WDRT's 1st Annual Kickapalooza a Hit!

200 Residents came out to cheer on Driftless Community Radio.On Saturday, September
26th, nearly 200 residents showed up at the Vernon County fairgrounds for a day of dancing, eating, drinking, and cheering on community radio in the Driftless region.

With Kickapalooza 09, WDRT 91.9 FM kicked off its capital fundraising campaign to raise $91,900 to build the Driftless region's only community radio station.

The WDRT board thanks all of those who attended and brought their enthusiasm. We're happy to report that the event proved to be a fabulous start to our capital campaign. We exceeded our fundraising goal for the day. What's more, we enjoyed getting better acquainted with our future listeners and volunteers.

Four bands kept partygoers on the dance floor: The Pie City Ramblers, JJ's Zydeco Paydirt, Gary Brueggen's Ridgeland Dutchmen, and Ted Parrish's Bad Axe Blues Band. The mix of downhome, zydeco, polka, and blues represented the kind of variety listeners can expect to hear on WDRT 91.9 FM.

Speakers, including Senator Dan Kapanke, Representative Lee Nerison, Norm Stockwell of Madison's WORT, John Medinger of Senator Kohl's office, Theresa Marquez from Organic Valley, and John Stauber from the Center for Media & Democracy emphasized the importance of community radio to the region's social and cultural health. Theresa Marquez and local composer Bill Neil stepped forward to make significant, public pledges of support for the station.

In a tremendous show of solidarity, local and regional businesses donated nearly all the food, beer, and services for Kickapalooza. WDRT is grateful to the Viroqua Food Coop, Westby Meat Locker, Village Market in Viroqua, Steve's Meats in Genoa, Pearl Street Brewery in La Crosse, Organic Valley, Great Dane Brewery in Madison, The Corner Copy Shop in Viroqua, the Cakery & Bake Shop in Viroqua, and Turkey Ridge Orchard in Gays Mills.

Kickapalooza 09 was just the beginning. WDRT continues its capital campaign to bring noncommercial, locally crafted radio to the airwaves by summer 2010. We invite you to get involved. Please consider making a donation, filling out our listener survey, or sending us your comments about how you want your community radio station to sound.