More CHIRP, Less Tweet

With spring right around the corner (allegedly), the sounds of birds chirping outside our windows is sure to soon greet us. And this spring, they’ll have company. Chicago’s diverse independent music scene has a new voice joining the chorus; only that voice is more CHIRP, less tweet.

Launched in January, CHIRP Radio is Chicago’s only indie online radio station. With the support of the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) and the efforts of over 100 local volunteers, the non-commercial station is two and a half years in the making. Founder Shawn Campbell paints a vivid picture of just how much of a group effort that process has been.

“We literally built the station ourselves — we framed out walls, hung drywall, painted, laid carpet, built furniture, installed equipment. People have poured their hearts into this thing — and the community has responded in kind.”

When it came time to flip the switch, that community support wasn’t forgotten. Campbell inaugurated the station with a song she kept secret until the moment it played. Fittingly, she chose Alex Chilton’s acoustic demo of the Big Star song “Thank You Friends.”

As CHIRP continues to push for a change in legislation that would enable them to license and move the station to FM radio, you can’t deny they’ve come a long way with the support of volunteers, donations, and a studio made with some tender loving care. Campbell confesses that even now, “When we get together, over the course of the evening, someone will say, still with some amazement, ‘Hey, we started a RADIO STATION!’”

With music now steaming live from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. seven days a week, you’ll hear a range of artists depending upon the DJ’s varied interests (DJ bios on the site help). Regardless of the artists played from one set to the next, one common thread binds each together.

The music heard on CHIRP Radio is of a nature otherwise overlooked by larger stations. In fact, it’s the music you WON’T hear them playing. No Rihanna, no former American Idol contestants, and no Black Eyed Peas here! CHIRP Radio’s recent playlists have included Charlotte Gainsbourg, Interpol, The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Yellow Swans, even Edith Piaf.

Although Campbell herself is coy in designating any particular artist or song as representative of the station- “our whole goal is to be pretty unpredictable, to consistently surprise people!”- she will, however, describe the station itself as “adventurous, passionate, welcoming.”

With that welcome extended, CHIRP is gearing up and taking donations for their annual Record Fair & Other Delights on April 10 & 11 at Plumbers Hall. They also continue to regularly host CHIRP night at the Whistler the third Monday of every month (up next, Paper Mice and Runnies on March 15). And be sure to keep an eye out for their record sale and table at Pitchfork this July!

But for now, log on, listen in, and become a part of Chicago’s vibrant independent music community at http://chirpradio.org/ (email or IM your requests!) or follow CHIRP Radio on twitter @CHIRPRadio.

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