TPublic radio station KVMR 89.5 FM has been a Nevada County staple for over 45 years, but lesser-known KVMRx on 105.7 FM is looking to make a name for itself in the broadcasting world and is working to gain attention as an alternative for lovers of their parent public station. The broadcasters at KMVRx are working to reach their listeners by breaking out of the studio and onto the dance floor. To that end, KVMRx A’GoGo — A DJ Dance Night will be held at Miners Foundry on Friday, August 16th from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. This is an opportunity to meet the people behind the decks and dance the night away that you won’t want to miss.
Led by DJ Amelia Arellanes and with support from program director Jai Hanes, the dance party was a hit with listeners and other community members. DJ Arellenes said they have been hosting the dance parties all summer long and they are open to everyone: “It’s for all ages, so we welcome young people too, but it’s music for everyone.”
“KVMRx has been doing DJ nights. We’ve always wanted to do monthly dance parties,” DJ Arellenes explained. “KVMRx is the other radio station. We’re different from KVMR. We’re smaller and basically an alternative to KVMR’s music, and all of our music in general is alternative.”
While the channel focuses on the younger target group, the audience at the dance really is all age groups. “We say that we are aimed at younger people, but to be honest it is more people my parents’ age who dance, because people my age don’t necessarily like dancing,” said the 20-year-old. Dancing is of course not compulsory and many visitors just enjoy watching and listening.
This month’s dance party features DJs Arellanes, John Axel, The Moore Brothers and Troy, and each DJ brings their own flair to the turntables and mixers. From 60’s to 80’s post-punk and reggae, there’s a wide range of tunes to get people out of their seats and on their feet.
Arellanes has been DJing for about 18 months. She enrolled in KVMRx’s DJ training course and has been working on the radio ever since. She now broadcasts every Saturday from 2pm to 4pm. Each week she presents a new theme, with formats ranging from a specific record label to a specific genre to local and international artists – you’ll have to tune in to hear what she has in store.
Other KMVRx DJs bring their own sound to the mix, ensuring a wide variety of music for both listeners and dance enthusiasts. Arellanes said, “The DJ dance night is kind of like KVMRx in essence, because each DJ brings their own style and taste in music, but everything is very danceable.”
Admission is a very reasonable eight dollars and a portion of the cost goes directly to KVMRx, which helps fund the nonprofit organization.
Jai Hanes, KVMRx’s program director, said the station has hosted dance parties here and there, but wants to have a consistent way to engage people. “It’s really about the community and part of our outreach. We want the youth to come and see our youth presenters as well, and Miners Foundry was all about it, so we decided to do a summer series,” Hanes said. The dance parties have been well received, but the cooler weather will hopefully bring more people to the Foundry.
Hanes said KVMRx is the offspring of the more established parent company KVMR and is a real gift to the community: “We’re the bad guys. We play the fun stuff. Our lineup is so broad that it always stays very interesting. People say when they get a little tired of KMVR, they turn to ‘X’ and have the opportunity in a small town to listen to radio on the FM dial that is embedded in the community, like KVMR, and is in touch with the community. We have a great lineup and great DJs and we’re just getting started.”
DJ Arellenes encourages anyone interested in becoming a broadcaster to take the course and get on the air: “I love it so much. Since we are a smaller station, we need more broadcasters, so you have a lot more flexibility in scheduling and a lot more versatility. It’s a really cool community. Every single broadcaster at KVMRx is a really nice person and so helpful.”
KVMRx is a hyperlocal signal on 105.7 in Grass Valley and Nevada City, or you can hear it anywhere at kvmrx.org.
Listen to KVMRx on 105.7 or at KVMRx.org, then come to Miners Foundry for an evening of camaraderie and dancing.
Look for their upcoming inaugural festival, “XFEST,” taking place on October 10th at Miners Foundry, which will include several bands, food and other vendors, and performances by the KVMRx DJs. For more information, visit kvmrx.org.
