WERU Community Radio

Join WERU and Fogtown Brewing Company in Ellsworth for a special evening of live music featuring Katherine Perkins, on Sunday, August 30 at 5 pm. Painter and songwriter Katherine Perkins brings her genre-defying blend of Americana and lush, melodic storytelling. Performing with Katherine will be: Ryan Blotnick on guitar, Rebecca Lasaponaro on drums, Ross Gallagher on bass, and Danny Fisher-Lochhead on sax. A Maine native, Perkins weaves heartfelt narratives with grooves and glimmers of wit. Her first album, Being Younger (2024), has been praised as “ageless and warmhearted” (The Autumn Roses) and “a trove of genre-defying ballads” (Downeast Magazine). Her new album, to be released September 25, is called Hopeless Love. You can also catch Katherine on WERU’s Jumpin’ Tracks, with Gia and Nolan, on Monday, August 24 at 2 pm.

We thank long-time business supporter, Fogtown Brewing Company, for partnering on this concert. We hope to see you there enjoying the wonderful music of Katherine Perkins & Friends!

WERU’s Summer Membership Drive happened August 1-8. After the end of federal support for public media in 2025, including WERU, our listener support went up to 80% of our annual fundraising, which is wonderful! Now we are trying to maintain that higher level of local support, and you our listeners are really coming through with over $65,000 in contributions! Thank you for all the gifts made last week (and that continue to come in)! And if you didn’t get a chance to donate during the drive you can give online anytime by clicking here! Listener support for WERU is alive and well, thanks to you!

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Homer was an incredible writer, obviously, but also a great fundraiser. He is best known for his epic poems that are foundational to western civilization and literature, the Illiad and the Odyssey. Less known was his interest in community radio and he wrote two epic short dramas to raise funds to support the eclectic musical, cultural, and informational programming on WERU. Treat yourself to some Homeric Summer Membership Drive listening by checking out the pre-drive Greek drama and then the post-drive “Thank You!” drama. Many thanks to everyone who generously made gifts to WERU, both large and small, as they all add up to epic proportions!

The Board of Directors of WERU Community Radio  has announced that Kristen Spalding of Orland, Maine will become the next General Manager of the station, taking the helm in late August. Kristen grew up in Bucksport, is a graduate of Colby College, and  has most recently worked in development at Bagaduce Music in Blue Hill, Maine and has been integrally involved in several music-related initiatives in the region. Earlier this year General Manager Matt Murphy announced his retirement after leading the station for over 27 years.  “For 27 years I have had the honor, privilege, and joy of serving as General Manager of WERU,” Murphy stated. “I feel the time has come for me to pass the torch on to the next generation of leadership of this great organization.” 

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Connect with WERU at these upcoming community events:

• “Twelve Maine Women: Portraits of Change,” presented by Americans Who Tell the Truth, Heart of Ellsworth, and the Frances Perkins Center, Heart of Ellsworth Makerspace, 16 State Street, Ellsworth – August 6-September 30 (sponsored by WERU)
• Darlin’ Cory Concert (Americana), Wednesday on Main at The Alamo Theatre, Bucksport – August 19
• Belfast Co-op 50th Celebration, Steamboat Park, Belfast – August 22
• MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair, Unity – September 25-27
• Bait Bag Concert (Punk/Indie Rock), Hey Sailor!, Searsport – September 26
• Casey Neill Concert (Singer-Songwriter), Barncastle, Blue Hill – October 2

Also, check out our community calendar and sign up for our e-newsletter, Salt Air. Be in the know!

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In an exclusive for WERU, Noel Paul Stookey and A.S. Aubrey (the pen name of Noel’s daughter, Anna) share songs, poetry, and conversation in radio special that was originally broadcast on July 25 and again August 1.

Hosted and produced by Matt Murphy, the program previews Noel and Anna’s “Listening for the Notes: The Gift of Word & Song in Challenging Times“ which was presented live at the Camden Opera House on Saturday, August 1, where they swapped poems, songs, and stories about the power of listening in these times. We invite you to listen to the program, which is archived here. Many thanks to Noel and Anna for sharing their creativity and insights with us on WERU!

WERU, WMPG, and several Low-power FM stations from around Maine were featured on the July 16 edition of Maine Calling on Maine Public Radio (weekdays at 11 am live and rebroadcast at 8 pm), when the topic was the vibrant community of community radio stations across the state. The conversation was lively and the callers were passionate, and you can listen to the recording of the show here. If you tried to call but didn’t make it to the air, feel free to email your comments shout outs to info@weru.org and may share them on our website (anonymously if you wish). And thanks for your support!