The River Signal
Live art from the water.
I recommend you should check out The River Signal, post haste. My summary is this, that these guys from Portland (Galen, Reid, Brian), ten years ago, went down the Mississippi River on a little paddleboat. From stops along the way, they broadcast a show (The River Signal) with artists, musicians, and writers germane to the various locales.
Well, they’re doing it again, this year, right now, this time down the Tennessee River. And I’m very lucky that I get to participate. I’ll be reading some of my stuff, alongside other Chattanooga-based artists and musicians. Saturday, July 12th, 7PM. Listen and watch live! Or, if you miss the live version, you can catch it afterward on the River Signal site.
I’m quite jealous, actually. I’ve always wanted to do something like what they’re doing. I grew up in northern Ohio near the Tuscarawas River. Which flows into the Muskingum. Which flows into the Ohio. Which flows into the Mississippi. Which takes you to New Orleans. I always wanted to (still do, actually) get a canoe and say to my folks, “See you all later, I’m off to the Mardi Gras!”
My dad reminded me of William Least Heat-Moon’s Blue Highways and River-Horse. I haven’t read the latter, but read the former quite a while ago and the picture of an authentic America it paints was formative to me. As an American and a writer. Recommend, recommend, recommend!
Check out The River Signal. It’s an awesome, awesome project. And listen and watch this Saturday, 7PM!