Posts Categorized: News

WMPG  is proud to announce a new collaboration with the Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) AND Equal Measure Arts/[the square] for this year’s Resurgam Festival , featuring a dedicated WMPG/ Equal Measure Arts Stage showcasing an exciting lineup of local talent.Our stage will highlight the diversity and energy of Maine’s music scene, with performances by: Freak Phone Brit Martin S.C.O.B.Y Haga Sweetch Graham Ganter Plague Dad Portland Symphony This partnership brings together organizations deeply committed to supporting musicians at every stage of their journey. By joining forces at Resurgam Festival, WMPG, Equal Measure Arts and MAMM aim to…

A rotating cast of WMPG DJ’s broadcast live from venues around Portland  and  the  surrounding  areas. The live event and broadcast from 5:00-7pm. WMPG’s Freaky Fridaze rolls on with a brand-new lineup of live broadcasts from some of our favorite local spots. This happy hour series takes your favorite community DJs out of the studio and into the wild, spinning records and soaking up the vibes with listeners and music lovers May at the Brass Rail, Forest Ave, Portland 5/1 –…

Marc Galli, né Bartholomew, has been appointed Technical Director at WMPG, continuing a legacy of technical leadership at the station that dates back to figures such as Phil Hersey in the late 1990s. A highly respected audio engineer and producer in Maine’s music and arts community, Marc is the co-founder of Acadia Recording Company in Bayside, which he launched with his wife, Gina. Through this work, he has helped shape the sound of countless regional artists and projects….

An Extraordinary Place – See it on youtube! Huge News! The film is nominated for a Boston/New England Regional Emmy Award for Editor (Long Form Content) at the 49th annual awards. Tom Bell’s award-nominated documentary An Extraordinary Place continues to hit screens near and far this season, and we’d love for you to join us. In a world of algorithm-driven playlists, music is everywhere, yet can feel disconnected. An Extraordinary Place reminds us what happens when people share music not for clicks,…

We are thrilled to be the ‘Presenting Sponsor’ at Live At Madrids for their new live music series – Cut Yer Teeth Spotlighting emerging talent in Southern Maine this spring, Cut Yer Teeth, an 8-week concert series, will take over the Lounge at Live at Madrid’s every Monday night from April 6 through May 25, 2026, offering a dedicated stage for up-and-coming bands to grow, experiment, and connect with new audiences. Designed as a curated…

This record store day, WMPG DJ’s will be at Bull Moose in Scarborough from 8am – 12. Live broadcast 8am – 11.30am DJ’s at Bull Moose Scarborough Helen (the Crate Escape) Dana (Wax Poetic) DRB (Signal Boost) Annella (the Morning Beat) Check out the podcast by Dana, Helen and Annella Join Annella from The Morning Beat, Mr. Dana of Wax Poetic, and Helen from Crate Escape as they dig into some of the most exciting releases for Record Store Day. From long-awaited reissues to…

WMPG’s Jazz At The Movies present movie night on April 18th.  This month’s movie is Sonny Rollins Beyond the Notes A BBC Production, this beautifully crafted film by veteran music filmmaker Dick Fontaine is a continuation of a journey he started with his hero Sonny Rollins in the 1967 landmark documentary, “Who is Sonny Rollins?” Built around Rollins’ self-produced 80th birthday concert, Fontaine updates the Saxophone Colossus’ career and takes us on an exhilarating adventure…

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? Celebrate with Poetry on the Air! WMPG’s very own poetry program that highlights local and statewide poets here in Maine! Join Portland Poets Society and The Portland Dirt at the Portland Public Library on Tuesday April 14th at 530PM for a night of poetry! Meet the activists, the organizers, and the many others that contribute to Portland poetry scene! Share your work with fellow poets, maybe consult Poetry…

DJ Shaxx is currently live in the glass at the Portland Media Center , then Crazy Deja Vu is live on Local Motives on our broadcast. STREAM HERE ON YOUTUBE

3D printed in collaboration with the MIST Lab BEG-A-TONBid on our figuerines.    

