BELLOWS FALLS — Community radio station WOOL hosts its sixth annual block party on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Waypoint Center.
The five-hour fiesta showcases the sounds and moves of Rebecca Holtz and The Once Hollow, Sool, The Meteor Shades, Mike Schlenoff, and Riddim Vigil.
WOOL has much to celebrate this year: In April, the all-volunteer organization landed the most powerful signal ever controlled by an independent, non-commercial, publicly owned group in New Hampshire or Vermont.
Formerly a low-power FM broadcaster, the station added hundreds of square miles to its listening area - and moved its signal from 100.1 to 91.5 FM.
The annual block party, one of the group's principal fundraising vehicles, brings out the best in the community. In addition to fine musical talent, food and a Popolo cash bar round out the festivities. All are welcome.
Like the radio station itself, which unites a widely diverse community, the evening will see an interesting variety of musical styles:
The Once Hollow, the newest project from Walpole's Rebecca Holtz, melds jazz, folk, and bluegrass into a crowd-pleasing show.
Sool, hailing from Athens, has been making music and traversing genres for 25 years.
The Meteor Shades finds members of The Break Maids and Moxley Union creating their version of cowpunk.
Mike Schlenoff, a key member of Boston's Hogstompers, has found a sweet spot in American roots music.
Opener Riddim Vigil, blending a Rastafarian groove with strong Christian faith, plays a beat-heavy reggae roots adventure.