Fri 3/30 @7PM
A funny thing is happening in today’s digital world where streaming services and podcasts dominate the culture. There’s a grassroots radio revolution that finds listeners seeking out eclectic and niche programming close to home.
That’s the case with Akron’s 90.7/91.3 The Summit FM and sister-station 330.net, which combined are hosting the third annual 330 Day Concert taking place March 30 at the Akron Civic Theater.
The free affair features stripped-down, acoustic performances from local musicians Brian Lisik, Ledges, the Kidney Brothers, Tracey Thomas, Stems, Zach, Marc Lee Shannon, Yankee Bravo, Shooter Sharp & The Shootouts, Demos Papadimas, Madison Cummins, Coup de Grace, the Speedbumps, the Cave Twins (David Mayfield & Abby Rose), The Labra Brothers, Run Thomas Run, the Royal Vasa, A Band Named Ashes, Alexis Antes, DreamStates, the Vindys, Rick Deak, White Buffalo Woman, Cody J. Martin, Flight 619, Nick Wilkinson, By Light We Loom, Jeff Klemm & the Letters, Hey Monea, the Ohio Weather Band, Angie Haze, French Donkey and the Beyonderers.
CoolCleveland talked to Summit marketing & events director Ryan Humbert, who is also a popular local musician, about the 330 Day Concert, The Summit and 330.net.
CoolCleveland: Let’s start with the upcoming 330 Day Concert.
Ryan Humbert: It’s the third annual and the biggest one ever. The first year we had six acts. The second year we had 18, and this year I was crazy enough to say let’s go big and really make it a special evening with 33 acts. It should be a really fun event.
CC: It’s a good thing you’re not based out of the 440.
RH: (laughs) I know. Oh God, trust me.
CC: What was the initial idea behind staging a 330 Day concert?
RH: We started the 330.net radio station two years, along with the first of what has become an annual concert. It was a way for us to really commemorate kicking off that radio station, as well as a way to continue to solidify our commitment to local music at The Summit. We decided we should make this an annual thing.
CC: For those unaware of both 90.7/91.3 The Summit FM and 330.net, can you explain?
RH: The Summit is a listener-supported, commercial-free, mission-driven radio station. You’ll hear the widest variety of music, really a channel dedicated to people who love discovering music, hearing music you might not hear elsewhere from the past and hearing some unique, obscure things that no other station is going to play. We also have one of our community service channels, 330.net. You can get that on a HD radio or go to the website or listen to it on The Summit smartphone app. So it’s a sister station to The Summit, basically. 330.net is 24/7 music from Northeast Ohio. You’ll hear the past, present and future of Northeast Ohio. You might hear Nine Inch Nails and the O’Jays and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Tracy Chapman. And then you might hear Brent Kirby and Hey Monea and Ryan Humbert. You’re going to hear a little bit of everything.
CC: Be honest, does 330.net’s playlist skew more towards a lot of Ryan Humbert music?
RH: (laughs) I don’t actually program it, so no.
CC: Now that 330.net is two years old, what have you learned about the market for local music?
RH: Here’s the thing — the reason why we even started 330.net in the first place is because we are a listener-supported radio station and our members have told us that they love the fact we’re one of the only places in town you can listen to local music. So we mix our local music in with the current national stuff. We already play more local music than any other station around. We decided to really go to the next step. That’s where we developed 330.net. Our listeners have loved it.
CC: Back to the 330 Day Concert, what can audiences expect?
RH: It’s a full-stage show; we’re excited about that. That’s kind of unique and new. The way we’re doing it is each act is only singing one song. I’m expecting everybody to bring their A game as far as their original material. The changeover will be easy because there will be two side-by-side performance spaces. There’s no wasted time, that way we can really keep the show moving.
CC: Finally, any thoughts of expanding next year’s concert even more?
RH: This is the first year it falls on Friday. We’re expecting great things there. Next year we obviously should have a good date as well. Honestly, to me it’s not necessarily trying to outdo it every time because you back yourself into a corner pretty quickly. I think the biggest thing we can do is just keep finding unique venues, unique musicians and a unique theme as far as how the show is going to work. And you know, as long we’re providing quality entertainment, not just on the radio, but also for these 330 concerts, I think we’ve got a good thing going.
Akron, OH 44308