Update: We hit our goal – Thank you!!!! Begathon kicks off on Thursday, March 26th. Our goal is $55,000. Donate online here The past six months at WMPG have been marked by growth, collaboration, and meaningful storytelling. We completed our annual program reshuffle, vital to the station’s long-term health, sparking new energy and welcoming fresh voices to the airwaves. Volunteers revitalized our music library, expanded live performances, and powered projects like Local Motives Vol I supporting the USM…

On April 1, WMPG’s local music show Local Motives takes over the Portland Media Center for a high-energy, one-night-only celebration: Fool’s Last Beg – the grand finale of Begathon. Hosted at the Portland Media Center on Congress Street, the event brings together live radio, music, and a bit of April Fool’s mischief to mark the final push of WMPG’s week-long listener-powered fundraising drive. The evening will be emceed by Erin Ames of Radio Ya-Ya’s and feature a special live…

March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the creativity, leadership, and resilience of women who have shaped our communities, our culture, and the stories we tell. At WMPG, women have always been central to the station’s voice – on the management team, advisory board, on the air, behind the scenes, and throughout the community we serve. From volunteer DJs spinning music that might not be heard anywhere else, to hosts leading thoughtful conversations…

We want to hear from you! WMPG is conducting a short listener survey, and your input will help shape the future of the station. Tell us what you love, what you’d like to hear more of, and where we can improve. Your feedback helps us better serve our community and keep WMPG strong, local, and listener-powered. Thanks for taking a moment to share your voice with us! Link to Survey Thank you!  

Update: Congrats to winners: 1st place: Ruski’s Best Traditional Dish: the Bayou Kitchen WMPG Judges Pick: Portland Country Club Special Mention – The Cann Family Bakery WMPG’s Annual Cajun Cookin’ Challenge Returns for a Flavorful Fat Tuesday Feast Details for 2026 Fat Tuesday, February 17th from 11 am to 2 pm McGoldrick Student Success Center on the Portland Campus of the University of Southern Maine. Parking – parking at USM parking lot now requires payment. Read more >>…

Our WMPG friend is putting together a special two-night benefit concert, S.L.O.B.fest (Support Local Original Bands)—a celebration of local music across all genres. Proceeds from the shows will benefit WMPG and help kick off our Spring Begathon fund. Come out, discover new sounds, and support community radio. Friday February 6th from 7pm and Saturday from 5pm. Skips Lounge, Buxton, ME Artists playing at SLOBfest include: Thousand Mile Fall Cradle II Grave Paradise is Cancelled Enigma…

We have released a wide-ranging compilation of local music to raise emergency funding and help secure food for the USM’s Oakhurst Campus Food Pantry . The release, Local Motives #1 , includes tracks from no fewer than 27 local musicians, including Grammy winner Dave Gutter and indie rock favorites Weakened Friends, as well as a roster of local heavyweights such as Little Oso, One Hundred Thorns, Snake Lips, Brit Martin, Juniper Ginger, Ella Hue, TheWorst, Whitney Walker, Red Eft, Space Fog, Plague Dad,…

A Journey to WMPG – Jeff Kerschner We didn’t listen to much music growing up. My father was opposed to music in the house. My Mom would play a handful of records during his work day. Johnny Cash, John Denver, and Harry Belafonte played over and over. A high school friend introduced me to the Beatles – whoa… At age 17, I joined the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus. I was on the concessions crew….

On Friday, November 14th, Bella’s Bartok had a special live performance on Signal Boost from 1-2pm. This was a mere teaser ahead of their show at Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine!

We were sad to hear about the passing of Karmo Sanders recently. Karmo joined the USM Department of Theatre in 2017, bringing an indefatigable passion for theatre, comedy, playwriting, and teaching. A consummate theatre artist, Karmo taught Playwriting, The Art of Dialogue, Public Speaking and Acting for Non-Majors, a class in which she delighted in spotting talented students and encouraging them to become Theatre majors. Every day, she brought an easy laugh, a well-crafted joke,…