MAMAView: New Year New View
By Middagh Goodwin
It is a New Year, we have a new administration in the White House and soon after we go to print we will have a new Mayor right here in Modesto. Hopefully all these changes for a better future. Life is still in a holding pattern due to the pandemic, but with the Covid vaccine being distributed across the World, American and Stanislaus County there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
On December 26th the music and LGTBQ community lost Robert Olen Brown aka Robbie Giant. Robbie was a musician, a promoter and advocate for those who needed a voice to ring out loud and proud. Robbie had just moved back to Modesto and was planning to continue his music and events when things opened back up. I became friends with Robbie through the Central Valley Indie Music Fest, my band played the first year and I joined the team, invited by Annastasia Rego the year after to help expand the boundaries of the festival to the entire 209 from Merced to Stockton, Tracy to Sonora. Robbie performed under the moniker Robbie Giant and along with Sleeping Giant and collaborated with LoveCore, Moon Trent and many others. He also published a zine and put out compilations and records by local artists.. Taken too soon you will be missed by more than you could have ever imagined.
If you would like to donate to help the family
https://everloved.com/life-of/
if you would like to hear some of his music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Many of you already know that I host two radio shows on KCBP 95.5 FM, MAMA Radio and This is SKA. At the beginning of 2021, I decided to see if I could expand the reach and as of writing the ska show is now on 10 stations(more to come)with several in the UK. How you may ask? I did a search for stations and reached out. I also posted in a few Facebook groups letting anyone know that I had the shows available. Performers you can do the same to get you songs played on the radio, there are many stations looking to feature unsigned artists. Of course if you have not sent your songs for consideration be played on MAMA Radio and KCBP, what are you waiting for? Email submissions to mamarecords209@gmail.com and music@kcbp.org.
There is going to be some more downtown most likely until Spring or early Summer so take the opportunity to expand your reach and your audience.
