This WPKN Special Broadcasts Podcast features songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Joe Flood in studio with Brendan Toller, DJ B the T Jr. of Shake 'N' Vibrate Radio. Karen Schoemer of the New York Times says Flood has “songs bursting with eccentric characters ... a voice that perfectly straddles the fence between country and the blues…” And it's those kind of qualities that have taken Flood towards collaborations with members of the Band, the Bottle Rockets, Mojo Nixon, Dan Baird, and Eric "Roscoe" Ambel - who produced many of Flood's solo works for the late Jeremy Tepper's (Outlaw Country) Diesel Only label.

More info at:
https://www.joefloodmusic.com/

Goodnight Moonshine join WPKN's Mike Horyczun for a beautiful in-studio and performance ahead of their myriad of appearances in the Northeast.

WPKN's Valerie Richardson, Martha Willette Lewis, and Brendan Toller lead a special live broadcast from New Haven's Erector Square Open Studios featuring interviews with Eric March, Oi Fortin, Lesley Finn, Janet Warner, Adrian Martinez, Paul Theriault and more.

WPKN's debut in-studio live concert broadcast with Black Rock, Bridgeport musician, Gold Eris!

http://www.golderismusic.com 

Gold Eris was formed by singer/songwriter Thomas Oliverio in 2017. Indie/Alt/Artrock, with influences including David Bowie, St. Vincent, and notes of 90's grunge, Gold Eris recorded and self-released their debut album, Born A Quitter, in 2020. It is available on all major music platforms. The band’s sound has since evolved into a more lively, bright, and lyric-heavy live show, made possible by the talent of members Oliverio, Arachne, Morcaldi, Sudo and Gaudette - local musicians who share similar artistic vision. Gold Eris has created and established its sound over the past few years by playing numerous shows throughout Connecticut. The band’s multi-instrumentalist members relentlessly strive to push the boundaries of the conventional, through complex chord progressions and time signatures. Gold Eris is currently hard at work independently producing their sophomore album, and expect it to be released by mid 2024. 

WPKN's first live in-studio broadcast concert with CT avant-twanger, Lys Guillorn!

https://www.lysguillorn.com/

Lys Guillorn is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and multi-disciplinary artist based in Shelton, Connecticut. They are of the same musical school as Laura Veirs, and Kristin Hersh, with a little Emmylou Harris thrown in: dreamy, lyric-driven, melodically interesting, and undefinable. They call their genre of music "Avant-Twang."

Live sound is solo on electric or acoustic guitar, focusing on lyrics and intricate guitar work, or with full band, adding a little more crunch. Band members in Lys Guillorn & The Void Kittens are Lys Guillorn (vocals, guitar), Peter Riccio (drums, vocals), and Eric Bloomquist (bass, vocals).

Guillorn has opened for artists including: Robyn Hitchcock, Danielle Howle, Richard Buckner, Laura Cantrell, Amy Rigby, Scout Niblett, The Handsome Family, and Nora O'Connor.

Guillorn’s eponymous debut CD was released in 2003, receiving international radio airplay and notice in indie press. The CD was produced and engineered by Jeff Feuerzeig (best known as director of the films The Devil and Daniel Johnston and Author: The JT LeRoy Story). Feuerzeig enlisted guests Stanley Demeski (Luna, Feelies), Brenda Sauter (Feelies), Dean Wareham (Luna, Galaxie 500), Robert Quine (Voidoids, Lou Reed, Tom Waits) and Glenn Mercer (Feelies, Wake Ooloo). 

In the spring of 2006, Guillorn released the Three Songs EP; a trio of intricately arranged, original home-recorded tracks, packaged in a hand-letterpress printed cover.

Guillorn's 2009 oddities collection Wayward Children pulls together their releases on compilations from various small indie labels, including originals, covers of Skip Spence, old English ballads, fragments, and other miscellany.

Winged Victory was Lys Guillorn's first full-length studio record in ten years. It was recorded at Dirt Floor Studio in Chester, Connecticut with their bandmates and some special guests and released in November of 2013 on Guillorn’s own Little Cowgirl Records. 

Sunny Side Down was released in January of 2016, a 2-song single recorded with drummer Peter Riccio and bass player Eric Bloomquist at Bridgeport’s Gold Coast Recorders in the fall of 2015 and released in January 2016. This effort is described by Guillorn as “Nancy Sinatra on a grunge bender."

I'm a Boy EP picks up where Sunny Side Down left off--garage rock with a live feel recorded at Cheshire's Bonehead Studios. This is the first recording documenting the four-piece as a band. 

Since 2017, Lys Guillorn has released several singles including 2019’s, “Chipped Fingernails”, released on February 1, 2019 in a split single with Julie Beman and “Dolores & I” released on the 2020 compilation Waiting on a Sunrise Volume 1 on Free as Birds Records. 

In addition to being a songwriter and performing musician, Guillorn is also a writer and visual artist.

WPKN's Mike Horyczun hosts an interview and performance with singer/songwriter, Shawn Taylor ahead of his show at the Black Bear Americana Music Fest, October 11-13, in Goshen, CT, and, November show at Best Video in Hamden, CT.

On August 18, in the middle of the day, residents of the Naugatuck Valley and surrounding areas received weather advisory warnings on their cell phones. Within hours, many found themselves standing inside their homes in several feet of water, forced to move to higher ground. Those on the roads were trapped, unable to drive, as floodwaters from surrounding waterways quickly inundated roads and homes. Tragically, lives were lost, and countless homes have been condemned or severely damaged. Many families are now facing the overwhelming loss of household items, rapid mold growth, and the trauma of displacement. Some, despite the severe damage, have no choice but to remain in their homes. Compounding these challenges, many do not have flood insurance because they do not live in designated flood zones. The flood has also left many residents homeless, exacerbating food insecurity and other vulnerabilities in our community.

On September 11th at Space Ballroom, we are hosting a benefit featuring Pangea, The Alpaca Gnomes, The Moonrise Cartel, and Erik Rabasca for those affected by this disaster to help them rebuild their lives, and to ensure that no one faces this crisis alone. 100% of all proceeds from the event will go to TEAM, Inc., a non-profit human services agency whose mission is to strengthen our communities by educating, supporting, and empowering individuals and families.

In addition to the music, we will hold a raffle with concert tickets and items generously donated by our friends at Redscroll Records, Static Era Records, each band performing that night, and more.

We will also be accepting food donations at the door for the Seymour Oxford Food Bank. Food donations will also be accepted at our shows that night at College Street Music Hall (Movements) and District Music Hall (The Lemonheads).

Tickets are being sold on a sliding scale, and are on sale now. We would like to thank Eventbrite for waiving their service fee to help support this cause.

MORE INFORMATION:

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-benefit-for-ct-storm-victims-tickets-1003285813877?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Human Services Agency: https://teaminc.org/

WPKN's inaugural LIVE REMOTE broadcast from Black Rock Porchfest featuring the musical stylings and live sets from THE ZAMBONIS & THE COVERALLS!