Sidetrack with Jason Croft
First Saturday of the month at 6 pm
Fun stories, quirky interviews, thought-provoking commentaries, great tunes, and more!
Sidetrack is AM 580's monthly news/features magazine hosted by Jason Croft. Sidetrack's goal is to bring you the stories you might have otherwise missed--the stories that sometimes get overlooked during the busy day-to-day headlines. The stories are sometimes off-beat, sometimes unusual, but never dull. It's a fresh look at the what's going on in our backyard and around the world. Be sure to explore program contents for links to more info and a few surprises.
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June 2009
Program air date: Saturday, June 06, 2009
This month, we remember local musician Jay Bennett who for a time played with the band Wilco, we talk to a professional mermaid, and we find out about a man who records sound for a living and his “one square inch of silence” project.
Menu:
- One Square Inch of Silence
- Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid (web site)
- Antimatter and the movies
- Manufacturing Melodies
- Tribute to Jay Bennett
Audio:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
May 2009
Program air date: Saturday, May 02, 2009
Sidetrack celebrates 10 years on the air with a selection of some of our favorite stories from the last decade. We find out if Philo really is the center of the universe; talk to the inventor of the Popcorn Fork; revisit our story on the Viper, the yodeling ukulele player; and hear about downtown Champaign’s drinking fraternity.
Menu:
- The Viper
- Archeophone Records
- Philo, The Center of the Universe
- White Squirrels
- Popcorn Fork
- Bloomsday celebrated in Champaign
- Pi Omega Omega, Champaign’s drinking fraternity
Audio:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
April 2009
Program air date: Saturday, April 04, 2009
On this month’s program, we learn about a husband-and-wife circus duo, hear about the increasing popularity of vinyl records, look into the surge of Illinois wines, and we talk to granddaughter of Raggedy Ann creator Jonny Gruelle about the closing of the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum in Arcola.
Menu:
- The Rolling Diamonds--husband and wife circus duo
- Vinyl records making a comeback
- Hike to interview Backcounty Ranger George Durkee
- New Pirate exhibit at the Field Museum
- Butter Lane cupcake shop in New York (web site)
- Illinois Wines Make Headway
- The closing of the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum
Audio:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
March 2009
Program air date: Saturday, March 07, 2009
On this month’s program, local drummer Rocky Maffit visits the WILL studios and shows off a few unusual instruments. We hear about the Garlicky Greens Eating Championship...find out how one Illinois artist has been inspired by starlings…and we remember science fiction writer Philip Jose Farmer.
Menu:
- Garlicky Greens Eating Championship
- Artist inspired by starlings
- Philip Jose Farmer remembered (web site)
- Essay: Judge Street Elmhurst
- Martin Atkins
- Rock Maffit live in the WILL studios
