Wednesday, November 24, 2010

So Bright You Might Need Shades

by Doug MacRostie

Last year was KBXE's first time in the Night We Light parade in downtown Bemidji. We had cute kids in a truck with our mock-tower on the trailer covered in glow sticks next to a mock-radio studio, homemade banners on the side outlined by strings of lights - all run from an inverter. It was a very fun and cool thing. Then we saw the rest of the floats and in terms of the "light" part of the parade, we were the dimmest.

WELL NOT THIS YEAR!!! Come out and see the spectacle, starting at 6pm on Friday, the 26th in downtown Bemidji.

Last Sunday, members of the community and the KBXE Publicity gathered to put together this years float. We have upped the ante with a giant, reflective cornucopia that will have a pile of radios pouring out. Plus, a generator. Why a generator? Well...

We'll be hooking up some speakers and blasting tunes. And we've got 4 professional, sturdy, die cast aluminum, multi-color stage lights combining for a total of 144 high powered LEDs to wash our float with colorful light. Factor in the multiple 4' x 5' LED light spreads for the cornucopia, the flashing light on top of the tower and the brake lights and you might just want to bring your sunglasses.

No, we will not be the dimmest float this year! Oh, and we'll have cute kids again too :)

Like last year, we'll be doing a video of our adventure, and this time the Video Ninja will be capturing the footage so be sure to get nice and loud when you see the float. I'm talking big excitement. Screaming, waving your hands, perhaps feigning a faint, you get the idea.

We'll be meeting at 3pm on Friday the 26th to finish up the float at the KBXE Studios (3rd and America) - stop out if you would like to help, OR if you have any radios/stereos we can use on the float drop them off between 3 and 4:30. It would be a good idea to put a piece of tape on the bottom of the radio with your name and phone # so we can make sure it gets back to you.

If you would like to walk with us in the parade, be to the staging ground (behind the County buildings in Bemidji) between 5:30 and 6 - we'll have candy, KBXE info, buttons and stickers for you to hand out.

90.5 KBXE is a new public radio station being built by Northern Community Radio, who's mission to build community in Northern MN through radio broadcasts, cultural events and interactive media. Northern Community Radio has been operating 91.7 KAXE for almost 35 years (available at 105.3fm in Bemijdi) - 90.5 KBXE is intended to expand and enhance our service to that region, and has to be on the air by March of 2012. More info at http://www.kbxe.org.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Ever See a Giant Cornucopia Pouring Out Radios?

90.5 KBXE will have a float again this year in the Night We Light parade in Bemidji on Friday, Nov. 26th (the day after Thanksgiving). Last year we had a glowing tower and radio station and a truck full of "cute enthusiast." This year we plan to make things bigger and better with a giant cornucopia with radios pouring out (and more).

If you would like to help spread the news and excitement about 90.5 KBXE you can help us assemble the float on Sunday, Nov. 21st at Noon at the future KBXE Studios on 3rd and America in downtown Bemidji (RSVP on Facebook). Bring a snack to share, hands to help, and any old radios or stereos we can use in the float. We'll be using chicken-fencing and fabric to make the cornucopia, which we'll pull behind a truck in a trailer (full of cute enthusiast, obviously). We'll also have a generator to power music and lights, including some professional stage lights :D

You can also walk with us in the parade, which starts at 6pm on Friday the 26th - arrive a little early! (RSVP on Facebook). We'll have stickers and 90.5 KBXE info to hand out, as well as candy! The more, the merrier. Give us a call if you have any questions, 800-662-5799 or email comments@kbxe.org.

90.5 KBXE is a new independent public radio station being built by Northern Community Radio which has been operating 91.7 KAXE for almost 35 years (at 105.3fm in Bemidji). 90.5 KBXE will enhance and expand the local, community coverage of Northern Community Radio. Give KAXE a listen if you haven't, we're streaming live at http://www.kaxe.org.

Here's a video of our experience last year:

Monday, November 8, 2010

VIDEO: KBXE Zombie Crawl in Downtown Bemidji

The KBXE Zombie Crawl & Guerrilla Theater video was captured and produced by volunteer Jamie Hall, aka the Video Ninja. Thanks to the mass of zombies who dragged themselves around downtown Bemidji for the KBXE Zombie Crawl!!!

What is KBXE?