversary & Flip The Switch Celebration
Eagles Club Mpls, 10/8/08
The party went from 3pm and continued after I left around 8. Lots of music, all of it excellent. One of the pleasant surprises was Nirmala Rajasekar. She performs Carnatic Music from Southern India on a vina (?).


Nirmala Rajasekar
KFAI 30th Anniversary & Flip The Switch Celebration
Eagles Club Mpls, 10/8/08
She is internationally known. Today (Sun) she'll be performing at the Mps Institute of Arts (Children's Theater?). Monday, she'll be at the United Nations. All the performers had people who came especially to hear them, and Nirmala was no exception.

Indian family who came to see Nirmala Rajasekar
and tried to convince me that much Indian music was fantastical
and would be appropriate on Shockwave
KFAI 30th Anniversary & Flip The Switch Celebration
Eagles Club Mpls, 10/8/08